Picture a Mississippi storyteller who spun a tale of friendship and survival in the swampy 1920s South—meet Kelly Mustian! Born in Natchez, this historical fiction star burst onto the scene with her debut novel, The Girls in the Stilt House, a USA Today bestseller that’s as haunting as it is heartfelt. With a knack for vivid settings and resilient characters, Mustian’s work captures the soul of post-Civil War Mississippi, making her a fresh voice in Southern literature.
Her stories aren’t just page-turners; they’re time machines, pulling readers into the humid, complex world of the Natchez Trace. From awards to glowing reviews, Mustian’s rise is a testament to her storytelling prowess, and she’s only getting started.
The Making of Kelly Mustian
Kelly Mustian grew up in Natchez, Mississippi, where the historic Natchez Trace wasn’t just a backdrop but a character in her life. Surrounded by cypress trees and tales of the past, she soaked up the South’s beauty and its shadows—racial tensions, economic struggles, and resilient spirits. This rich tapestry shaped her writing, which digs into the heart of human endurance. After moving to North Carolina, Mustian honed her craft, publishing short fiction in literary journals and earning a Blumenthal Writers and Readers Series Award. Her leap to novels was a natural step, fueled by a love for history and storytelling.
Kelly Mustian’s Unforgettable Stories
Mustian’s debut, The Girls in the Stilt House, set in 1923 Mississippi, is a gripping tale of two teenage girls—one white, one Black—bound by a shared secret and a murder. Ada Morgan, a runaway returning to an abusive father, and Matilda Patterson, a sharecropper’s daughter dreaming of the North, navigate a world of bootleggers and prejudice. The novel’s lush prose and tense plot earned it a spot on the 2022 Crook’s Corner Book Prize shortlist and a starred review from Publishers Weekly, which called it a “nearly flawless tale of loss, perseverance, and redemption.”
Her follow-up, The River Knows Your Name, dives deeper into Mississippi’s past, weaving family secrets and hazy memories with the same atmospheric brilliance. Mustian’s style blends Southern noir with coming-of-age themes, painting the 1920s South as both beautiful and brutal. Her characters, often young women defying hardship, resonate with readers, earning comparisons to Where the Crawdads Sing. A third novel, set in Depression-era Mississippi and North Carolina, is slated for April 2025, promising more of her signature storytelling.
What sets Mustian apart is her ability to make history feel alive. The swamps of the Trace, the weight of Jim Crow, and the flicker of hope in her characters’ hearts are rendered with such detail that readers can almost feel the humidity. Her themes—friendship, resilience, and confronting injustice—speak to both the past and today.
Why Kelly Mustian Matters
Kelly Mustian’s impact lies in her unflinching look at the South’s complexities. Through stories of unlikely alliances and quiet courage, she shines a light on forgotten voices—poor, female, and marginalized. Her work challenges readers to face history’s hard truths while celebrating the human spirit’s strength. Winning the Mississippi Library Association’s 2023 Author Award for Fiction and a Regional Artist Grant from the North Carolina Arts and Science Council, Mustian is building a legacy as a storyteller who bridges past and present.
Her novels don’t just entertain; they spark conversations about race, resilience, and redemption, making her a vital voice in historical fiction. As she continues to write, Mustian’s star is sure to rise, captivating book clubs and readers alike.
- Born: Natchez, Mississippi
- Key Works: The Girls in the Stilt House, The River Knows Your Name
- Awards: Mississippi Library Association’s 2023 Author Award for Fiction, Blumenthal Writers and Readers Series Award
- Fun Fact: She’s working on a new novel set for release in April 2025!
Ready to get lost in the Mississippi swamps? Snag The Girls in the Stilt House and dive into Kelly Mustian’s unforgettable Southern tales!