I’m super excited to be appearing at the 2019 SIBA Discovery Show in Spartanburg, SC, this September. (That’s the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance.) The event is primarily for independent booksellers from throughout the south who come to learn best practices and to hear what’s new in Southern fiction. And since I have a story releasing in November–that would be something new!
I’m speaking on a fiction panel titled “Too Good to be True,” along with three other authors. As part of that, attendees will get ARCs (Advance Reading Copies) of When Silence Sings. Which means I currently have five of those ARCs in my possession and would love to give one of them away to one of YOU!
All you need to do is tell me who your favorite Southern author is–other than me of course 😉 It’s hard for me to pick just one favorite, but Lee Smith is definitely up there. Now your turn–I’ll close entries at NOON eastern time on Wednesday and announce the winner in Thursday’s blog post.
Good luck!
Maybe Silas House
A Parchment of Leaves – an excellent choice!
Besides you of course 😊, I am reading all of Dorothea Benton Frank’s books now. I love them because they are based around Charleston and everything she talks about is so familiar to me.
Oh, she IS good!!
Harper Lee!
The end all, be all!
As sure as time, history is repeating itself, and as sure as man is man, history is the last place he’ll look for his lessons.
Lisa Wingate ❤️
Yes, yes, yes. How much did you LOVE Before We Were Yours??
I’ve never considered authors by location and I honestly had to google “ southern authors”. But I saw some names whose work I love. I’ve read everything Nicholas Sparks has written and friend introduced me a new -to me- favorite Charles Martin. I’m sure there are others. On the plus side , the google search has me checking into a few books for my book-reading stay-ca-tion . #4novels#sofar#moretocome.
Charles Martin is OUTSTANDING! And a book reading stay-cation sounds heavenly . . .
My favorite southern author to teach was William Faulkner. It was so much fun to share his genius with students who may not have read his works otherwise. For pure enjoyment, I love to read Sarah Addison Allen, Mary Alice Monroe, and Rick Bragg. There are just too many to be named. There are just so many wonderful southern authors.
Love Sarah Addison Allen’s magical realism! Plus, she spells her name right.
I love Lisa Wingate too. Also Janet Ferguson and Patricia Bradley.
I may have to turn this into a recommended reading list!
Okay… I’ll enter … but this may be a little before your time… Reynolds Price…. and more currently Sharon McCrumb…
Wow…. this is hard…..
Oh I know who Reynolds Price is!
Besides you, I love John Grisham, Nicholas Sparks, Cynthia Rylant, Terri Blackstock, Karen Kingsbury, Joyce and Jim Laverne and so many others! Too many to name— problems of a retired school librarian!
I’m keeping some good company there!
John Grisham is fantastic!
A Painted House!
Yes!!
After reading others’ comments, I agree that it is too hard to pick a favorite, so I will just name the author that I read most recently – Lauren Denton (Glory Road). I’ve missed at least one of her titles so I look forward to reading that one, and of course, your new book. Hope to win an ARC!
I have yet to read Lauren, but I LOVE her covers! Added to my TBR list.
Lauren Denton. I enjoyed reading Glory Road this summer.
The second mention for her–gotta read her stories soon!
I just read and enjoyed Hurricane Season.
Mesu Andrews! She is my favorite biblical fiction author.
Soooo good!
Enjoy your time at SIBA! There are sooooo many excellent Southern writers … the first to come to mind is Joshilyn Jackson.
I got to meet her the last time I went to SIBA–she’s a HOOT!
Ann Mulligan! Just love her books!
She’s pretty awesome, too!
Greg Isles
I’ve head of him, but have yet to read his books. Added to the list!
I was really impressed by Valerie Luesse’s debut novel, Missing Isaac.
My mom LOVED it! She has another one coming out this year.
Sarah Addison Allen
Looking forward to reading your book.
That’s two votes for that other Sarah!
She is deceased, but my all time favorite would have to be Eugenia Price. She was without a doubt one of the world’s greatest storytellers.
An American classic–glad you included her!
I like Silas House and Laura Frantz. Oh, I can leave out Ann H. Gabhart, she’s a KY. girl.
I meant they’re all from Kentucky and since I live here I consider us southern even though some don’t.lol
If WV is the South, so is Kentucky! Laura and Ann are two of my favorite people (and writers!). Silas is awesome, too.
I can’t pick just one. Besides you, I enjoy reading books by Ann H. Gabhart, Tamera Alexander, and Pam Hillman. I’m sure there are others I just can’t think of at the moment.
Love Tamera’s historical southern stories!
I love Jamie Langston Turner although she has not published in a long while. I also like Elizabeth Musser although I believe she lives in France. The south part maybe. I guess my latest favorite has to be Julie Cantrell. Wonderful characters!
Julie writes SUCH compelling stories. And hey, the south of France works!
Margaret Maron — I love her Judge Deborah Knott mysteries. I like her characters evolve as the series progresses.
Ooh–another new one for me!
Another one I enjoy!
What? No Carson McCullers! Let’s give some applause for The Heart is a Lonely Hunter and The Member of the Wedding.
Amen and amen!
Heather LL Fitzgerald. Wonderful fantasy, all her works show a picture of Christ.
I’ll check her out!
My favorite fiction author is Beverly Lewis❤
Love her stories!
There are so many wonderful writers, it’s hard to choose. I think Ann Gabhart is my favorite, at least she is today. Usually, my favorite Christian author is the one I’m reading. As Liz Johnson is not a southern author, (I’m currently reading A Glitter of Gold) I’ll say Ann H. Gabhart.
I think that’s three for Ann. I knew our target audiences were similar!
That is a very thought provoking question, as there are many. Just off the top of my head, since I have recently read one of her Carnton books, I might say Tamera Alexander.
An excellent pick!
Hmm…all of the authors that come to mind are not from the South! I think I will have to go with Tamera Alexander also.
Excellent choice!
Tamera Alexander for sure. Loved her newest book, With This Pledge.
Haven’t read that one yet, but her others are wonderful!
Hi, Sarah. Just saw this. Wish I was visiting my daughter in Spartanburg this weekend so that I could come see you. Looks like you’re doing that southern tour we talked about once. Hope you have fun and find lots of new readers for your beautiful books.
No touring yet! Just meeting with booksellers at SIBA. But you’re reminding me that we SHOULD tour together!