Writing About Lives

I haven’t even had this blog for more than two weeks and only now am I starting to see how useful it can be

Yesterday I got up to find this note from a reporter at the Pine Bluff Commercial.

“Hello — Saw your Web site and thoughts on Grady. Just wanted to let you know that the city will be marking its centennial on April 8 and a centennial celebration and all-time Grady School reunion is planned for April 28 and 29. I’m a reporter at the Pine Bluff Commercial and recently wrote a book on the history of Southeast Arkansas, including Grady. The book, “Bayou Country,” has a lot of photos from Grady, including many of blacks there in the 1920s and 1930s. A white woman by the name Cornelia Kirkley, who married W.F. “Bill” Foster, took assorted pictures of, collected recipes from and interviewed a number of blacks there at the time. Her works were put into a book entitled “Across the Horizon,” published 2006. It may include some photos of or information on some of your ancestors or family friends. The photos and book are now part of a black history display at the Arkansas History Commission in Little Rock. Her grandson-in-law works at the paper here, too. Hope you can make it down for the centennial celebration and reunion. I’ve never been to New York, but I can imagine what a vast difference there must be between Manhattan and Grady. The paper will have a story on the centennial and the book and photos in the April 8 edition. If you make it down this way, you can check out my book, which is on sale at the newspaper office. I appreciate you being devoted to your grandparents. All of mine are deceased now, and I miss them. Best of luck to you . . .”

He had apparently Googled “Grady, Arkansas” and my brief listing appeared. His note confirms for me that the remoteness of that little town is a timeless setting for my work, be they fictional or not. His book, should I get my hands on it, will help me frame my material more solidly.