Monroeville author releases debut novel, 'The Souls of Clayhatchee'
Monroeville author Anthony Todd Carlisle untangles long-hidden family secrets of racism and rage in his debut novel, “The Souls of Clayhatchee,” released in early May.
The story follows one man’s pilgrimage to the South to fulfill his mother’s last wish of being buried in her small Alabama hometown.
As the cover teases, “Some secrets cannot stay buried.”
A page-turner with wide appeal for its mystery/love/crime themes, the book is a heartfelt story of hope, Carlisle said.
“It is a mystery steeped in Black tradition and vernacular,” said Carlisle, 53, an associate professor in the Department of Culture, Media and Performance at California University of Pennsylvania.
It is alternately humorous and dramatic, and features strong female characters. Some of the tale, Carlisle said, is inspired by his own family’s story. For example, his grandparents grew up in Alabama.
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-Cynthia Duckery, NetGalley Review
#hiddenshelf #mysterybooks #mysterynovel #newbooks #Blackbooksmatter #Blackstoriesmatter #DiverseBooks #OwnVoices #SupportBlackAuthors pic.twitter.com/8lmchdNEo0— Hidden Shelf (@hidden_shelf) May 27, 2021
“The Souls of Clayhatchee” was released by Hidden Shelf Publishing House and is available on Amazon, Apple iBooks and Google Play, among others.
A veteran who served in the U.S. Army Reserves for 14 years, Carlisle reached the rank of captain and was deployed to the Middle East during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was awarded Cal U’s Presidential Medal for Patriotic Service.
It was while across the globe in Kuwait that Carlisle started tapping out his novel on a laptop.
While deployed overseas, the father of two spent most of his downtime reading whatever he could get his hands on.
“I remember so thoroughly enjoying Eric Jerome Dickey’s book ‘Milk in My Coffee’ because of its humor and accessibility, and I thought I could write something like that,” Carlisle said. “I think the next day, I flipped open my laptop and started my book.”
#NewRelease #Newbooks #HiddenShelfPublishing #hiddenshelf #mysterybooks #mysterynovel #Readmorebooks #Blackbooksmatter #Blackstoriesmatter #DiverseSpines #DiverseBooks #OwnVoices #WeNeedDiverseBooks #supportBlackauthors pic.twitter.com/8gBFdcq7kz
— Hidden Shelf (@hidden_shelf) May 5, 2021
A former reporter, Carlisle spent more than a decade covering regional news for local outlets. He wrote about city government, religion, education and transportation, among other topics.
Carlisle, originally from Ambridge in Beaver County, earned the Robert L. Vann Award for feature writing and investigative reporting and the Keystone State Spotlight Award for a business story.
Seeing his book hit shelves is a long-awaited thrill, Carlisle said.
“I’m over the moon about it,” he said.
For more information, visit hiddenshelfpublishinghouse.com.
Tawnya Panizzi is a TribLive reporter. She joined the Trib in 1997. She can be reached at tpanizzi@triblive.com.
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