Racing the Shadows – CH Hooks on Can’t Shake the Dust

In this compelling episode of Read Between the Lines, host Molly Southgate sits down with acclaimed author C.H. Hooks to talk about his powerful new novel, Can’t Shake the Dust.

The story follows “Little” Bill Lemon III as he struggles to outrun a family legacy filled with hardship, violence, and resilience. From the gritty cages of The Monkey Palace—his grandfather’s rough-and-tumble bar—to the questionable ventures of his parents, Little finds his escape on the dirt track every Saturday night. In a car that barely runs, he races not just for victory, but for redemption in the backroads of the South.

Hooks masterfully captures the weight of legacy, poverty, and perseverance in a world where there’s never enough—money, opportunity, or even soap to wash away the Georgia red dirt. With its heart-pounding scenes and unflinching truths, Can’t Shake the Dust is a southern tale you won’t forget.

Purchase Can't Shake the Dust at Bookshop.org:

https://bookshop.org/a/10588/9781646034994

C.H. Hooks is the author of the novel Alligator Zoo-Park Magic (2019). His work has appeared in Los Angeles Review, American Short Fiction, Four Way Review, The Tampa Review, and The Bitter Southerner. He has been a Tennessee Williams Scholar and contributor at the Sewanee Writers' Conference, and attended the DISQUIET: Dzanc Books International Literary Program in Lisbon. When he’s not writing, he can often be found on the waters around St. Augustine, Florida, where he teaches at Flagler College.

📚 Connect with C.H. Hooks
🌐 Website: https://www.chhooks.com
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ch_hooks
🐦 Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/ch_hooks
📖 Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17556827.C_H_Hooks

🔑 Keywords:
Can’t Shake the Dust, CH Hooks, Southern fiction, dirt track racing novel, Georgia red dirt, family legacy in literature, rural American stories, literary fiction author interview, Read Between the Lines podcast, Molly Southgate, coming-of-age novel, resilience in fiction, backroads Southern culture, racing redemption stories, southern grit in literature

#️⃣ Hashtags:
#CantShakeTheDust #CHHooks #SouthernFiction #BookPodcast #AuthorInterview #ReadBetweenTheLinesPodcast #MollySouthgate #LiteraryFiction #SouthernGrit #DirtTrackRacing #NewBookRelease #RuralFiction #FamilyLegacy #StorytellingPodcast #ReadersLife

🎧 Tune in to celebrate mistakes, embrace the awkward, and discover how storytelling can turn even the messiest moments into something meaningful.

In this episode of Read Between the Lines, Molly Southgate sits down with award-winning author Bob Johnson to discuss his gripping new short story collection, The Continental Divide. These fourteen stories shine a light on a side of the Midwest few dare to explore—where violence simmers beneath the surface, and moral choices are rarely black and white.

From a country woman forced into a Sophie’s Choice for her family’s survival, to a small-town marshal hunting his own son for murder, and a former football star confronting his role in a brutal locker room ritual, Johnson captures the haunting complexities of human nature along the St. Lawrence Divide in northern Indiana.

About Bob Johnson
Bob Johnson is an award-winning short story writer and graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. His work has been published by The Common, Philadelphia Stories, Vol. 1 Brooklyn, The Barcelona Review, and more. His story The Continental Divide was named Short Story of the Year in The Hudson Review. He lives in South Bend, Indiana.

Purchase The Continental Divide at Bookshop.org:

https://bookshop.org/a/10588/9781960329646

Keywords:
Bob Johnson, The Continental Divide, short story collection, Midwestern literature, Iowa Writers’ Workshop, dark fiction, literary fiction, rural America stories, morality and violence, St. Lawrence Divide, award-winning author, American short stories, Midwest noir, contemporary fiction, author interview.

Hashtags:
#ReadBetweenTheLinesPodcast
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#TheContinentalDivide
#MidwestFiction
#ShortStoryCollection
#LiteraryFiction
#DarkFiction
#MidwestNoir
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🎧 Tune in to celebrate mistakes, embrace the awkward, and discover how storytelling can turn even the messiest moments into something meaningful.

Guest: Alice Kaltman
Host: Molly Southgate
Episode Title: Laughing at Life’s Stumbles: Alice Kaltman on Mistakes, Growth, and Writing Honestly

In this heartfelt and hilarious episode of Read Between the Lines, host Molly Southgate chats with celebrated author Alice Kaltman about her newest release, Alice’s Big Book of Mistakes — a graphic memoir that celebrates the beauty of imperfection and the power of reflection.

From childhood gaffes to adult missteps, Alice brings humor and insight to every page.

Whether you’re a reader, writer, or lifelong learner, this conversation is an empowering reminder that messing up is part of what makes us human.

Purchase Alice’s Big Book of Mistakes and all of Alice's books at Bookshop.org:

https://bookshop.org/a/10588/9798989394036

or on Amazon at:

https://amzn.to/4m5tJ8K

Alice Kaltman is the author of the story collections Staggerwing and Almost Deadly Almost Good, and the novels The Tantalizing Tale of Grace Minnaugh, Wavehouse, and Dawg Towne. Her short fiction has been recognized by Best American Short Stories, Best Small Fictions, and the Pushcart Prize. Alice also writes nationally published articles on mental health and parenting.

She splits her time between Brooklyn and Montauk, NY, where she lives with her husband, sculptor Daniel Wiener, and their beloved Ollie the Wonder Dog.

• 🌐 Website: www.alicekaltman.com

• 📸 Instagram: @alicekaltman

• 🐦 X (Twitter): @AliceKaltman

• 👍 Facebook: facebook.com/AliceKaltmanAuthor

Alice Kaltman, Alice’s Big Book of Mistakes, graphic memoir, humor memoir, nonfiction writing, learning from mistakes, mental health, parenting essays, Brooklyn author, Montauk writer, book podcast, creative process, writing about real life, embracing imperfections

#ReadBetweenTheLines
#AlicesBigBookOfMistakes
#AliceKaltman
#GraphicMemoir
#WritingLife
#BookLoversPodcast
#HumorAndHeart
#ParentingAndWriting
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🎧 Tune in to celebrate mistakes, embrace the awkward, and discover how storytelling can turn even the messiest moments into something meaningful.