Since the theme of the Key West Literary Seminar was NEW VOICES, I was lucky enough to meet some very talented writers whom not many may know about.  I want to take this opportunity to share some of these incredible people with you.  In fiction, you should read the wonderful work of Tayari Jones.  At the seminar she read from her first novel Leaving Atlanta, a coming of age story set during the city’s infamous child murders of 1979-81.  She also read from her second novel, The Untelling, the story of a family struggling to overcome the aftermath of a fatal car accident .  Tayari is an incredible reader and had me at the edge of my seat for both her readings.

Another fantastic writer, Manuel Munoz, read from his second collection of stories, The Faith Healer of Olive Avenue.  Manuel writers mostly about  the small towns of California's Central Valley (His first collection is called Zigzagger and is also set in this region). 

Jake Silverstein, the Senior Editor at Texas Monthly and a regular contributor to Harper's Magazine, read from two different stories.  His stories "The Devil and Ambrose Beirce" was selected to appear in the Best American Travel Writing 2002 and his story "Highway Run" won the 2007 PEN/USA Journalism award.  Ann Beattie introduced this new voice and from Jake's reading, I'm sure this guy is going places.  He is currently working on a novel about journalism that is "exactly 50% factual."  Jake had many interesting things to say about the relationship between truth and fiction, reporting and literature. 

Junot Diaz was also at the seminar and I'm sure I don't have to tell you to pick up his book, The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao...it has been selling like hotcakes and you can find a review in issue 20.1 which wil arrive shortly. 

Stay tuned for the poet picks of New Voices.