George Singleton is an American author who has written eight collections of
short stories
A short story is a piece of prose fiction. It can typically be read in a single sitting and focuses on a self-contained incident or series of linked incidents, with the intent of evoking a single effect or mood. The short story is one of the old ...
, two
novels
A novel is an extended work of narrative fiction usually written in prose and published as a book. The word derives from the for 'new', 'news', or 'short story (of something new)', itself from the , a singular noun use of the neuter plural of '' ...
, a collection of
essays
An essay ( ) is, generally, a piece of writing that gives the author's own argument, but the definition is vague, overlapping with those of a Letter (message), letter, a term paper, paper, an article (publishing), article, a pamphlet, and a s ...
, and an instructional book on writing
fiction
Fiction is any creative work, chiefly any narrative work, portraying character (arts), individuals, events, or setting (narrative), places that are imagination, imaginary or in ways that are imaginary. Fictional portrayals are thus inconsistent ...
. He was born in
Anaheim, California
Anaheim ( ) is a city in northern Orange County, California, United States, part of the Greater Los Angeles area. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city had a population of 346,824, making it the most populous city in Orang ...
, and raised in
Greenwood, South Carolina
Greenwood is a city in and the county seat of Greenwood County, South Carolina. The population in the 2020 United States Census was 22,545 down from 23,222 at the 2010 census. The city is home to Lander University.
History
In 1823 John McG ...
. Singleton graduated from
Furman University
Furman University is a private university in Greenville, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1826 and named after Baptist pastor Richard Furman, the Liberal arts college, liberal arts university is the oldest private institution of higher l ...
in 1980 with a degree in
philosophy
Philosophy ('love of wisdom' in Ancient Greek) is a systematic study of general and fundamental questions concerning topics like existence, reason, knowledge, Value (ethics and social sciences), value, mind, and language. It is a rational an ...
and was an inductee into
Phi Beta Kappa
The Phi Beta Kappa Society () is the oldest academic honor society in the United States. It was founded in 1776 at the College of William & Mary in Virginia. Phi Beta Kappa aims to promote and advocate excellence in the liberal arts and sciences, ...
. He also holds an MFA degree from the
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG or UNC Greensboro) is a public research university in Greensboro, North Carolina. It is part of the University of North Carolina, University of North Carolina system. It is accredited by the S ...
.
Singleton was the longstanding teacher of fiction writing and editing at the
in
Greenville, South Carolina
Greenville ( ; ) is a city in Greenville County, South Carolina, United States, and its county seat. With a population of 70,720 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of municipalities in South Carolina, sixth-most pop ...
. In 2009, Singleton was a Guggenheim fellow, and in 2011 he was awarded the Hillsdale Award for Fiction by the
Fellowship of Southern Writers
The Fellowship of Southern Writers is an American literary organization that celebrates the creative vitality of Southern writing as the mirror of a distinctive and cherished regional culture. Its fellowships and awards draw attention to outstan ...
. In 2013, Singleton accepted the John C. Cobb Endowed Chair in the Humanities at
Wofford College
Wofford College is a private liberal arts college in Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1854, it is one of the few four-year institutions in the southeastern United States founded before the American Civil War that still ope ...
, where he taught until 2020. Singleton was inducted into the Fellowship of Southern Writers in April 2015, and was awarded the John William Corrington Award for Literary Excellence in 2016. In 2024, Singleton appeared on the
SEC Network
SEC Network (SECN) is an American multinational sports network owned by ESPN Inc., a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company (which operates the network, through its 80% controlling ownership interest) and Hearst Communications (which hold ...
television program ''TrueSouth Presented by YellaWood.''
Works
Fiction
Short story collections
* ''These People Are Us: Stories'' (2001)
* ''The Half-Mammals of Dixie'' (2002)
* ''Why Dogs Chase Cars: Tales of a Beleaguered Boyhood'' (2004)
* ''Drowning in Gruel'' (2006)
*''Stray Decorum'' (2012)
*''Between Wrecks'' (2014)
*''Calloustown'' (2015)
*''Staff Picks'' (2019)
*''You Want More'' (2020)
*''The Curious Lives of Nonprofit Martyrs'' (2023)
Novels
* ''Novel'' (2005)
* ''Work Shirts for Madmen'' (2007)
Nonfiction
*''Pep Talks, Warnings, and Screeds: Indispensable Wisdom and Cautionary Advice for Writers'' (2008)
*''Asides: Occasional Essays on Dogs, Food, Restaurants, Bars, Hangovers, Jobs, Music, Family Trees, Robbery, Relationships, Being Brought Up Questionably, Et Cetera'' (2023)
References
External links
Interview with George Singleton
{{DEFAULTSORT:Singleton, George
Writers from South Carolina
Furman University alumni
Living people
People from Greenwood, South Carolina
University of North Carolina at Greensboro alumni
University of North Carolina at Wilmington faculty
University of South Carolina faculty
People from Anaheim, California
Writers from Orange County, California
1958 births
American male writers
Southern noir writers