Calling all Southern Writers of Southern Fiction:
Pat Conroy at Story River Books says it is a joy to discover new Southern writers who wouldn’t otherwise have a chance to be published, and he feels a responsibility to help out. That’s good news for southern writers who are looking for a traditional publisher in the form of a small press.
Pat Conroy, as you know, is the southern author of such books as The Water Is Wide, The Great Santini, The Lords of Discipline and The Prince of Tides. But now he’s doing more than writing memorable books.
Since stepping into the role of editor at large for Story River Books last summer, best-selling author and famous Lowcountry resident Pat Conroy has found himself drowning in manuscripts. “It’s driving me nuts,” he admitted. “I despair when the mailman walks up and I see him, saggy at the shoulders, as he brings new manuscripts up to my door.”
The University of South Carolina Press’ latest imprint–named after a river on Conroy’s home of Fripp Island–was created to publish and highlight the work of fiction writers in the Palmetto State, but has since expanded to writers in the general South, Conroy said.
His job is to read and vet every work that comes in.
It’s not an enviable undertaking, but he said there is a sense of joy and responsibility in the task.
The joy of discovering new Southern writers who wouldn’t otherwise have a chance to be published, and a responsibility to help them in any way he can.
“I remember being in the exact same situation of these writers, who have manuscripts in their hands and nowhere to go,” Conroy said. “When I was starting out, I had no idea how to get published. I had no idea if what I wrote was any good.”
Pat Conroy at Story River Books also says:
“These books are good,” Conroy said. “I think these books are ones that would not be published in New York today, because those people are so obsessed with the million dollar sale, the blockbuster, that they’re forgetting about books with high literary quality. I think we’re filling a gap. And I really like being a part of that.”
I love that Pat Conroy is trying to give writers of southern fiction a boost. Southern literature has a wonderful tradition with the likes of Eudora Welty, Flannery O’Connor and William Faulkner as the most obvious candidates for southern knighthood. I imagine if any of these writers tried to get published today, they would not have an easy time of it, and might even remain unknown. It is that rough out there in the publishing empire.
However, there is also some good news: Pat Conroy is reading all those manuscripts in order to try to preserve the great tradition of southern literary fiction.
Thoughts? Comments? As always, I’d love to hear from you. xo
P.S. Submission guidelines for Story River Books can be found here. Or go to: https://www.sc.edu/uscpress/microsites/storyriver/srb_submit.html
Susan Gabriel is the acclaimed author of The Secret Sense of Wildflower (named a Best Book of 2012 by Kirkus Reviews) as well as Temple Secrets and five other books. She lives in the mountains of North Carolina.
The publishing revolution is in full throttle! I think this is exciting, though I do wonder how long he will be willing to keep it up. It appears that he is facing the same issue as traditional publishers – an overwhelming number of submissions.
> I imagine if any of these writers tried to get published today,
> they would not have an easy time of it, and might even remain
> unknown.
This is a sad, but unfortunately probably true, state of affairs. I was talking to someone last week who had previously been a low-level agent at a literary agency. She confirmed for me that if you want to be a little daring these days (and just a little) it’s probably best if you self-publish. She said the houses are looking for certain formulas, and if you don’t nail it in your first sentence–sometimes just your first three words–of your pitch, they move on.
Indie publishing is like indie movies. The studios/publishers, meanwhile, are all interested in the next blockbuster franchise. Someday the interesting writers will be almost completely self-published.
I thought of that, too, Anne. He’s probably already got an intern to weed through the not-so-good ones. I love that he’s giving back, though, for however long it lasts.
Well-said, John. You’re learning a lot about the publishing empire. I like thinking that Indie publishing is like indie movies. They are the most creative films out there. A lot of them even have strong women in them and not just in supporting roles as wives and mothers! Imagine. 🙂
Oh, I’ve long understood how it works. What has surprised me is how narrow their idea of “commercial” is.
I agree that there are so many writers looking to publish their “great American novel.” Pat Conroy has a huge job before him and, like you, I’m certain he has pre-readers to separate the chaff from the wheat.
No matter, that’s as it should be. The cream will rise to the top.
Congrats to Conroy for stepping forward!
Thanks for this good info.
You’re welcome, Nancy. I like helping out writers, too, and know how tough it is out there.
Things have changed drastically from the way they were when I started writing 20 years ago. While some of that change is unnerving, it’s also an exciting time. Writers are becoming more empowered. They have choices. They are able to maintain their artistic integrity and not twist themselves into pretzels to make an agent or a publisher happy. There’s something to be said for that, I think. xo