Four More Author Profiles on This Goodly Land

This Goodly Land: Alabama's Literary Landscape has just added four new Alabama author profiles to its Web site. Like our earlier profiles, these include biographical information about the authors, information about their work, and places where interested readers can go to find out more.

Our latest additions are novelist Catherine Rodgers, Old Southwest humorists H. E. Taliaferro and George Washington Harris, and autobiographer/children’s book author Ellen Tarry.

Midge Coates, Project Manager
This Goodly Land: Alabama's Literary Landscape

New Author Profiles on This Goodly Land

This Goodly Land: Alabama's Literary Landscape has just added six new Alabama author profiles to its Web site. Like our earlier profiles, these include biographical information about the authors, information about their work, and places where interested readers can go to find out more.

Our latest additions are novelist Jack Bethea, travel and nature writer Archie Carr, journalist and nonfiction writer Frye Gaillard, crime fiction writer Carolyn Haines, and novelists/children’s book authors Wyatt Blassingame and Virginia Sorensen.

Midge Coates, Project Manager
This Goodly Land: Alabama's Literary Landscape

Audio: Rheta Grimsley Johnson on NPR

On November 29, 2009, Alabama author Rheta Grimsley Johnson's book Poor Man's Provence (NewSouthBooks) was reviewed by Debbie Elliott on NPR’s program Weekend Edition Sunday. In addition to the review, the Web site has an excerpt from the book.

Listen to Debbie Elliott's review of Poor Man's Provence on NPR.

Midge Coates, Project Manager
This Goodly Land: Alabama's Literary Landscape

First Draft Fall Issue Now Available Online

The Fall '09 issue of First Draft, the journal of the Alabama Writers' Forum, is now available online in PDF format at the First Draft page of the AWF Web site. PDFs of earlier issues, from Summer '98 through Spring '09, are also available here.

This issue features an interview with Muscogee poet Joy Harjo and an essay by Alabama author Phyllis Alesia Perry. First Draft also publishes articles about Alabama literary events, book reviews, and other items of literary interest.

AWF, a partnership program of the Alabama State Council on the Arts, sponsors community-based programs to promote the appreciation of Alabama's literary heritage and to support Alabama's writers in the various stages of their careers. Their Web site also includes book reviews, a directory of literary resources, and announcements of classes, competitions, and publishing opportunities.

Download a PDF version of the Fall '09 issue of First Draft.

Midge Coates, Project Manager
This Goodly Land: Alabama's Literary Landscape

Video: Philip Henry Gosse in Alabama

On October 4, 2007, Auburn University Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology professor Gary Mullen presented a lecture on Alabama author Philip Henry Gosse. This lecture was presented as part of the Discover Auburn series. Videos from this series are now available online as part of the Auburn University Digital Library.

The Discover Auburn lecture series is presented jointly by the Auburn University Libraries, the Auburn University Bookstore, and the Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts & Humanities in the College of Liberal Arts at Auburn University.

Watch Prof. Gary Mullen's lecture "Philip Henry Gosse: A Naturalist's View of Dallas County, Alabama in 1838."

Midge Coates, Project Manager
This Goodly Land: Alabama's Literary Landscape

Four More Author Profiles on This Goodly Land

This Goodly Land: Alabama's Literary Landscape has just added four new Alabama author profiles to its Web site. Like our earlier profiles, these include biographical information about the authors, information about their work, and places where interested readers can go to find out more.

Our latest additions are novelists Robert E. Bell, Andrew Lytle, Anne Rivers Siddons, and Lee Smith.

Midge Coates, Project Manager
This Goodly Land: Alabama's Literary Landscape

New Author Photos on This Goodly Land

We've added new photos to fifteen of our author profiles at This Goodly Land: Alabama's Literary Landscape.

Profiles with new photos include:

Crime fiction writers Ace Atkins, Tim Dorsey, and Richard North Patterson; novelists Joe David Brown, Rebecca Harding Davis, Mary Johnston, and Elise Sanguinetti; Harlem Renasissance writers Arna Bontemps and George Wylie Henderson; poets Sidney Lanier and Father Abram J. Ryan; New Journalist Gay Talese; travel writer Octavia Walton Le Vert; writers for children and young adults Peter Huggins and Deborah Wiles

Midge Coates, Project Manager
This Goodly Land: Alabama's Literary Landscape

Nine New Author Profiles on This Goodly Land

This Goodly Land: Alabama's Literary Landscape has just added nine new Alabama author profiles to its Web site. Like our earlier profiles, these include biographical information about the authors, information about their work, and places where interested readers can go to find out more.

Our latest additions are New Journalist Gay Talese, travel writer and Nineteenth Century journalist Anne Royall, Social Realism novelist Rebecca Harding Davis, librarian and Harlem Renaissance figure Arna Bontemps, and writers of books for children and young adults John Green, Peter Huggins, Margaret Zehmer Searcy, Emma Gelders Sterne, and Deborah Wiles.

Midge Coates, Project Manager
This Goodly Land: Alabama's Literary Landscape

Seven New Author Profiles on This Goodly Land

This Goodly Land: Alabama's Literary Landscape has just added seven new Alabama author profiles to its Web site. Like our earlier profiles, these include biographical information about the authors, information about their work, and places where interested readers can go to find out more.

Our latest additions are mystery writers Ace Atkins, Tim Dorsey, and Richard North Patterson; historical novelists Douglas Fields Bailey, Lonnie Coleman, and J. H. Ingraham; and travel writer Octavia Walton Le Vert.

Midge Coates, Project Manager
This Goodly Land: Alabama's Literary Landscape

New Author Profiles on This Goodly Land

This Goodly Land: Alabama's Literary Landscape has just added four new Alabama author profiles to its Web site. Like our earlier profiles, these include biographical information about the authors, information about their work, and places where interested readers can go to find out more.

Our latest additions are historical novelist Mary Johnston, poets Sidney Lanier and Father Abram J. Ryan, and memoirist/travel writer Eleanor de la Vergne Risley.

Midge Coates, Project Manager
This Goodly Land: Alabama's Literary Landscape

Audio: Interviews with Kathryn Tucker Windham and Rick Bragg on Alabama Arts Radio

Two Alabama authors were recently featured in separate broadcasts of the Alabama Arts Radio Series.

In the July 5, 2009, program, Kathryn Tucker Windham was interviewed by Joey Brackner.

Listen to Kathryn Tucker Windham on Alabama Arts Radio.

In the September 27, 2009, program, Rick Bragg was interviewed by Al Head.

Listen to Rick Bragg on Alabama Arts Radio.

To stream, left-click on either "High MP3" or "Low 56K." To download, right-click and choose "Save Link As ..." or "Save Target As ..."

Midge Coates, Project Manager
This Goodly Land: Alabama's Literary Landscape

Audio: "Autobiography and Memoir" and "Crime Fiction" Podcasts

This Goodly Land: Alabama's Literary Landscape has just uploaded two new audio podcasts to our Multimedia page.

The two most recent programs in the series are titled "Autobiography and Memoir" and "Crime Fiction." Maiben Beard from the Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts & Humanities interviews Dr. Bert Hitchcock and Dr. Christopher Keirstead from the Auburn University Department of English.

Supplemental materials for these programs are available at This Goodly Land's Web site and include audio transcripts, reading lists, discussion questions, and lesson plans.

Stream Autobiography and Memoir Audio.

Stream Crime Fiction Audio.

(To download, right-click on the link(s) above and choose "Save Link As ..." or "Save Target As ...")

Learn more about the subjects of This Goodly Land's audio podcasts from our supplemental materials. Scroll down the page to find the most recent podcasts.

These podcasts are also available free from This Goodly Land's section of iTunes U. (The iTunes software is also free, but you must have it on your computer to access these materials. You can get it from the iTunes download page of the Apple Web site.)

Midge Coates, Project Manager
This Goodly Land: Alabama's Literary Landscape

Audio: Will Wright Interviews Edward O. Wilson on NPR

On September 1, 2009, Alabama author Edward O. Wilson was interviewed by computer game designer Will Wright on NPR’s program Morning Edition during the “Open Mic” segment. The two discussed the future of computer games in children's science education and his own introduction to science as a child. The Web page has two additional question/answer segments not included in the broadcast.

Listen to "E.O. Wilson And Will Wright: Ant Lovers Unite!" on NPR.

Midge Coates, Project Manager
This Goodly Land: Alabama's Literary Landscape

Audio: New Podcast: Reading from Gosse's Letters from Alabama

This Goodly Land: Alabama's Literary Landscape has just added another new podcast to our "Multimedia" page.

Mr. Aaron Trehub, Assistant Dean for Library Technology, Auburn University Libraries, reads a selection from Philip Henry Gosse's Letters from Alabama (U.S.): Chiefly about Natural History.

Supplemental materials for this program are available at This Goodly Land's Web site and include an audio transcript, a reading list, discussion questions, and lesson plans.

Stream "Letters from Alabama" Audio.

To download, right-click on the link(s) above and choose "Save Link As ..." or "Save Target As ...")

Learn more about the subjects of This Goodly Land's audio podcasts from our supplemental materials.

iTunes users can also stream or download audios, transcripts, and supplemental materials from This Goodly Land's section of iTunes U.

Midge Coates, Project Manager
This Goodly Land: Alabama's Literary Landscape

Audio: New Podcast on Nineteenth Century Women Writers

This Goodly Land: Alabama's Literary Landscape has just added another new podcast to our "Multimedia" page.

Maiben Beard from the Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts & Humanities interviews Dr. James Emmett Ryan of the Auburn University Department of English about women's contributions to literary culture in Nineteenth Century America.

Supplemental materials for this program are available at This Goodly Land's Web site and include an audio transcript, a reading list, discussion questions, and lesson plans.

Stream "Nineteenth Century Women's Literary Culture in America" Audio.

To download, right-click on the link(s) above and choose "Save Link As ..." or "Save Target As ...")

Learn more about the subjects of This Goodly Land's audio podcasts from our supplemental materials.

iTunes users can also stream or download audios, transcripts, and supplemental materials from This Goodly Land's section of iTunes U.

Midge Coates, Project Manager
This Goodly Land: Alabama's Literary Landscape

This Goodly Land Updates Our Page at MySpace.com®

Our MySpace.com® page was originally created by a group of graduate students at Auburn University about a year ago.

We have recently updated our page, installing some of the same features that appear on our Facebook Page (photos, videos, Zazzle store, and blog feed) and adding something new (Twitter feed). We have also switched to the new 2.0 profile layout, making these features a little easier to find.

Check out our "new and improved" MySpace.com® page and become a Friend.

Midge Coates, Project Manager
This Goodly Land: Alabama's Literary Landscape

Audio: Another New Podcast: The Historical Novel

This Goodly Land: Alabama's Literary Landscape has just added another new podcast to our "Multimedia" page. (This podcast is also available via This Goodly Land at iTunes U.)

Maiben Beard from the Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts & Humanities interviews Dr. Bert Hitchcock, Professor emeritus of the Auburn University Department of English about the historical novel.

Supplemental materials for this program are available at This Goodly Land's Web site and include an audio transcript, a reading list, discussion questions, and lesson plans.

Stream "The Historical Novel" Audio.

To download, right-click on the link(s) above and choose "Save Link As ..." or "Save Target As ...")

Learn more about the subjects of This Goodly Land's audio podcasts from our supplemental materials.

Midge Coates, Project Manager
This Goodly Land: Alabama's Literary Landscape

Audio: New Podcasts from This Goodly Land

This Goodly Land: Alabama's Literary Landscape has just added three new podcasts to our "Multimedia" page. (These podcasts are also available via This Goodly Land at iTunes U.)

In "Old Southwest Humor," Maiben Beard from the Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts & Humanities interviews Dr. Benjamin B. Williams, Professor emeritus of the Auburn University Montgomery Department of English about frontier humor from the 1830s to the 1860s.

In another audio, Dr. Dwayne Cox of the Auburn University Libraries reads an example of Old Southwest humor: an excerpt from Joseph Glover Baldwin's book The Flush Times of Alabama and Mississippi.

Finally, we have prepared an audio version of Dr. John C. Hall's Draughon Seminar on William Bartram and his travels in the South. This audio has been split into three parts to make downloading easier.

Supplemental materials for these programs are available at This Goodly Land's Web site and include audio transcripts, reading lists, discussion questions, and lesson plans.

Stream "Old Southwest Humor" Audio.

Stream "Flush Times" Audio.

Stream "Bartram's Travels" Audio, Part 1.
Stream "Bartram's Travels" Audio, Part 2.
Stream "Bartram's Travels" Audio, Part 3.

(To download, right-click on the link(s) above and choose "Save Link As ..." or "Save Target As ...")

Learn more about the subjects of This Goodly Land's audio podcasts from our supplemental materials.

Midge Coates, Project Manager
This Goodly Land: Alabama's Literary Landscape

Audio: Mary Ward Brown on Alabama Arts Radio

The April 7 broadcast of the Alabama Arts Radio Series features Alabama author Mary Ward Brown. The program was recorded at the Lunch at the Library program of the Selma-Dallas County Public Library. Ms. Brown read from her new memoir, Fanning the Spark, and was interviewed by Pam Kingsbury of the University of North Alabama.

Listen to Mary Ward Brown on Alabama Arts Radio program.To stream, left-click on either "High MP3" or "Low 56K." To download, right-click and choose "Save Link As ..." or "Save Target As ..."

Midge Coates, Project Manager
This Goodly Land: Alabama's Literary Landscape

Video: Maiben Beard on Talk with Tonya

The Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts & Humanities' own Maiben Beard was interviewed by WSFA 12 News's Tonya Terry on Talk with Tonya this past Monday (April 6) about the upcoming Alabama Book Festival (Saturday April 18, 9-5, Old Alabama Town, Montgomery).

Watch WSFA's Talk with Tonya. Click on the icon (left-hand side) for the April 6 episode. Maiben's interview appears about 24 minutes into the program.

Midge Coates, Project Manager
This Goodly Land: Alabama's Literary Landscape