About Scott Thompson
Like many people Scott Thompson had a story to tell. His formal
training was in business and computers, not writing, but he knew the
story had to be told so he wrote
Young Men Shall See.
Thompson's
stories are influenced by his life in Georgia, where he grew up and
currently lives. The South is full of interesting, deep, and often
eccentric people that enrich the lives of anyone lucky enough to know
the people of the region. It was these people that spurred the author's
imagination from a young age.
Scott
is married and has two young boys. Scott holds degrees in computer
information systems, business administration, and history.
Scott is a winner of the Great American Novel contest, from Tag Publishing, for 2010.
Why We Still Need Southern Literature ~ By Scott Thompson
With the recent deaths of Harry
Crews and William Gay some have speculated that Southern Literature is
dead. In April, a highly respected
author, Baynard Woods, wrote in TheMillions.com that we should “kill off the genre, sacrificing the
adjective “Southern” for the sake of what really matters here, which is
Literature.” At first it’s difficult to
disagree with Mr. Woods because it seems that we should celebrate good books
for the writing and not the genre.
Genres can keep people from reading a book simply because it doesn’t
fall into their area of interest. Some
will never read anything labeled as “Southern Literature” just like some will
never read anything that is labeled as “Chick Lit” or “Horror” or whatever, and
by doing this those people might avoid great books. So, I understand Mr. Woods’ argument.
But even
still, we do need Southern Literature. We
need it in the same way African Americans need books that cater to situations
only they can truly understand. I was
born and raised in Georgia
and I need books that speak to me personally.
Southern Literature is needed because it helps Southerners better
understand who we are, and helps us understand and process the emotions of
growing up and living in a world that is still healing and evolving. We will need Southern Literature a hundred
years from now to explore where we came from, how we have changed, and what
changes are still needed.
Good books
have the ability to bring to the surface problems we are ignoring or
denying. To Kill a Mockingbird is
a book revered by many. It is a beautiful
novel that exposed real problems in society and helped to further change. Should we now forget this book because much
of the change has taken place? Should be
never write another book about Alabama’s
past? No, of course not. We must continue to explore what was wrong
about the South, and what was right, because there was plenty that was right.
Southern
Literature shouldn’t just be about blasting Southerners for our mistakes, but
also for highlighting all the things that are right. Characteristics we may lose if we
forget. I hope Southerners will always
regard family highly. I hope Southerners
will always love the land. I hope
Southerners will always be the type of people that will pull their car over and
help a person change a tire. I hope
Southerners never forget how to pray, even as religion and faith evolve. I hope there are always eccentric Southerners
that make us smile, and that inspire us all.
So, books
about the South are needed. They are
needed to remind us of the past, to show us where we still need to change, and
to show us what we was good. There may
be a day when “Southern” should be dropped from new books, but I don’t see that
any time soon.
Wow! Thanks, Scott!
I have to say, I agree 100% with the guest post that Scott was awesome enough to write for me. Born and bred in NC, I am a Southern Girl, and proud of it!
There is nothing like the feeling you get when you can sit on your front porch and wave at your neighbors passing by, catching fireflies on a warm Spring night, or walking out your back door to fish on your pond.
Come back tomorrow for my review of Young Men Shall See,
and on Friday for a chance to win a signed copy of the book for yourself!
