Galley Talk

Jake Reiss, owner Alabama Booksmith, Birmingham, Ala.

by Staff -- Publishers Weekly, 6/5/2006

One of the most frequently asked questions around here is, "What makes a great author?" and our standard reply is that it helps to be born in Monroeville, Alabama. This tiny hamlet and its surrounding area have produced Harper Lee, Hank Williams and a half dozen other successful writers. While not born there, Truman Capote gleaned from his childhood the stories he would tell as an adult. One of our all-time favorite Monroeville natives, Mark Childress, comes close to proving "there's something in the water." His Crazy in Alabama is still a constant seller and we anticipate One Mississippi (Little, Brown, July) will satisfy those with a Childress craving and pick up a slew of new readers looking for a classic, clever, Southern read, with a surprise, serious climax. Childress's experience with eight previous books and some screenwriting credits has given him the ability to handle difficult themes with a master's touch. One Mississippiwill be one of the season's big books.