Fiction That Speaks Truth

This week, Salvation South brings you thrilling tales and insightful conversations that explore the darker side of Southern fiction, from seasoned masters to fresh talent.

By Chuck Reece

Nov 15, 2024

Folks, something special is happening at Salvation South.

When we launched this publication, Stacy and I had an expansive vision: to create a home for authentic Southern voices from all sorts of storytellers—not only journalists, but also writers of fiction and poetry, essayists and memoirists. We wanted our publication to be strong enough to attract the work of established and emerging writers.

From the world of fiction, I'm proud to say we’re delivering on that promise big time this week.

First, we’re honored to publish a new short story by the legendary Ron Rash. If you're not familiar with Ron's work, well, you're in for a treat. The New York Times calls him “one of the great American authors at work today,” and his latest offering, “A Single Green Feather,” proves why. It’s a haunting and mysterious tale—one that Ron himself calls “not my usual kind of story.”

And it pairs beautifully with “Where There Are No Trees” by Grace Buckner, a rising star whose fiction we’re thrilled to introduce to our readers. Grace made her debut in Salvation South a few weeks ago with “A Love Letter to a Drowned Land,” our first essay responding to the devastation Hurricane Helene brought to Appalachia. “No Trees” is a heartbreaking narrative of childhood grief, and Grace’s raw talent shines in every sentence. Her ability to capture the voice of her young protagonist is nothing short of remarkable.

But wait, there's more. Our latest Salvation South Deluxe podcast episode, “The Rot Under the Magnolias,” features my conversations with five of the most exciting voices in Southern fiction today: Tayari Jones, S.A. Cosby, David Joy, Michael Farris Smith, and Chris Offutt. These writers are redefining what Southern literature can be through work that some folks label “Southern noir.” But their work is hardly the straight detective thriller work like the authors whose work became the “film noir” of Hollywood in the middle of the twentieth century. Jones, Cosby, Joy, Smith, and Offutt do tell thrilling and chilling tales: they all write books that will keep you up at night reading just one more chapter. But in the process, they also tackle tough issues like race, class, and the complexities of justice in our region.

What strikes me about all these storytellers—from Ron Rash to our podcast guests—is their commitment to telling the stories of people who would never be considered among the elites of Southern society. These writers have zero interest in perpetuating stereotypes or glossing over the South's troubled history. Instead, they're digging deep, exploring the shadows, and illuminating the human experiences that make our region so rich and complex.

—“A Single Green Feather”: new fiction from Ron Rash
—“Where There Are No Trees”: new fiction from Grace Buckner
—“The Rot Under the Magnolias”: a new Salvation South Deluxe podcast on “Southern noir,” featuring Tayari Jones, David Joy, S.A. Cosby, Michael Farris Smith, and Chris Offutt

David Joy put it beautifully in our podcast when he said he writes about “hardscrabble lives, who are doing the best that they can with what they have.” That ethos runs through all the work we’re featuring this week.

At Salvation South, we believe in the power of stories to bridge divides and foster understanding. The works we're sharing this week do just that. They challenge us, move us, and ultimately, remind us of our shared humanity.

So, dear readers, dive in. Let Ron Rash's masterful prose transport you. Allow Grace Buckner's raw emotion to touch your heart. And listen to our podcast to hear some of the South’s finest literary minds discuss their craft.

This is what Salvation South is all about—bringing you the best of Southern storytelling, from the legends to the rising stars. It’s a rare privilege to share these voices with you, and we are so grateful these amazing artists wish to speak through our publication.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I’ve got some reading to do. Y’all should join me.

With gratitude for your readership,

Chuck Reece

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Chuck Reece is the co-founder and editor-in-chief of Salvation South, the weekly web magazine you're reading right now. He was the founding editor of The Bitter Southerner. He grew up in the north Georgia mountains in a little town called Ellijay.