Morehead State University's Dr. Tom Williams, chair of the Department of English, has had his collection of stories, "Among the Wild Mulattos & Other Tales," named a Great Read of 2015 by National Public Radio.
Dr. Williams joined MSU in 2011. The book was published in July by Texas Review Press. "I was just happy these stories saw the light of day," said Williams. "To receive an honor like this is an incredible validation of a book that was a decade in the making."
NPR book critic Michael Schaub summed up the collection:
"Identity, both racial and otherwise, is at the heart of nearly all the stories in ' Among the Wild Mulattos,' a manic, cutting and frequently hilarious collection from Kentucky author and academic Tom Williams. He's an uncompromising writer with a fiercely original voice, and he has created one of the most unforgettable books of the year. The collection feels vital, essential, not only for the unexpected ways Williams talks about identity but for his brash, gutsy writing."
Dr. Williams earned a Ph.D. degree in literature and creative writing from the University of Houston. He has taught at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and Arkansas State University and was chair of humanities at the University of Houston-Victoria.
The author of two other books of fiction, Don't Start Me Talkin' and The Mimic's Own Voice, he has had more than 50 publications in such periodicals as Boulevard, Connecticut Review, Indiana Review, The Collagist and Booth. His fiction has earned him fellowships from the Wisconsin Arts Board and the Arkansas Arts Council.
Additional information is available by visiting the NPR website or contacting Dr. Williams at 606-783-9448.
