Tag: Novel

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To Read, or Not to Read: October 2024

As the weather chills out or warms back up this October, there’s never a better time to curl up with a book because it’s always a good time to curl up with a book. And therein lies the issue, because even if I know when it’s a good time to read (always), how am I to know what to read? Enter decision paralysis — unless, of course, you check out the ever-reliable recommendations by your local booksellers that they’ve so kindly suggested here. And we thank them for it. 

William by Mason Coile

The perfect single sitting horror story! There’s no slow ramp up to this book. The story immediately takes off with a lil sci-fi, a lil gore, a lil pulse-racing thriller, and an incredible ending! This is a book I wish I could read again for the first time! — Mandy Martin, Novel

The Husbands by Holly Gramazio

In a world where we have access to an endless sinkhole of content to consume, the peril of endless possibilities can be daunting. The Husbands explores these ideas in a brilliant, snappy and comical way. 

Lauren comes home one night to find her husband waiting for her. The only problem is she doesn’t actually have a husband. However, she does find that she has a magical attic that holds infinite husbands. When one husband goes up the attic stairs, he is replaced with another husband and a respective life to boot. Lauren is amazed by the endless options at her fingertips, as time passes she starts sending the husbands up for more and more trivial reasons. Why? Because she can! What could go wrong? Well, maybe a lot. This book had me laughing out loud while also contemplating the modern world in bold new ways. I highly recommend this novel for something as thought-provoking as it is also fresh, eccentric, relatable, daring, and juicy. — Lillian Khattab, Novel

Over the Influence: A Memoir by JoJo

The hit-singer of “Leave (Get Out)” has released her breathtakingly candid memoir. Signed to a major recording deal at just 12 years old, JoJo catapulted to the top of the pop- and R&B-infused charts in the mid-2000s and experienced her share of highs and lows. This memoir is perfect for any millennial or Gen-Zer interested in hearing her story. — Jeremee DeMoir, DeMoir Books & Things

Flamboyants: The Queer Harlem Renaissance I Wish I’d Known by George M Johnson

Flamboyants is a collection of 14 essays wherein Johnson reveals how American culture has been shaped by icons who are both Black and Queer — and whose stories deserve to be celebrated in their entirety. — Jeremee DeMoir, DeMoir Books & Things

Playground by Richard Powers

Richard Powers writes books that are both entertaining and important. He comes to bring us a sense of wonder. In Playground, he does for oceans what he did for forests in The Overstory. He takes four disparate lives and tells their stories, which tie together in a breathtaking and perfectly timed dance of science, humanity, and awe. He does what only the truest artists can do: He makes you see the world anew. — Corey Mesler, Burke’s Book Store

Horror recommendations for when you don’t know what to read or are just now getting into horror 

  1. “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman: a classic gothic short story about a woman going insane that will leave you uneasy: 
  2. The Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker: an early splatter punk with a demonic puzzle box and a classic horror adaptation to go along with it
  3. Let The Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist: a Swedish vampire novel about two young outcasts that will actually scare you 
  4. Blood on the Tracks by Shuzo Oshimi: a psychological manga about a son discovering the truth about his mother while spiraling downward: 
  5. Never read Stephen King? Read Misery, a story of an author being cared for by his number-one fan after a lethal car crash 
  6. Gyo by Junji Ito: a sci-fi manga about the discovery of a foul stench and fish slowly crawling out of the ocean: 
  7. The Doll House Murders by Betty Ren Wright: a young adult novel about a young girl discovering a dark family secret when dolls start moving around at night 
  8. I Have No Mouth & I Must Scream by Harlan Ellison: a short AI nightmare about the last nine people kept alive by an evil supercomputer named AM
  9. In the mood for a short story collection? Nightmare at 20,000 Feet or The Best of Richard Matheson
  10. Ring by Koji Suzuki: a disturbing ghost story about a father uncovering a cursed VHS tape while researching a series of unexplained deaths — Chloe Mesler, Burke’s Book Store

All books mentioned can be purchased at the respective bookstore locations or their websites as linked. For upcoming book events, including book clubs and author signings, visit the Flyer’s event calendar.

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WE SAW YOU: Skol-astic Book Fair

Michael and Diana Townsend (Photos: Michael Donahue)

Guests could raise a glass and shout “Skol” to toast the Skol-astic Book Fair, which was held August 10th at Soul & Spirits Brewery.

People put their noses in beer and in books at the event, which featured “Lyric,” a brew made for the occasion. Ryan Allen, who owns the brewery with his wife, Blair Perry, describes it as “a farmhouse ale with Earl Grey tea.”

Brandon Lea and
Dominique Bonten
Blair Perry and Ryan Allen
Blake Helis and Cheryl Mesler

“We just do it for the book fair every year,” he says. “So, it’s really only available that day. This year I doubled the amount I made last year, and it still sold out in the same amount of time.

Jim and Taryn Spake
Lisa Kroger
Austin Sanchez and
Marisol Palomo

“We call it ‘Lyric’ because lyrics are the words of a song. It’s a way to tie in the theme of the book fair and being a wordsmith.”

Melissa Justice, DJ Reitzel, and Rian Taylor

Describing their event, Ryan says, “We invited all the bookstores in town. And this year, I think a little more uniquely, we invited individual authors that could come in and sit and speak with people and sell their books.”

They want people to “connect directly with the authors.”

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Blurb Books

Memphis Reads: August

This month your favorite booksellers are back with recommendations, so you can keep up with your summer reading. Check them out below.

Anything That Moves by Jamie Stewart

Jamie Stewart is the creative force behind the experimental pop group, Xiu Xiu. Anything That Moves is the exact kind of book fans of Stewart’s music would expect them to write. A bizarre and painfully vulnerable exploration of desire, identity, and a desperation for human connection. An open wound of a book. It follows Stewart’s exploration of sexuality and desire from early adolescence onward. Reading it almost feels transgressive, like reading someone’s diary. This semi-memoir is exhibited in the form of a series of vignettes and essays. Making it not only as vulnerable as a diary, but very much structured like one.  

The extreme intimacy of Stewart’s book also feels expansive. They invite us to reflect on our own desires and vulnerabilities. Stewart’s voice is unique, lyrical, surreal, and heartbreaking. Anything that moves is one of the most compelling books I’ve read in years, and the grossest book I’ve ever read cover to cover. An absolute gift to the world of contemporary literature. — Kole Oakes, Burke’s Book Store

Blood at the Root by LaDarrion Williams

Blood at the Root was a hot topic on BookTok (the reader-friendly side of TikTok). The debut novel from Southerner LaDarrion Williams features a young man who is coming into his magic and whose life is shrouded in mystery. With new powers and a checkered past, Malik is given an invitation to a magical HBCU (historical Black college and university) where he’ll hone his magic and find clues to put the pieces of his past together. Blood at the Root explores not only the roots and secrets that connect us in an unforgettable contemporary setting, but also introduces a new world of magic to fans of Harry Potter and other fantastical series. — Jeremee DeMoir, DeMoir Books & Things

Children of Anguish & Anarchy by Tomi Adeyemi

The third and final book in the Legacy of Orisha series, CAA returns us to Zelie’s journey! After all she’s done to return magic to Orisha, she’s facing a new and dangerous foe. However, she’s not alone. Joined by Amari, Tzain, and Inan, Zelie meets new companions who will help her fight to put an end to the war the new enemy is about to bring to the world. Written by NYT bestselling author Tomi Adeyemi, this final installment has been much anticipated and the team at DeMoir Books couldn’t wait to dive in once it was released in late June 2024! — Jeremee DeMoir, DeMoir Books & Things

In Ascension by Martin MacInnes

In Ascension, is an import from Scottish author Martin MacInnes, released in the U.S. this year. A literary fiction that blurs the lines between speculative and science fiction, it’s set in the immediate future with the climate crisis we face now as it will progress as predicted.

The story follows a marine biologist from the Netherlands, a land recovered from and ever-contesting against the water. She studies ancient microorganisms, archaea, and the origins of life. One theory is that these first life forms originated in hydrothermal vents, and so when a trench in the ocean is newly discovered, she joins the research expedition to map and measure it.

From the bottom of the deepest depths of our ocean and planet, to where life started, what it can survive, how the findings can be used, and where that can take us, this eco-fiction spans a larger than human scale. — Dianna Dalton, Novel

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed by Lori Gottlieb

An honest look into the world of therapy! This poignant story gives insight to how a therapist approaches their work while also showing what therapy can look like on the other side of the couch as the client.

You follow Gottlieb’s client’s through the lens of the therapist, learning what sort of intentional work one might do to help clients feel comfortable enough to trust the process and heal. Intermixed within chapters, you also get to experience Gottlieb’s journey as she goes through her own therapy after her personal life takes a dramatic hit. The perfect showcase that anyone can grow with therapy, even the therapists themselves! — Mandy Martin, Novel

Road Home by Rex Ogle

Once Rex’s father figures out Rex is gay, he is given an ultimatum: to become straight or get kicked out of the family.

This book shook me to my core. Rex is kicked out of his home by his parents, betrayed by the people who are supposed to love him the most. What follows is a life on the streets in New Orleans. As a gay teen experiencing homelessness, Rex constantly struggles for the basic needs of food, water, shelter, and sleep. The people he meets do not always have his best interests at heart and often cause more harm than good.

With no place to call home, no one to look out for him, no safety net, Rex barely gets by, and most of the time he hangs onto his dignity by a loose, fraying thread. This memoir is gut-wrenching and will break your heart. His future looks very bleak, and when it looks like he may not make it, a beacon of light emerges when he least expects it.

A true story of survival, Rex tells it all with honesty and grace.

Road Home is the third and last book in Rex Ogle’s memoir trilogy which also includes Free Lunch and Punching Bag. — Sheri Bancroft, Novel

There Is No Ethan: How Three Women Caught America’s Biggest Catfish by Anna Akbari 

There Is No Ethan is a dark and unsettling read. Set in the early days of social media, the protagonist’s toxic obsession and self-delusion are both captivating and repulsive. Akbari’s writing is unflinching and raw, making it hard to look away from the train wreck. A haunting and uncomfortable exploration of the human psyche, but not for the faint of heart. This book will linger long after the final page is turned. — Blake C. Helis, Burke’s Book Store 

All books mentioned can be purchased at the respective bookstore locations. For upcoming book events, including book clubs and author signings, visit the Flyer’s event calendar.

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Blurb Book Features Books

To Read, or Not to Read? (March 2024)

Once again, the Memphis Flyer has taken to the streets (read: email) to ask Memphis’ booksellers what on Earth we should be reading this month. And, thank goodness, they’ve answered with recommendations that’ll fit on anyone’s bookshelf. Check them out below.

Black Roses: Odes Celebrating Powerful Black Women, Harold Green III
Black Roses is a beautiful collection of odes crafted by poet Harold Green III and pays tribute to all Black women by focusing on visionaries and leaders who are making history right now, including Ava DuVernay, Janelle Monae, Kamala Harris, Misty Copeland, Nikole Hannah-Jones, Robin Roberts, Roxane Gay, Simone Biles, and many others. The collection features full-color illustrations by Melissa Koby. We recommend this book because it’s a powerful expression of love for women during Women’s History Month!
— Jeremee DeMoir, owner at DeMoir Books & Things

Dance of Thieves, Mary E. Pearson
Dance of Thieves is a fantasy duology with a strong female main character. The book contains enemies to lovers, forced proximity, found family, and multiple plot twists. It is masterfully written as the reader is entirely captured by the plot and never bored with what is happening. Although it is set in a fictional world, it is an easily followed story and the characters are realistic. This duology is similar to Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, and I would definitely recommend it to any fantasy readers. — Maya Zelinski, bookseller and co-founder/co-leader of the Teen Writing Group at Novel

James, Percival Everett 
I only discovered Percival Everett last year and I’m now trying to catch up and read everything. He’s one of our finest and most versatile writers, and this new one is one of his best. Witty, wise, joyful, painful, important, and highly readable. I predict this will finally win him the Pulitzer. — Corey Mesler, owner at Burke’s Book Store

The Other Valley, Scott Alexander Howard
The Other Valley by Scott Alexander Howard came out in February to glowing reviews, but hasn’t gotten nearly enough attention at the store if you ask me! Never Let Me Go by Ishiguro is an obvious and faithful comp, but while I have started NLMG more times than I can count and could never finish, I fell for this one immediately. It’s speculative fiction, sort of literary sci-fi, set in a world made up of a series of valleys — the same place, with the same people, duplicated over and over 20 years ahead of or behind the next, depending on whether you’re going west or east. Does this sound convoluted? I hear it, too. But trust me when I say it does not require any kind of mental mastery of its bent laws of physics to enjoy. The writing is so good I found myself rereading some sentences three or four times, just to soak them in. It’s a quiet, atmospheric novel full of big ideas that manages to double as a page-turner. Basically, my favorite kind of book. — Kat Leache, Social Media & Promotions at Novel

Thicker Than Water: A Memoir, Kerry Washington 
Award-winning actor, director, producer, and activist Kerry Washington shares the journey of her life so far in this bravely intimate story of discovering her truth. We selected this as it comes from the woman who changed television. Best known for portraying Olivia Pope on the ABC hit Scandal, when it premiered, a Black woman hadn’t had the lead role in a network drama for nearly 40 years. Kerry Washington changed the game and Scandal decimated the idea that a Black female lead would alienate audiences, proving, instead, that it would energize them. Why not celebrate such a powerful figure and share this powerful book during Women’s History Month? — Jeremee DeMoir, owner at DeMoir Books & Things

All books mentioned can be purchased at the respective bookstore locations. Support indie and support local. For upcoming book events, including book clubs and author signings, visit the Flyer’s event calendar.

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Crazy, Stupid, Interdimensional Love

Photo: Courtesy Liana Kangas

Magic portals, sexy aliens, and sci-fi romance — these are just some of the things you’ll find in the graphic novel Mariko Between Worlds, written by Matthew Erman and illustrated by Liana Kangas. Set in the year 2099, Mariko and Rem are breaking up, their interdimensional relationship proving to be far too complicated, but they agree to make the most of their last night together in the Mall of Portals, “an interdimensional consumerist heaven full of unending vice.” What ensues, as Kangas says, is an exploration of communication, boundaries, and lots of aliens. 

The inspiration for the story came from writer Erman’s pandemic-induced binge of 90 Day Fiancé with his wife and comic book artist Lisa Sterle. “They really wanted to tell a story about this girl who doesn’t get a visa to essentially go be with her boyfriend,” Kangas says. “They brought, I think, the first three chapters to me and the editor, and Matt finished writing the rest of the book.”

Memphis-based Kangas’ playful and psychedelic illustrations flesh out the many worlds in the novel, adding to its “fun and bizarre” atmosphere and plot. “I watched movies like Paprika and really weird old anime to get inspiration for integrating the sci-fi elements but make it fun,” Kangas says, adding that they also read “corny romance novels to get in the right headspace.”

“Matt and I had poured a lot of our personal selves into the book as well, you know,” Kangas says. “We’ve all been in that angsty teen/early 20s break-up phases and stuff like that. So it’s been fun to do. I mean, it’s the first romance book, I think, I’ve really ever worked on.”

Previously, Kangas has worked with IPs, like Star Trek, Star Wars, and Stranger Things, and in addition to most recently releasing Mariko Between Worlds, she’s had two other books come out this past month: Know Your Station, a space horror book, and Trve Kvlt, a supernatural horror book. 

“All three [of those books] across the board are totally different,” Kangas says. “But I think being in a space and a city like this has allowed me to pursue that, by being connected with my peers. Like, I go to a lot of conventions and stuff, so I get to see them and feel refueled because there’s a small community of comics in Memphis. … The city is very vibrant in terms of diversity and how much they care about the arts and stuff. And so I really think having that sort of supportive community allowed me even during the pandemic to continue my freelancing and continue telling stories.” 

And Memphis, Kangas says, has slipped its way into her illustrations. “The book that I just did — Trve Kvlt — it’s a fast food heist, it’s a very bizarre, very fun, dark comedy,” they say. “I would say a lot of my inspiration came from Memphis. It feels a lot like the energy and the vibe of the city, which is very hardworking, very work hard, play hard. … But it’s hard not to see some of that in some of my work, but I definitely think that is the book that shows it the most. But otherwise, I would say, mostly because I’ve been complimented a lot on my diverse characters that I make, I do attribute that to living here.”

This Friday, November 3rd, at 6 p.m., Kangas will celebrate the launch of Mariko Between Worlds at Novel. They will also sign Trve Kvlt and Know Your Station. All three books are available at Novel or on Novel’s website.

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Skol-astic Adult Book Fair

Special bookmarks in the style of the event poster will also be for sale.

If you like beer, books, and nostalgia, you better book it to Soul & Spirits Brewery this Saturday for the brewery’s first-ever Skol-astic Adult Book Fair.

In case you didn’t catch on to the pun there, Skol-astic is a nod to those Scholastic book fairs from childhood, with the “skol” part being the Scandinavian word for “cheers.” “We wanted to recreate that feeling of being so excited to buy new books, but with beer,” says Blair Perry, who planned the whole shebang with her friend Mandy Martin. “We wanted to create an event that is very different than any other event in town and that is geared towards people who love books because a lot of times readers are kind of introverted” — and sometimes introverts want to be social, too.

For the day, Martin and Perry were able to get all the bookstores and book vendors in town to set up shop at the brewery, with each focusing on a “niche style of book,” says Perry. Friends of the Library, the nonprofit that supports Memphis Public Libraries, will sell used books; Novel will bring bestselling contemporary fiction while Burke’s Book Store will bring books by Memphis authors and a classics collection. Online vendors Cafe Noir (which is set to open a brick-and-mortar location later this year) and DeMoir Books & Things will sell BIPOC classics and Afrofuturism books, respectively. Plus, South Main Book Juggler will bring children’s books and YA novels.

“For every $10 that you spend [on books], you’re going to get to pick from the little freebie bags like you did as a kid,” says Perry, adding that every time you purchase a beer, you’ll also get entered into a raffle for a bigger prize. “Every 30-ish minutes, we’re going to be drawing a ticket for a free prize that our vendors have donated.”

The brewery is also releasing a special beer for the book fair. “It’s a surprise,” says Perry, “but I’ll say that it’s bookish-related, so something that you would enjoy drinking while you’re reading.”

Perry and Martin have also partnered with Amy Dobbins of Mint Cream Market, who has recruited literary-themed vendors and local authors to discuss and sign their books, while Paper Plate Pavilion and Tacos Mondragon will have food available for purchase.

And, don’t worry, there will be a quiet space for those who want to read (and drink) in peace in the Low Tones Room, which also happens to be where the brewery hosts its Beers and Books Club every first Friday of the month. “We don’t tell you what book to read,” Perry says of the club. “We just provide a quiet space for a couple of hours for anybody to come in and read.”

Skol-astic Adult Book Fair, Soul & Spirits Brewery, Saturday, August 12, 1-7 p.m.

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Phyllis Dixon’s Intermission

Dixon describes her novel as “Dreamgirls meets Waiting to Exhale.”


To an outsider, banking doesn’t seem like the kind of profession to inspire bursts of creativity, but for Phyllis Dixon, that’s how she found her passion for writing fiction. “In a way, it was kind of similar [to my job],” she says, “because one of the things I did was write exam reports, which is the story of the bank and the story of what was going on. We also wrote synopses of some of the borrowers, so you would have to tell their story, too. So it’s kind of the same thing as far as, you know, analyzing a situation and being able to distill that into a story to let people know what’s going on.”

“I traveled a lot [for my job],” Dixon adds. “And so I spent a lot of time in hotels and airports and things like that. Some of the things that people do to kind of pass the time — some people drink, some people knit, some people fool around. And I just stayed in my room and wrote down stories that were swinging around in my head.”

By 2013, Dixon self-published her first novel, Forty Acres, to be followed in 2016 by her second book, Down Home Blues. When Covid hit, she began her third book: Intermission. 

This most recent novel revolves around four women, who were once part of a 1990s girl group on the brink of stardom before breaking up. At the telling of the story, they reunite for a second shot at success, each of them facing a different crisis in her personal life. What follows, the author explains, is a story of forgiveness and reconciliation — and, as it so happens, a story that occurs mostly in Memphis.  

“The idea came to me many years ago,” Dixon says, “and I just always thought about it, even pushed it to the side and wrote another book before coming back to this idea, and then during the Covid lockdown, I told myself, ‘No distractions, no excuses, no slacking.’ I was just determined. And I said, ‘I’m gonna try and get an agent.’ And I sent out a lot, a lot, a lot of queries. And those stars aligned, and here we are today: I was able to get an agent and a traditional publisher [Kensington Publishing].

“Really,” she continues, “I just want to entertain people. There’s so much going on — so much divisiveness and trauma and tragedy and global warming and all this bad stuff going on. I just want to entertain, tell people a good story, and kind of take their mind off all the bad stuff.”

This Tuesday, Dixon will celebrate the launch of Intermission at Novel with a book-signing and discussion. “I just invite people to come by, and even if they don’t come buy my book — it’ll be available [at the] library — I’d appreciate their support because even with my first two books, Memphis has been very supportive. And I appreciate it.” 

Phyllis R. Dixon: Intermission Book Launch, Novel, Tuesday, July 25, 6 p.m.

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Hayley Arceneaux Q&A and Book-Signing at Novel

Hayley Arceneaux (Photo: Hayley Arceneaux)

If, out of the blue, you got a call from your employer asking if you wanted to go to space, would you say that’s out of your job description? Would you ask for a couple days to sleep on it? Well, for physician assistant Hayley Arceneaux, who got that call from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the answer was clear and immediate: Yes.

The mission Arceneaux would be a part of — SpaceX’s Inspiration4 — launched almost a year ago on September 15th as the first all-civilian space mission and raised more than $200 million for St. Jude, a cause near and dear to Arceneaux’s heart ever since she was diagnosed with bone cancer at 10 years old. In fact, when she wasn’t even finished with her cancer treatment, Arceneaux began raising money for the hospital and embarked on what would become a lifelong journey in support of St. Jude. By 2020, she began her dream job working with pediatric oncology patients.

“I knew I really wanted to work at St. Jude and help support these kids with cancer treatment and help make their experience something positive, and then also show them what their future can look like after cancer,” Arceneaux says. So when, not even a full year into her job, the hospital asked her about going to space, she couldn’t say no to the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. “I wanted to show these kids that anything is possible.”

Arceneaux would become the youngest American who has been in orbit, as well as the first pediatric cancer survivor and the first person with a prosthetic body part to go to space. Her story would become an inspiration. “Around the time when I was training I was really touched by people who were reaching out, especially on social media, telling me that my story inspired them to get through hard times and take on big challenges,” she says. “Then I was approached by people who wanted me to share my story in book form.”

Once again, Arceneaux said yes, with the hope of reaching children with cancer, girls and women interested in STEM, and anyone needing a bit of hope. “I think writing it really renewed how much gratitude I feel,” she says. “Like, wow, I’m just so fortunate to survive my cancer, have my dream job, have the opportunity to go to space. … The main thing I want people to get out of it, is the importance of hope when you’re going through something hard.”

Her memoir, Wild Ride: A Memoir of I.V. Drips and Rocket Ships, covers her childhood, her diagnosis, getting her dream job, the loss of her father, and, of course, her journey to space. “The most challenging part of writing for me was describing what it was like to look at the Earth,” she says. When she first got back from space, only one word came to mind when asked that question: pretty. Now, she has written pages upon pages describing what she meant by “pretty.”

To celebrate the memoir’s launch, Arceneaux will do a Q&A at Novel, followed by a book-signing. Line tickets are required to meet the author and are free with a purchase of the book.

Meet The Author: Hayley Arceneaux, Novel, Saturday, September 10, 5 p.m.

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Book Features Books

Tara M. Stringfellow Launches Memphis at Novel Bookstore

Author Tara M. Stringfellow is a poet, a traveler, a former attorney, a Memphian, and she will launch her debut novel — Memphis — Tuesday, April 5th, with an event at Novel bookstore.

The novel follows three generations of Black women living in Memphis. It’s at once a family saga, a story of the power of art, and a deeply political social commentary. There is much pain in Memphis, but there is hope and triumph as well. It is a heart-wrenching, inspiring, moving novel. And to write it, Stringfellow drew on both her imagination and her own experiences.

“Kind of like my main character in the book, I moved here full-time when I was 10 [years old],” Stringfellow says. Before moving here, she remembers phone calls with family members in Memphis; until she was 10 years old, Stringfellow lived in Okinawa, Japan. Her father, who is also a poet, was a Marine at the time. The author says the beauty of her childhood surroundings and her connection to family in Memphis helped nourish her love for poetry. And her work as a poet suffuses every page of her debut novel.

Also like Joan, the main character in Memphis, Stringfellow says that she has strong ties to her old neighborhood in North Memphis. “Douglass kind of raised me for a bit, and I loved it,” she remembers. Community is a powerful force in her novel, as exemplified by this passage: “All of Douglass—the teenagers in love, the tired working men, the even more tired womenfolk—all of them stood on the steps of the porch Myron had built for Hazel, stood on the lawn, climbed up the branches of the magnolia and found seats where they could. The people in the neighborhood stood watch that night.”

Stringfellow finished writing the novel after returning to Memphis following the early months of the Covid pandemic. She says it felt right to complete it here. When she finished the book, she couldn’t help but think, “What has my family given for me to get here?”

In Memphis, Joan is a young painter whose love for her art both grounds her through some turbulent trials, and might eventually lead her away from Memphis. “I do connect to Joan in that way,” she says. “My passion for writing, I wanted her to have the same passion for art.” Stringfellow says she believes that Joan will carry Memphis with her wherever she goes. “Memphis will always be there in her home. And sometimes we have to leave home, to go to school or go somewhere. And I feel like it’s so nice to come back home.”

Though she has lived in other cities, states, and countries since her childhood, and though she lives in a different neighborhood now that she’s back in Memphis, Stringfellow is quick to profess her affection for the city from which her novel takes its name. “I love my neighborhood,” she says. “All my neighbors are real diverse, and we all just kind of take care of each other. I really do love living in Memphis.” Look for a longer interview with the author in the near future in the pages of the Flyer.

Tara M. Stringfellow is at Novel, Tuesday, April 5th, 6 p.m.

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Authors Discuss Book of Short Stories Based in Memphis

A few years ago, eight local writers who knew each other through writers groups and events — Xia L. Cox, Rikki Boyce, April Jones, Rae Harding, Daniel Reece, Justin Siebert, Susan Hopson, and Kathryn Skinner — came up with the idea to collaborate on an anthology of short stories, all of them set in Memphis. Out of this concept came Malfunction Junction, 15 stories covering a range of genres, from horror to romance and pretty much everything in between.

“Hopefully, there’s something for everyone,” says one of authors, Justin Siebert. “The stories are unrelated to each other, except for the fact that they all take place in Memphis and the surrounding areas, and all deal with some sort of junction in life, whether that’s a literal road junction or a metaphorical junction in someone’s journey.”

Siebert has written two stories for the collection: “First Day of Practice” and “Forever and Ever in Both Directions.” The first follows a high school student, recently injured and new to using a wheelchair, as he witnesses his first wheelchair basketball game. “I personally use a wheelchair,” Siebert says. “I was injured in a car wreck when I was 9. It’s not autobiographical, but I incorporated a lot of the feelings and emotions of being newly injured and attending an adaptive sports event for the first time and just seeing that there are other people with disabilities who have normal productive lives and are competing in sports.”

“The main character is somebody that I made up,” he continues. “But a lot of the characters actually play on the Memphis Rollin’ Grizzlies basketball team. I play on the team. There’s a group of us that travel and compete.”

Siebert’s other story also taps into his personal life. This story of three adopted siblings, who meet a magical creature while traveling along the Greenline, channels the writer’s own reflections on his fears and anxieties of going through the adoption process with his wife.

Siebert and his fellow writers will be at Novel this Saturday. Contributor Daniel Reece will moderate a panel discussion, and a book signing will follow. Malfunction Junction is available to purchase at Novel or novelmemphis.com.

Malfunction Junction: Meet the Authors, Novel, 387 Perkins, Saturday, January 15th, 2 p.m.