Insured Beyond the Grave: Published Essays, Interviews & Dispatches Volume One contains a curated selection of James Calemine's articles that have been published in various periodicals, magazines and online publications. Calemine's essays and interviews shine a light on and seek out real cultural purveyors, some better known than others, and delivers a close-to-the-bone perspective regarding the price artists must pay for their art. This collection leaves footprints in the sand...snapshots in time regarding some of America's finest artists. This collection provides a clear view into the cut-throat world of writers, musicians, film makers and photographers and explores the experiences these artists endured for the sake of their work--whether celebrated or obscure. Several of these artists have died since Calemine crossed their paths, and now their stories carry even greater weight. Calemine unearths historical facts that few people--besides the artist--ever knew. Insured Beyond the Grave includes memorable encounters with legendary artists such as Stanley Booth, Jim Dickinson, Paul Hemphill, Townes Van Zandt, Steve Cropper, The Georgia Sea Island Singers, John Sayles, James Burton, Bloodkin, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Harry Crews, James Ponsoldt, Hunter S. Thompson, Colonel Bruce Hampton, Lance Ledbetter, Kirk West, Tim Duffy and Charlie Louvin. Calemine writes about his subjects with intensity and intent - his goal is to render these untouchable by any other writer. Everyone in this book is, indeed, insured beyond the grave. This collection serves as the first of two Volumes. "It's certainly not inappropriate to describe James Calemine as a rare poet, even when he's working in prose...but ultimately the categories don't matter. All that matters are the words themselves, and James' words are high octane, electric, significant. I'll go ahead and say it: He's one of our great living American writers, and that's a sure bet." - Danny Hutchens, Bloodkin "Imagine walking down a dirt road in rural south Georgia. A chorus of cicadas, crickets, banjos and frogs permeate the air. It's dusk and your mind is soaring on poetic thermals! A southern gothic daydream! Snake nation! Spanish moss! It all makes sense now..." -Mark Neill, Grammy winning music producer (Black Keys) "James Calemine's heart and writing justify him being respected by anybody." --Stanley Booth Author of The True Adventures of the Rolling Stones , Rythm Oil , Keith: Til' I Roll Over Dead and Red, Hot and Blue "James Calemine's writing executes a perfect balance of soul to science, flourish to frankness, and imagery to movement. His writing reveals awareness of the intricacies of life--the human experience--with a "lifted" perspective." --Eleanor Underhill, Underhill Rose "James Calemine is one of my favorite writers." --Todd Nance, Musician, Widespread Panic, Interstellar Boys "James Calemine is a seeker of truth...which makes him a good friend of mine." --Marc Ford, The Black Crowes, Ben Harper & The Magpie Salute "James Calemine. That's a good name. I'll remember that name." --Harry Crews, Author of Florida Frenzy , Feast of Snakes , The Gospel Singer and others "Each Calemine book I've reviewed has been completely different than the last. It leaves me wondering what I'll find inside the next time I bend the binding on one of his works. Whatever it is, if the pattern holds as it has, it'll be fantastic." Sam Burnham, All The Biscuits in Georgia " "James Calemine digs deep into the soul of rock & roll." -Snake Nation Press A prolific author of essays, interviews and his signature dispatches, James Calemine's writing has been featured in The Bitter Southerner, South Magazine, Georgia Trend, Paste, Swampland and many other publications. He has published five full-length books on Snake Nation Press, a non-profit literary press founded in 1989 in Valdosta, Georgia, by New York Times best-selling author, Roberta George. A talented photographer with a unique vision that complements and enhances the gritty realism of his literary voice, Calemine is never far from his Leica camera. His five published books feature his photography, and he has done photography work for BBC/America. South Magazine named Calemine one of the "Eleven of the Greatest Photographers in the South. He resides on the Georgia Coast.