The celebrated Pulitzer Prize winning Rick Bragg shares not only my hometown of Piedmont, Alabama, but my birthday as well, albeit a few years apart. He grew up in the rural community of Possum Trot, primarily raised by his mother because his drunken father was rarely around. I can remember sharing a seat on the bus with him from time to time. The boy could talk the ears off a wooden Indian! I’m pretty sure that helped him to become the great story-teller he is today. He says that listening to his family tell stories is what helped him most.
Bragg’s books give voice to poor white people from the South. His news articles champion the struggling underclasses of all races. He tells powerful stories that stay with the reader long after the book is finished. I strongly recommend all his books; All Over But the Shoutin’, Somebody Told Me, Ava’s Man, I Am a Soldier, Too, and The Prince of Frogtown. All are excellent stories that are difficult to put down.
His first book, All Over But the Shoutin’, brought him fame as he shared memories of struggling with his abusive, alcoholic father as well as remembering his mother’s difficulties as she raised him and his two brothers on her own.
In 1996, while working for The New York Times Bragg was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for his human interest stories. These days he lives in Tuscaloosa and works as Professor of Journalism at the University of Alabama.
Rick is a very special kind of southern story-teller and I’m proud to have known him. Reading his books takes me back to the old days, sitting around the store on a Sunday afternoon sharing tales with kinfolks and friends. It’s a good feeling.
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Here are a few of my favorite bloggers. Give them a visit, won’t you?
Little Write Lies
The Story Reading Ape
Nancy Jardine
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You can find New Yesterdays by following these links: US, UK, India
About Ol' Big Jim
Jim L. Wright is a storyteller with a lifetime of experiences as colorful as the characters he creates. Born and raised in Piedmont, Alabama, Jim’s connection to the land, history, and people of the region runs deep. His debut novel New Yesterdays is set in his hometown, where he grew up listening to stories of the past—stories that sparked his imagination and curiosity for history.
Today, Jim lives in Leeds, Alabama, with his husband Zeek, a tour operator who shares his passion for adventure and discovery. Known affectionately as “Ol’ Big Jim,” he has had a diverse career that includes time as a storekeeper, an embalmer, a hospital orderly, and a medical coder. There are even whispers—unconfirmed, of course—that he once played piano in a house of ill repute.
No matter the job, one thing has remained constant: Jim is a teller of tales. His stories—sometimes humorous, sometimes thought-provoking—are often inspired by his unique life experiences. Many of these tales can be found on his popular blog, Ol’ Big Jim, where he continues to share his musings with a loyal readership.
Jim’s adventures have taken him far beyond Alabama. For seven years, he lived in Amman, Jordan, the world’s oldest continuously inhabited city. His time there, spent in smoky coffee shops, enjoying a hookah and a cup of tea while scribbling in his ever-present notebook, deeply influenced his worldview and his writing.
When Jim isn’t writing, he’s thinking about writing. His stories, whether tall tales from his past or imaginative reimagining is of historical events should read from his past or imaginative reimaginings of historical events, reflect a life lived fully and authentically. With New Yesterdays, Jim brings readers a rich tapestry of history, fantasy, and human connection.
Visit his blog at www.olbigjim.com to read more of his stories, or follow him on social media to keep up with his latest musings and projects, one of which is a series that follows Bonita McCauley, an amateur detective who gets into some very sticky situations.
His book, New Yesterdays, can be found at Amazon US, Amazon UK, Smashwords, and Barnes and Noble.
Bragg’s books give voice to poor white people from the South. His news articles champion the struggling underclasses of all races. He tells powerful stories that stay with the reader long after the book is finished. I strongly recommend all his books; All Over But the Shoutin’, Somebody Told Me, Ava’s Man, I Am a Soldier, Too, and The Prince of Frogtown. All are excellent stories that are difficult to put down.
olbigjim 