News Release — The Tom Grimes Papers

Author TOM GRIMES’ archive acquired by the Wittliff

---

RELEASED 5/6/12

The Wittliff Collections at Texas State University in San Marcos have acquired the papers of nationally acclaimed writer Tom Grimes. Grimes is the author of five novels, a play, and a memoir. He edited “The Workshop: Seven Decades from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop,” the creative writing program from which he graduated. He currently directs the MFA Program in Creative Writing at Texas State and serves as executive editor of the literary journal Front Porch.

“I’m honored by the fact that the Wittliff Collections have given my literary archive a home alongside those of Cormac McCarthy, Sam Shepard, and other amazing writers and photographers,” said Grimes. “Everyone at the Wittliff has my deepest gratitude.”

Grimes’ novels include A Stone of the Heart, Season’s End, City of God, Will@epicqwest.com, and Redemption Song. He has twice been a finalist for the PEN/Nelson Algren Award, and his work has been selected as a New York Times Notable Book of the Year. Mentor: A Memoir, which recounts his friendship with Frank Conroy, author of the classic memoir Stop-Time and longtime director of the Iowa Writers Workshop, was named “A 2010 Best Nonfiction Book of the Year” by the Washington Post and listed among Barnes & Noble’s Top 100 “Best Books of 2010,” Top 40 “Best Biographies of 2010,” and Top 7 “Best Literary Biographies of 2010.” In 2011 it was a finalist for the PEN USA Award for Nonfiction.

“We are proud to announce the acquisition of Tom Grimes’ literary archive,” said David Coleman, director of the Wittliff Collections. “As a gifted writer, and inspiring teacher, Tom has had a powerful influence upon the literary life of our university, our state, and our region.”

The Tom Grimes Papers are comprised of manuscripts, research, correspondence with editors, publishers and agents, as well as interviews, reviews, clippings and photographs documenting the author’s career. Also included is correspondence with an extensive list of contemporaries, among them Tim O’Brien, Don DeLillo, Barry Hannah, Abraham Verghese, and Charles D’Ambrosio.

Grimes, along with Bill Johnson and the support of the Burdine Johnson Foundation, led the campaign to save and restore the Katherine Anne Porter House in Kyle. It was designated a National Literary Landmark in 2002 by Laura Bush. A comprehensive record of the project is preserved within the Grimes archive, including his essay “Courting Miss Porter.”

Tom Grimes' papers will be accessible to researchers, students, and the public once they have been processed and cataloged.