Fact Sheet for Libraries
Title: The Longest Man-Made Beach in the World: Biloxi Stories
Author: Amelia Franz
Publisher: Watertower Press
Date of Publication: March 1, 2026
Paperback Edition:
ISBN-13: 979-8-9855982-7-8
Price: $14.95
Discount: 55% (Industry Standard), Returnable
Distributors: IngramSpark distribution
Ebook Edition
ISBN-13: 979-8-9855982-8-5
Price: $10.99
Available via: IngramSpark distribution
Local Interest: The Longest Man-Made Beach in the World: Biloxi Stories contains short stories set in various periods of Biloxi’s history, from the seafood cannery era of the early twentieth century, through the seventies and eighties and contemporary times. Local readers will recognize many historical events, including the civil rights wade-ins of the 1960s, the remembered destruction from hurricanes Camille and Katrina, and the beach water advisories of recent years. The collection also includes a story inspired by the photographs of Lewis Hine, whose documentary photography of young cannery workers helped to bring about child labor laws. They will also recognize local landmarks: the Biloxi Small Craft Harbor, the Broadwater Beach Hotel and Marina, and more.
Review and Blurb Highlights:
Reminds me why I love short stories . . . an exceptional debut—Mary Miller, author of Biloxi: A Novel and Always Happy Hour: Stories
Reminiscent of John Steinbeck, James Agee, and Carson McCullers—Melissa Pritchard, author of Flight of the Wild Swan and Palmerino
Amelia Franz knows place—its aromas, its accents, its people—Jen Michalski, author of All This Can Be True
Sublime, tender stories . . . perfect as pebbles on a Gulf Coast beach—Meri Robie, author of Wild Flowers
A deft ability to convey lives and worlds . . . vivid and strong—Kirkus Reviews (Verdict: “Get It”)
Library Acquisition and Donation Policy
"Watertower Press is committed to supporting public literacy. We offer the full industry-standard discount to ensure ease of acquisition for public and regional systems. If your branch has specific donation guidelines for local history collections, please contact the author directly at ameliafranzauthor@gmail.com.
About the Author: Amelia Franz is a Mississippi native who lived on the Gulf Coast for many years, first in Biloxi and later in Gautier. She is a graduate of Pascagoula High School. She earned a B.A. in English from the University of South Alabama and an M.A. in English from Texas A&M University. Though she now lives in the Baltimore area with her husband and children, her fiction remains rooted in the culture, language, and people of her native state.
