Editor's Note

In recognition of the upcoming Juneteenth holiday, Chapter 16 is featuring an excerpt from a forthcoming book by Serina K. Gilbert and Learotha Williams Jr., From the Fiery Furnace to the Promise Land, which tells the story of a remarkable Dickson County community founded by formerly enslaved men and women after the Civil War. We also have Bradley Sides’ essay “Volcanic, Universal Inspiration,” a story about bringing home a volcano, and we’re rounding out the week’s offerings with “Threads,” a poem from Richard Tillinghast’s new collection, Night Train to Memphis.

We’re sad to report that Clarksville Book Shop was recently vandalized as the store prepared for its grand opening. Fortunately, the cleanup is nearly done and they plan to open soon. We hope Chapter 16’s Clarksville-area readers will show them some love, and of course we encourage everyone to support their local indie bookstores. 

News Roundup

• Lydi Conklin read a passage from their new novel, Songs of No Provenance, for the Debutiful podcast and was interviewed for Literary Hub’s Awakeners. 

• Poems by Erica Wright appeared in Arts and Letters.

• A poem by Lisa Dordal was published by Whale Road Review

• Kevin Wilson was interviewed for Talk of Iowa. 

• Collider ranked every Cormac McCarthy novel by degree of gloom.