DAVID JOSEPH
Bio
David Joseph is the author three award-winning collections of short fiction, The Old Men Who Row Boats and Other Stories, I Didn't Know What To Say, So I Just Said Thanks, and I Never Knew How Old I Was. His writing has been published in The Wall Street Journal, LA Times, London Magazine, DoubleTake Magazine, Motherwell, The Smart Set, and Rattle. He is a graduate of Hobart College and the University of Southern California’s Graduate Writing Program, where he was a recipient of the Kerr Fellowship and served as editor for the Southern California Anthology. In 2002, he Co-Founded the Nonprofit organization America SCORES LA, and he received The John Henry Hobart Fellowship for Ethics and Social Justice in 2007. He has taught at Pepperdine University and Harvard University. In 2019, he was awarded a position on the Fulbright Specialist Roster.
New Release
I WANTED TO BE A BLUESMAN
David Joseph's fourth collection of short fiction, I WANTED TO BE A BLUESMAN, will be released in Paperback and Kindle formats through Amazon on June 1, 2025.
“With a narrative voice as soulful as the music he adores, David Joseph’s I WANTED TO BE A BLUESMAN is a life affirming collection that hits all the right notes.”
INDIES TODAY *****
Reviews
KIRKUS REVIEWS
"Joseph’s prose is concise and accessible, and he continually describes music in relatable ways, while also touching on how essential it is to history and individual lives…The stories feel very personal, partially because an unnamed narrator relates each one; it’s not necessarily the same person every time, but the storytellers’ persistent insights highlight the skill of the author."
INDIES TODAY
★★★★★
Reviewed by Jordan Ehmann
"David Joseph’s storytelling is dazzling as ever in his tribute to blues music, I Wanted To Be A Bluesman. With a comfortable pace and highly relatable characters, the tales ring with a truthfulness that makes you marvel at how fiction can so vividly capture reality...With a narrative voice as soulful as the music he adores, David Joseph’s I Wanted To Be A Bluesman is a life-affirming collection that hits all the right notes."
READERS FAVORITE
★★★★★
Reviewed by Carol Thompson
"Joseph’s prose is lyrical and vibrant, capturing the essence of a past era with a contemporary sensibility that anyone who appreciates the intrinsic value of the blues in American culture will enjoy...I Wanted to Be a Bluesman is a moving and beautifully written collection that captures the soul of blues music and its enduring impact. It's a must-read for music lovers and anyone interested in the cultural roots of one of America's most influential art forms. The book entertains and educates, leaving a lasting impression on its readers."
INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF BOOKS
"Composed with the gritty edge of Deep South sorrow, I Wanted to Be a Bluesman by David Joseph is a stirring reflection on how music permeates every corner of our lives. From haunted record shops and Eric Clapton’s dire warnings to soul-selling crossroads and the darker sides of life as a vagabond musician, this collection of stories is simultaneously casual, intimate, delicate, and heavy – covering the gamut like an eclectic record. Brought to life with an unflinching style of prose that leaves no emotion untapped, and an inventive use of language, these tales are comprised of venerative recollections about seminal music and musicians, making the stories a poignant, long-form love note to an era that still echoes today."
LOVEREADING
Indie Books We Love
"As with Joseph’s previous works, each story is brilliantly self-contained, each bringing to life a small glimpse of a world and unique characters. Focusing on this one specific genre of music is a little stroke of genius as it maintains a consistent thread that helps to make the stories cohesive, but also allows for multiple different perspectives and interpretations to be explored...A great collection for blues fans, music fans, or anyone looking to ponder the impact music can have on our lives."
Other Writing
The London Magazine
The Smart Set
Motherwell Magazine
The Wall Street Journal
Fairlight Books
Litro Magazine
Awards and Prizes
David Joseph is the recipient of The Paul Cave Prize for Literature, Next Generation Indie Book Award, and the Independent Press Award. He has been a finalist for the London Independent Story Prize and the William Shakespeare Award. In addition, his book, I Never Knew How Old I Was, was shortlisted for The Hawthorne Prize. In 2024, Readers Digest named I Didn’t Know What To Say, So I Just Said Thanks as one of the 38 Best Short Story Collections of All Time.
