Flagg's latest novel, Welcome to the World Baby Girl! (1998), takes a significant departure from Whistle Stop. The book narrates the journey of Dena Norstrom, who finds success in New York City. Along the way, Dena ends up with an ulcer, a psychologist, and a newfound sense of ethics.

Flagg's debut novel was re-released as Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man in 1992. This story follows the adventures of twelve-year-old Daisy Fay on the Mississippi Gulf Coast in the 1950s.

Dorothy Allison's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Bastard Out of Carolina, explores the life of a Southern family quite different from the Threadgoodes. The narrative focuses on the coming-of-age of Ruth "Bone" Boatwright.

Alice Walker's The Color Purple, published in 1982 and awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1983, tells the powerful story of an abused woman who eventually gains self-empowerment. This feminist novel is lauded for its rich character development and authentic portrayal of black vernacular.

Radio comedian Garrison Keillor's 1985 novel, Lake Wobegone Days, offers a complete depiction of a unique Norwegian utopia. The book mythologizes Minnesota with a charming and ironic tone. Keillor's audio version of the novel earned a Grammy Award.

One of the most renowned novels by a leading contemporary black author is The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman by Ernest Gaines. Published in 1971, this novel is presented as the life story of a 110-year-old woman. Her tale begins with the Emancipation Proclamation and concludes in the 1960s. Similar to Flagg, Gaines conducted extensive interviews with elderly individuals for his novel.