It’s only fitting that one of our first “On the House” posts should feature the words of co-founder Louis Rubin, whom we lost recently but whose ethos we try hard to keep alive. Rubin’s astute observations of a manuscript’s problems could be as pointed as they were keenly observed, but they were always, always deliveredContinue reading
“This is really going to be fun, I think.” — Louis Rubin, on the founding of Algonquin in January 1983. In 1983, launching a publishing venture outside the well-established literary circles of New York City was defiant, courageous, and, perhaps, a bit capricious. But Louis Rubin, a professor at UNC Chapel Hill, founded Algonquin BooksContinue reading
Lee Smith’s writing has been published for 45 years, starting with what was her college thesis (The Last Day the Dogbushes Bloomed) and running through to the just-released Guests on Earth, but her education as a writer began in her father’s dimestore. Here’s what she told Michael Morris in their author-to-author interview for Southern Living:Continue reading
Watch this mini-documentary about the amazing Lee Smith and how she came to write Guests on Earth, which publishes today. This isn’t a book trailer. It’s worth a midday break to watch. Promise. This is a remarkable, personal journey through Lee’s life and how she came to write this novel. As Lee says, “It’s aContinue reading
This year marks the forty-fifth anniversary of Lee Smith’s first novel, The Last Day the Dogbushes Bloomed. Since its publication in 1968, Lee has penned twelve other widely acclaimed novels and four collections of short stories. Pick up any Lee Smith book and you’re rewarded with a generous mix of poignancy, drama, and comedy—wholly satisfyingContinue reading
Writers are, first and foremost, readers. Their every sentence bears the mark of the cherished authors who have influenced them. And because many of our readers are also writers, we’ve created “On the House” to offer insight into our authors’ work, as well as advice from our editors and a peek inside our house. HereContinue reading