“I travel the way of truth, even if I’m the only one. I travel the path of light, even if I’m the only one. I travel the path of hope, even if I’m the only one. One giving truth and hope and light to those who think there is no truth and hope and light left to hang onto.”
-James L. Rubart
Southern Fiction Author
Jennifer Hallmark
Jennifer Hallmark writes Southern fiction with a twist. Her website and newsletter focus on her books, love of the South, and favorite fiction. She creates stories with unforgettable characters—her stories are a little eerie and otherworldly but with a positive turn.
Jessie’s Hope, her first novel, was a Selah Award nominee for First Novel. Her latest novel, Smoking Flax, will be released on January 16th, 2024.
When she isn’t babysitting, gardening, or exploring the beautiful state of Alabama, you can find her at her desk penning fiction or studying the craft of writing. She also loves reading and streaming fantasy, supernatural stories, and detective fiction from the Golden Age or her favorite subject—time travel.
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Friday Fiction: The Wretched of Muirwood by Jeff Wheeler
Hello, Friday Fiction Fans! I've just read the best fantasy book, my first of 2026, and I wanted to share all the cool details with you. Jeff Wheeler is a new-to-me author, but with over thirty books to his name, he's obviously been around for a while. Here's the back...
A Smidgen of Hope: Decisions
Sometimes, I think the hardest part of life is making decisions. They can be as simple as deciding where to stop and buy a cup of coffee, or as difficult as: Should I sell my home? Go to college? Which book should I work on? Market more? Pitch to publishers? How do I...
Friday Fiction: Echo Nova by Clint Hall-Time Travel for Teens
Hello, Friday Fiction fans! Just dropping by to introduce a new contributor to the blog, J.R. Brady. J.R. lives in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains with her husband, kids, and critters. She is a published author of poems and short stories. Her first...
A Smidgen of Hope: Disengaged
Hmm. My word for 2026 is engage. To engage in life: relationships, work, ministry, and self-care. The thought occurred to me this past week that if I need to engage, I must have somehow become disengaged. How did that happen? It might prove to be very important as I...
Friday Fiction: Boy’s Life by Robert McCammon
To ring in the new year of 2026, I decided to review a favorite book of mine by Alabama native Robert McCammon. Boy’s Life, published in 1991, is a beautiful, bittersweet blend of Southern gothic, horror, coming-of-age, and nostalgia as our hero faces growing up in...
A Smidgen of Hope: The Hidden Path of Transformation
Today, my friend Kim Miller contributes a delightful thought about transformation. More about Kim: Kim Miller. When she’s not writing, Kim enjoys line dancing with her husband in their living room, going on worm hunts with her grandsons, walking with friends around a...
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