Gerry Wilson’s That Pinson Girl Explores Issues of Class and Race in WWI Mississippi
Podcast: Download (Duration: 41:29 — 38.0MB)
In this episode 389, we welcome critically acclaimed Southern fiction writer, Gerry Wilson, and talk with her about her new historical fiction novel, That Pinson Girl. While it’s a story that takes place in Mississippi during World War I, there are plenty of aspects of the plot that are relevant to today’s world. Clifford Garstang, author of Oliver’s Travels and The Shaman of Turtle Valley says, “devastating and beautifully written, Gerry Wilson’s That Pinson Girl is at once a heart-rending tragedy and a testament to the indomitable human spirit.”
Show discussion highlights:
- Being a 7th generation Mississippian – what has changed over the years and what has stayed the same
- How storytelling makes difficult issues more digestible and creates conversation around meaningful topics
- Developing the novel’s strong female protagonist, Leona Pinson
- Parallels between the life experiences of this cast of characters and our current generation
- How love can break boundaries
- The concept of survival and human resilience
- What message Gerry wanted to convey about the human spirit through this story
- Writing a debut novel at 80 years of age
- Writing advice for those who are interested in craft
Brief author bio:
A seventh-generation Mississippian and a child of the hill country she writes about in That Pinson Girl, Gerry Wilson came of age during the turbulent civil rights era. Her story collection, Cross-currents and Other Stories, was nominated for the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters Fiction Award. Gerry is a recipient of a Mississippi Arts Commission Literary Arts Fellowship. Her stories have appeared in numerous journals. That Pinson Girl is her first novel.
Learn more about the author and their books HERE.
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