A Word on Words

Galahad and the Grail is the first volume in Malcolm Guite's four-part epic poem, Merlin's Isle: An Arthuriad, which retells the Arthurian legends with a focus on the Grail quest, featuring Sir Galahad, Sir Bors, and Sir Percival. The book is a modern epic poem best read aloud. This book aims to be both a literary work and a spiritual journey.

Michael Thomas’ The Broken King is a powerful memoir exploring fathers and sons, race, trauma, and recovery. Through interwoven portraits of five men, including himself, Thomas traces his own breakdown and reckoning, crafting a deeply personal story about family, identity, and the fragile path back from loss and madness.

“In Alabama, we exist at the border of blessing and disaster….” Alexis Okeowo blends memoir and journalism to explore her upbringing in Montgomery as the daughter of Nigerian immigrants. Weaving her personal story with the state’s complex history, she challenges stereotypes and reveals how Alabamians reckon with loving a place shaped by both deep pride and painful truths.

After her father’s death, college student Jane Sharp finds identity and purpose in online true crime forums. When a triple murder in Idaho goes viral, she and her fellow sleuths dive in only to uncover eerie inconsistencies. One year later, Jane reveals a chilling truth about obsession, fame, and the danger of turning crime into entertainment.

For nearly 40 years, spiritual seekers traveled to Plains, Georgia, to hear former President Jimmy Carter teach Sunday School. Welcoming people of all backgrounds, his humble, thoughtful lessons offered practical insights on faith, love, and daily life. This collection captures his Scripture-based teachings, reflecting a lifetime guided by deeply held Christian principles.

The Everlasting is a time-traveling fantasy novel about a historian, Owen Mallory, who falls in love with the legend of the knight Sir Una Everlasting. He gets pulled into her story, forcing them to repeatedly relive and try to change her tragic fate. The novel blends adventure with a genre-bending romance as the two characters try to rewrite history and their own ending.

Inspired by tribal folklore and the ghost stories of his grandmother, Carson Faust, an enrolled member of the Edisto Natchez-Kusso Tribe, explores intergenerational trauma, grief, and violence in his novel IF THE DEAD BELONG HERE. Faust tells the story of a family broken by the disappearance of a young girl, and how her family is left to deal with the aftermath, uncovering secrets along the way.

Under the Stars by Beatriz Williams is a multigenerational novel linking three women across time on Winthrop Island, New England. As chef Audrey Fisher and her famous mother, Meredith, confront buried family secrets, their story intertwines with that of Providence Dare, accused of murder aboard the doomed 1846 steamship Atlantic, revealing love, legacy, and truths that echo through generations.

“A dangerous element of narratives of Black excellence are being regal, being perfect, being flawless in this way that can be, I think, oppressive to the people who try to uphold that label.” Rob Franklin talks with J.T. Ellison about his debut novel, GREAT BLACK HOPE.

Jessa Crispin’s book WHAT IS WRONG WITH MEN is a sharp, clever exploration of patriarchy, masculinity in crisis, and the cultural myths that shape gender. With surprising insight, illustrated through Michael Douglas films of the 1980s and ’90s, Crispin dissects how power, desire, and identity collide, challenging readers to rethink what men are and what they might become.

Glen Masters and his daughter Lauren are on a road trip through the Appalachian Mountains in hopes of reconnecting after a family trauma. But what was supposed to be a quick stop for lunch turns into a nightmare. Armed men and a mysterious living water hold Glenn and his daughter hostage at a small diner. With help nowhere in sight, Glen will have to face his worst fears or risk losing everything.

In June 1975, two of three siblings are found dead in their home. Vincent, the lone survivor, lives under whispers that he killed them. Decades later, at the end of his career as a horror writer, his estranged daughter Olivia, is hired to write his final book, the memoir of what really happened that night. After 50 years, Vincent is ready to tell the truth.

In his debut novel, ARCHIVE OF UNKNOWN UNIVERSES, Ruben Reyes Jr. blends historical fiction and science fiction. He follows two families affected by the Salvadoran Civil War across alternate timelines. A device called The Defractor allows characters to glimpse alternate realities, exploring themes of fate, love, and the lasting impact of the war on different generations and immigrant experiences.

In Ruth Reichl’s THE PARIS NOVEL, a shy copy editor, Stella inherits a one-way ticket to Paris from her estranged mother and is pushed into a journey of self-discovery. Set in 1980s Paris, the novel follows her as she steps beyond her comfort zone — buying a Dior dress, diving into the city’s food, art, and fashion — and discovers a richer, more vibrant life.

A PERFECT FRENZY is the untold story of rebellion in Virginia that will forever change the understanding of the Revolution. In 1775, Lord Dunmore threatened to arm enslaved Africans to fight for the Crown. This provoked patriots to burn Norfolk, sparking Virginia’s call for independence. The story offers a new perspective on the revolution and reveals the seeds of the nation’s racial divide.

Investigative journalist Claire Campbell returns home after a call from her father pulls her back into past trauma — her sister vanished 22 years ago. Working at Galloway Farm — a scenic muscadine vineyard where her sister last seemed at peace — Claire discovers a mysterious diary describing unsolved crimes. She realizes the idyllic retreat may hold the key to her sister’s disappearance.

Author Andrew Maraniss speaks on the life and experiences of civil rights trailblazer Perry Wallace. Maraniss recounts Wallace's journey as the first basketball player to desegregate the SEC while playing for Vanderbilt University in STRONG INSIDE: PERRY WALLACE AND THE COLLISION OF RACE AND SPORTS IN THE SOUTH.

Author Signe Pike sits down with J.T. Ellison to discuss the newest entry in her 'The Lost Queen' series, 'The Shadowed Land.' Pike delves into the inspiration she drew from the often overlooked pre-Christian traditions of Scotland.

WHEN SOUTHERN WOMEN COOK is a first-of-its-kind cookbook from America’s Test Kitchen. This book features 300+ recipes and stories of the women who shaped Southern cuisine. Led by Toni Tipton-Martin and Morgan Bolling, it honors generations of cooks whose creativity and resilience define the diverse soul of Southern cooking.

Andre Dubus III navigates adulthood with diverse experiences: from chasing a drug lord in Mexico to confronting privilege in New York City. In GHOST DOGS, Dubus's book of essays, he reflects on personal growth, struggles with masculinity, and the power dynamics of gun ownership.

Griffin Hurt is struggling—between his role on The Nuclear Family, the pressures of Boyd Prep, and his wrestling coach’s demands, he’s on the brink. Instead of confiding in his family’s shrink, he turns to Naomi Shah, 22 years his senior. Playworld is a gripping tale of youth, miseducation, and excess, capturing 1980s Manhattan as Griffin navigates the blurred lines of adolescence and adulthood.

Martha, a librarian, marries Alan, a charming salesman often away for work. When she discovers a suspicious bloodstain on his shirt from a conference, Martha investigates Alan's travels, uncovering five unsolved murders. Unsure if Alan is a killer or if it's coincidence, she seeks advice from her friend Lily. Lily uncovers truths, leading to a twisty and clever exploration of deception and danger.

Lena Baker's life feels stable—until a wedding day confession upends everything. She struggles to teach her daughter self-love while questioning everything she knows about relationships, friendship, and motherhood. As she fights to preserve Oregon’s overlooked Black history, she navigates well-meaning but ignorant colleagues. Skin & Bones is a powerful story of heartbreak, identity, & heal...

In 1874, haunted by war & loss, 12-year-old ConaLee and her silent mother, Eliza, journey to the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum. Far from their mountain home, they navigate a world shaped by trauma, race, and resilience. Posing as her mother’s maid, ConaLee meets some unforgettable characters while Eliza begins her recovery. NIGHT WATCH is a tale of survival, identity, and hope in the wake of...

Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodríguez was born into a large, close-knit family in Nicaragua. She explores the complex dynamics of strong, resilient women in her book Tías and Primas. In this follow-up to For Brown Girls with Sharp Edges and Tender Hearts, she delves into intergenerational trauma, colonization, and sexism, offering a heartfelt tribute to family, community, and Latinas everywhere.