Robert Gwaltney

Southern literary fiction rooted in the gothic tradition, with elements of magical realism.

Sing Down the Moon Book Cover

New Release

Sing Down the Moon

Mercer University Press · 2026

Sixteen-year-old Leontyne Skye longs to escape Good Hope, a remote Georgia barrier island haunted by memory, myth, and inheritance. As the legacy of her family’s sacred fig tree begins to consume her, Leontyne must choose between destiny and self-determination.

Winner, Somerset Award — Chanticleer International Book Awards
Best in Category: Literary & Contemporary Fiction

Praise for Sing Down the Moon

“A wholly original, ambitious, and lyrical southern gothic fantasy… enchanting and alluring.”

— Donna Everhart, author of The Saints of Swallow Hill

“A masterclass in Southern mysticism… wholly enchanting.”

— James Wade, author of Narrow the Road

About the Author

Author Robert Gwaltney wearing black turtleneck.

Robert Gwaltney writes Southern literary fiction rooted in memory, place, and the uneasy border between the living and the dead. Raised in Cairo, Georgia, his work is shaped by the landscapes, histories, and voices of the American South.

He is the author of Sing Down the Moon (Mercer University Press, 2026) and The Cicada Tree (2022). By day, he serves as Vice President of Easterseals North Georgia, championing early childhood literacy. In all the hours between, he writes.

Upcoming Events

Friday, March 20, 2026 • 3:00 PM

Pig City Books

Lexington, NC

Saturday, March 21, 2026

Lexington Book Festival

Lexington, NC

Thursday, March 26, 2026 • 6:30 PM

Avid Bookshop

Athens, GA

Friday, March 26, 2026 • 8:00 AM – Noon

Roche's Ravenous Readers — Facebook Takeover

Saturday, March 28, 2026

Carrollton Book Fest

Carrollton, GA

Monday, March 30, 2026

Lost City Books

Washington, DC

Get in Touch

For event inquiries, media requests, or reader correspondence: