Highland Avenue Poets release new anthology + more local authors in the news

If you’re like me, nothing’s better than a good book—especially when the author is local. We have three for you to add to your TBR list, plus some film and TV adaptations, too. 

If you love poetry, new must-see television series or college football, you’ll definitely want to keep reading. 

1. More Poems for Hungry Minds by Highland Avenue Poets

Love Highland Avenue in Birmingham? Can’t get enough poetry? You’ll want to check out the Highland Avenue Poets, a team of local writers that meet monthly to workshop their poetry.

We highlighted their second anthology Poems for Hungry Minds back in 2022. Now, we’re doing it again for their newest release More Poems for Hungry Minds.

The book of poems includes the group of writer’s views a variety of topics from life to love. 

Since the book’s release in October 2024, the Highland Avenue poets have been sharing their work at local poetry readings around Birmingham. The most recent events they took part in were at Juniper last December and True Story Brewing Company on February 15.

You can pick up a copy of More Poems for Hungry Minds at local stores like Thank You Books.

2. Unrivaled: Sewanee 1899 by Norman Jetmundsen, Jr.

Football is one thing, but college football is on a whole other level—especially in the South. 

You’ll see what I mean when you read Unrivaled: Sewanee 1899 by author Norman Jetmundsen, Jr. 

The book chronicles the 1899 Sewanee Tigers who completed one of the greatest seasons in college football history. 

Due to travel costs at this time, most teams in the South played just a few games each season. But not the Tigers! 

The 1899 team went 12-0, playing the biggest teams across the South, including a string of five games in six days.

Did they win any of their games? Every single one!

Unrivaled: Sewanee 1899 was published in 2024 and has won some notable awards since. Some include:

• Book of the Year (2024) and Best Sports Book: The Literary Global Awards
• Best Sports Book and Best Cover Design of 2024: The American Writing Award
• Best Coffee Table Book (2025): Independent Press Awards

BONUS: Taking a flight over the next few months? You can watch the Sewanee 1899 documentary film on all Delta Airlines flights now until April 30.

Fun facts about Author Norman Jetmundsen, Jr:

• He obtained his law degree from The University of Alabama
• He’s currently an attorney with Vulcan Materials Company in Birmingham

You can pick up a copy of Unrivaled: Sewanee 1899 at local stores like Thank You Books.

3. Swan Song by Robert McCammon

Have you ever read Swan Song by Birmingham native Robert McCammon? It’s a post-apocalyptic novel about the aftermath of a nuclear war and the fight for survival in a wasteland. It was published in 1987. 

Why are we talking about a book nearly 40 years old? 

Because a new TV series based on Swan Song is currently being developed, according to Variety. Writer and Executive Producer of Paramount+ Russell Rothberg will lead the show as writer, executive producer and showrunner.

We don’t have a release date just yet, but stay tuned for more info. In the meantime, you can pick up a copy of Swan Song to read while you wait.

Fun facts about Robert McCammon:

• He a Birmingham native + still resides here today.
• He received a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Alabama
• After graduating college, he wrote advertising copy for Birmingham businesses + newsletters.
• He became an influential name in the late 1970s-early 1990s American horror literature boom. He also had 
• His work often contain references to Birmingham. The vampire leader Count Vulkan of They Thirst (1981), for example, was named for everyone’s favorite statue, Vulcan. 

You can pick up a copy of Swan Song at Thank You Books in Crestline.

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