Columns & Departments

Editor’s Box
by Marc Smirnoff

Gone Off Up North
INFINITE JUICE
by Roy Blount, Jr.

Local Fare
LET US NOW PRAISE FABULOUS COOKS
by John T. Edge

OA Gallery
The paintings of Stan Rice, poet

Obsessions
UNMENTIONABLE
by Andrew Hudgins

Work
THE INTERVIEW QUEEN
by Melissa King

In Florida
THE PLEASURE DOMES OF FLORIDA
by Diane Roberts

OA Comix
CONFESSIONS OF A HARDENED BOOK FESTIVAL ATTENDEE
by James Whorton, Jr. & Peter Bagge

Family
THE SECRET OF SECRETS
by Beth Ann Fennelly

Sports
THE ART OF HATRED
by Will Blythe

Private History
THE NOT-SO-GENTLE LADY OF VIRGINIA
by Roger L. Tarr

Books
AMID THE SWIRLING GHOSTS
by William Caverlee

Writing on Writing
THE REBELLION CONTINUES, AT LEAST IN THE SOUTHERN SHORT STORY
by Alan Gurganus

Writing on Writing
HEARING VOICES
by Susan Straight

Dealer’s Choice
A CITY OF THE MIND
by Hal Crowther

Southern Scenes
SHELBY FOOTE, 1916-2005

Features

OA Forum
EMERGING WRITERS
According to some mighty Southern writers, the future of Dixie fiction looks bright.

BLUE YODEL OF A WAYFARING STRANGER
Poems that evoke the “great quiet bumming of the soul at night” and dreamlike visions.
poetry by Frank Stanford, with an introduction by C.D. Wright

SECONDHAND SUBLIME
Touring Tennessee with artist Wayne White, whose landscape paintings are wordier than any you’ve seen before.
by Paul Reyes

Winter Fiction

MATTRESS: A TIMELINE
Can a used mattress topple a relationship?
a story by Chris Bachelder

UNASSIGNED TERRITORY
In the rural South, some folks don’t appreciate a Jehovah’s Witness at the door.
a story by Stephanie Powell Watts

THE NAKED EYE
Families will both disappoint and rescue you.
a story by John Holman

NANCY
After she abandons you, is there anything left?
a story by Daniel Alarcón

Poetry

“The Ineffable”
by Thom Ward

“Destination”
by Benjamin Pryor

“Barber St.”
by Jeff Fallis

“The Russian Novel”
by Billy Collins

Cover: Abigail Vona, author of  Bad Girl. Photograph by Amy Guip