Hundley, author of the award-winning novel Bomb Island (Hub City Press, 2024) and the short story collection The Aliens Will Come to Georgia First (University of North Georgia Press, 2023), will spend the semester engaging students in creative writing, storytelling, and the craft of literature.
“Stephen Hundley brings a fresh, poetic voice to contemporary southern fiction, and we are thrilled to welcome him to Flagler,” said C.H. Hooks, Assistant Professor of English and Director of The Storytellers—Author in Residence program. “This residency gives our students an unparalleled opportunity to engage directly with a professional writer, study the works that shaped their career, and see firsthand how stories are crafted, shared, and brought to life.”
As part of the residency, Hundley will teach “The Storytellers (CRW 340),” a one-credit creative writing course designed to give students the unique opportunity to learn directly from a practicing, professional author. Over the course of ten weeks, students will explore texts that shaped Hundley’s own writing journey, including the short fiction of George Saunders and Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, while also considering the stories that have influenced their own creative paths. Through discussion, workshops, and mentoring, participants will gain firsthand insight into the writing process, storytelling traditions, and the bridge between academic and professional creative writing.
Hundley’s fiction and poetry have appeared in Prairie Schooner, Cream City Review, Carve, The Greensboro Review, and other notable journals. He holds an M.A. from Clemson University, an M.F.A. from the University of Mississippi, and a Ph.D. in English from Florida State University. His debut novel, Bomb Island, which centers on the feral horses of Cumberland Island, recently earned a 2024 Florida Book Award, cementing Hundley as one of today’s most distinctive Southern voices.
In addition to working closely with students, Hundley will also headline a free community reading and discussion on Thursday, September 25, at 7 p.m. at the historic Markland House. Open to the public, the event will showcase Hundley’s award-winning writing and provide audiences with the chance to engage with him in conversation about storytelling and the creative process.
Flagler’s Storyteller in Residence program reflects the College’s commitment to experiential learning and community engagement, providing students with the tools and mentorship to hone their creative voices while connecting St. Augustine to the broader literary world.
