Raymond L. Atkins

Raymond L. Atkins is an award winning Southern fiction author residing in Rome, Georgia. Born in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, he wrote his first short story in third grade. The ray-gun inspired science fiction piece landed Atkins a “D” because his assignment was to write about Christopher Columbus. His father was a career military man, but he spent the majority of his teen years in Valley Head, Alabama. Atkins jokes, “I guess you could say I’m a Southerner by preference.”

At age 19, he met and married his wife. Together, they had four children. In later years, Mr. and Mrs. Atkins supported one another through college. He attended Floyd Junior College, Shorter University, and Kennesaw State University. Atkins acknowledges a debt to his first English professor, Ken Anderson, for taking the time to teach him to write.

Atkins resides in Rome, Georgia, where he is an instructor of English at Georgia Northwestern Technical College. He lives in an old house with a patient wife and a fat dog. His hobbies include people-watching, reading, and watching movies that have no hope of ever achieving credibility.

His first novel, The Front Porch Prophet, was published by Medallion Press in 2008 and was awarded the Georgia Author of the Year Award for First Novel. Midwest Book Review called it "an intriguing and clever tale, highly recommended for community library fiction collections."

His second novel, Sorrow Wood, was published by Medallion Press in 2009. As noted in Publisher's Weekly, "Subtle humor and mostly pitch-perfect prose distinguish Atkins's compelling mix of mystery and romance, set in 1985 with flashbacks to the 1930s and '40s. Atkins smoothly weaves past into present as the action builds to a final poignant twist."

His third novel, Camp Redemption, was published by Mercer University Press in 2013. It was awarded the Ferrol Sams Award for Fiction and won the 2014 Georgia Author of the Year Award for Fiction. "Camp Redemption showcases the best of Raymond Atkins’s talents in Southern fiction: characters who move in with us, for better or worse; a plot that keeps the pages turning; and the stately, elegant prose of a born storyteller. Alternately hilarious, sad, and downright scary, this is Atkin's best novel yet." Melanie Sumner, The Ghost of Milagro Creek.

Raymond L. Atkins’s fourth novel, Sweetwater Blues, has just been released by Mercer University Press. Set in fictional Sweetwater, Georgia, the story chronicles ten years in the life of Palmer Cray, a young man who in the aftermath of his one great mistake confronts regret at his own fallibility, endures punishment for his actions, finds unexpected redemption, and is given a second chance to try to make it all right.

"Raymond Atkins is a marvel. As one of Georgia’s most talented authors, he magically weaves complex stories from believable characters. You know the people he writes about; they are flawed, complicated, and real. From the first page to the last, Sweetwater Blues takes the reader on a journey filled with consequences, courage, and redemption." Renea Winchester, In the Garden With Billy.

“Sweetwater Blues is a compassionate novel that asks the reader to go beyond the headlines on the nightly news to the human story. Atkins created a brilliant character in Palmer Cray, who insists the reader suspend his or her judgment and listen to what he has to say.” Ann Hite, The Storycatcher.

“Told with the sureness and wit of a modern-day Mark Twain, Sweetwater Blues stakes its place among American classics. Thank you, Raymond Atkins, for taking me on a coming-of-age journey every bit as hilarious, honest, bittersweet, and wise as that of Huck Finn on his raft—and from a prison cell, no less.” Lynn Cullen, Mrs. Poe.

“Like an Otis Redding tune, Sweetwater Blues will seduce the willing. Raymond Atkins is one of Georgia's natural wonders - a crackling-wise writer, who invokes laughter and invites imagination. Sweetwater Blues is a frolicking good read, sure to be a hit among convict book clubs nationwide.” Karen Spears Zacharias, Mother of Rain.

• Winner, 2014 Georgia Author of the Year for Best Fiction.

• Winner, 2012 Ferrol Sams Award, Mercer University Press, Macon, GA.

• Winner, 2010 Robert Hill Award, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA.

• Finalist, 2010 Georgia Author of the Year for Best Fiction.

• Nominee, 2010 Independent Publisher Book Award for Best Regional Fiction.

• Winner, 2009 Georgia Author of the Year for First Novel.

• Winner, 2009 Independent Publisher Book Award for Best Regional Fiction.

• Finalist, 2009 Independent Publisher Book Award for Best Popular Fiction.

Raymond L. Atkins resides in Rome, Georgia, where he is an instructor of English at Georgia Northwestern Technical College. Atkins has been a guest columnist for The Rome News-Tribune and a regular contributor to Like the Dew. His columns appear regularly in Memphis Downtowner Magazine. His short stories have been published in Christmas Stories from Georgia, The Lavender Mountain Anthology, The Blood and Fire Review, The Red Clay Review, and Savannah Magazine. His fifth book, South of the Etowah, is scheduled for release late in 2015 from Mercer University Press.