Rick Bragg

Rick Bragg is a highly acclaimed non-fiction author, best known for his captivating memoirs that chronicle the lives of his family members and their experiences in the foothills of the Appalachians. Bragg was born in Calhoun County, Alabama, and grew up in a family of cotton pickers, mill workers, and whiskey makers. His family members were determined to improve their living standards, and their dreams have come true through Bragg's successful writing career.

Bragg has earned more than 50 awards for his journalism and books, including the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing in 1996. He has written several critically acclaimed books, including "All Over but the Shoutin," "Ava's Man," and "The Prince of Frogtown," which are described as heart-breaking anthems of people who are usually written about in fiction or cliches. Bragg's writing is known for its deep empathy and insight into the lives of ordinary people, and his books are considered some of the proudest examples of his writing life.

Before becoming a full-time author, Bragg worked as a newspaper writer for two decades, covering high school football for the Jacksonville News and militant Islamic fundamentalism for The New York Times. He has also written for numerous magazines, ranging from Sports Illustrated to Food & Wine. Bragg is currently a Professor of Writing in the Journalism Department at the University of Alabama, where he lives with his wife, Dianne, a doctoral student, and his stepson, Jake. In his free time, Bragg enjoys fishing, although he admits to being the worst fisherman in his family line.

Bragg's work is deeply rooted in his Alabama upbringing, and he has written extensively about the region and its people. His writing is characterized by his deep understanding of the complexities of the human experience and his ability to convey those complexities in a way that is both accessible and profound. Bragg's contributions to journalism and literature have been widely recognized, and he continues to inspire and influence writers and readers around the world.