The Southern Review of Books is a publication of the MFA program at Queens University of Charlotte. Founded in 2020 and based in Charlotte, North Carolina, we’re dedicated to exploring contemporary literature from diverse voices in the American South and beyond. Every week, we publish new book and film reviews, author interviews, and more.
Our cicada logo was designed by Charlotte’s own Dan Stosich. The cicada’s name is McCullers.
We’re proud to partner with Bookshop.org in supporting independent bookstores instead of Amazon.
Masthead
Adam Morgan – Founding Editor
Chelsea Risley – Editor-in-Chief
Amy R. Martin – Daily Editor
Anna Harris-Parker – Daily Editor
Chaney Hill – Daily Editor
Victoria Ward – Daily Editor
Caroline Fairey Meese – Daily Editor
Mary Miller – Editor-at-Large, Mississippi
Shani Raine Gilchrist – Editor-at-Large, South Carolina
Genevieve Hudson – Editor-at-Large, Alabama
Sara Cutaia Mantzoros – Editor-at-Large, Texas
Mesha Maren – Editor-at-Large, West Virginia
Aram Mrjoian – Editor-at-Large, Florida
Nick White – Editor-at-Large, Mississippi
Wiley Cash – Editor-at-Large, North Carolina
Amber Sparks – Editor-at-Large, Washington, D.C. (it counts)
Aruni Kashyap – Editor-at-Large, Georgia
Board of Advisors
Melissa Bashor
Gisele Firmino
Fred Leebron
Submissions
As of 2026, the Southern Review of Books is all-volunteer, including our board of directors, editorial staff, and contributing writers. We hope to offer compensation in the future, but until then we recommend submitting to paying outlets first.
If you’re still interested in reviewing books or films, interviewing authors, or otherwise contributing to the SRB, email us at editors@southernreviewofbooks.com with a link to your writing (personal websites are fine; no attachments, please).
Note that with a few exceptions, we cover new books the same month they’re published, and we avoid conflicts of interest when assigning review coverage (i.e., no personal connections between critics and authors).
Previous Editors
Donna Tallent – Senior Editor
Huong Trinh – Daily Editor
Jessica Bedford – Daily Editor
Mandy Kline – Daily Editor
Sara Beth West – Daily Editor
Amber Wheeler Bacon – Daily Editor
E.J. Batiste – Art Director
Mara Davis Price – Daily Editor
Esty Loveing-Downes – Daily Editor
Spencer Pennington – Daily Editor
Jennette Holzworth – Daily Editor
Southern Review of Books 