It’s official: A Spork in the Road, the first book from EPIC Carteret Books under the Planck Length Publishing banner, is out in the world—and it is singing.
We are beyond proud to introduce this luminous debut collection from Emily Carter, a writer whose voice feels both familiar and revelatory, like a long-lost friend pulling up a chair and pouring you a glass of sweet tea. The early response has been nothing short of astonishing: her launch events were standing room only, with over a hundred pre-orders placed after just the first two. Every table she signs at fills with people ready to meet the woman who somehow manages to distill wisdom, heartbreak, and belly laughs into a few pages of prose.
Emily and her musician husband John “Smokin’ Hot Love Biscuit” Carter serving up Southern-style variety show vibes at her recent events in Greensboro and Beaufort.
One reader who met Emily at the Farmer’s Market later wrote:
“I skipped to the back (because that’s what I do) and laughed out loud about the Frosted Flakes in the box you use for the bowl. I had that exact passion! I’ve laughed out loud often and teared up often. It’s a great balm for our broken hearts. Thank you for writing it.”
That’s the kind of message Emily receives regularly now. Her book is passing from hand to hand with the urgency of something necessary—something needed. A Spork in the Road is as nourishing as it is sharp, as homey as it is brave. It’s a comfort and a provocation, a gentle invitation to take life just a little less seriously, even when it breaks your heart.
If you’ve ever experienced enlightenment in the Walmart checkout lane or walked away from something you thought you couldn’t survive, this book is for you. If you’ve ever been broken open by grief or held together by laughter, it’s for you. If you’ve ever needed to be reminded that you’re not alone, it’s absolutely for you.
We’re thrilled to be bringing this collection to readers all across North Carolina and beyond—and even more excited to offer a few chances to meet Emily in person and pick up a signed copy. If you missed her at the Expo, you can still catch her at one of her upcoming May appearances, including stops at the historic Rock Building in Carthage and the Bogue Banks Public Library.
We couldn’t have asked for a better first author to launch our little press. Emily’s heart-forward storytelling and razor-sharp wit capture exactly what we believe books should do: connect us, challenge us, and comfort us all at once. Her work embodies the spirit of what we’re building here at PLP—a press for the bold, the local, the heartfelt, the unexpected.
To every writer dreaming of publishing with us: this is the kind of community we’re building—one that sees you, believes in your voice, and knows how much it matters.
Come get your copy of A Spork in the Road. It may be just the thing you didn’t know you needed.
Still not convinced? Jeez. What do we have to do? Go read EPIC Carteret Books editor Mel Kelley’s post on A Spork in the Road and check out this ARC review by Jen Heironimus also on The EPIC Blog.
Featured Image: EPIC Carteret Books Editor Mel Kelley, Emily Carter, and local mystery author Tom Kies showcasing A Spork in the Road at the Chamber of Commerce Business Expo.
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