The Ringleader

Dr. Joe Taylor was born in Cincinnati, then after three days, promptly whisked to Corbin, Kentucky. He grew up in the Kentucky area and graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in Philosophy.

Then, he spent time as a pizza cook, a buyer at UK’s bookstore, and a garbage man. Ultimately, he chased unrequited love to Florida, and then matriculated at Florida State University, where he graduated with a Ph.D. in Creative Writing.

After a while, he found his way to Livingston, by-god, Alabama, where he’s directed The Livingston Press for over twenty years.

Though a university press, it publishes solely fiction. It also sponsors the Tartt First Fiction Award and publishes eight novels, in addition to the Award winner, every year.

Under his guidance, The Livingston Press has published over 150 works of fiction and poetry by national authors. They’ve been reviewed in PW, Library Journal, Booklist, Foreword, Rain Taxi, and other magazines. Taylor has also edited several story collections of Tartt finalists, plus an anthology of women writers from Alabama, entitled Belles’ Letters.

He has fourteen books published, most recently Don’t Be Lonely, Lone Ranger. He has four novels coming out in the next sixteen months, from Main Street Rag Publishing, Sagging Meniscus Press, New Meridian Arts, and Nat 1 Publishing.