NORMAL — Dr. Kimberly S. Love, vsiting assistant professor of English at Alabama A&M University, has been awarded a $5,000 South Arts Literary Arts Program Grant to support the completion of her debut novel, “Austin Creek.”
The novel, deeply rooted in Southern culture and storytelling traditions, explores themes that resonate across generations and geographies.
The South has long been a cradle of literary excellence, producing some of the nation’s most beloved writers, from Zora Neale Hurston to William Faulkner. South Arts, a nonprofit regional arts organization, continues this tradition by supporting individual artists and arts organizations across nine Southern states, including Alabama. Love’s award recognizes “Austin Creek” for its linguistic, geographic, and cultural significance, elevating the distinct voices of the region.
Love, a Huntsville native, said “Austin Creek” is a tale of family origins that reimagines stories she grew up hearing from her elders in a small enclave in Butler County where both her maternal and paternal lineages have descended since U.S. emancipation.
“My grandmother remembers her elders talking about money buried in the ground and protected by a snake,” Love said. “My cousin knows about a tree growing inside the home of a woman who led a secret congregation in the woods. Most significantly, the elders in Butler County speak about their inability to self-determine as a community in the present as they did in the past through their relationship with the land.”
Through poetic prose, “Austin Creek” reframes Love’s experiences and ancestral narratives to reveal deeper truths about reconnecting with the environment and each other. The novel’s exploration of death, marriage, and ancestry aims to move readers into a profound self-awareness, aligning with the oral storytelling traditions of the South.
Love studied literature and language at Tuskegee University, earning a bachelor of arts in English. She later pursued graduate studies at the University of Virginia, focusing on 20th-century American and African American literature.
Her teaching career began at Virginia, where she instructed composition and literature courses and led African American Studies sections. After receiving her Ph.D. in English Language and Literature, she taught at Williams College before joining Alabama A&M in last fall.
Her scholarly work has been published in Hypatia: A Journal of Feminist Philosophy,”Root Work Journal and Auburn Avenue. She also has an upcoming essay in “The Southern Quarterly.”
Love’s work aligns closely with South Arts’ mission to promote sustainability, momentum, and impact in the arts. “Ultimately, the language of “Austin Creek” should edify the reader, immersing them in the traditions of oral storytelling,” she said.
Beyond her literary contributions, Love plays a vital role at Alabama A&M, teaching world literature, American literature, and composition. Her dedication to scholarship and storytelling enriches both her students and the broader literary community.
“It’s truly rewarding to see faculty receive the support they need to excel in their work,” said Dr. Peter Eley, interim dean of the College of Education, Humanities, and Behavioral Sciences. “This enhances their productivity and enriches student learning, as faculty are constantly growing and improving.
“Dr. Love exemplifies this spirit of continuous improvement, making a lasting impact on her department, college, and our university.”
“Austin Creek” is scheduled for release by the end of the summer.
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