The astonishing fiction of Brad Watson (1955-2020) is available in a new collection, There Is Happiness: New and Selected Stories, an enduring record of a fearless writer whose work should be treasured.
It was my pleasure to review There Is Happiness for Alabama Writers’ Forum. Read the full review here:
Professional Southerner 
Comment I attempted to post on the website on your AWF book review:
While I knew Brad Watson’s posthumous book was coming, I had no idea how Edward Journey’s review would hit me in the gut. (Thank you, Edward — I needed to be awakened from this summer of heat and horror.) I followed Brad’s progress as a brilliant young writer from the time he came to Tuscaloosa to the MFA program, and continued to do so through Miss Jane — one of the loveliest books by any Alabama writer. I’ll never forget watching him read it in Nashville at the Southern Festival of the Book. We are looking forward to inducting Brad Watson into the 2025 class of the Alabama Writers Hall of Fame in the spring. This will be more cause to celebrate and deeply, deeply miss him. What a treat to have this book, with old and new stories, and excerpts. Please buy the book and share with friends! Thank you again, AWF, for this timely review of our brilliant, talented friend Brad Watson who left us much too soon. And thanks to those who made the book possible, especially his lovely wife Nell Hanley and those who participated in the editing and shepherding through publication. And by the way, Brad is a hybrid Southern writer — with two states claiming him. What a blessing!
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Thanks for the kind comments and memories, Jeanie. I agree with you on Miss Jane — such a powerful and (seemingly) effortless book. Brad Watson was a truly exceptional talent and I hope this latest book leads more readers to discover him.
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