The diverse and accomplished literary community rooted in Oxford, Mississippi, is celebrated in this collection. Featured is never-before-published work from some of the most respected names in contemporary literature, including Barry Hannah, Larry Brown, William Gay, Tom Franklin, Mark Richard, and Ace Atkins. Several of the contributors step outside their "comfort zones," and make forays into new genres in these pieces: Larry Brown, best known for his fiction, ventures into memoir with an account of his marine boot camp days at Parris Island; short story author George Singleton provides a nonfiction account of his most recent book tour; and editor Lisa Howorth and screenwriter Anne Rapp delve into short fiction. Food writer John T. Edge is included, Dick Waterman debuts his photo essay on B.B. King, and a remarkable redneck haiku is included for good measure. The varied and unexpected pieces in this collection provide a clear snapshot of the robust state of Southern writing.