Dalton Daily Citizen
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Author Kimberly Brock, who wrote “The River Witch,” is teaming up with musical act Grits & Soul for a special collaboration connecting Southern fiction and music on Thursday at 5 p.m. at Chelsea’s on Thornton in Dalton.
Brock, a Dalton native, is currently on a promotional tour for her debut novel and invited Grits & Soul to perform original and traditional music for a handful of these dates.
Brock’s debut novel, “The River Witch,” is a mystical Southern tale set against the backdrop of Georgia’s Sea Islands and Geechie superstitions. When ballerina Roslyn Byrne loses her career and suffers a tragic miscarriage, her grief sends her into a desperate exile. Roslyn has an unforgettable summer after striking up a strange friendship in the form of audacious, motherless, 10-year-old Damascus Trezevant.
Since the book’s release in April, it was chosen as the SheReads.Org book of the month for June and continues to make its mark including being named on recommended summer reading lists by the Huffington Post and Deep South Magazine.
“‘The River Witch’ tells a story of the deep South with all its mystery, strangeness and distinction. Its essence brings to mind memories of the stories of Flannery O’Connor and Carson McCullers,” said Jackie K. Cooper, columnist for Huffington Post Books.
The name “Grits & Soul” came from a James Brown instrumental album and it fit the bill for everything the band wanted to represent musically: roots country, honky tonk stomp, a little Memphis soul and some throwback rock and roll for good measure. This time last year, the duo, consisting of Anna Kline and John Looney (from Mississippi and Kentucky, respectively), was featured on NBC affiliates around the South for their song “Flood Waters.” It caught the attention of CNN reporters who tweeted it to their followers nationwide. It is that very song that captured Brock’s attention. She asked Grits & Soul to accompany her on select dates across the South for her promotional bookstore appearances. They recently relocated from Mississippi to Asheville, N.C., where they live for the next bluegrass jam. Last summer, they released a short EP and are currently preparing to record new material and continue their regional touring schedule.
For more information, visit www.kimberlybrockbooks.com.
