Welcome to David-Joy.com
Welcome to the official site of Appalachian writer David Joy. Joy is the author of Growing Gills: A Fly Fisherman's Journey, his first memoir released in September 2011. His writing has appeared in multiple magazines and journals including Smoky Mountain Living, Wilderness House Literary Review, and Bird Watcher's Digest. He recently finished his second book of creative nonfiction, a memoir titled, Ruth: A Beautiful Dismantling. Take a look around the site and feel free to contact the author with any questions or concerns that you may have.
Growing Gills named a finalist for the 2012 Reed Environmental Writing Award
Growing Gills: A Fly Fisherman's Journey was named a finalist for the 2012 Reed Environmental Writing Award, put on each year by the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) to recognize outstanding writing on the Southern environment. The panel of judges is comprised of some of the top environmental writers, journalists, and activists of our time, including writers such as Lee Smith, Nikki Giovanni, and Silas House. Unfortunately Growing Gills was not chosen as the award recipient, but it is an oustanding honor for Joy to simply be listed among the finalists for such a prestigious award. To read a story on the award that appeared in the February 1, 2012 edition of the Crossroads Chronicle click here.
Joy named a finalist for the Roosevelt-Ashe Society Conservation Award from Wild South
Joy was recently named a finalist for the Roosevelt-Ashe Society Conservation Award from Wild South. Joy was nominated for the "Outstanding Journalist" segment of the awards for his work on Growing Gills as well as his ongoing environmental writing in the Crossroads Chronicle. The awards recognize and honor outstanding conservation work in 2011 to protect wild plaes in the South. To read a press release that appeared in the February 29, 2012 edition of the Crossroads Chronicle click here.
Order a copy of Growing Gills from your local Indie Bookstore
Joy strongly urges readers to buy their copies of Growing Gills: A Fly Fisherman's Journey and all other books on their reading lists from their local independent bookstore. While copies are available through all major retailers, there has never been a more important time to support your local economy and the first step in this process is to patronize the stores owned by your neighbors. IndieBound.org makes it easy for you to track down your local bookstore to buy a copy of Growing Gills. Just click the IndieBound logo to the right and follow the steps to "buy online from an indie bookstore." You can also get to the site by clicking here.
Joy finishes Ruth: A Beautiful Dismantling and is currently seeking a publisher
Joy has finished work on his second book-length memoir and has begun searching for a publisher. Ruth: A Beautiful Dismantling is a memoir, which delves into themes of family, love, mortality, grief, memory, and the power of story as a unifying tie between all of humanity. With a century of Southern storytelling dying with Ruth Weaver, a victim of Alzheimer’s, Joy races to collect her Depression-era tales of Paw Creek, North Carolina. Yet more than mere memories, Joy discovers a doctrine that challenges his views on the human experience and defines his beliefs on life, death, and the immortality of story. Check back often for updates. Interested publishers and agents can contact Joy to express their interest.