Reviews & News
Reviews and News about Eden Mine
ReviewsNew York Times
"Hulse’s talent is evidenced by her nuanced portrayal of Jo and the way she sees the world. In her relationship with Asa, in particular — both are scarred, both trying to heal — Hulse (whose debut, “Black River,” also featured a traumatized protagonist in Montana) perfectly captures not only the landscape of the American West, but also what it feels like to survive in a town that is dying." -Alexi Zentner L. A. Times
"In the climactic closing scenes, Hulse delivers a thrillerish exploration of the dueling urges to save or punish in the face of violence. Our salvation lies in our ability to adapt, Hulse suggests, to extricate ourselves from the ruts of anger and ideology." -Mark Athitakis The Post and Courier
"Hulse weaves these three points of view into a tapestry of violence’s aftermath and the way it connects and disconnects people. Jo’s Eden is dying and imperfect and steeped in trauma but, like the novel, its stark beauty contrasts the human tragedies that play out in the shadow of the surrounding mountains." -Debbie Clark Amazon Book Review
"Hulse is a master storyteller―with every revelation she leads you further into the complex realization of how fanaticism and violence can erupt in a landscape as beautiful as Montana. A searing, eviscerating novel by a great, great writer." -Al Woodworth Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
"Hulse follows up her strong debut Black River with an even stronger novel about the fallout from an act of domestic terrorism . . . [A] dense yet lucid narrative. The nail-biting denouement is violent yet restrained, an additional sign of this young writer's mature artistic powers . . . Reflective, evocative, and quietly moving." Publishers Weekly
"[A] taut, poignant tale...the dramatic conclusion kicks like a mule, a testament to Hulse’s storytelling acumen." |
News, Etc.Christianity Today Book Awards
Eden Mine won the Christianity Today Book Award for fiction! WORLD Magazine Interview
Marvin Olasky of WORLD spoke to me about Black River and Eden Mine. There is also a podcast available of our conversation. Amazon Best Books of the Year So Far
Eden Mine has been named one of Amazon's Best Books of the Year So Far in the category of Literature & Fiction! (And was later selected as one of their 100 Best Books of the Year!) Writers on Writing Interview
This radio interview was originally aired on KUCI-FM. Northwest Passages Book Club Video
A virtual event with the Northwest Passages Book Club in Spokane, WA. The Spokesman-Review Interview
Here's an interview I did with my hometown newspaper. Six Western Landscape Novels
I wrote this piece for FSG's Work in Progress blog; it features six novels depicting the Western landscape. Amazon Book Review Interview
Here's an interview I did with the Amazon Book Review, in which I discuss getting into my characters' mindsets, the romanticization of the West, and where I write. Amazon Best Book of the Month
Eden Mine has been named one of Amazon's 10 Best Books of the Month for February 2020! Men's Journal
Men's Journal picks Eden Mine as one of the "Best Books to Get You Through the Blah Days of Winter." "Seeking First to Understand" (NW Book Lovers)
Author Shann Ray interviews me about Eden Mine. "Many Crowns" (Spokane Public Radio)
Hear me read my story "Many Crowns," written for the 2019 Summer Stories series in The Spokesman-Review. "Many Crowns" (The Spokesman-Review)
I wrote this new short story for the Summer Stories series in my local newspaper. Local writers each wrote a story in some way related to the theme "The Summer of '69." |
Reviews and News about Black River
ReviewsThe New York Times
"[A] promising debut." The Los Angeles Review of Books
"The assured rhythms of the language convey grace, restraint, insights, power, and beauty. Black River transcends its setting and the circumstances of a few people in a small Montana town to say something true and enduring about violence and families, and grief and compassion." The Boston Globe
"Hulse evokes the Montana landscape in lyrical, vivid prose...[she] is a gifted wordsmith with promising dramatic instincts." The Seattle Times
"[A] complex and powerful story — put 'Black River' on the must-read list for 2015." The Oregonian
"Whether or not one reads it as a western, "Black River" is surely about the everyday heroism of people, not larger than, but the actual size of life." BBC
"This first novel pulses with dramatic tension and emotional resonance...Hulse’s story is lyrical, elegiac and authentic." Seattle Magazine
"This striking debut novel...has earned critical comparisons to the work of Larry McMurtry, Annie Proulx and Wallace Stegner—and deservedly so." Bookslut
"Hulse carves a character seemingly sprung from the Montana mountains, emphasizing his musical abilities as the thread to his compassion and humanity." Drunk Monkeys
"[Black River] is an accomplished Western novel that should signal the arrival of a major literary talent." Shelf Awareness (Starred Review)
"Black River is a transcendent story subtly unfolding in flawless prose--a remarkable first effort." Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
"This top-of-the-line modern American Western debut explores the themes of violence, revenge, and forgiveness with a sure hand." Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)
"Profound issues addressed with a delicate touch and folded into a strong story populated by wrenchingly human characters: impressive work from a gifted young artist." Booklist (Starred Review)
"Hulse clearly loves Montana, and her own experience playing the fiddle and knowledge of horses shine through the novel." Library Journal (Starred Review)
"Comparing the author to Annie Proulx, Wallace Stegner, or Kent Haruf is no exaggeration." |
News, Etc.Winner of the 2015 Reading the West Book Award
Black River is the winner of the 2015 Reading the West Book Award for fiction, awarded by the Mountains and Plains Independent Booksellers Association. 2016 PEN/Hemingway Finalist
Black River is a 2016 PEN/Hemingway Finalist! Watch Joshua Ferris introduce the 2016 PEN/Hemingway honorees, including Black River, HERE. 
2016 PEN/Hemingway finalist Margaret Malone, Patrick Hemingway, PEN/Hemingway winner Ottessa Moshfegh, and PEN/Hemingway finalist S. M. Hulse.
Montana Book Award Honor Book
Black River has been named a 2015 Montana Book Award Honor Book! American Library Association Notable Book
Black River has been named a 2016 ALA Notable Book! Best Audiobooks of 2015
Library Journal calls the Black River audiobook, narrated by George Newbern, one of the best of the year! The Seattle Times Best Books of 2015
Black River makes the list! "Across the Water" (The Spokesman-Review)
I wrote this new short story for the Summer Stories series in my local newspaper. Ten local writers each wrote a story in some way related to the theme "The Lake." Midwestern Gothic Interview
In this interview, I talk about my time in Wisconsin, my research process, why I don't worry too much about writer's block, and a few of my favorite books. Authorlink Interview
This interview covers a lot of ground, including character development, the role of setting, and the theme of faith in Black River, as well as more details about my writing process. The Campaign for the American Reader Blog Posts
Three blog posts on various blogs under the umbrella of The Campaign for the American Reader: Writers Read: A couple of my recommended reads The Page 69 Test: How well does page 69 of Black River represent the book as a whole? My Book, The Movie: Who should play Wes? Drunk Monkeys Interview
An interview with the online literary magazine Drunk Monkeys. Among other things, I talk about why I like reading and writing about the West but sometimes resist the "Western fiction" label. Book Lust with Nancy Pearl
An episode of Nancy Pearl's book discussion television show. Pearl and I discuss Black River, its characters and settings, and why I publish under my initials. "A Prison Riot, A Fiddle, And The Love Of A Good Woman" (The Write Question, Montana Public Radio)
I read from Black River and talk with Montana Public Radio's Chérie Newman about the novel. Follow the link to listen. "Is the Western Genre Still Relevant Today?" (The Huffington Post)
An essay in which I explore the reasons for reading and writing western literature. Omnivoracious Interview
An interview at Amazon's Omnivoracious blog in which I talk about why I chose to write a contemporary western, how it felt to be compared to Kent Haruf, and my next book. "S. M. Hulse draws on Western upbringing for debut novel" (The Missoulian)
A profile that discusses some of the real-world places and events that inspired Black River. "Let the Characters Lead" Interview
An interview on Washington, D.C.-based author Leslie Pietrzyk's blog, Work-in-Progress. "New Voice of the West" (The Spokesman-Review)
My hometown newspaper profiles me in its features section. "A Good Year" (Inlander)
A short profile from the local alt-weekly newspaper. Excerpt from Black River (TriQuarterly)
Read the first chapter of Black River in Issue 147 of TriQuarterly. Book Notes Playlist for Black River (Largehearted Boy)
The music and literature blog Largehearted Boy asked me to create a playlist of songs for Black River. I discuss 10 tracks, including music by Johann Sebastian Bach, Bob Dylan, and Trampled by Turtles. Indies Introduce Debut Author Q & A
I talk about playing the fiddle, why Montana is the perfect setting for Black River, and which three authors I'd invite to a dinner party. "For Love of the West" (Publishers Weekly)
An author profile in which I discuss the modern American West, my M.F.A. program, and cutting more than 40,000 words from Black River. |