Book Series Guide
Kevin Wilson

Author guide

Kevin Wilson Books in Order

Kevin Wilson is an American novelist and short-story writer. He is the author of five novels—The Family Fang, Perfect Little World, Nothing to See Here, Now Is Not the Time to Panic, and Run for the Hills—and two short-story collections, Tunneling to the Center of the Earth and Baby, You’re Gonna Be Mine. His fiction has appeared in Ploughshares, The Southern Review, One Story, A Public Space, and numerous anthologies, including Best American Short Stories and The PEN/O. Henry Prize Stories. He teaches English and creative writing at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee.

literary fictionsurreal fictiondark comedyshort stories

Catalog record updated .

Kevin Wilson's Newest Book

Cover of Run for the Hills

Run for the Hills

novel · First published 2025

“A touching and generous romp of a novel . . . Wilson makes a bold and convincing case that every real family is one you have to find and, at some point, choose, even if it’s the one you’re born into.” — New York Times Book Review An unexpected road trip across America brings a family together, in this raucous and moving new novel from the bestselling author of Nothing to See Here. Ever since her dad left them twenty years ago, it’s been just Madeline Hill and her mom on their farm in Coalfield, Tennessee. While it’s a bit lonely, she sometimes admits, and a less exciting life than what she imagined for herself, it’s mostly okay. Mostly. Then one day Reuben Hill pulls up in a PT Cruiser and informs Madeline that he believes she’s his half sister. Reuben—left behind by their dad thirty years ago—has hired a detective to track down their father and a string of other half siblings. And he wants Mad to leave her home and join him for the craziest kind of road trip imaginable to find them all. As Mad and Rube—and eventually the others—share stories of their father, who behaved so differently in each life he created, they begin to question what he was looking for with every new incarnation. Who are they to one another? What kind of man will they find? And how will these new relationships change Mad’s previously solitary life on the farm? Infused with deadpan wit, zany hijinks, and enormous heart, Run for the Hills is a sibling story like no other—a novel about a family forged under the most unlikely circumstances and united by hope in an unknown future.

Not sure where to begin?

Start with one of these

Cover of The Family Fang

The Family Fang

A strong entry point to Wilson's distinctive darkly comic literary fiction and recurring interest in family and performance.

Cover of Tunneling to the Center of the Earth

Tunneling to the Center of the Earth

Best starting point for readers who prefer his short fiction, surreal premises, and imaginative storytelling.

Outside the series

Bibliography by category

Novels (5)
  1. The Family Fang

    novel · 2011

    Performance artists Caleb and Camille Fang dedicated themselves to making great art. But when an artist's work lies in subverting normality, it can be difficult to raise well-adjusted children. Just ask Buster and Annie Fang. For as long…

  2. Perfect Little World

    novel · 2017

  3. Nothing to See Here

    novel · 2019

    Lillian and Madison were unlikely roommates and yet inseparable friends at their elite boarding school. But then Lillian had to leave the school unexpectedly in the wake of a scandal and they’ve barely spoken since. Until now, when…

  4. Run for the Hills

    novel · 2025

    “A touching and generous romp of a novel . . . Wilson makes a bold and convincing case that every real family is one you have to find and, at some point, choose, even if it’s the one you’re born into.” — New York Times Book Review An…

Short fiction (2)
  1. Tunneling to the Center of the Earth

    short-story-collection · 2009

  2. Baby, You're Gonna Be Mine

    short-story-collection · 2018

    ‘Wildfire Johnny’ is the story of a man who discovers a magic razor that allows him to travel back in time. ‘Scroll Through the Weapons’ is about a couple taking care of their underfed and almost feral nieces and nephews. ‘Signal to the…

Frequently asked questions about Kevin Wilson

Who is Kevin Wilson?

Kevin Wilson is an American novelist and short-story writer whose imaginative fiction explores family, identity, loneliness, and care. He is also an associate professor of English and creative writing at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee.

Sources: new.sewanee.edu (opens in a new tab)wilsonkevin.com (opens in a new tab)

What is Kevin Wilson’s academic and teaching background?

He earned a B.A. from Vanderbilt University and an M.F.A. from the University of Florida. He teaches English and creative writing at the University of the South, where he coordinates its Creative Writing Program.

Source: new.sewanee.edu (opens in a new tab)

What influences Kevin Wilson’s fiction?

Wilson has described influences including his childhood fascination with spontaneous human combustion, experiences of anxiety and Tourette syndrome, parenthood, and an interest in characters who feel strange or isolated. These elements inform his focus on difference, care, and human connection.

Source: arts.gov (opens in a new tab)

What awards has Kevin Wilson received?

His collection Tunneling to the Center of the Earth received the 2009 Shirley Jackson Award and was selected for a 2010 Alex Award from the American Library Association.

Sources: wilsonkevin.com (opens in a new tab)ala.org (opens in a new tab)

What is Kevin Wilson’s literary legacy?

His legacy is still developing, but his documented reach includes a New York Times bestseller, an NEA Big Read selection, and stories chosen for Best American Short Stories and The PEN/O. Henry Prize Stories. These achievements establish him as a notable contemporary literary novelist and short-story writer.

Sources: wilsonkevin.com (opens in a new tab)arts.gov (opens in a new tab)