Methodist University’s literary press will kick off the release of its first novel, “The Catalog of Crooked Thoughts,” on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016 with a visit from the author, Robert McKean, who will give a special reading and book signing.
Methodist University’s literary press will kick off the release of its first novel, “The Catalog of Crooked Thoughts,” on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016 with a visit from the author, Robert McKean, who will give a special reading and book signing. The reading will start at 7 p.m. in Room 122 of the Hendricks Science Building and will be followed by a question and answer session. This event is free and open to the public.
McKean’s novel was the winner of the 2016 Longleaf Press Novel Contest.
“Longleaf Press has published original literary works at Methodist University since 1998 and currently has over 30 poetry titles in print,” said Dr. Michael Colonnese, managing editor of the press and director of MU’s creative writing program. “McKean’s novel is not only Longleaf’s 2016 contest winner but also its first book of fiction.”
Recipient of a Massachusetts Cultural Council grant for his fiction, McLean has published in The Kenyon Review, The Chicago Review, Dublin Quarterly, Armchair/Shotgun, 34th Parallel, and many other journals. His short story collection was a finalist in the Flannery O’Connor Award, and the Mary McCarthy Prize competitions.
“Robert McKean’s ‘The Catalog of Crooked Thoughts’ offers a moving depiction of grief’s unraveling of the self and relationships after the death of an only child,” said MU Professor Michael Potts, who reviewed the book. “This profound and beautifully written work deserves a place in the canon of contemporary literature.”
About Longleaf Press
Longleaf Press is the literary press at Methodist University. Each year, its writers are featured guests at Methodist University’s Southern Writers Symposium. The non-profit press depends upon grants, book sales, and its annual contests to support its publishing efforts.
Each year, Longleaf Press sponsors a poetry chapbook contest open to writers from the southeastern United States who have not yet published a full-length poetry collection. This year, the press also sponsored a novel competition.
Since 2007, Longleaf has also accepted submissions from writers throughout the world and now publishes both full-length and chapbook length manuscripts.