His books, especially the newest one, “Winter’s Bone,” are all on hold (that’s libraryspeak for a whole slew of people are waiting to have a chance to check them out), and now Daniel Woodrell will be on hand to receive the Quill Award from the Missouri Ozarks chapter of the Writers Hall of Fame of America at a dinner and ceremony on Thursday [May 3] at Drury University.

The West Plains novelist, whose 1987 Civil War saga, “Woe to Live On,” was adapted into the 1999 Ang Lee-directed movie, “Ride with the Devil,” has been called “one of the best-kept secrets in American literature.” “We are fortunate to have someone with that much wattage coming to Springfield,” said Greg Holman, the organization’s president.

His works defy stereotyping, the critics say. They’ve been called “country noir,” but Woodrell himself now prefers the social realism or crime fiction genre, according to an article written by Lin Waterhouse. “One reason they are so popular here is because of the Ozarks settings,” said Library Center Reference Supervisor Lynn Clark. “They are entertaining to read because there’s usually a twist to them, something not quite expected.”

Although Woodrell’s Ozarks novels, set in the fictional town of West Table, focus on the underbelly of our hills and hollers, the author retains a sense of respect and admiration for the people. Woodrell, according to Bill Ott, editor and publisher of Booklist, “has made a career out of finding poetry in the beat-up souls of Ozark rednecks. . .he writes some of the funniest, most musical, most marvelously double-edged prose penned by anyone on any side of town, in any genre, high or low.  

Woodrell will join other notables at the gala event: Children’s author David Harrison, who will emcee, and actress Tess Harper. She and members of the Skinny Improv, Sandra House and L. J. Summers will present dramatic readings, and local student writers will be honored with awards and scholarships from the local LAD (Language Arts Department) group.

Tickets are $15 each and can bought by sending checks to the Writers Hall of Fame,  P.O. Box 6022, Springfield MO 65801. Proceeds benefit the nonprofit’s student scholarship fund.

BOOKS BY DANIEL WOODRELL

“Winter’s Bone” (2007)

“The Death of Sweet Mister” (2001)

“Tomato Red” (1998)

“Give Us a Kiss: A Country Noir” (1996)

“The Ones You Do” (1992)

“Woe to Live On” (1987)

“Under the Bright Lights” (1986)

Jeanne C. Duffey, community relations director for the Springfield-Greene County Library District, can be reached at jeanned@thelibrary.org.