Friends of Bryan Public Library will host Sallis native and Mississippi State University graduate John M. Floyd Thursday, Jan. 13, at Luncheon with Books at the library located at 338 Commerce St. in West Point. Floyd will sign copies of his latest mystery/suspense short story collection, “Clockwork” (Dogwood Press, 2010) at noon. First-edition, signed copies will be available for $24.95 plus tax.
Floyd, who won the 2007 Derringer Award for his short story, “Four For Dinner” (Seven by Seven, Wolfmont Press, 2006), has been praised by best-selling Mississippi author Nevada Barr, who said, “If John Floyd were dead, he would be known as one of the preeminent short story writers of the 21st century. Fortunately for us, he”s alive and his mind is full of stories.”
Chicago-based Marcus Sakey, the author of “The Blade Itself” and “The Amateurs,” said, “Whether making you laugh or making you catch your breath, John Floyd is clearly the man in charge, and ”Clockwork” is terrific.”
Jackson native Bill Fitzhugh, the author of “Pest Control” and “The Organ Grinders,” said of “Clockwork,” “John Floyd has assembled a clever, entertaining, and sure-handed collection of short stories.”
“I”m mighty excited about the book, which is a batch of 40 mystery/suspense stories,” Floyd said. His first two collections, “Rainbow”s End” and “Midnight,” were also published by Dogwood Press. “There are police procedurals, nostalgia, westerns, humor, and more. Just about every story has a little twist at the end. That”s one of the things I love about writing short fiction.”
Floyd, a former Air Force captain, worked for IBM Corporation for 30 years. He began writing professionally in 1994 and has published over 900 stories and features in widely-read publications like Woman”s World and Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine. He teaches creative writing at Millsaps College”s Enrichment Program in Jackson. He and his wife, Carolyn, have three grown children and five grandchildren and have lived in Brandon since 1974.
“John is a fantastic writer and an even better person,” said Joe Lee, editor-in-chief of Dogwood Press and the author of the suspense thriller, “The Magnolia Triangle” (Dogwood Press, 2009). “If you”ve never read short stories, this is a chance for you to meet a true master of the genre.”
Cost for the luncheon is a $6 donation to the Friends of the Library. For more information, contact Bryan Public Library at 662-494-4872.
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