“Small southern towns change slowly. Perhaps it’s just the natural pace of southern spaces unencumbered by city-slick speed. It’s best represented by the southern drawl, like golden honey dripped onto biscuits. Larger northern cities are au jus, but small southern towns are thick sausage gravy.”
— M Shelly Conner, everyman
Hello Family,
Meet M Shelly Conner of the Lit 16. She is an educator, multi-genre writer, and creator of the web series, Quare Life. Conner is assistant professor of creative writing at the University of Central Arkansas where she co-directs the MFA program for writers. She has been published in The A.V. Club, The Grio, Playboy Magazine, and Crisis Magazine. Her debut novel, everyman, is the winner of the 2022 Nautilus Book Silver Award in Fiction.
Here is what author and MacArthur Fellow Kiese Laymon had to say about everyman:
“everyman is the rare twenty-first-century novel that feels like Morrison and Walker guided the hand of the characters, and the writer, calling it home. M Shelly Conner writes as if all of our lives depend on her art. After reading everyman, I’m convinced she’s right.”
Be sure to tune in to see M, and three other members of the Lit 16, read and converse at:
The Lit 16: Second-Quarter Fire Circle Virtual Readings
White Whale Bookstore
Thursday, January 19, 2023
7 p.m. EST
To register, please visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lit16-camonghne-felix-dante-stewart-david-dennis-jr-m-shelly-conner-registration-413730929347
You can purchase copies of everyman at the White Whale Bookstore Lit 16 site. Follow M on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
We hope to see you there. And thank you for your support!
Blessings upon blessings,
Robert
In the spirit of community over competition, the Lit 16 is how Deesha Philyaw, Kiese Laymon, and I decided to use our platforms to shine a light on emerging writers whose art has impacted, inspired, and moved us in ways that we wanted to honor and share with you.
We could have easily created a Lit 64; there are so many fantastic recent works that we adore. Unfortunately, for many reasons, we are unable to accommodate that large of a scope. However, we do encourage all of our artistic peers to advance toward the directive set forth by the iconic and legendary Ancestor Toni Morrison: “If you have some power, then your job is to empower somebody else.”
Be sure to follow the #Lit16 hashtag on social media and subscribe to Witness to stay up-to-date on upcoming Lit 16 events. Thank you so very much for joining us in celebration.
The Lit 16: Honoring sixteen emerging literary artists whose works are changing the game.
How have y’all been enjoying #Lit16? Please go on social media and let everyone know!