David HunterNovelist and Columnist David Hunter Speaks at September 4 meeting

Acclaimed Knoxville author and columnist David Hunter will speak at the Thursday, Sept. 4 meeting of the Knoxville Writers’ Guild about his new
novel, Tempest at the Sunsphere (Tellico Books).

Hunter, a decorated former police officer and award-winning author of fifteen books, set the murder in this crime novel at Knoxville’s World’s Fair Park. After a body has been found at the foot of the Sunsphere, Shy Tempest, Knox County Chief of Detectives, helps to probe the brutal murder because the victim is his long¬time, ex-cop friend. The ensuing investigation turns up a gamut of colorful local characters. Hunter’s addictive writing style has earned him a solid following. Critics call style "lyrical and poetic, yet tough and gritty" and credit him for inventing a new genre: the short-short creative nonfiction cop confessional. He has the added distinction of being the 2008 winner of the Career Achievement Award from the Knoxville Writers'
Guild.

Hunter’s work of the past 30 years includes 15 published books, numerous magazine and newspaper articles and a weekly opinion column that appears in the Knoxville News-Sentinel on Mondays. He has written more than 1,000 newspaper columns. A product himself of the background from which most of his characters spring -- precariously near both sides of the law -- Hunter writes stories in which people seek redemption in an imperfect world. His books in the "cop confession" genre include The Moon is Always Full, Black Friday Coming Down, There Was Blood on the Snow, The Night is Mine, The Archangel Caper, and, Things to Do in Knoxville When You're Dead.
His memoir, Trailer Trash from Tennessee, presents a portrait of difficulty growing up that included laughter and warmth as well as economic and medical hardship. His humor and unflinching handling of life’s realities allow readers of all backgrounds to identify with him.

Tempest at the Sunsphere will be available for purchase at Sept. 4 meeting. The meeting will be Thursday, September 4th, at 7 p.m. at the handicapped accessible Laurel Theatre, 1538 Laurel Avenue. Visitors are welcome. Admission is free but a $1 donation will be accepted.

We have fun! Jane, Jim, and Gene at the Holiday Extravaganza selling books!--Speakers' Bureau: Are you looking for a speaker for your club, community group, or school program? Search the list of 16 speakers or select a particular category such as Poetry, Nonfiction, Songwriting, Publishing, Grammar for Grownups, or Regional Writing and choose a writer with expertise in that category. Speakers selected to represent the Knoxville Writers Guild are not paid by the Guild, but have agreed to donate 10% of all honoraria, compensation and book sales to the KWG. Click here for more information...

Note: The Peter Taylor Prize competition is on a one-year hiatus. Please check back in January of 2009 for details about our next competition, and watch for our latest prize-winning book, to be released in the fall of 2008. John McLaughlin's winning novel Run in the Fam'ly wins again: Texas Institute of Letters, for Best First Novel, and Best Novel overall of 2007.

-- 2008 Guild Contest winners are announced! Click here.

--Career Achievement Awards and Guild Contest winners:

2002: Carson Brewer
2003: George Scarbrough
2004: Wilma Dykeman
2005: Jon Manchip White
2006: Jeff Daniel Marion
2008: David Hunter

--Members Write and Shine! News of activities, awards, honors, and kudos!

--Writers in the University of Tennessee Library schedule.

Listen to an audio file from the July 2007 Open Mic program. Thanks to Gene Brennan for his efforts to deliver and to Guild members reading from their own writings! Right-click here to download to your desktop.

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