by Amy Hempel
Trudy Lewis, HALF MEASURES
Jill McCorkle, FIRST UNION BLUES
Mark Richard, HAPPINESS OF THE GARDEN VARIETY
Sunny Rogers, THE CRUMB
Annette Sanford, LIMITED ACCESS
Eve Shelnutt, VOICE
NEW STORIES FROM THE SOUTH: THE YEAR’S BEST, 1989
Rick Bass, WILD HORSES
Madison Smartt Bell, CUSTOMS OF THE COUNTRY
James Gordon Bennett, PACIFIC THEATER
Larry Brown, SAMARITANS
Mary Ward Brown, IT WASN’T ALL DANCING
Kelly Cherry, WHERE SHE WAS
David Huddle, PLAYING
Sandy Huss, COUPON FOR BLOOD
Frank Manley, THE RAIN OF TERROR
Bobbie Ann Mason, WISH
Lewis Nordan, A HANK OF HAIR, A PIECE OF BONE
Kurt Rheinheimer, HOMES
Mark Richard, STRAYS
Annette Sanford, SIX WHITE HORSES
Paula Sharp, HOT SPRINGS
NEW STORIES FROM THE SOUTH: THE YEAR’S BEST, 1990
Tom Bailey, CROW MAN
Rick Bass, THE HISTORY OF RODNEY
Richard Bausch, LETTER TO THE LADY OF THE HOUSE
Larry Brown, SLEEP
Moira Crone, JUST OUTSIDE THE B.T.
Clyde Edgerton, CHANGING NAMES
Greg Johnson, THE BOARDER
Nanci Kincaid, SPITTIN’ IMAGE OF A BAPTIST BOY
Reginald McKnight, THE KIND OF LIGHT THAT SHINES ON TEXAS
Lewis Nordan, THE CELLAR OF RUNT CONROY
Lance Olsen, FAMILY
Mark Richard, FEAST OF THE EARTH, RANSOM OF THE CLAY
Ron Robinson, WHERE WE LAND
Bob Shacochis, LES FEMMES CREOLES
Molly Best Tinsley, ZOE
Donna Trussell, FISHBONE
NEW STORIES FROM THE SOUTH: THE YEAR’S BEST, 1991
Rick Bass, IN THE LOYAL MOUNTAINS
Thomas Phillips Brewer, BLACK CAT BONE
Larry Brown, BIG BAD LOVE
Robert Olen Butler, RELIC
Barbara Hudson, THE ARABESQUE
Elizabeth Hunnewell, A LIFE OR DEATH MATTER
Hilding Johnson, SOUTH OF KITTATINNY
Nanci Kincaid, THIS IS NOT THE PICTURE SHOW
Bobbie Ann Mason, WITH JAZZ
Jill McCorkle, WAITING FOR HARD TIMES TO END
Robert Morgan, POINSETT’S BRIDGE
Reynolds Price, HIS FINAL MOTHER
Mark Richard, THE BIRDS FOR CHRISTMAS
Susan Starr Richards, THE SCREENED PORCH
Lee Smith, INTENSIVE CARE
Peter Taylor, COUSIN AUBREY
NEW STORIES FROM THE SOUTH: THE YEAR’S BEST, 1992
Alison Baker, CLEARWATER AND LATISSIMUS
Larry Brown, A ROADSIDE RESURRECTION
Mary Ward Brown, A NEW LIFE
James Lee Burke, TEXAS CITY, 1947
Robert Olen Butler, A GOOD SCENT FROM A STRANGE MOUNTAIN
Nanci Kincaid, A STURDY PAIR OF SHOES THAT FIT GOOD
Patricia Lear, AFTER MEMPHIS
Dan Leone, YOU HAVE CHOSEN CAKE
Reginald McKnight, QUITTING SMOKING
Karen Minton, LIKE HANDS ON A CAVE WALL
Elizabeth Seydel Morgan, ECONOMICS
Robert Morgan, DEATH CROWN
Susan Perabo, EXPLAINING DEATH TO THE DOG
Padgett Powell, THE WINNOWING OF MRS. SCHUPING
Lee Smith, THE BUBBA STORIES
Peter Taylor, THE WITCH OF OWL MOUNTAIN SPRINGS
Abraham Verghese, LILACS
NEW STORIES FROM THE SOUTH: THE YEAR’S BEST, 1993
Richard Bausch, EVENING
Pinckney Benedict, BOUNTY
Wendell Berry, A JONQUIL FOR MARY PENN
Robert Olen Butler, PREPARATION
Lee Merrill Byrd, MAJOR SIX POCKETS
Kevin Calder, NAME ME THIS RIVER
Tony Earley, CHARLOTTE
Paula K. Gover, WHITE BOYS AND RIVER GIRLS
David Huddle, TROUBLE AT THE HOME OFFICE
Barbara Hudson, SELLING WHISKERS
Elizabeth Hunnewell, FAMILY PLANNING
Dennis Loy Johnson, RESCUING ED
Edward P. Jones, MARIE
Wayne Karlin, PRISONERS
Dan Leone, SPINACH
Jill McCorkle, MAN WATCHER
Annette Sanford, HELENS AND ROSES
Peter Taylor, THE WAITING ROOM
NEW STORIES FROM THE SOUTH: THE YEAR’S BEST, 1994
Frederick Barthelme, RETREAT
Richard Bausch, AREN’T YOU HAPPY FOR ME?
Ethan Canin, THE PALACE THIEF
Kathleen Cushman, LUXURY
Tony Earley, THE PROPHET FROM JUPITER
Pamela Erbe, SWEET TOOTH
Barry Hannah, NICODEMUS BLUFF
Nanci Kincaid, PRETENDING THE BED WAS A RAFT
Nancy Krusoe, LANDSCAPE AND DREAM
Robert Morgan, DARK CORNER
Reynolds Price, DEEDS OF LIGHT
Leon Rooke, THE HEART MUST FROM ITS BREAKING
John Sayles, PEELING
George Singleton, OUTLAW HEAD & TAIL
Melanie Sumner, MY OTHER LIFE
Robert Love Taylor, MY MOTHER’S SHOES
NEW STORIES FROM THE SOUTH: THE YEAR’S BEST, 1995
R. Sebastian Bennett, RIDING WITH THE DOCTOR
Wendy Brenner, I AM THE BEAR
James Lee Burke, WATER PEOPLE
Robert Olen Butler, BOY BORN WITH TATTOO OF ELVIS
Ken Craven, PAYING ATTENTION
Tim Gautreaux, THE BUG MAN
Ellen Gilchrist, THE STUCCO HOUSE
Scott Gould, BASES
Barry Hannah, DRUMMER DOWN
MMM Hayes, FIXING LU
Hillary Hebert, LADIES OF THE MARBLE HEARTH
Jesse Lee Kercheval, GRAVITY
Caroline A. Langston, IN THE DISTANCE
Lynn Marie, TEAMS
Susan Perabo, GRAVITY
Dale Ray Phillips, EVERYTHING QUIET LIKE CHURCH
Elizabeth Spencer, THE RUNAWAYS
NEW STORIES FROM THE SOUTH: THE YEAR’S BEST, 1996
Robert Olen Butler, JEALOUS HUSBAND RETURNS IN FORM OF PARROT
Moira Crone, GAUGUIN
J. D. Dolan, MOOD MUSIC
Ellen Douglas, GRANT
William Faulkner, ROSE OF LEBANON
Kathy Flann, A HAPPY, SAFE THING
Tim Gautreaux, DIED AND GONE TO VEGAS
David Gilbert, COOL MOSS
Marcia Guthridge, THE HOST
Jill McCorkle, PARADISE
Robert Morgan, THE BALM OF GILEAD TREE
Tom Paine, GENERAL MARKMAN’S LAST STAND
Susan Perabo, SOME SAY THE WORLD
Annette Sanford, GOOSE GIRL
Lee Smith, THE HAPPY MEMORIES CLUB
NEW STORIES FROM THE SOUTH: THE YEAR’S BEST, 1997
PREFACE by Robert Olen Butler
Gene Able, MARRYING AUNT SADIE
Dwight Allen, THE GREEN SUIT
Edward Allen, ASHES NORTH
Robert Olen Butler, HELP ME FIND MY SPACEMAN LOVER
Janice Daugharty, ALONG A WIDER RIVER
Ellen Douglas, JULIA AND NELLIE
Pam Durban, GRAVITY
Charles East, PAVANE FOR A DEAD PRINCESS
Rhian Margaret Ellis, EVERY BUILDING WANTS TO FALL
Tim Gautreaux, LITTLE FROGS IN A DITCH
Elizabeth Gilbert, THE FINEST WIFE
Lucy Hochman, SIMPLER COMPONENTS
Beauvais McCaddon, THE HALF-PINT
Dale Ray Phillips, CORPORAL LOVE
Patricia Elam Ruff, THE TAXI RIDE
Lee Smith, NATIVE DAUGHTER
Judy Troy, RAMONE
Marc Vassallo, AFTER THE OPERA
Brad Vice, MOJO FARMER
NEW STORIES FROM THE SOUTH: THE YEAR’S BEST, 1998
PREFACE by Padgett Powell
Frederick Barthelme, THE LESSON
Wendy Brenner, NIPPLE
Stephen Dixon, THE POET
Tony Earley, BRIDGE
Scott Ely, TALK RADIO
Tim Gautreaux, SORRY BLOOD
Michael Gills, WHERE WORDS GO
John Holman, RITA’S MYSTERY
Stephen Marion, NAKED AS TANYA
Jennifer Moses, GIRLS LIKE YOU
Padgett Powell, ALIENS OF AFFECTION
Sara Powers, THE BAKER’S WIFE
Mark Richard, MEMORIAL DAY
Nancy Richard, THE ORDER OF THINGS
Josh Russell, YELLOW JACK
Annette Sanford, IN THE LITTLE HUNKY RIVER
Enid Shomer, THE OTHER MOTHER
George Singleton, THESE PEOPLE ARE US
Molly Best Tinsley, THE ONLY WAY TO RIDE
NEW STORIES FROM THE SOUTH: THE YEAR’S BEST, 1999
PREFACE by Tony Earley
Andrew Alexander, LITTLE BITTY PRETTY ONE
Richard Bausch, MISSY
Pinckney Benedict, MIRACLE BOY
Wendy Brenner, THE HUMAN SIDE OF INSTRUMENTAL TRANSCOMMUNICATION
Laura Payne Butler, BOOKER T’S COMING HOME
Mary Clyde, KRISTA HAD A TREBLE CLEF ROSE
Janice Daugharty, NAME OF LOVE
Rick DeMarinis, BORROWED HEARTS
Tony Earley, QUILL
Clyde Edgerton, LUNCH AT THE PICADILLY
Michael Erard, BEYOND THE POINT
Tom Franklin, POACHERS
William Gay, THOSE DEEP ELM BROWN’S FERRY BLUES
Mary Gordon, STORYTELLING
Ingrid Hill, PAGAN BABIES
Michael Knight, BIRDLAND
Kurt Rheinheimer, NEIGHBORHOOD
Richard Schmitt, LEAVING VENICE, FLORIDA
Heather Sellers, FLA. BOYS
George Singleton, CAULK
NEW STORIES FROM THE SOUTH: THE YEAR’S BEST, 2000
PREFACE by Ellen Douglas
A. Manette Ansay, BOX
Wendy Brenner, MR. PUNIVERSE
D. Winston Brown, IN THE DOORWAY OF RHEE’S JAZZ JOINT
Robert Olen Butler, HEAVY METAL
Cathy Day, THE CIRCUS HOUSE
R.H.W. Dillard, FORGETTING THE END OF THE WORLD
Tony Earley, JUST MARRIED
Clyde Edgerton, DEBRA’S FLAP AND SNAP
Tim Gautreaux, DANCING WITH THE ONE-ARMED GAL
William Gay, MY HAND IS JUST FINE WHERE IT IS
Allan Gurganus, HE’S AT THE OFFICE
John Holman, WAVE
Romulus Linney, THE WIDOW
Thomas McNeely, SHEEP
Christopher Miner, RHONDA AND HER CHILDREN
Chris Offutt, THE BEST FRIEND
Margo Rabb, HOW TO TELL A STORY
Karen Sagstetter, THE THING WITH WILLIE
Mary Helen Stefaniak, A NOTE TO BIOGRAPHERS REGARDING FAMOUS AUTHOR FLANNERY O’CONNOR
Melanie Sumner, GOOD-HEARTED WOMAN
NEW STORIES FROM THE SOUTH: THE YEAR’S BEST, 2001
PREFACE by Lee Smith
John Barth, THE REST OF YOUR LIFE
Madison Smartt Bell, TWO LIVES
Marshall Boswell, IN BETWEEN THINGS
Carrie Brown, FATHER JUDGE RUN
Stephen Coyne, HUNTING COUNTRY
Moira Crone, WHERE WHAT GETS INTO PEOPLE COMES FROM
William Gay, THE PAPERHANGER
Jim Grimsley, JESUS IS SENDING YOU THIS MESSAGE
Ingrid Hill, JOLIE-GRAY
Christie Hodgen, THE HERO OF LONELINESS
Nicola Mason, THE WHIMSIED WORLD
Edith Pearlman, SKIN DEEP
Kurt Rheinheimer, SHOES
Jane R. Shippen, I AM NOT LIKE NUÑEZ
George Singleton, PUBLIC RELATIONS
Robert Love Taylor, PINK MIRACLE IN EAST TENNESSEE
James Ellis Thomas, THE SATURDAY MORNING CAR WASH CLUB
Elizabeth Tippens, MAKE A WISH
Linda Wendling, INAPPROPRIATE BABIES
NEW STORIES FROM THE SOUTH: THE YEAR’S BEST, 2002
PREFACE by Larry Brown
Dwight Allen, END OF THE STEAM AGE
Russell Banks, THE OUTER BANKS
Brad Barkley, BENEATH THE DEEP, SLOW MOTION
Doris Betts, ABOVEGROUND
William Gay, CHARTING THE TERRITORIES OF THE RED
Aaron Gwyn, OF FALLING
Ingrid Hill, THE MORE THEY STAY THE SAME
David Koon, THE BONE DIVERS
Andrea Lee, ANTHROPOLOGY
Romulus Linney, TENNESSEE
Corey Mesler, THE GROWTH AND DEATH OF BUDDY GARDNER
Lucia Nevai, FAITH HEALER
Julie Orringer, PILGRIMS
Dulane Upshaw Ponder, THE RAT SPOON
Bill Roorbach, BIG BEND
George Singleton, SHOW-AND-TELL
Kate Small, MAXIMUM SUNLIGHT
R. T. Smith, I HAVE LOST MY RIGHT
Max Steele, THE UNRIPE HEART
NEW STORIES FROM THE SOUTH: THE YEAR’S BEST, 2003
PREFACE by Roy Blount Jr.
Dorothy Allison, COMPASSION
Steve Almond, THE SOUL MOLECULE
Brock Clarke, FOR THOSE OF US WHO NEED SUCH THINGS
Lucy Corin, RICH PEOPLE
John Dufresne, JOHNNY TOO BAD
Donald Hays, DYING LIGHT
Ingrid Hill, THE BALLAD OF RAPPY VALCOUR
Bret Anthony Johnston, CORPUS
Michael Knight, ELLEN’S BOOK
Patricia Lear, NIRVANA
Peter Meinke, UNHEARD MUSIC
Chris Offutt, INSIDE OUT
ZZ Packer, EVERY TONGUE SHALL CONFESS
Michael Parker, OFF ISLAND
Paul Prather, THE FAITHFUL
Brad Vice, REPORT FROM JUNCTION
Latha Viswanathan, COOL WEDDING
Mark Winegardner, KEEGAN’S LOAD
NEW STORIES FROM THE SOUTH: THE YEAR’S BEST, 2004
PREFACE by Tim Gautreaux
Rick Bass, PAGANS
Brock Clark, THE LOLITA SCHOOL
Starkey Flythe, Jr., A FAMILY OF BREAST FEEDERS
Ingrid Hill, VALOR
Silas House, COAL SMOKE
Bret Anthony Johnston, THE WIDOW
Edward P. Jones, A RICH MAN
Tayari Jones, BEST COUSIN
Michael Knight, FEELING LUCKY
K. A. Longstreet, THE JUDGEMENT OF PARIS
Jill McCorkle, INTERVENTION
Elizabeth Seydel Morgan, SATURDAY AFTERNOON IN THE HOLOCAUST MUSEUM
Chris Offutt, SECOND HAND
Ann Pancake, DOG SONG
Drew Perry, LOVE IS GNATS TODAY
Annette Sanford, ONE SUMMER
George Singleton, RAISE CHILDREN HERE
R. T. Smith, DOCENT
NEW STORIES FROM THE SOUTH: THE YEAR’S BEST, 2005
PREFACE by Jill McCorkle
Judy Budnitz, THE KINDEST CUT
James Lee Burke, THE BURNING OF THE FLAG
Robert Olen Butler, SEVERANCE
Lucinda Harrison Coffman, THE DREAM LOVER
Moira Crone, MR. SENDER
Janice Daugharty, DUMDUM
Tom Franklin, NAP TIME
Allan Gurganus, MY HEART IS A SNAKE FARM
Ethan Hauser, THE CHARM OF THE HIGHWAY MEDIAN
Cary Holladay, JANE’S HAT
Bret Anthony Johnston, ANYTHING THAT FLOATS
Dennis Lehane, UNTIL GWEN
Ada Long, CLAIRVOYANT
Michael Parker, HIDDEN MEANINGS, TREATMENT OF TIME, SUPREME IRONY AND LIFE EXPERIENCES IN THE SONG “AIN’T GONNA BUMP NO MORE NO BIG FAT WOMAN”
Gregory Sanders, GOOD WITCH, BAD WITCH
Stephanie Soileau, THE BOUCHERIE
Rebecca Soppe, THE PANTYHOSE MAN
Elizabeth Spencer, THE BOY IN THE TREE
Kevin Wilson, THE CHOIR DIRECTOR’S AFFAIR (THE BABY’S TEETH)
NEW STORIES FROM THE SOUTH: THE YEAR’S BEST, 2006
Guest edited by Allan Gurganus
Chris Bachelder, BLUE KNIGHTS BOUNCED FROM CVD TOURNEY
Wendell Berry, MIKE
J. D.
Chapman, AMANUENSIS
Quinn Dalton, THE MUSIC YOU NEVER HEAR
Tony Earley, YARD ART
Ben Fountain, BRIEF ENCOUNTERS WITH CHE GUEVARA
William Harrison, MONEY WHIPPED
Cary Holladay, THE BURNING
N. M. Kelby, JUBILATION, FLORIDA
Nanci Kincaid, THE CURRENCY OF LOVE
Keith Lee Morris, TIRED HEART
Enid Shomer, FILL IN THE BLANK
George Singleton, DIRECTOR’S CUT
R. T. Smith, TASTES LIKE CHICKEN
Mary Helen Stefaniak, YOU LOVE THAT DOG
Daniel Wallace, JUSTICE
Luke Whisnant, HOW TO BUILD A HOUSE
Kevin Wilson, TUNNELING TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH
Erin Brooks Worley, GROVE
Geoff Wyss, KIDS MAKE THEIR OWN HOUSES
NEW STORIES FROM THE SOUTH: THE YEAR’S BEST, 2007
Guest edited by Edward P. Jones
Rick Bass, GOATS
James Lee Burke, A SEASON OF REGRET
Moira Crone, THE ICE GARDEN
Joshua Ferris, GHOST TOWN CHOIR
Tim Gautreaux, THE SAFE
Allan Gurganus, FOURTEEN FEET OF WATER IN MY HOUSE
Cary Holladay, HOLLYHOCKS
Toni Jensen, AT THE POWWOW HOTEL
Holly Goddard Jones, LIFE EXPECTANCY
Agustín Maes, BEAUTY AND VIRTUE
Stephen Marion, DOGS WITH HUMAN FACES
Philipp Meyer, ONE DAY THIS WILL ALL BE YOURS
Jason Ockert, JAKOB LOOMIS
George Singleton, WHICH ROCKS WE CHOOSE
R. T. Smith, STORY
Angela Threatt, BELA LUGOSI’S DEAD
Daniel Wallace, A TERRIBLE THING
Stephanie Powell Watts, UNASSIGNED TERRITORY
NEW STORIES FROM THE SOUTH: THE YEAR’S BEST, 2008
Guest edited by ZZ Packer
Karen E. Bender, CANDIDATE
Pinckney Benedict, BRIDGE OF SIGHS
Kevin Brockmeier, ANDREA IS CHANGING HER NAME
Stephanie Dickinson, LUCKY 7 & DALLOWAY
Robert Drummond, THE UNNECESSARY MAN
Clyde Edgerton, THE GREAT SPECKLED BIRD
Amina Gautier, THE EASE OF LIVING
Bret Anthony Johnston, REPUBLICAN
Holly Goddard Jones, THEORY OF REALTY
Mary Miller, LEAK
Kevin Moffett, FIRST MARRIAGE
Jennifer Moses, CHILD OF GOD