John Michael Cummings
My blogs
Blogs I follow
| Gender | Male |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Location | Harpers Ferry, WV, United States |
| Introduction | I've have been writing West Virginia fiction for thirty years. My debut novel, THE NIGHT I FREED JOHN BROWN (Penguin Group, 2008), won The Paterson Prize for Books for Young Readers. My short stories have appeared in more than seventy-five literary journals, including The Iowa Review, North American Review, and The Kenyon Review. Twice I have been nominated for The Pushcart Prize. My short story collection, UGLY TO START WITH (West Virginia University Press, 2011), was hailed by The Philadelphia Inquirer for its “sharp observation and surpassing grace.” All thirteen stories in the collection--about growing up in The Mountain State--were previously published in good literary journals, including The Iowa Review. However, my best work about West Virginia is my new novel, DON'T FORGET ME, BRO. It deals with themes of childhood abuse, mental illness, and alienated families. Kirkus Reviews says: “Read this book for the vivid imagery and sharp dialogue. Read it for the spot-on characterizations…” I plan to tour all fifty-five ever-loving beautiful West Virginia counties with my new novel! My email is johnmcummings@aol.com. |
| Interests | Writing, weightlifting, sightseeing beautiful residential streets. |
| Favorite movies | Barton Fink, Bad Day at Black Rock, and Hondo |
| Favorite music | Springsteen, Jackson Browne, some classical music, like Bach's Brandenburg Concertos |
| Favorite books | "Trust Me: Short Stories," John Updike "To Kill a Mockingbird," Harper Lee |