Writing the Southwest

By Sara L. Spurgeon and David King Dunaway

Book Overview

First published in 1995, this assemblage of interviews, bibliographies, excerpts, and criticism on fourteen of the Southwest's most important authors has been updated and expanded. The accompanying 74-minute compact disc provides excerpts from the authors. Tony Hillerman discusses how blindness in the army helped shape his writings; Terry McMillan explains her start as a writer and why she thought, when she was young, that African-Americans didn't write books. Each recorded interview ranges from 4 to 10 minutes.

Reviews of the first edition:

"Much more than an ordinary compilation. . . . A vivid composite of the region's best-known writers, Writing the Southwest is an excellent sampling of unique viewpoints and deep roots."-Publishers Weekly

"The writers included here . . . represent the vital ethnic mixture of the Southwest past and present. . . . For modern literature students, as well as those who are curious about the backgrounds of some of their favorite writers, this is a good choice."--Kliatt

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0826323375
• ISBN13: 9780826323378
• Release Date: December 2003
• Publisher: University of New Mexico Press
• Length: 269 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.6" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

A Must Read

There are hundreds of books about the southwest. If you can read only one, this is it. If you have any inclination to write you must read this book and listen to the CD.

One of my favorite books on writers & their words

A terrific book on the meaning of writing & how some writers' go about it. Joy Harjo, Barbara Kingsolver, Edward Abbey, Alberto Rios -- these are writers with depth and some remarkable things to say. Part bio, part political, part inspiration, it's one of those books I've read way more than once.