Anthony Aycock

Writer. Teacher. Librarian.

United States

I am a writer, teacher, and librarian. The nerdy trifecta.

A reviewer for Booklist and IndieReader, as well as a contributor to Medium and Information Today, I have also written for Slate, the Washington Post, Tor.com, the Missouri Review, the Gettysburg Review, Ploughshares, Creative Nonfiction, and the Chronicle of Higher Education.

My first book, The Accidental Law Librarian, was released in 2013.

In addition, I have spent 20+ years working in government, academic, and private law libraries. I also teach academic and creative writing. I have an MLIS from the University of South Carolina and an MFA from Queens University of Charlotte.

More about me: I collect rare books; love football and basketball; live near Raleigh, NC with my wife, two sons, and a dubious cat; have another son in Iowa; and pretend to eat vegetables but really just move them around on my plate.

Portfolio

Essays & Articles

Medium
08/13/2018
The Origins of Uptalk

And other “new” language trends that are as pervasive as they are old

The Missouri Review
2011
Growing Up PK

Review essay of books by and about preachers' kids

Interviews

Medium
12/04/2019
An Interview with Jim Butcher

The Harry Dresden creator discusses fan fiction, his origins and influences, and how he nearly came to blows with Patrick Nielsen Hayden.

Medium
04/13/2020
An Interview with Bart Ehrman

The author of Misquoting Jesus discusses his writing process, his faith journey, and why truth matters in the age of coronavirus.

The Missouri Review
03/01/2019
A Conversation with Nathaniel Philbrick

The author of In the Heart of the Sea talks writing, Moby-Dick (he's read the novel a dozen times), and whether he plans to give up writing for acting.

Reviews

IndieReader
IndieReader

A collection of my IndieReader book reviews

Convention Scene
10/05/2016
Scene and Reviewed: 6 Plots

I want to play a game. The game is to count how many classic horror films were mimicked in the making of the Australian thriller 6 Plots.

Books

Teaching

Campbell University
Academic Writing

I have taught ENGL 101, Academic Writing, since 2011.