David Joy is an accomplished American author, particularly known for his contributions to Southern literature. He was born and raised in North Carolina, and studied literature at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, where he earned both his Bachelor of Arts in Literature and his Master of Arts in Professional Writing.
Throughout his writing career, Joy has produced a substantial body of work, including three critically acclaimed novels, a memoir, and a number of short stories and essays. His first novel, Where All Light Tends to Go, was published in 2015 and quickly gained recognition, earning him a nomination for the prestigious Edgar Award. He followed this success with the novels The Weight Of This World, The Line That Held Us, and When These Mountains Burn, all of which received critical acclaim.
In addition to his novels, Joy has also written a memoir, Growing Gills: A Fly Fisherman's Journey, which was a finalist for the Reed Environmental Writing Award and the Ragan Old North State Award for Creative Nonfiction. His essays and short stories have been featured in a variety of publications, including The New York Times Magazine, Garden & Gun, and The Bitter Southerner.
Joy's work has been recognized by a number of organizations, and he has received an artist fellowship from the North Carolina Arts Council. He is represented by Julia Kenny of Dunow, Carlson & Lerner Literary Agency and currently resides in Jackson County, North Carolina.