Category: Appalachian

Appalachian, Books, Fiction, Literature, Novel

Five Oaks: Emotionally engaging, exceptionally memorable, and unreservedly recommended

rdean2014

July 15, 2025

In her review of Five Oaks for Midwest Book Review, Kitty Johnson describes the novel as “A deftly crafted combination of a coming-of-age novel and a family/sisterhood story” before going on to call it “Emotionally engaging, exceptionally memorable, and unreservedly recommended.”

You can read the full review by clicking the the link above and scrolling to the General Fiction Shelf. And, of course, once you’ve read the novel I’d be so thankful if you added your own review on Amazon, GoodReads, or any other site that let’s you have your say.

Appalachian, Books, Bookstores, Feminist, Fiction, Literature, Novel

Five Oaks is #1 in Southern Fiction!

rdean2014

On Monday, I woke up to the news that Five Oaks had landed at #1 in Southern Fiction on Amazon’s Bestseller List. It was also #2 is Sibling Fiction. Thank you all so much for your support of this book. I have so many events planned through the summer and into the fall, and I couldn’t have dreamed a better start than this. Hopefully, I’ll see you all down the road, be able to say hello, and sign your copy of the book.

Appalachian, Books, Bookstores, Fiction, Literature, Novel

Get Five Oaks at Your Favorite Indie Bookstore.

rdean2014

One of my favorite things to do is stroll the aisles of a bookstore just to see what catches my eye. It’s even better if that bookstore is owned by a true book lover, maybe features some comfortable seating, or at least has a store cat.

In my neck of the woods (Kentucky), you can’t go wrong with Read Spotted Newt in Hazard and The Taleless Dog in Berea. There are several more I could name, but better still, it’s easy to find your local indie bookstore [ and my new novel 🙂 ] with a simple search online.

My go-to for a search is IndieBound where you can find a great store and buy local online or strolling the aisles (which is, of course, the best way to meet cool cats).

Appalachian, Books, Feminist, Fiction, Literature, Novel

Five Oaks Ready for Pre-Order

rdean2014

You can start building your summer reading list right now by pre-ordering my debut novel, Five Oaks.

In the Arkansas mountains, three generations of fiercely determined young women are poised for self-discovery in a decades-spanning novel about the bonds of family and secrets.

Spending summer away from home for the first time, fifteen-year-old Wren Stone and her younger sister, Sylvie, arrive at Five Oaks, their grandparents’ Arkansas lake house. As it was for their grandmother and mother before them, it’s a place for coming of age, first love, triumphs and failures, and keeping secrets.

Free release day delivery on May 27 via Amazon–just in time for the beach, the lake, or wherever you like to cozy up with a good book.

Appalachian, Feminist, Fiction, Literature, Nature, Novel-in-stories, Poetry

New interview in Appalachian Heritage

rdean2014

I’m so pleased my interview in the Winter 2017 issue of app-heritage-lgAppalachian Heritage puts me in the same company as former Kentucky poet laureate, George Ella Lyon; my former student, Tasha Cotter; and so many other established and emerging writers. Thanks to editor, Jason Howard, for making me part of this outstanding journal.

Appalachian, Feminist, Fiction, Literature, Novel-in-stories

“Hensley’s language in painting Appalachian communities is haunting and beautiful, and each story. . .falls into place as a chain in the unforgettable ring that is Landfall: A Ring of Stories.” -Allyson Hoffman

rdean2014

newpages-logo           I’m over the moon with Allyson Hoffman’s review of Landfall at NewPages.com. The quote above sums it up nicely, but if you care to read the review in its entirety, you can do so by clicking here. Thank you, Allyson. Thank you, NewPages!

Agriculture, Appalachian, Feminist, Fiction, Literature, Low-Residency MFA, Motherhood, Nature, Novel, Novel-in-stories, Uncategorized

Latest review of Landfall

rdean2014

I recently received some happy news from my M.F.A. Alma mater, Arizona State dec2016mag University. The December 2016 issue of ASU Alumni Magazine includes a review of my  collection, Landfall: A Ring of Stories, in its Shelf Improvement section.

To read the full text, click here.

And, of course, Go Sun Devils!

 

 

Appalachian, Feminist, Fiction, Literature, Novel, Novel-in-stories

Sneak Previews and Pre-Orders

rdean2014

My novel-in-stories is available ahead of schedule! Friends are already receiving their Morris Bookshoppre-sale copies of Landfall: A Ring of Stories. This is the book that Michelle Herman selected as the winner of the 2015 Ohio State University Press Non/fiction Prize and Rilla Askew selected as the winner of the 2006 Everett Southwest Literary Award. (Many, many years in the making, it was conceived as my MFA thesis back at Arizona State University.)

Landfall chronicles three generations of several families in Conrad’s Fork, a fictional Appalachian town. I’m lining up lots of readings and book club visits starting this summer, including some via Skype. Email me if you’re interested.

Fitness LadiesYou can order Landfall: A Ring of Stories as a paperback or e-book through Ohio State University Press or through dozens of other online bookstores such as Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Appalachian, Fiction, Literature, Novel

On the Trail of a Novel

rdean2014

551

I just finished an amazing residency at Hambidge Center for the Creative Arts and Sciences in Rabun Gap where I worked on my novel-in-progress, The Recklessness of Water. Nothing like greeting fall in the mountains of North Georgia. The first few days were rainy and cool. I loved waking to the sound of the rain on the roof of my studio. As always, it took me a day or two to withdraw from my busy life and sink into all that creative quiet. To cope, I constructed an elaborate, colorful outline on the wall of my studio and worked on short, lyric, intercalary chapters.

Halfway through the residency, I took part in the Hambidge Great ARTdoors festival. My family came down for the event. The kids loved watching the ten-foot wolf puppet move through the crowd. They got to paint Raku pottery and “help” create an amazing community sculpture from borrowed ladders. While it was hard to say goodbye, I was eager to get back to work.

When the sun came out, the leaves began to fall, and I found a lovely rhythm. In the morning, I led yoga classes on the screened porch of Lucinda’s rock house or hiked the waterfall trail. I wrote all afternoon. My desk was in front of a large window, so whenever I looked up from my laptop, there was the golden flurry from the ash and maple trees. One evening, when I drove out of the holler to phone my kids, a double rainbow spread across the farm pastures.

548I finished eight intercalary chapters and three regular-length chapters—meaning I have only one and a half to go! I also began mapping possible creative collaborations with two amazing artists, print maker, Catherine Clements and painter Isabela Munci. Even the tire blow-out I experienced on the way home just outside of Sylvia, North Carolina, couldn’t dampen my experience. Now, if I can just keep that momentum going!

Check out more Hambidge pics on my Facebook author page: Julie Hensley