University opens professor's novel, closes campus doors to him

A professor has been fired before even starting his job because of his new novel’s contents.

T.J. Martinson told Lit Hub that members of Olivet Nazarene University’s English department “seemed ‘very excited’ and enthusiastic” about The Reign of the Kingfisher during the hiring process.

They also seemingly didn’t object when, while applying for the job, he “made clear to them that I consider myself an ally of the LGBTQ+ community.”

But last month, the school — affiliated, obviously, with the Church of the Nazarene — told him that a “constituent” was upset over the curse words, lesbian, sex worker, and character who rejects prayer in the novel.

Martinson has not received official documentation on why he was fired, but he says he was told he’d receive a year’s pay ... without the job.