This morning I was honored to share my opinion about some good authors and I thought I would post it for others to check out (Library pun?). Cormac McCarthy is a must read.

——-Original Message——-
From: Peter Dawson
Sent: Thursday, August 02, 2007 10:24 PM
To: Kirk Wimberley
Subject: Authors

Hey Kirk,
First of all, congratulations on your upcoming wedding! I’m so happy for you and Faith!

Secondly, I was wondering if you have any favorite short stories or authors who have short story collections that you like.
Thanks and hope you’re doing well – Peter

——-Reply to Pete——-

Yes Pete!

Ok, authors…

Probably my favorite author of all time is Cormac McCarthy. I don’t think he has any short story collections, but he is a very powerful writer. His latest work, The Road, was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. The book before that was No Country for Old Men, which is going to be coming out in theaters this fall. He wrote the Border Trilogy which includes All The Pretty Horses…wonderful book, not as good of a movie.

The only short story authors I know of and like are Raymond Carver and Flannery O’Connor. Raymond Carver wrote a lot of stories that are set in Washington State. There was a section of my high school library that was dedicated to him. I think he went to my high school, but not sure. I discovered Flannery O’Conner in college through Fan Gates. She taught Literature and Faith. O’Connor’s stories often deal with fallen characters and awkward situations. They are gripping and aren’t very long. Definitely check her out. She was a devout Catholic so some faith-based themes come out in her work, but it’s not fluffy.

I just thought of another: Anne Lamott. She wrote Traveling Mercies and Bird by Bird which is a writer’s handbook. Those chapters read like short stories. I hoped that helped Pete. I got really into writing this email. This would be a great blog post for me I think :)

What are you working on with this info?

-K