"The Sweet In-Between" Is Latest Novel By Sheri Reynolds

Best-selling author Sheri Reynolds, professor and director of creative writing, and the Ruth and Perry Morgan Chair of Southern Literature at Old Dominion University, has been touring the West Coast and the region to promote her recently published fifth novel, "The Sweet In-Between" (2008, Crown/Shaye Areheart).

Described by the publisher as "a lyrical tale of a family of misfits ... [and] a poignant story of an unforgettable character's coming-of-age," Reynolds' new book tells the story of an almost-18-year old girl, Kendra "Kenny" Lugo, growing up in a Virginia tidewater town and struggling with teenage insecurities and confusion about her sexuality.

A review in Publisher's Weekly characterized the book as "simple prose rich with subtext, convincing dialogue and a fascinating protagonist [which] combine to produce a heartstring-plucker that's explicit, tender, sad and hopeful."

"As you turn 'The Sweet In-Between's pages, Reynolds uncovers revelations about Kenny's life that are more and more harrowing - e.g., borderline sexual assault from her stepbrother - but the novel still manages to come off as a, yes, sweet coming-of-age story, thanks to its young, wise-beyond-her-years, Scout Finch-esque heroine," said Entertainment Weekly book reviewer Kate Ward.

The Boston Globe calls Reynolds "a gifted writer with a deceptively simple style and a keen ear for dialogue."

Reynolds, the recipient of a 2003 Outstanding Faculty Award from the State Council of Higher Education, has taught at Old Dominion since 1997 and is a favorite among English literature and creative writing students. She is the author of four previous novels: "The Firefly Cloak" (2006, Crown/Shaye Areheart), "A Gracious Plenty" (1997, Harmony), "The Rapture of Canaan" (1995, G.P. Putnam's Sons) and "Bitterroot Landing" (1994, G.P. Putnam's Sons).

"The Rapture of Canaan" reached No. 1 on the bestseller lists of both The New York Times and USA Today, and was an Oprah Book Club selection.

Find more about Reynolds and her writing at http://www.sherireynolds.com.

Listen to her give a reading from her new book at http://odeo.com/episodes/23919026-Sheri-Reynolds.