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Deirdre Sugiuchi

@djsugi1

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UNREFORMED: AN EVANGELICAL CAPTIVITY NARRATIVE @vine_leaves_press 2/16/27| cofounder @new_town_revue | Athens, GA via MS Delta |former ps librarian |

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Big news! Last week I turned in the final draft of my religious reform school memoir, UNREFORMED: An Evangelical Captivity Narrative, in to Vine Leaves Press. It will be published 2/16/2027–so mark your calendars! We’re gonna celebrate with a big party in Athens at Hendershot’s!

Huge thanks to my editor, Melissa Slayton, for her insight—this last draft was a true RE-VISION, to Taylor Gordon for reading IDK how many versions, to Sabrina Orah Mark for her workshops, to Cleyvis Natera for her insight, to Beth Hall Thrasher for reading and graphic design help, to Jason Thrasher for advising me to be punk and indie, the way we all were in Athens in the 90s, & also for my author pics, to Jeff Fallis for his poems about 90s Athens, to Alison Miller for last minute edits, to Al Dixon for inviting me to my first writing group, to Velena Vego for friendship & all the pool time, to David Lowery for loaning me your place to work during the pandemic, to Julia Scheeres for JESUS LAND & for so much more, as well as to all my fellow survivor friends from New Horizons Youth Ministries—I so appreciate you!, special love to Brook, Erika, & Mia, to Kiese Laymon, Jesmyn Ward, & Natasha Trethewey for writing about Mississippi, which in turn helped me write about my home state, but thanks especially to Chris Sugiuchi for feeding me the final three weeks, ignoring my insane hours, and agreeing to be my last minute copy editor when you’d never even read my book—you’re the best, babe! Huge thanks to everyone who has helped me out over the years—especially Hambidge, Albee, VCCA and Wildacres for residencies. THANKS especially to everyone at Vine Leaves Press, particularly Managing Editor Amie McCracken. It takes a village—& I appreciate you all!

@after.glow__music @ifyouseekseamonsters @cleyvisnatera @sorahmark @bthrashath @murmurtrestle @sugispace @revhoffrey @kieselaymon @jesmimi @natasha_trethewey_official @vine_leaves_press @hambidgecenter @vacenterforthecreativearts @wildacresretreat @velenavego @davidclowery @hendershotsathens @itsbrookita @erikaishappy_ #unreformed @jkscheeres @mccorveymia Deirdre Sugiuchi flashing the victory sign for turning in her memoir. by @djsugi1

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2 months ago

More highlights from my interview with author and Mississippi expat Deirdre Sugiuchi who now lives in Athens, GA. In her forthcoming memoir, Unreformed: An Evangelical Captivity Narrative, Deirdre details how she survived an adolescence spent in a brutal reform school far from home and explores the unregulated troubled teen industry and rising religious extremism. Read the full interview and explore our archives at rooted.substack.com.

📸 Deirdre at the Evangelical reform school she attended in the Dominican Republic. taken in Athens, Georgia by @djsugi1

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5 months ago

Writer and former librarian Deirdre Sugiuchi experienced a dramatic shift in her relationship with her home state after returning from a traumatic reform school experience in the Dominican Republic. Born and raised in Greenwood, Deirdre writes “I’m from the Mississippi Delta, a brutal yet beautiful place, and I wouldn’t trade that birthright for anything.”

In her forthcoming memoir, Unreformed: An Evangelical Captivity Narrative, Deirdre details how she survived an adolescence spent in the brutal reform school far from home and explores the unregulated troubled teen industry and rising religious extremism. Today, she shares how her Mississippi roots have affected her life’s path and her career as a writer.

Read the full interview with Deirdre at rooted.substack.com. Like, share, and subscribe to get each new issue featuring a creative, interesting Mississippians delivered straight to your inbox.

📸Deirdre Sugiuchi lives in Athens, GA. 📸The Confederate Monument, erected in 1913, that stands in front of the Greenwood Courthouse. taken in Athens, Georgia by @djsugi1

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5 months ago

It’s my favorite weekend in Athens, GA—-PORCHFEST. Chris is playing the after party with Etienne, Ben, & the Cowboy Choir. Broken Down Boxes & Trycoh are playing our porch at 4 & 5 pm tomorrow, Sunday, October 18th in Boulevard. See Flagpole for details. #athensporchfest2026 @hauntedshed @sugispace @theathenscowboychoir @derochermaria @flagpolemagazine @athens.porchfest @historicathens @ham_willy @brandonmcdearis #athensga #athensgamusic Sunday October 18 athens porchfest after party on nantahala with cowboy choir by @djsugi1

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20 hours ago

I spent part of the morning making affirmation packets to mail out as thank yous to all the people helping me out with my forthcoming release of UNREFORMED @vine_leaves_press (can’t wait to share my blurbs). Felt so good right now to work by hand, not on a machine. NEEDED. What do you do to make yourself feel good? I want to know.

I wrote about my packets at my Substack ( 🔗 in bio) and have affirmations available to download, but message or tag me if you’d like me to mail you some.
#unreformed #creativity #visualize #handmade #vineleavespress by @djsugi1

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3 days ago

I wrote about DAMNED IF SHE DOES, @sarahstankorb ‘s latest, a fascinating read for anyone trying to understand the current political and religious landscape. Link in story and bio. djsugi.substack.com Quotes from essay on DAMNED IF SHE DOES by Sarah Stankorb. Full essay at djsugi.substack.com by @djsugi1

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25 days ago

Over the past two decades, more than 16 million American women have left the church, disillusioned by its silence on racism and/or sexual abuse, disgusted with its stance on abortion, gay marriage, or how to vote. DAMNED IF SHE DOES, the latest by @sarahstankorb , is a fascinating read for anyone trying to understand the current political landscape. #damnedifshedoes #sarahstankorb #womensupportingwomen by @djsugi1

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a month ago

Weekend trip to Mississippi with @sugispace to visit family—got to hang with one of my favorite Greenwood authors @eafentress & drop off an ARC of UNREFORMED in person/ ate catfish at Jerry’s in Florence/ special tour of an IYKYK pottery studio / my favorite church sign in Brandon, if not the world/ and of course @lemuriabooks where I bought another copy of Ellen Ann’s must read THE STEPS WE TAKE—scroll for visual… Deirdre Sugiuchi and Ellen Ann Fentress by @djsugi1

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a month ago

In case you didn’t know… I finished UNREFORMED. Vine Leaves Press will publish it on 2/16/27–preorder waitlist in bio/ linked below, etc. Full post at my Substack. Big thanks to JESUS LAND author @jkscheeres | to @sorahmark for her workshops |to @ifyouseekseamonsters for her eyes | to @annajrollins for my first blurb| to my editor @after.glow__music | to @vine_leaves_press | to the creative community of #athensga | & to everyone who has supported me. by @djsugi1

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a month ago

I’ve been sending out these Deirdre made advanced reader copies of my forthcoming evangelical captivity narrative UNREFORMED for blurbs and spring promotion—& I’ve been getting some amazing feedback which I can’t wait to share.

If you’re a writer or an editor interested in receiving an UNREFORMED ARC, which I’m currently describing as “PARABLE OF THE TALENTS MEETS THE HANDMAID’S TALE, but real,”please let me know. & if you’re a friend or a reader interested in reading UNREFORMED when it comes out:

1. Mark your calendar for February 16, 2027, &
2. Sign up for the pre-order alert, which will be linked in my story and bio.
3. Or sign up for my Substack at djsugi.substack.com, which is also linked in my bio. New post tomorrow!

Big thanks to my editor @after.glow__music & to @vine_leaves_press & to @annajrollins @jkscheeres for early blurbs.

#unreformed #troubledteenindustry #exvangelical Picture of promo sheet and ARC of UNREFORMED. by @djsugi1

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a month ago

POV: I printed my 1st ARCs for UNREFORMED: AN EVANGELICAL CAPTIVITY NARRATIVE, @vine_leaves_press | publishes February 16, 2027. This copy is just a prototype. Get in touch if you want to help promote;). #unreformed #troubledteenindustry #exvangelical #breakingcodesilence #memoir @sugispace by @djsugi1

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a month ago

Dolly Parton was such a force for good—and tomorrow night I’m teaching a Pilates class in honor of Dolly’s lifelong commitment to children’s literacy, a cause which is dear to me as a former public school librarian. Join me in donating to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library or Georgia Reads. We will always love you, Dolly! @imaginationlibrary @dollyparton #dollyparton #imaginationlibrary #pilates by @djsugi1

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2 months ago