Here are 7 Author Shoutouts for this week. Find your favorite author or discover an author whose work you’ve not yet read.
Support Independent Bookstores.
You can find the books relating to our Author Shoutouts at our bookshop, on our list of LitStack Author Shoutouts.
In This Week’s Author Shoutouts:
Louise Glück
An Author Shoutout to Louise Glück, a renowned American poet and essayist, who was born in New York City. In 2020, she was honored with the prestigious Nobel Prize in Literature for her unparalleled poetic talent that beautifully captures the essence of human experience. Serving as the Poet Laureate of the United States from 2003 to 2004, Glück is celebrated for her emotionally charged and introspective writing style, earning her a reputation as an autobiographical poet.
Louise Glück maintained a deep bond with Vermont writer Kathryn Davis until her passing. The two frequently exchanged letters, offering each other guidance and support in their artistic endeavors over the course of their enduring friendship and literary journeys. Glück passed away at the age of 80 in her Cambridge, Massachusetts home on October 13, 2023, after a battle with cancer.
William Shakespeare
A huge Author Shoutout to William Shakespeare, a prominent figure in English literature, was born approximately on April 23 and baptized on April 26. Renowned for his exceptional talent as a playwright, poet, and actor, he is hailed as the most eminent writer in the English language and a leading dramatist worldwide. From 1589 to 1613, Shakespeare created the majority of his known works. Initially focusing on comedies and histories, his early plays are esteemed as masterpieces within these genres. Transitioning to tragedies around 1608, he crafted iconic works such as Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth – all revered as some of the finest pieces in English literature.
William Shakespeare passed away on 23 April 1616 at the age of 52, shortly after drafting his will in which he claimed to be in good health. The circumstances surrounding his death remain a mystery, with no existing contemporary accounts shedding light on the cause. However, fifty years later, John Ward, the vicar of Stratford, recorded in his notes that Shakespeare, along with Drayton and Ben Jonson, had a jovial gathering where they indulged in excessive drinking, where Shakespeare contracted a fatal fever.
Sue Grafton
An Author Shoutout to Sue Grafton, an American author renowned for her detective novels. Intrigued by mystery series with interconnected titles, she embarked on a unique project to create a series of novels following the alphabet sequence. Her most famous works include the alphabet series, featuring private investigator Kinsey Millhone in the fictional locale of Santa Teresa, California. Grafton had planned to conclude the series with Z Is for Zero; however, her untimely passing prevented her from commencing this final installment. Emphatically, her daughter affirmed that Grafton adamantly opposed having a ghostwriter continue the series in her name and declared that for their family, the alphabet now concludes at Y.
Sue Grafton declined to sell the film and television rights, as her experience in writing screenplays had effectively cured her of any inclination to collaborate with Hollywood. Following a two-year struggle with appendix cancer, Grafton passed away at Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara on December 28, 2017.
Dorothy Salisbury Davis
An Author Shoutout to Dorothy Salisbury Davis, a native of Chicago, Illinois, who was known as a distinguished writer specializing in mysteries and crime fiction. Proficient in crafting both novels and short stories, she delved into the intricate workings of criminal minds with a particular focus on the psychological underpinnings. Notably, Davis shied away from gratuitous violence in her narratives and exhibited a unique ability to humanize both antagonists and protagonists alike. It was her third novel, A Gentle Murderer (1951), that truly solidified Davis’ standing within the literary world..
She was renowned for delving into psychological suspense in her novels, and had a unique ability to immerse readers in the inner thoughts of female characters facing danger and turmoil. She passed away on August 3, 2014, at the age of 98, while residing in a senior living facility in Palisades, New York.
Bernard Malamud
An Author Shoutout to Bernard Malamud, an acclaimed American author and storyteller. Crafting poignant parables from the tapestry of Jewish immigrant life, he hailed from humble beginnings in Brooklyn, where his father ran a modest grocery store. Despite their financial struggles, Malamud’s literary prowess shone through in his debut novel The Natural (1952; adapted into a film in 1984), a captivating tale of a baseball prodigy blessed with extraordinary abilities. His renowned work The Fixer (1966), delving into the depths of antisemitism within the Russian Empire, not only secured him both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize but also solidified his legacy as a masterful chronicler of human experiences.
Bernard Malamud’s literary works vividly capture the harsh realities and struggles faced by immigrants, while also showcasing their unwavering determination to achieve their aspirations despite their impoverished circumstances. He died in Manhattan on March 18, 1986, at the age of 71, where he had resided in the Upper West Side’s Lincoln Towers during the winter months since 1972.
Jessie Redmon Fauset
An Author Shoutout to Jessie Redmon Fauset, a multifaceted literary figure who made significant contributions as the literary editor of The Crisis. Through her editorship and own writings, she reshaped African-American literature in the 1920s by authentically depicting the complexities of African-American life and history. Fauset’s works often featured middle-class black characters grappling with issues of self-identity and racial discrimination. In her notable novel Comedy: American Style (1933), the protagonist Olivia Carey struggles with her desire to assimilate into white culture while her family embraces their cultural heritage.
Jessie Redmon Fauset transitioned from her teaching career in 1919 to take on the role of literary editor at The Crisis, a publication established by W. E. B. Du Bois of the NAACP. She passed away on April 30, 1961, due to heart disease and was laid to rest at Eden Cemetery in Collingdale, Pennsylvania.
Harper Lee
An Author Shoutout to Nelle Harper Lee, an esteemed American novelist who achieved critical acclaim for her iconic novel To Kill a Mockingbird, which earned her the prestigious Pulitzer Prize in 1961 and solidified its status in contemporary American literature. She provided invaluable assistance to her dear friend Truman Capote during the research phase of his renowned book In Cold Blood. With the unexpected discovery of her long-lost manuscript Go Set a Watchman by her attorney Tonja Carter in a secure storage facility, the revelation that HarperCollins would release this hidden gem to the public on July 14, 2015, further added to Lee’s legacy as a brilliant and enigmatic writer.
In the wake of Harper Lee’s passing in 2016, news emerged that renowned producer Scott Rudin had enlisted Aaron Sorkin to pen a theatrical adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird. Lee, who passed away on February 19, 2016, at the age of 89, was reported by her nephew Hank Connor to have departed in her sleep. The Land of Sweet Forever, a book of stories and essays by Harper Lee releases October 2025.
Other LitStack Resources
Please take a look at other Author Shoutouts, a weekly feature on LitStack and be sure and support independent bookstores – buy a book today at LitStack Bookshop, with tons of author shoutout titles on our list of LitStack Author Shoutouts.
As a Bookshop, Malaprop’s, BAM, Barnes & Noble, Audiobooks.com, Amazon, and Envato affiliate, LitStack may earn a commission at no cost to you when you purchase products through our affiliate links.
