The Alabama Writers’ Forum
The Alabama Writers’ Forum, a partnership program of the Alabama State Council on the Arts, works to cultivate our state’s literary culture. We do that through supporting writers at all stages. We encourage our young writers to find their creative voice through the Father Goose Poetry Festival for Kids!–and through our Alabama High School Literary Arts Awards. We support the work of our state’s literary community through our Alabama Authors Directory, First Draft magazine, and other programming and opportunities for writers across the state. And we celebrate our state’s rich literary legacy through the Alabama Writers Hall of Fame. We are, above all, a community of writers united by our desire to advance the literary arts in Alabama. If that describes you — join us! There are many ways to get involved.
The Briars
The Briars By Sarah Crouch Atria Books, 2026 Hardcover: $29.00 Genre: Literary thriller Reviewed by Lisa Harrison The majestic environs of rural Washington state, its mountains, lakes, forests, vegetation, and fauna, form a setting integral to the plot of The Briars by Sarah Crouch, the follow-up to her highly praised debut novel Middletide. The prologue sets the tone with rich, vivid descriptions of the mountain setting, where a father and daughter, out eagle-spotting, locate not only the majestic bird but also the recently deceased body of a young woman. The tense story that ensues plays out against this backdrop of evocative beauty and peril. Game warden Annie Heston transfers her job to the tiny town of Lake Lumin, Washington to start over after a betrayal lead her to end her marriage. Annie has found refuge and renewal in the woods since the death of her mother when Annie was a teenager. On her first day, she learns that she will share an office with Jake Proudy, a young law enforcement officer. A cougar is making its way toward Lake Lumin, and Annie is tasked with tracking and tagging the animal. She immediately faces [...]
