Best Creative Nonfiction of the South, of which this Virginia collection is the first volume, serves as a valuable resource for scholars, students, writers, and general readers interested in creative nonfiction both from specific areas of the South and across the region as a whole. The writers included in each volume come from diverse backgrounds, generations, and artistic traditions. Most, if not all, volumes in the series indirectly reflect literary changes over time and/or how literary variations have manifested themselves in a given state. In some cases, publisher permissions and other factors have foiled the editors from including the work of deserving writers. Nevertheless, the abundant literary talent across the South has lessened the impact of the occasional unfortunate omission.

TRP has for years now published an annual collection of poetryfrom each of our Southern states, and these anthologies have donevery well for us, both inside and outside university classrooms. Wewelcome this new series on Southern nonfiction and look forwardto visiting these fine essayists, state by state. -Paul Ruffin,Director, Texas Review Press