November marked the release of James E Cherry's latest novel, Edge of the Wind, from
Stephen F Austin University Press. Edge of the Wind centers around protagonist Alexander van
der Pool, a 25 year old black man who is off his medication and hearing voices. The primary
voice he hears is that of his alter ego, Tobi. Alex has been writing poetry and wants to find out if
it is any good. He visits a literature class at a local college to have them evaluated and when
they try to put him out, he pulls a gun and takes the class hostage.
This is what fiction writer Valerie Martin has to say about Edge of the Wind: "In this
touching and wonderful novel, James Cherry follows Flannery O’Conner’s surprising dictum and
literally holds a gun to his characters’ heads. Their earnest and honest engagement in the moral
confrontation that follows will tell you everything you need to know about race in America."
Cherry is the author of three volumes of poetry, a collection of short fiction and two novels.
He has an MFA in creative writing from the University of Texas at El Paso. His work has been
nominated for an NAACP Image Award, a Lillian Smith Book Award and a Next Generation
Indie Book Award. A book signing for Edge of the Wind will take place at the Comeunity Cafe
in downtown Jackson on December 10th at 1 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
Copies are available now wherever books are sold. Cherry, a native Jacksonian, is available on
the web at: jamesEcherry.com.
