Happy birthday, Fred Chappell!

Monday, May 28th was the birthday of North Carolina poet of Fred Chappell. He was born in 1936 in the small town of Canton, North Carolina. He earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees at Duke University, and spent a significant portion of his teaching career at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Fred Chappell is a prolific author, having written over twenty-five books and amassed a collection of local and national awards. He had a five year tenure as the Poet Laureate of North Carolina. Having written everything from Lovecraftian horror to domestic fiction, readers are bound to find a work of his that calls to them.

I Am One of You Forever is a novel about a boy named Jess growing up in Western North Carolina during World War II. It is a coming of age story with an eccentric cast of characters, each with their own story to tell. Another book by Chappell, Dagon, is also set in North Carolina, but could not be more different a tale. It is a Southern Gothic horror that plays on the Cthulhu mythos. Dagon follows the story of Peter Leland, a preacher who inherits his grandparents' farmhouse and soon finds dark secrets hidden in the world around him. Find these books, or any of the other many Fred Chappell works, at your local bookstore or library! You're sure to find something just for you.

NC Literary Map at Greensboro Bound

On May 19th we attended Greensboro Bound: a Literary Festival! Having the opportunity to talk to local literary enthusiasts and listen to local authors was an experience we won't soon forget. We hope everyone had as good a time there as we did!

Jewish American Heritage Month

May is Jewish American Heritage Month, which began in 2006 and celebrates the achievements of Jewish Americans

This month we are highlighting the life and works of Harry Golden. He was born in 1902 in the Austro-Hungarian empire, but moved to New York City with his family as a young boy. He grew up with a voracious appetite for reading, but it was not until later in life that he became known for his writing. Instead, he worked as a stockbroker until 1929 when his firm declared bankruptcy.

It wasn’t until 1941 that he arrived in Charlotte, NC and began his career as a writer and journalist. He became an outspoken advocate for civil rights and began his own paper, the Carolina Israelite. It endured constant criticism and a fire that destroyed their subscription list, but survived, according to Golden, due to his use of satire, which he used to combat issues of desegregation and unionization.

In 1958 Golden became a best-selling author with Only in America, a collection of humorous essays. He went on to publish over a dozen books, many of which center on the Jewish American experience, such as Jewish Roots in the Carolinas. For those who enjoy satire and biting social commentary, find his books at your local bookstore or library. His papers can be found at J. Murrey Atkins Special Collections and Archives at UNC Charlotte.

NC Literary Map at Greensboro Bound

On May 19th the NC Literary Map will be at Greensboro Bound! Greensboro Bound is a literary festival that will gather writers and poets of all sorts for an exciting weekend of words. Find us at the Greensboro Cultural Center on the first floor to find more about the NC Literary Map!

NC Lit Map at NC Writers' Network Spring Conference

Greetings! Today, April 21st, we're at the North Carolina Writers' Network Spring Conference! Held on-campus at UNC-Greensboro, you can find our table in the MHRA Building. Stop by and ask about the NC Literary Map, or just to say hello and get a free bag!

National Poetry Month 2018

April is National Poetry Month, a celebration that began in 1996 and was started by the Academy of American Poets. This is a month dedicated to the appreciation and spread of poetry in the United States.

The North Carolina Literary Map has a section dedicated to poetry about North Carolina, with 172 collections available to browse. This National Poetry Month we mark the memory of Kathryn Stripling Byer, former Poet Laureate and the first woman to hold the title. Her poetry often focused upon the lives of women in the Appalachians and their hardships. One such example is Black Shawl, a collection of poetry about the female ballad singers in western North Carolina. Her last published poetry collection, Descent, confronted and challenged the legacy of southern racism.

If you are interested, check out her poetry at your local library or bookstore! Celebrate National Poetry Month with poems inspired by our own state!

NC Lit Map at the NC Writers’ Network

On April 21st the NC Literary Map will be at the NC Writers’ Network Spring Conference! It will be taking place at UNC Greensboro’s MHRA Building, and features classes and discussions on the business of writing and publishing. Find our table there to find more about the NC Literary Map!