Authors George Singleton, Clyde Edgerton headline Writers@Work

George Singleton to give South Bound reading

Southern Lit Alliance will welcome author George Singleton to its next South Bound lecture series for a reading from his new collection of short stories, “Calloustown.’The event will take place Wednesday, April 4, at 5 p.m. and will be followed by a discussion and book signing with the author. The reading will be held at the Arts Building, 301 East 11th St. It is hosted by the Writers@Work program at Chattanooga State Community College.“Calloustown,” the seventh collection from Singleton, looks at the inhabitants of the titular Calloustown in all their humanity. Whether exploring family, religion, politics or the true meaning of home, the stories range from deeply affecting to wildly absurd.The South Bound reading is free, but reservations are strongly recommended since seating is limited. Reservations can be made online at www.SouthernLitAlliance.org or by calling 423-777-4221.

photo George Singleton
photo Clyde Edgerton

George Singleton and Clyde Edgerton will be the featured authors when Chattanooga State Community College presents its annual Writers@ Work program, beginning Monday, April 2.

The program provides a series of readings, book signings, drama and interviews for the public to learn more about the featured guests and their work.

Singleton's work, "The Half Mammals of Dixie," will be the event's featured book. "The Half Mammals of Dixie" is a collection of short stories published in 2003 about "regular people just trying to get by."

Singleton was born in Anaheim, Calif., but raised in Greenwood, S.C. He grew up wanting to be a track coach, but a college injury changed that trajectory. After some interest in law, he decided to pursue his love of writing, which had appeared in his late teens.

His writing has led to a number of awards and accolades including a finalist for the 2013 SIBA Book Awards, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and the Hillsdale Award for Fiction from the Fellowship of Southern Writers. He was inducted into the Fellowship of Southern Writers in April 2015, after accepting the Cobb Endowed Chair in the Humanities at Wofford College, where he currently teaches.

He has written seven collections of short stories, three novels and an instructional book on writing fiction.

Edgerton was raised near Durham, N.C. After serving in the Air Force during the Vietnam War, he finished his formal education by completing his Ph.D in 1977.

After teaching high school and college English classes, he broke onto the literary scene with "Raney" in 1985. His works, generally set in the South, explore themes of hypocrisy, religion and love.

He is the author of 10 novels, an advice book, a memoir, short stories and essays. His latest novel is "Where Trouble Sleeps."

He has been a Guggenheim Fellow, is a member of the Fellowship of Southern Writers and is the Thomas S. Kenan III Distinguished Professor of Creative Writing at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington.

WRITERS@WORK SCHEDULE OF PUBLIC EVENTS

» Monday, April 2, 7 p.m.: "Half-Mammals of the Stage: An Immersive Theater Experience," Chattanooga State Humanities Building auditorium, 4501 Amnicola Highway. An interactive, multimedia dramatization of scenes from Singleton's "The Half Mammals of Dixie."

» Tuesday, April 3, 5:15 p.m.: A Night at the Museum with George Singleton, Hunter Museum of American Art, 10 Bluff View. Gallery walk followed by reading, question-and-answer session and book signing. Dessert reception with an author meet-and-greet.

» Wednesday, April 4, 5 p.m.: Writers@Work gets So-Lit with the Southern Lit Alliance and George Singleton, Arts Building, 301 E. 11th St. See accompanying box.

» Thursday, April 5, 4 p.m.: Chautauqua at Chattanooga State: Banter and Banjos with George Singleton and Clyde Edgerton, Kolwyck Library on Chattanooga State's campus. A discussion of writing, music, reading, Q&A and book signing.

» Thursday, April 5, 7 p.m.: George Singleton and Clyde Edgerton: Behind the Writer Interview, Chattanooga State Community College, Humanities Building auditorium, 4501 Amnicola Highway. Interview, story-swapping, Q&A, book signing and dessert reception.

For more information about these events, email Erica Lux at WritersAtWork@chattanoogastate.edu.

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