Poplar Bluff Municipal Library welcomes Pulitzer nominee Niles
Reddick on Tuesday, October 24th at 4 p.m. Mr. Reddick will be reading from his book Drifting Too
Far from the Shore, talking about his short stories, and sharing his experience in writing and
publishing. His writings focus on the genres of southern fiction and humor.
Mr. Reddick describes his own Pulitzer-nominated work in emotional
terms: “To me, Drifting Too Far from the Shore is about living with grace even in the face of
age and death. It’s about family and love. It’s about overcoming fear and coming to terms with
or resolving the past. It’s about people and relationships. Most of all, it’s a beautiful story
and it’s sprinkled with humor.”
The dust jacket quotes of other authors offer high praise of the
book’s irresistible main character, “Muddy,” a spirited Southern woman in her 70s whose grandson
shoots out a neighbor’s window, causing old friends and old troubles to be revisited. Winston
Groom, the author of Forrest Gump, applauds the story’s humor and depiction of small town America,
assuring that “Readers will come to love feisty Charlotte “Muddy” Rewis who, despite the bad
news in the world, triumphs by making a difference in her own way.” Michael Lee West,
author of Crazy Ladies, also appreciates that“Muddy is richly developed, springing right out
of the pages.” Mr. West’s recommendation emphasizes the work’s craftsmanship, observing that
“Drifting Too Far from the Shore marks extraordinary talent. I can’t remember the last time that
I have enjoyed a book this much. It’s beautifully written and compelling, with incredible
range.”
Mr. Reddick wrote three other books and received numerous accolades.
His collection Road Kill and Other Oddities was a finalist for an Eppie Award and his novel Lead
Me Home was a national finalist for a ForeWord Award. He has just finished an essay, “Capturing
the Essence of Difference in Writing,” for an anthology for the University of Mississippi Press.
He works for the University of Memphis at Lambuth in Jackson, Tennessee, where he lives with his
wife and two children.
