News - Literary News
News - Literary News

Dawnie Walton’s debut novel, THE FINAL REVIVAL OF OPAL & NEV, is already garnering praise months ahead of its release. Author Kiley Reid praises the novel as “lovely and lyrical; a warm and wonderful intersection between journalism and fiction," while Jason Reynolds calls the book “as musical and revolutionary in tone and structure as it is in content. It delves into the complexities of the creative life, specifically as it pertains to Black women and instead of shying away or egg-shelling, it does what every good book does, tells the truth.” 37 Ink will publish the book on April 20, 2021.

Robert Jones Jr.’s THE PROPHETS continues to receive incredible praise. The LA Times’ "Mariah Carey's Essential Reading" list featured the novel, while O Magazine called it one of “32 LGBTQ Books That Will Change the Literary Landscape in 2021.” Lastly, Alma featured it on their list of “Favorite Winter Books for 2021,” noting that it tells “a magnificent story,” and a “[book] that everyone will be talking about.”
G.P. Putnam’s Sons will publish the book on January 5, 2021.

The Southern Review of Books praises the revised edition of Kiese Laymon’s HOW TO SLOWLY KILL YOURSELF AND OTHERS IN AMERICA. They write: “Laymon approaches issues of race with a wide lens, encompassing both personal and social aspects, revealing that they are irreversibly intertwined — what happens socially shapes our personal lives, and vice versa. His narrative is unapologetic and fierce but never without a distinct lyricism and intentionality, even tenderness.” Additionally, NPR 1A and Shondaland both interviewed Kiese in podcast discussions about the essay collection. Scribner published the book on November 10, 2020.

Poets & Writers named A.H. Kim, author of A GOOD FAMILY, one of their “5 Over 50.” The annual list honors authors who published their debut book after turning 50. Graydon House published the book on July 14, 2020.

Gina Apostol’s novel THE REVOLUTION ACCORDING TO RAYMUNDO MATA has earned a starred review in Publishers Weekly. They write: “The narrative is studded with hilarious argumentative footnotes between an editor, a translator, and a scholar of Mata’s work, producing dueling Nabokovian narratives: Mata’s diaries and the conflicting commentaries, all suffused perfectly with Apostol’s dense, demanding style. As the story of the revolution faces off with literary histrionics, all is resolved with a gut-punch conclusion. Apostol’s unique perspective on facts versus fiction would make for a perfect Charlie Kaufman movie.” Soho Press will publish the book on January 12, 2021.

PHALLACY by Emily Willingham was featured in Smithsonian Magazine. Corryn Wetzel writes: “PHALLACY plunges readers into the wild and wacky world of animal genitalia while exploring the social and cultural significance of penises as symbols of power and identity.” Avery published the book on September 22, 2020.

THE MUTANT PROJECT by Eben Kirskey was featured in The Wall Street Journal. Amy Dockser Marcus writes: “Kirksey’s exploration of the debates over genetic modification eventually takes him around the world....[He] paints a detailed and nuanced portrait of Dr. He without condoning his actions...In examining Crispr, it becomes clear, we are called upon to examine ourselves too. By the end of THE MUTANT PROJECT, Dr. Kirksey has returned to where he began, trying to assess what Dr. He’s experiment has unleashed. The central question is not so much Crispr’s safety or efficacy as what kind of world it will help create." St. Martin’s Press published THE MUTANT PROJECT on November 10, 2020.

Wayne Koestenbaum’s essay collection FIGURE IT OUT has made the LA Times’ Best Books of the Year list. Soft Skull Press published the book on May 5, 2020.

THE OLD DRIFT by Namwali Serpell has made the LA Times’ Best Books of the Year list. The list of 20 fiction and nonfiction titles feature “the most engaging, funny, and urgent works.” Hogarth published the book on March 26, 2019.

The film adaption of LET HIM GO by Larry Watson came in at #1 in the U.S Box Office for its opening weekend. The Guardian gave the film five stars, and The Wrap and New York Times called it “breathlessly intense” and a “searing thriller” respectively. Milkweed Editions published the book September 3, 2013.