I heard tell...
that somebody has moved their newsletter to Substack. Yes, it's true!
Everybody is so busy these days. I get it.
But I’m hoping this little newsletter will be a bright spot in your week. I figure since you’ve thought enough of me to open my newsletter, I ought to put some care into it.
So y’all want to know how this newsletter works and what I’m going to write about?
Okay, let’s talk about it.
How does this newsletter work?
Some of you are already subscribed through the link on my website. Others are reading for the first time and considering if you’d like to subscribe. (If you’re new here, just click on my website to learn more about me)
But all of you can still make choices if you’d like. You can:
Continue enjoying the free version of the newsletter. I’ll write occasional free posts for everyone that include general updates about my publishing and tour schedule. If you want these in a timely manner, make sure to choose a FREE subscription. I promise not to flood your inbox with these, though my first few months I will send more free stuff so y’all can get a flavor of what will eventually be behind the paywall.
Subscribe to a PAID version of the newsletter which will include more in-depth posts about historical fiction, my personal writing process, notes about books I’m reading, information about my bookclub picks, and curated links to fascinating stories about history and fiction. You’ll be able to like and comment, and you’ll have access to the archives. This option is for those of you who love historical fiction as much as I do and you want to obsess a little.
Unsubscribe. Take a break. Find some other writers to support. It’s all good!
Since you’re still with me, I’ll tell you a story…
When I was in graduate school, I applied to be in a history class that required certain prerequisites. I had the support of the faculty in the Literature department, but the History professor didn’t allow me to take it. I was so hurt because I really wanted to take that course and I was more than prepared. The lesson? Never let rejection stop you.
Another lesson? History was my jam, and it still is. I didn’t need a history degree to learn about the past. And neither do you.
Another story…
When I go to a historical site, I feel like the ancestors are whispering to me. That’s weird, I know. But my spirit can feel the spirits. Maybe that’s why my Grandma and I were so close. Some people call this being an empath.
I recently visited the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, AL. It was so powerful. Have y’all visited yet? I really have to respect Bryan Stevenson, founder of the Equal Justice Initiative. His vision was remarkable. The lynching memorial and the Legacy Museum are must-see sites on your next swing through Alabama.
Or if you live there and haven’t seen it, please make some time.
Talk about a sacred site.
First, I found myself searching for women’s names. Most of the names were male, of course. But there were some women named as well. Chilling, right?
Second, I looked for counties I knew since the names are listed by county. As you walk through, the steel beams get higher and higher, but it’s so subtle that you don’t quite realize it until you can’t read them anymore.
I was most interested in my birthplace home of Shelby County, Tennessee. I stood with those names for several minutes, paying my respects to the dead.
I prefer to be alone when I travel to these sites, so I can be quiet and take it in. But sometimes I talk to the guards, who are always eager to share their knowledge.
Thank you to the good folks down in Montgomery who protect these grounds.
Final thoughts…
That’s kinda what I’ll be doing here. Visiting interesting places. Talking about historical fiction. Sharing some of my writing process. And I want to hear from you. Make sure to respond in the comments section if you are so inclined. This is our community, and we can shape it together.
That’s all for now. See y’all next week.