Poached Peaches Excerpt from her memoir, Loving My Hateful Ancestors: A Public Witness Ellen Morris Prewitt Poached Peaches This much is true. My family’s ancestral LaGrange plantation had a hell of a lot of peach trees. The pre-Civil War peach farm clung to the rolling hills and deep ravines of Warren
William Gay On February 12, 2011—just over a year before his passing—fiction writer William Gay welcomed MTSU student and Tennessee Literary Project intern Derrick Hill into his Hoheneald, Tennessee home for an extensive interview. Following is the transcript from that conversation. Derrick Hill: What can we expect from you in
The Power of Sensory Detail in Literary Fiction At the heart of great literary fiction lies the ability to immerse a reader fully—transporting them beyond the page and into a world that feels lived-in, tactile, and true. This magic often stems from one of the most overlooked tools in a writer’s kit: sensory detail. The best
Craft Corner: Writing Real Dialogue in Rural Southern Voices Capturing authentic Southern dialogue goes far beyond sprinkling in “y’all.” As respected Southern writers know, it’s about rhythm, respect, and cultural truth. Ron Rash (Appalachian novelist) “I don’t want to sentimentalize these people… but I don’t want to demonize them, either…. These are people in a
Author Spotlight David Joy At Porchlight, we’re thrilled to shine our porch light on David Joy, a masterful voice in contemporary Southern and Appalachian fiction whose work grips the heart and doesn’t let go. Roots in the Mountain South A 12th-generation North Carolinian, Joy grew up along the Catawba River
Featured Editorial Services Thoughtful Editing. Meaningful Feedback. A Clearer Path Forward. At Porchlight, we believe that every great story deserves the care and attention it takes to shine. That’s why we offer professional editorial services designed to support and elevate emerging Southern writers at every stage of the process. Our team of
Featured Submissions Open Call for Literary Submissions Fiction. Creative Nonfiction. Poetry. Now accepting submissions at Porchlight. Are you a Southern storyteller with something to say? Whether you write with the cadence of front-porch conversation, the tension of backroad secrets, or the lyricism of magnolia-sweet memory — Porchlight wants to hear from you. We&
Featured Welcome to Porchlight Shining a Light on Emerging Southern Voices We’re thrilled to open the doors to Porchlight, a new online home for the storytellers of the South. Whether you’re a reader drawn to the grit and grace of Southern fiction or a writer searching for your place in a rich
