Interviewed by Meg Tuite
Sheldon Lee Compton’s raw and powerful writing has been memorable since the first story I read of his, two years ago. I can hear the southern drawl of his characters either fighting it out in the bedroom or bar, or sitting outside on a hot night in Eastern Kentucky speaking of love, friendships, misunderstandings, family angst and unrequited love. But he is not only a regional writer. He takes us anywhere he wants us to go with his writing and that, for me, is the sign of an exceptional writer. I have been a fan of his from that first story I read and have never been disappointed.
I was ecstatic, as were his multitude of fans that a collection of his short stories, The Same Terrible Storm, was finally coming out through Foxhead Books. And then to find out that another collection, Where Alligators Sleep, is soon to follow and he’s working on a novel, as well, was icing on the cake.
Sheldon Lee Compton unravels his characters and plots with truth and straightforwardness that allow the reader to drop into a story and forget anything outside of it. There are many facets I love about Sheldon’s work, but especially his fearlessness in letting his characters reveal their vulnerability either through physicality or dialogue.
I’m extremely excited that there’s a long-awaited collection of knock-out Sheldon Lee Compton stories at Foxhead Books. I can’t wait to get my copy! Can you tell us some of the specifics of this collection, The Same Terrible Storm?
Thanks very much. I appreciate that. The collection is something I hope people will enjoy. These are stories about where I’m from, Eastern Kentucky, and told in a real and human way. I’ve tried to eliminate the tendency in readers to see only black and white when reading about a drug dealer, for instance, or a single mother of three kids. There’s always more beneath the surface, and I’ve tried to take off the blinders, so to speak, with The Same Terrible Storm. It’s [out now] from Foxhead Books, and it will be available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, as well as the Foxhead website.
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