NewSouth author Mark Ethridge recently visited Virginia Commonwealth University as a guest lecturer during the school’s annual Mass Communications Week.  Ethridge delivered the Turpin Lecture on Wednesday, October 9, where he talked about journalism and about his novel, Grievances.  Students and faculty heard Mark describe how he wanted to create a novel that provided a behind-the-scenes look at the newspaper industry.  Mark also talked about the state of print journalism and how he incorporated those ideas into his novel. 

In a VCU article, Judy VanSlyke Turk, Director of the School of Mass Communications at VCU, described Mark as a “perfect choice because of his connection to Richmond and professor Turpin.” The annual Turpin Lecture is named in honor of former professor Bill Turpin and, according to Turk, is designed to bring in speakers who are “successful media managers.”

Read VCU’s entire article about Mark’s visit, as well as a report from their Reporting 101 class.

Mark has been the president of Carolina Parenting, Inc. since 1990, and is also the former editor of The Charlotte Observer.  He directed The Charlotte Observer’s Pulitzer Prize-winning investigations of the textile industry and the PTL scandal involving Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker. Mark studied as a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University and was named a member of Esquire magazine’s inaugural class of “People Under 40 Who Are Changing America.” His work has appeared in newspapers and magazines nationwide.

Grievances tells of journalist Matt Harper’s efforts to reveal the truth behind the twenty-year-old unsolved Civil Rights murder of a thirteen-year-old African-American boy. Grievances is a suspense-filled story of newspapers, murder, and of redemption–for a small Southern town and for Matt Harper. Transcendent, the feature film subsidiary of Film House, recently optioned Grievances for a feature film, and Ethridge is currently working with the company on adapting the screenplay.

Grievances is available from NewSouth Books, Amazon.com, or your favorite local or online book retailer.

Writer and journalist Julia Oliver has reviewed Mark Ethridge’s novel Grievances for the new online book review section of First Draft magazine, published by the Alabama Writers’ Forum. Oliver notes that Ethridge “has made the crossover from award-winning, third-generation newspaperman to first-time novelist with grace and aplomb.”

Grievances tells the story of an unsolved civil rights murder in South Carolina, and the newspaper investigation with both political and personal repercussions for journalist Matt Harper. “Overall here,” writes Oliver, “Ethridge appears to have found a comfortable sweet spot somewhere between the breakneck urgency of big city journalism and the more measured craft of tension-filled fiction writing.”

The Alabama Writers’ Forum promotes and facilitates the practice of literary arts through its services to writers and the general public. With individual and corporate associates statewide, the Forum represents the diverse voices of today’s writing talent. First Draft magazine’s new online book reviews feature twelve reviews each month of books by Alabama authors, books about our state, and books by local publishing houses. First Draft Reviews Online also includes a searchable archive to benefit readers, students, and scholars.

Grievances ��is �available ��from NewSouth Books, Amazon.com, or your favorite local or online book�� retailer.

Author Mark Ethridge offers some notes from the road while he’s been touring with his new book, Grievances:

For several months I’ve been on a tour for my novel, Grievances, which came out in May. I was excited getting into it but I figured that by now–roughly appearance number 40 of 60 or so–it would become tiresome, repetitive.

I couldn’t have been more wrong. At literally every stop, whether bookstore signing or major presentation, I’ve been surprised and delighted by��meeting new and��old friends, by learning some forgotten family history,��by making the acquaintance of other writers, or by just hearing other people’s stories.

An example occurred recently outside of Chapel Hill.

I’d arrived a little early for my talk and signing at McIntyre’s Bookshop and decided to drive by my late grandparents’ spectacular home and grounds overlooking the Rocky River south of town. The roads had changed��since I’d been there last, more than 20 years before, after my grandparents, Mark and Willie Snow Ethridge, had died. Thankfully, my grandmother’s huge but delicate Japanese gate still��made��the entrance unmistakable. I couldn’t resist driving up the long, wooded driveway.

The house was just as it had been when they had lived there. I could see through the floor-to-ceiling glass walls that a grand piano sat right where my grandmother’s had decades before. I decided to knock on the door.

After apologizing for interrupting, I was warmly greeted by a very nice man named Dr. Fred Sparling and his��lovely wife ��Joyce who had owned the house for many years. They knew exactly who I was, still referred to the house as “The Ethridge House” and, in fact had collected stories about my grandparents and the famous visitors they welcomed to the home. Mrs. Sparling even had a shelf of the books written by my grandmother.

We enjoyed a brief but wonderful visit as they showed me the house and we shared stories. I mentioned I hoped the book event wouldn’t last too long because I wanted to get home to listen to football on the Internet.

“What team?” he asked.

“Princeton. My son ��is the class of 2010 and ��plays defensive tackle.”

He stuck out his hand. “Class of 1958.”

Forty-five minutes later, the Sparlings showed up at my book signing. We plan to get together again soon.

Author Mark Ethridge is himself a Class of 1971 graduate from Princeton. His book, Grievances,�� is now�� available�� from NewSouth Books, Amazon.com, or your favorite local or online book��retailer.

A belated congratulations to author Mark Ethridge and his NewSouth book Grievances, which topped the Sandhills, North Carolina area best seller list according to The Pilot newspaper on June 18, 2006. Along with the bestseller list, Features Editor Faye Dasen reviewed Grievances, calling it a “great debut novel.” The full review is available from The Pilot.

Grievances is available directly from NewSouth Books, Amazon, or your favorite local or online book retailer.

Summer’s here, and the whole country’s certainly feeling the heat! So what’s the deal with USA Today saying there’s no hot beach books this summer? Didn’t they read the Charlotte Observer review of Mark Ethridge’s Grievances, which called the mystery novel “a must for your beach bag”? And Windows a Bookshop in Louisiana certainly has plenty to read, as they list Tony Dunbar’s Tubby Meets Katrina among the new books by their favorite authors that summer brought. So if you’re headed out to the beach, don’t forget these great titles from NewSouth–they may not cool you off, but they’ll definitely keep your mind off the heat!

The Akron Beacon Journal in Akron, Ohio has praised Grievances as an “intriguing novel.” They continue:

Ethridge precisely conveys the grunt side of newspaper work — the crunching boredom of sifting through piles of public records as the deadline clock ticks away. He shows various versions of the story as the two reporters polish it, and their disappointment as it suffers delays caused by conflicting information.

The book’s supporting characters are beautifully drawn. The aptly named Reverend Grace, the dignified, snuff-dipping housemaid Mary Pell, even the pathetic, aging Klansmen — each is elevated above “type” by Ethridge’s careful observation.

NewSouth is also pleased to announce that you can now email author Mark Ethridge with questions or comments about Grievances. Follow this link to send a message to Mark, and to learn more about the book!

Grievances is available directly from NewSouth Books, Amazon, or your favorite local or online book retailer.