Michael K. Brantley is the author of four nonfiction books. His latest book, A Southern Season: Rural Stories, is out in early 2023 and is a collection of true stories about the disappearing South.
Galvanized: The Odyssey of a Reluctant Carolina Confederate (University of Nebraska Press/Potomac Books, Spring 2020) is the extraordinary tale of a Michael’s great-great grandfather, a North Carolina farmer who fought for both sides in the Civil War, spent time in a horrific POW camp, walked halfway across the continent, and later became a Radical Republican before being involved in a bizarre murder. Galvanized was nominated for the Sam Ragan Old North State Nonfiction Award and for the Wiley-Silver Prize in 2020.
Michael’s first book was a memoir about growing up in eastern North Carolina, entitled Memory Cards: Portraits from a Rural Journey (Black Rose, 2015). It reached No. 1 on Amazon in nonfiction in 2016.
In 2021, Michael and The Nashville Graphic collected the best columns over the last 25 years and published them in one volume titled, It’s a Time in the Land: The Best of the Soapbox.
In 2019, Michael was awarded an Archie K. Davis Fellowship from the North Caroliniana Society for research on a future book project.
More information about these books, and how to order can be found here.
Michael started writing sports for local newspapers when he was 15. After graduating from college, he served as managing editor at two papers, worked in public relations and then went into business with his wife Kristi as professional photographers. He has worked as a freelancer for state, national, and regional magazines covering music, agriculture, sports, collectibles, and business for over three decades. His column, “The Soapbox,” won Best Humor Column for Weekly Papers in 2000 from the North Carolina Press Association.
He earned his Master of Photography and his Craftsman degree from the Professional Photographers of America, and his Fellow of Photography from the Professional Photographers of North Carolina. Over his 18-year career, his photographs have won state, regional, and international honors, including three Fuji Masterpiece Awards, three Southeastern Professional Photographers Association (SEPPA) Distinguished Awards, and a PPA International Loan Print. His North Carolina awards include several first-place honors, and a Best of Show in 2003.
Michael has an MFA in Creative Writing from Queens University of Charlotte (2014), an MA in English from East Carolina University (2012), and a BS in Communications from Barton College (1991).
In 2016, Michael was blessed to be the recipient of a liver transplant, and is an advocate for organ donor registration, Donate Life, and Carolina Donor Services.
Michael works at his alma mater, Barton College, as an Assistant Professor of English. He teaches creative writing, journalism, literature, and other writing and communications classes. His research and writing interests include North Carolina history, baseball, bluegrass and roots music, American history, Southern culture, and folklore.
He lives with his wife, Kristi, a historian, and their children in rural Nash County, eastern North Carolina.
Are you kin to the Brantley’s from the Spring Hope area? There was a family of Brantley’s there at the turn of the twentieth century. A son, Dwight and two daughters. Dwight was a lawyer, briefly in Rocky Mount in the early 1920s for a few years and then joined the FBI in its infancy. He practiced with my father, Benjamin H. Thomas. His two sister taught school in Rocky Mount at what was then known as Edgemont Grammar School. The name of one of the daughters was Lula B. Brantley. Neither of the daughters married. Lula B. taught me in the sixth grade. She was tough, but good.
I am from the Spring Hope afrea, actually Stanhope community about 6 miles outside of the town of Spring Hope. We lived near some Brantley’s, They were brothers and sisters Willie Shin Brantley, Leta Brantley and Gladsy Brantley they were sisters were school teacher and were all three single,there were another sister name Lula Bea Brantley Simmons who were married but lived in Rocky Mount. I wonder if they were kin .
Hi Mark,
Found a reference to your book on the UNC Library site while research NC Regiments at Bristoe Station in 1863. I volunteer at our county park, Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park and wanted to learn more about your ancestor. Have you been to our park? I just started researching the 1863 battle and wanted to see if you have first hand accounts from soldiers the 47th NC or other regiments. No intent to publish, only looking for materials to improve interpretation of the battlefield and park.
Sincerely,
Bryan Ross, Bristow, Virginia
I sent a return email with details, but I’d recommend “Lee’s Tarheels” by Hess and the NC regimental histories that were published by Broadfoot. They have details that can be pieced together.