WELL READ Magazine September 2022

AWoman'sStory by FrancineRodriguez

LadyBeGood:TheLifeand TimesofDorothyHale by PamelaHamilton LadyBeGoodtransportsustothe glittering,sumptuouseraof1920s NewYorktofollowthelifeof aspiringactressDorothyHaleas shecomesofage.Breakingsocietal rulesimposedonwomen,"Peck's BadGirlofPittsburghSociety" leavesbehindherprivilegedworld forthebrightlightsofBroadwaytochaseherdream. FromconventschooldebutanterunawaytoZiegfeld showgirltoHollywoodstar,Haletransformsherselfinto oneofthemostadoredfiguresinthehighestechelonsof society.Yetbehindthepublicfaçadethedarlingofthe presscontendswithheart-rendingloss,gossipand betrayal,andatempestuousfriendshipwithLuce. Surroundedbyherfabulouscircleoffriends-Gertrude Stein,FredAstaire,ColePorter,JamesRoosevelt,Elsa Maxwell,andothericonicfigures-Dorothyfindsherway totheothersideofheartbreakandpreparesforaWhite Housewedding.Then,suddenly,atagethirty-three,atthe heightofhappinessandpeakofherfame,shefallstoher death.Herlifestoryisrevisedandwrittenintohistoryby thetabloidsandthefamedandfêted-leadingtothisnovel's stunningconclusion.

RitaDragonetteisawriterwho,afteracareertellingthe storiesofothersasanaward-winningpublicrelations executive,hasreturnedtoheroriginalcreativepath. The FourteenthofSeptember,herdebutnovelisbaseduponher personalexperiencesoncampusduringtheVietnamWar.It hasreceivedtheReaders’FavoriteAwardforHistoricalEra (finalist2020),BestBookAwardforHistoricalFiction (finalist2019)andWomen’sFiction(finalist2019), NationalIndieExcellenceAwardsforNewFiction(2019) andBestCoverDesign(2019),BeverlyHillsBookAward forWomen’sFiction(winner2018),AmericanBookFest FictionAwardsforLiteraryFiction(finalist2018)andbest CoverDesign(finalist2018)andtheHollywoodBook Festival(honorablemention2018,generalfiction).Sheis currentlyatworkonthreeotherbooks:anhomageto The SunAlsoRises aboutexpatschasingtheir lastdreaminSanMigueldeAllende,a WorldWarIInovelbaseduponherinterest intheimpactofwaronandthroughwomen, andamemoirinessays.Shelivesandwrites inChicago,whereshealsohostsliterary salonstoshowcaseauthorsandtheirnew bookstoavidreaders.

GravityHill by Susanne Davis

“Aremarkableprotagonistleadsa robustcastinthisabsorbingtaleof self-discovery.”—KirkusReviews GravityHillisastoryaboutJordan Hawkins,herfamily,andasmall ruraltowninConnecticutwrecked bythetragicdeathofthreeboyson GravityHill.Butwhatfirstappears tobeatragedyofdrunkdriving leadsbacktoamysteriousaccident thathasplaguedasmalltownforyears,sendingJordanon ajourneytoclearherbrother’sname.Whatshediscovers— ahiddentoxicwastesite—sendsthewholetownonitsown bumpyroadtoself-awarenessandhealing. “SusanneDavis’sGravityHilldeliversthegoods:hersisa heartfeltstoryoflossandrenewal,populatedwith characterswhoareflawed,feisty,andentirelysympathetic. AttheheartofthisstoryisJordanHawkins,an irrepressibleyoungwomanwhosegriefoverherbrother’s deathtriggerstheriskybehaviorandimpetuousdecisionmakingthatwillsendherdownroadsshehadnotmeantto travel.Davishasagiftfordialogueandvividdescription; herdetailsaboutagriculturallife,thefamilydynamic,and therulesoftheroadareevocativeandprecise.It’sbotha pleasureandanhonorformetoendorseGravityHill,a

LeeZachariasistheauthorofacollectionofshortstories, HelpingMurielMakeItThroughtheNight;fournovels, What aWonderfulWorldItCouldBe,AcrosstheGreatLake, Lessons, and AtRandom;andacollectionofpersonalessays, TheOnlySoundsWeMake. Shehasco-editedananthologyof storieswithLuanneSmithandMichaelGills. Runaway was releasedinthespringof2020byMadvillePublishing. ShehasreceivedfellowshipsfromtheNationalEndowment fortheArtsandtheNorthCarolinaArtsCouncil.SheisatwotimerecipientofNorthCarolina'sSirWalterRaleighAward andhaswonSouthernHumanitiesReview'sTheodore ChristianHoepfnerAward, PrairieSchooner's GlennaLuschei Award,andtwoSilverMedalsfromtheIndependentPublisher BookAwards(theIPPYs). AtRandom wasafinalistinliterary fictionforthe2013InternationalBookAwards,theNational IndieLitAwards,andtheUSABestBookAwards. Acrossthe GreatLake wasnameda2019MichiganNotableBook, receivedthe2020PhillipH.McMathBookAwardinFiction, andwasafinalistinliteraryfictionforthe2018Foreword IndiesBookoftheYear. Herfictionandnonfictionhaveappearedinnumerous journals,including,amongothers, TheSouthernReview, Shenandoah,FivePoints,Gettysburg Review,CrabOrchardReview,Outdoor Photographer, and OurState.Tentimes heressayshavebeennamedNotable EssaysoftheYearby TheBestAmerican Essays, whichreprintedheressay "Buzzards"in TheBestAmericanEssays 2008.

ThePalmCourtTrilogy by StephanieEdwards

TheNelsonsistersfaceharrowing adventuresandmalevelontspirits whoattempttobringanendtotheir family.Willtheirspecialpowers, supportfromtheOtherSideand sisterlyloveforeachotherbe strongenoughtoconquerevil? Readeachsister’sstorytodiscover howshedealswiththeghostsofher past.

StephanieEdwards’booksfromthePalmCourtTrilogyeach debutedat#1,Amazon’sSouthernFictionNewReleases.Now, youcanenjoythemallinoneplaceandcatchglimpsesintothe Nelsonsisters’worldthroughloveletters,memorabiliaand recipes.

“IwassoexcitedwhenIsawthatStephanieEdwardswas puttingeachofherIsleofPalmsbookintoonecompleteset!I lovedeachoftheNelsonsister'sstories,andalltheSouthern qualitieseachbookhas.Eachsister'sstorieswilldefinitelygrab you.Theresomanyparanormalaspectsthatkeepyoufully engrossedineachstory.Stephaniedidafantasticjobwriting thesebooks,andshehasaddedextrathingstothisspecificset.In thisallinonecopy,yougetamapofPalmCourt,photocollages eachcouple,loveletters,andcompleterecipesattheendofeach story.There'safewotherthingsaswell.Eachnewaddition bringsthestoriestolife.Thebestthingis,therearemorestories tocome!” FiveStarReaderReview

TheBystanders by Dawn Major (MoonshineCove Publishing,2023) THEBYSTANDERS,weaves togethersmall-town eccentricitiesstartingwiththe invasionoftheSamplesfamily toLawrenceton,Missouri. Townie,EddyBauman,and newcomer,ShannonLambSamples,comeofageinthe 1980swhenbighairisbigand Madonna’s“LikeaVirgin”blastsovertheairwaves,but theycouldn’tbemoredifferent.Therealtownof Lawrencetonandthesurroundingareawerepartofthe LouisianaPurchase.Centurieslater,theold-timersstill speakPawPawFrenchandtime-honoredtraditionsrun deep.

Thoughsomesaysmalltownsarebigfamilies, Lawrencetondoesn’twantanythingtodowiththeblack sheepofthefamily.Shannonwithher“GirlsJustWantto Fun”attitudeandfashion,herfortune-telling,Pagan mother,WendySamples,alongwithherhard-partyingand abusivestepfather,DaleSamples,areoutliersfromLos Angeles.ShannonmightaswellhavelandedonMarswhen WendyandDaledecidetheyneedado-overinthe countryside.ThoughShannonisnonetoopleased,Eddyis

AfterKilimanjaro:ANovel by GayleWoodson

Dr.SarahWhitakerhasalwaysbeen anobedientoverachiever,butsheis burnedout.Trainingtobeasurgeon isstressful.Sowhenherfiancé, David,offersasolution—takeabreak yearatahospitalinAfricaandclimb MountKilimanjarotogether—she jumpsonboard.Whenhebacksout, sheembarksontheadventurealone. SarahquicklyfallsinlovewithTanzania,alandofgentle people,exoticwildlife,andstunningnaturalbeauty,from thesandsofZanzibartothepeaksofKilimanjaro.She alsodevelopsgreatrespectfornewTanzanianfriends: strongAfricanwomenwhostrivetoservean overwhelmingneedforhealthcare.Shockedbythehigh rateofmaternalmortalityandthescourgeoffemale genitalmutilationinthecountry,Sarahbeginstospeakout againstFGManddevelopsanexperimentalprogramto traintribalbirthattendantsinaremotemountainvillage. Conditionsareprimitivethere,andlifeisfragile.The separationtakesitstollonherrelationshipwithDavid,and shefightsagainstfeelingsforanotherman.Asthemonths pass,onethingbecomesclear:ifSarahsurvivesthisyear, herlifewillneverbethesameagain.

AttheCrossroads(Global SecurityUnlimited2) by SharonD.Michalove FormerMI6operative,MaxGrant, hascreatedanewlifeinChicago, headingupthecybersecurityarmof aglobalsecuritycompany.Heis alsobuildingarelationshipwith authorCressTaylor,thewomanhe hasdreamedaboutfortwenty years.ButMax’spastisaboutto catchupwiththemboth.

Tenyearsago,MaxwascaughtinambushinanIstanbul alley,wheremostofhisteamdied.Max’stestimony helpedputtheterroristmastermindinprison.Nowhe’s escapedandwordintheintelligencecommunityisthathe istargetingMax.

AplannedtriptoEuropeturnsdeadlyasMaxisdrawn inexorablytowardaninevitableconfrontation.Hehasto stopFaez,beforeheeliminatesthem—permanently.

SharonMichaloveistheauthorof AtFirstSight,thestory ofhowMaxandCressreconnectedtwentyyearsafter theirfirstencounteratOxfordUniversity.Astandalone continuationofMaxandCress’story, AttheCrossroads is thesecondromanticsuspensenovelintheGlobalSecurity Unlimitedseries.

“RebeccaBarrettgivesreadersaherotheycanrespect andcheerforinHugoAugust,thedetectiveattheheartof thisrobusthistoricalmysterywitharivetingpolice proceduralgloss.Withcompellinglydrawnandaccurate history…Readerswillfindplentytoadmireinthistightly woven,layeredtale,includingsuspense,emotionaldepth, socialcommentary,conflictingloyalties…” Claire Matturroauthorof Privilege and WaywardGirls

I’vebeenanavidreaderallmylifeandI’mblessedtobe theproductof“frontporch”socializingwhereallthebest storiesbegin.Growinguponafarminaveryruralarea wherethephonewasonthepartylinesystem(yes,there wassuchathing)andneighborssocializedbycomingto “sitaspell”onthefrontporchswing,Ibeganmyjourney asastoryteller.Thelove,laughter,heartache,and sometimesjuicygossipofthosevisitsstillwhisperstome wheneverIsitdownatthekeyboardandletmy imaginationrunwild.

I’mveryexcitedaboutanew detectiveseriesI’mworkingon: HugoAugust.IfindIreallyenjoy murderingpeople…onthepage,of course.

Ifyou’reinterestedinbeinganearly readerofthisnewseries,youcango here anddownloadthefirstthree chapters.

Whenanelevenyearold,whiskydrinking,pianoprodigy encountersawealthyfamilypossessingsupernatural beauty,herensuingobsessionunleashesfamilysecretsand acataclysmicplagueofcicadas.

"FollowinginthemagnificentfootstepsofCarson McCullersandHarperLee,RobertGwaltneycreatesa wonderfulsnapshotofthefriendshipthatformsbetween AnaleiseandEttaMae,twoeleven-year-oldgirlsin'50s smalltownGeorgia...Thisisabooktoloveandremember, andeverybookclubinAmericawouldbewisetosnapit up."-RobertGoolrick,#1NewYorkTimesbestselling author

"ThegothicbeautyofarelentlessGeorgiasummeris broughttolifethroughGwaltney'sdeliberatedetailsand exquisiteimagery,whileallthewhileevillurksbeneath thesurface;fromwhereorwhatthereaderdoesnotknow butisasconvincedbyGwaltney'sexpertstorytellingashe is."-ZoeFishman,bestsellingauthorof InvisibleAir and GeorgiaAuthoroftheYear2020

"Gwaltney'sSouthernGothic,THECICADATREE mesmerizesandseduces,thelanguageredolentand deadly,thecharacterssteepedinsecretsandmadness,and thewholeofitanenthrallingandperfectread.Easilymy favoritebookoftheyear."-KimTaylorBlakemore, bestsellingauthorof AfterAliceFell

FugitivesoftheHeart by WilliamGay

WilliamGay'sposthumousnovel,with aforewordbySonnyBrewerandan afterwordbyJ.M.White.

Inhisposthumousnovel,WilliamGay hasofferedadmirablehomagetoMark Twain'sHuckleberryFinn.Marion Yates,ateenageorphan,istakeninby anex-schoolteachernamedBlack Crowe.TheboyinturncaresforCrowewhenheis temporarilydisabledbyadynamiteblast.Every hardscrabblethingwehavecometoexpectfromGayliesin thisnovel,includinganoffbeatanddarkhumor.

“…Withthemesofloveandfriendship,alongwith adversity,corruption,andpoverty,FugitivesoftheHeart alsosharesasenseofreverenceforthisonechanceweare giventoappreciateandembracethisadventurewecall life.”

FiveStarReaderReview

“…SimilartoMarkTwain’sAdventuresofHuckleberry Finn,theepisodicplotisheldtogetherwiththemain storylineconcerningtherelationshipbetweentheboy, Yates,andafree-spiritedblackmanontherunnamed Crowe.However,whileTwaincertainlyhauntsthisnovel, Fugitivesisnotaretellingofaclassic.Thedarkmood,the themes,thelyricismisclassicWilliamGaystorytelling.”

FiveStarReaderReview

StoriesfromtheAttic by WilliamGay

Fromacelebratedmasterofthe SouthernGothiccomesalast collectionofhard-hittingshortfiction, hisfinalposthumouswork.

Belovedforhisnovels Twilight,The LongHome,andThe LostCountry andhisgroundbreakingcollection I HatetoSeeThatEveningSunGo Down, WilliamGayreturnswithonefinalposthumous collectionofshortstories,adaptedfromthearchivefound afterhisdeathinFebruary2012.Inadditiontopreviously unpublishedshortstories, StoriesfromtheAttic includes fragmentsfromtwooftheunpublishednovelsthatwere worksinprogressatthetimeofhisdeath.

Markedbyhissignatureskillandbare-knuckledinsight, thiscollectionisamust-readforWilliamGaydevotees andfansofSouthernshortfiction.

“…LikeFaulkner,thereisnothingcontrivedinGay's stories.Hehadanuncannyabilitytowriterealistically aboutsocialmisfitsandblue-collarlife.Gaywasapoetof theimpoverishedSouthwhohadaknackformakinghis readersempathizewitheverycharacterandevent profferedinhiscreations.” WayneCatan/Chapter16.org

HITPLAY

HITPLAY

Canyouimagineworkingforanewspaperandhaving yourowncolumninyourteens?WellStephanieEdwards achievedjustthat.

“I’vealwaysenjoyedwriting.Istartedwriting professionallywhenIlandedmyfirstnewspapercolumnat theageof13.”

ItwasatthatearlyagethatStephaniebegantopaveher wayinthewritingworld. “I’veworkedinjournalism,marketingorcommunications myentirecareer.”

Stephaniepursuedherwritingcareerwiththehelpofa formercolleaguefromherearlyjournalistdaysandwhois nowhereditor.ShetookStephanieunderherwingand supportedher,butalsowasn’tafraidtopointouther weaknesses.

Stephanielikestodrawinspirationfromeverydaylifethat peoplewillrelateto,andhavinganoveractiveimagination iscertainlyanasset.

“Myfirstbookwasinspiredbyatriptoabeachhousein theSouthCarolinaLowcountrywithaspookybackyard. TheSpanishmossdrippeddownthetrees,paintingthe perfectsceneforaghoststory.Thenexttwobooksinthe seriescametomealittleatatime.”

Throughperseveranceandhardwork,andwhilewhile workingafull-timejob,StephaniehaswrittenthePalm Courttrilogyandiscurrentlyworkingonastandalone novelthattakesplacein1960sAppalachia

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Areyouinareadingrut?Areyouinterestedinfindinga newauthor,experiencinganewgenre,orlookingforbook clubrecommendations?WELLREADMAGAZINE providesallthat,soyouarealreadyintherightplace.The wide-spreadeffectivenessofthisplatformiswhyMary andIwantedtoshareourexcitingnewsabout“LAUNCH PAD”withthisaudience.Justlastmonth,anew collaborativeeffortbetweenBookishRoadTripand AuthorsontheAirGlobalRadioNetworkwascreated. Thisradioshowandauthormarketingexperiencehasmet withgreatreviews.LAUNCHPADprovidesan opportunityforauthorstoparticipateinanon-air interviewandgainmarketingsupport.Thepremier episode,andearlydataresults,wereverystrongand supportive.Onespecialpartofthereviewspointstothe show’simpactonlisteners.Manyofthecomments suggestedthatLAUNCHPADisgoingtobeaplace wherelistenersfallinlovewiththeirnextauthor.

I’malwaysinterestedinhowthingslikethiscomeabout. Howdohumanscreatesomethingfromnothing-beit

THERESTISSILENCE

ONEDREARYFEBRUARYMORNINGISAT DOWNATTHECOMPUTERANDOPENEDUP THEEMAILANDTHEREWASAMESSAGE

FROMRENEE.ShelivedinHohenwaldandwasanold friendofWilliamGay.Reneehadpublishedacoupleofhis novellasandevenappearedasacharacterinoneofhis shortstories.Therewasnothinginthesubjectline.The messagesaid, "Ilovedhimsomuch."

Ifeltcoldfingersgripmyheartandstartedmakingcalls.I hadtalkedwithWilliamthenightbefore.Howcouldthisbe? Hewasscheduledtobeatawriter'sconferenceinEast Tennesseeintwodaysandwasgoingtostopbymyhouseon thewaytotheconference.IcalledWilliam'snumber,the phonerangandrang,noanswer.Icalledhisoldestson,then hisyoungest;noonewasansweringthephone.Icalledthe localnewspaperandtheyconfirmedthenews.Hehaddiedof anapparentheartattackthenightbefore.Theygavemethe nameofthelocalfuneralhomewhereasolemncountryvoice, inadeepbaritone,informedmeinmutedtonesthathehad beencrematedandthefamilyhadnoplansforaservice.

Gonejustlikethat.Thenightbeforehewasmakingplans andmovingrightalong,nowgone,gonebeyondtheveil.

Williamhadsufferedaseriesofseizuresandheartattacks overthelasttwoyearsandwaswearingapacemaker.Inthe

heatofthesummerhehadbeengoingaroundwithnoshirt andthedamnthinglookedlikeacanofsnuffinsertedunder theskinoverhisheart.Theworstoftheheartattacks happenedonenightashewaswatchingtelevision.Hisson Chrisnoticedhewaspassedoutinhischairandwasshaking withconvulsions.Chrisimmediatelycalledanambulanceand awaytheywenttothenearesthospitalaboutthirtymilesaway inColumbia.Chrisrodeinthebackoftheambulance, listeningtothesirenswailinginthedeepofnightonlonely countryback-roads.Williamdiedrightthenandthere,butthe techsornursesorwhoeverwasridingwithhimknewwhatto doandtheykepthisheartgoingandgothimthroughit.His impulse,whenhecametointhehospital,wastorefuseall treatmentandgethomeasquicklyaspossible.Thedoctor cameinandtoldhimifhedid,hewouldbedeadinamatter ofdays,maybeweeks,butcertainlynotlong.Sohecame homewiththepacemakersurgicallyimplantedunderhisskin.

AweeklaterIstoppedbythehouseandoncewesatdown hetoldmeallaboutit.

"Mygoodness,Will,givemeareportfromtheotherside. What'sitlikeinthelandofthedead?"

Hegotaweirdlittlegrinonhisface.Itwasn'taquestionhe wasexpectingandhewasenjoyingit.

Hepausedforamomentandthensaid,"It'sreallyquiet."He wenton,"Itwasoneofthestrangestdaysofmylife.Allday Iwashauntedbyaweirdlonging,itwaslikeseverenostalgia, likemybodywastryingtotellmesomething."Hegavemea sidelongpiercinglook."Ifyouevergetthatfeeling,watch out."

Afterthatthingsprettymuchreturnedtonormal.Lifewent

nooneattheagencywhereIworkedknewhim.Afewpeople knewsomeofthefamilymembers,especiallyWilliam's UncleScottwhowasfamousasapsychicbuthehadbeen deadforseveralyearssothatwasnohelp.Nooneknew Williamoranythingabouthim.Aftermyworkdaysin HohenwaldIwoulddrivearounddifferentpartsofthecounty andstopinatlocalstoresorcatchpeopleoutintheiryards andaskiftheyknewWilliamGay.Istoppedatonehouse whereawomanwasrakingleavesinthefrontyard.Igotout ofthecarandaskedifshehadeverheardofWilliamGay;she stoppedandleanedonherrakeandlookedatme,"Yes,I've heardofhimbutIdon'tthinkyoushouldgolookingforhim,I hearhemightpullagunonyou."Butshedidn'thaveaclue wherehelivedandIwentonmywaymoreintriguedthan ever.

EventuallyIfoundafarmeronatractorwhoknewoneof William'sdaughtersandhetoldmehowtogettoherplace. WhenIdroveuptheyardwasfullofoldvehicles,four wheelers,motorcycles,go-karts,trucksandjustrandomstuff ofallkinds,theearthmostlybare,youngtreesoverhead, patchesofunmowedweedshereandthere.Iparkedandgot outandayoungwomancameoutintheyardtospeaktome. Shewascarryingasmallboyonherhip.Iaskedifshewas relatedtoWilliamGayandshesaidshewashisdaughter.So Iexplainedmyquestandsheassuredmeitwouldbeallright togoseehimandgavemedirections.Icouldn'tbelievemy luck.

IfollowedherdirectionstoGrinder'sCreekRoadandpulled intothefirsttrailerontheright.Itwasadilapidatedlooking single-widetraileronascruffylotsittingbackalittlebitfrom

theroad.AsIgotoutanoldwhitepitbullcameacrossthe yardtowardmeandIsawthetrailerdooropenandamanstep out.HecalledthedogKnucklesandsaidhewouldn'tbother mesoIwalkedupwithacopyof ProvincesofNight inmy handandintroducedmyself.HeinvitedmeinandIstepped throughthefrontdoorintohislivingroom.Itwasamess. Therewasacouchandanoverstuffedchairbutbothofthem hadthelegsremovedsotheysatrightonthefloor.Therewas acoffeetablecoveredwithmagazinesandalargeashtray overflowingwithcigarettebuttsandashes.However,across theroomwasastate-of-the-artflatscreentelevisionanda stereocomponentsystemwithbigspeakersandshelvesfullof CDsandDVDs.

Itwasastrikingcontrasttothesqualoroftherestofthe place.Inthekitchentherefrigeratorwaspulledoutfromthe wallandthedoorwashangingopenandthekitchensinkwas fullofdishes.HemotionedformetositdownsoIsatonthe couchandhesatinthechair.IsaidIhadreadhisbooksand thatIworkedinHohenwaldfromtimetotimeandwasa writermyselfsoIhadbeentryingtolookhimup.Hesigned mybookandIcouldtellhewasveryuncomfortablesoIwas planningongettingoutofthereasquicklyaspossiblebut decidedtoaskacoupleofquestionsbeforeImadeahasty retreatandlefthimalone. "Ifyoudon'tmind,areyouworkingonanythingnew?" "Yes,IjustsubmittedanarticletoOxfordAmerican,itis

Anyhow,IcouldseeachangecomeoverWilliamasItold himstoriesaboutHarrySmith.Hewasnowrelaxedand happytositandtalkforawhile.So,Istayedabouthalfan hourandsaidI'dbeonmywayandthatIwasinHohenwald aboutonceamonth.Iaskedifitwouldbeallrighttodropby againwhenIwasbackintown.Hesaidthatwouldbefineand Iwasoff.

Iwasamazedafterreadingtheman'sbookstofindhimliving insuchcircumstancesalthoughthattypeoflifestylewas certainlyreflectedinthosebooks.Itwasoneofthosegreat meetingsthathappenfromtimetotimeifyouarelucky.

FEWWEEKSAFTERWILLIAMDIEDTHE PHONERANG.ItwasWilliam'syoungersonand hesaidhehadatubfullofhisdad'snotebooksand wouldIliketocomeandhelphimfigureoutwhatwasin them.ImadearrangementstogotoHohenwaldatthe earliestopportunity.Itisn'taneasytrip,takingalittleover twohourstodrivefrommyplacetohis,butthenextdayI showedupeagertoseewhathehad.WilliamJr.wentinto hisbedroomandcameoutwithabigplastictub.

WhenhetookthelidoffitwasfullofWilliam'shandwritten notebooks,mostlyyellowpadsandafewspiral-bound notebooks.AbouthalfwaydowninthetubIcouldseesome pagesoftypescript.WhenIlookedatthefirstbatchtheywere

old,yellowedtypewriterpaper,double-spaced,aboutfortyor fiftypageswithnotespenciledinbetweenthelinesandinthe margins.AtfirstIthoughtitwascorrectionsWilliamhad wantedtomakebutwhenIlookedcloseritwasn'tWilliam's handwriting;thensuddenlyIrealized,withashiver,theywere annotationsbyCormacMcCarthy.

Amemoryfloodedbackintomymind,onedaywhenIwas visitingWilliamhehadmentionedthatCormacMcCarthyhad readanearlydraftof ProvincesofNight andhadcommented onitlinebyline.Williamaskediflwantedtoseeitandhe broughtoutafewpages.McCarthyhadpenciledinnotesall overthepages.ItwasreallyfuntoseeCormac'scomments. Hehadunderlinedalotofwordsandphrasesandwritten extensivenotesalloverthepages.Occasionallywordswere underlinedwithtwolinesandsometimeswiththree.Ipored overitonandoffalleveningbefore Williamgatheredthepagesback togetheranddisappearedintohis bedroom.Iwasrelievedtoseethe McCarthyannotationsand identifiedthemforWilliamJr.I quicklyreviewedthenotebooks tryingtoidentifythecharactersto seeifIcouldplacethestories. WhenIvisitedwithWilliamI wouldalwaysaskhowitwas comingonanywork-in-progress. Ihadreadeverythinghehad writtensoitwasn’ttoohardto identifythe pieceifIcouldspotcharacternames.Andthere

were EdgewaterandRoosterfishinsomeofthenotebooks.I recognizedthemascharactersfrom TheLostCountry.Here wereatleastsomeofthenotebooksforthisunpublished novel.IshowedthemtoWilliamJr.andasIlookedateachof thenotebooksIidentifiedthecharactersandtoldhimthe storiesorbookstheywerefrom.Severalofthemfeatureda characternamedYates,andmanymorehadcharactersfrom otherbooksandstories.

WilliamJr.toldmethatafterhisfather'sdeathheandChris hadgoneintoWilliam'sbedroomandfoundthenotebooks andpaperspiledonthefloorofhisclosetandsomeonhis desk.Theyhadtakeneverythingtheycouldfindand altogether,theyfilledupthreeplastictubs.Whentheywere donetheydiscussedwhattheyshoulddowiththemso WilliamJr.tookonetubandputitinhiscarandthenputit intohisbedroomclosetwhenhegothome.Chriskeptthe othertwo.IaskedWilliamJr.iflcouldtakethemhome,sort themandbringthembackinaweekorsoandheagreed.I couldn'tbelievewhatIhad.WhenIwalkedinthehousewith themIstayedupmostofthenightsortingthenotebooksinto pilesbasedonthecharactersthatappearedinthem.

William'swritingwasnearlyindecipherable.Manyofthe notebookswerefilledfronttobackwithtightlywrittenscript; manyofthepageshadnotesonthesidesofthepagesand acrossthetopmarginsandlotsofthemhadwritingonboth sidesofthepage.Itriedtoreadhisscrawlbutitwasareal chore;Inoticedrightawaythathedidnotcrosshist'sordot hisi'ssomanyofthewordswereverydifficulttomakeout.

ThenextdayIwenttoanofficesupplystoreandgotsome expandablefoldersandstartedusingthosetoorganizethe

WilliamGayintypicalattirewithever-presentcigaretteinhandcirca2008.

ratherlongstoryaboutacharacternamedPepperYates.Iread itandrealizedIhadneverheardWilliamtalkaboutthisstory orreadfromit,anditwasoneofthefunniestpiecesofwriting Ihadeverread.Iputallthesepagesinsheetprotectorsand thenreadthefunnypartsofthePepperYatesstorytoanyone whocamebyandtovariousfriendsoverthephone.Ifeltlike adragonsittingontopofahordeofgoldandgems.

OnceIhadthemallsortedasbestIcouldIputallthe typescriptsintothesheetprotectorsandputthemintoabig three-ringbinderwithtabsbetweenthevariouspieces.Ifound somecorrespondence,mostlyincomingwithverylittle actuallywrittenbyWilliam,andIputallthoseintosheet protectorsaswell.IcalledWilliamJr.andtoldhimwhatIhad doneandthathenowhadabunchofnotebookswith unpublishedwritings.Iaskedforpermissiontomakecopies andheagreed.ThatnightIstoodattheXeroxmachine carefullycopyingthenotebooks.Itwasanexcruciatingjob. Therewerenotesonthetopsofthepagesandthetextranright uptotheedgeofthepagessoIhadtoholditonthecopierjust righttogetitalltocopy.Whenhehadn'twrittenonbothsides ofthepagesWilliamhadmadenotesonthebacksforinserts hewantedtoputintothetextonthatpagesoIhadtowatch forthoseandmakesurethecopieswereassociatedwiththe properpages.Noneofthepageswerenumberedandinsome ofthenotebookstherewouldbemultiplestories.Sometimes storiesorepisodesfromthenovelswouldstartorstopinmidsentenceandadifferentstoryorepisodewouldstartuponthat pageorthenextpage.

OnceIhaditallcopiedIcalledWilliamJr.andmade arrangementstogobacktoHohenwald.BeforeIleftIwent

throughthemallonceagainandmadeadetailedarchivallist ofeverything,carefullydescribingeachnotebookandlisting thecharactersthatappearedinit,labelingitaccordingtomy bestguessastowhatstoryorbookitrepresented.Iwas continuallypullingoutcopiesofWilliam'sbooksand magazinearticlescheckingthenamesofcharactersand comparingthewritinginthenotebookswiththepublished version.

IshowedupbackinHohenwaldwiththetubsortedand markedandalltheloosepagesinthesheetprotectorsinthe binder.Icarefullywentthroughtheexpandablefolders showingWilliamJr.howIhadidentifiedthenotebooks.I spentalotoftimeshowinghimtheCormacMcCarthypapers andthenotebooksfromwhatappearedtobemaybethree unpublishednovels.Thenweloadedupthetubanddrove downtoChris'shouse.OncethereIreviewedallthefolders withChris.Christhenbroughtoutthetwoothertubs,oneof themfilledtothetopwithmorenotebooksandthesecond withsomenotebooksandavarietyofotherpapers.Ioffered todothesamesortingprocesswiththeseandChrisletmetake themhome.Asfarasthetwobrotherscouldtellthiswasall thepapers.However,thehousehadbeenopenallweekafter Williamdiedandvariousfamilymembersandfriendshad comeandgonewithnosupervision,soitwashardtoknowif thiswasinfacteverything.

BackathomeIwentthroughthesameprocessandadded eachpiecetothedetailedarchivallistingIhadstarted.Bythe timeImadeitthroughallthematerialthearchivelisthadrun tothirteenpages.Itwasobvioustherewasasignificant amountofunpublishedmaterial.InoneofthenotebooksI

evenfoundasynopsisof TheLostCountry Williamhad writteninadraftofalettertohisagent.Icopiedthatandset itaside.OnceIwasfinishedwithbothtubsIbegantostudy allthematerialmorecloselyandranacrossasecondsynopsis, thisoneforabookcalled FugitivesoftheHeart.

ThiswasanewtwistandIwentbackandre-sortedthe materialtotrytoseparate TheLostCountry from Fugitivesof theHeart.ItwasafascinatingprocessandIusedthetwo synopsestohelpfigureoutwhatwentwhere.Icouldn't believemyluck,Williamhadnevermentioned Fugitivesof theHeart andIhadnoideahehadtwounfinishednovelsin hispossession.

OnceIhadallofthenotebooksandtypescriptssortedIwent throughthesameprocess.Therewerelotsmoretypescriptsso Igotmoresheetprotectorsandanotherthree-ringbinderand putallthosepagesintothesheetprotectorsandgotitallinto thebinder.

Thecollectionincludedalotofproofsofstoriesthathehad receivedbackfromvariousmagazinesandpublishers.Imade copiesofalltheunpublishednotebooksandthencalled WilliamJr.andChrisandcarriedthepapersbackto Hohenwald.

Itwasanamazingarchive.Altogether,Ifoundfifty-eight handwrittennotebooks.Theyincludedabunchofoldspiral boundnotebooksandabigpileofyellowpads,manyofthem filledonbothsidesofthepage.Inoneofthetubstherewasan oldleathernotebookandwhenIopeneditthereweresome loosesheetstuckedinasleeveontheinsidecoveralongwith twohandwrittenstoriesonlinedpaperswiththeword "Novel"onthetopofthefirstpage.Theloosesheetswere

writteninafadedbrownink.

IlaterlearnedthatwhenWilliamwasveryyoungthefamily wastoopoortoevenhavepencilsorpensandthathehad madeinkoutofwalnutstainandhadwrittenhisfirststories withwalnutstaininkandhadsavedthemalltheseyears.It wasaWesternaboutacowboyandstartedwithhimseeing smokesignalsinthedistance.Theothertwostorieswere abouttwentyhandwrittenpagesdoneinpencilandonehada dateof1955,whenhewasagesixteen.Therewerenodates onthepageswrittenwithwalnutstain.Iheldtheoldsheets withthewalnutstaininmyhands,amazedthathehadheld ontothemalltheseyearsthroughallthemovesandallthe placeshehadlived.

ThelastyearhadbeenespeciallyhardonWilliam.His youngestdaughterLaurawas fightingthecancerthatwould takeherlifeaboutamonth afterhedied.Herillnesshad beenanextremeordealfor

EveninthisdraftofastoryWilliam wroteinhighschoolsomeofthe author'sskillsareemerging. During theseearlyyears,Williamwrote withatraditionalfountainpen.The varianceinletteringisduetothe youngwriter'ssolutiontorunning outofink.Whenhisstore-bought inkrandry,Williamwouldgrind walnutshellsintoafinepowder, addwaterandstrainthe concoction intohispen.Themurkybrownfluid workedjustfineuntilWilliamcould affordtobuyanewbottleof genuine ink.

DianeweredivorcedLaurahadtakenoverthehouseand Dianemovedintoatrailerthatwasjustacrosstheyard. NowthatLaurawasgoneDianewaswatchingoutfor Laura'schildrenandhelpingLaura'shusbandraisethekids. WilliamJr.hadgivenmedirectionstohismother'straileron WilliamGayRoad.Hesaidshewasrecuperatingfromcancer surgeryherselfbutwasdoingbetter.

Ipulledinthedriveofanoldtrailerattheendofthedirt road;itisasinglewidetrailerbuthasaroomaddedonatone end.Igouptothetrailerandknockandhearavoicetelling metocomeonin.DianeGayissittingonacouchintheliving room.Thefrontroomhasbeenbuiltontothetrailer.Ithasold couchesonallfourwallsandawoodfurnaceinonecorner,a veryoldwindowairconditionerinonewindow,anoldtelevi sioninanothercornerandthat'sit.Isitdownoppositeavery slim,brown-hairedwomaninherearlysixties.Sheissitting therehand-rollingcigarettes.IexplainthatIknowherkids andhaveheardaboutheroperationandknowsheishavinga hardtime.ShesaysshehadtoquitworkinMarchandhasn't workedsince.Thatshehasgooddaysandbaddaysandsome timesdoesn'tfeellikesheisgoingtomakeit.

ItellheraboutgettingtoknowWilliamandthatIamsorting hispapers.Shelooksatmeandthefirstthingshesaysis,"You knowwehatedeachother."Shesaysitwithasortofshy smile,asmilethatechoesthesmileIhaveseenonWilliam's facemanytimes,alittlelookofcomicironyandshared recognitionthatitisallinthefatesandallwecandoisroll withit.

Shewenton,"Allhewoulddoiswrite,hewouldn'twork."I couldhearinhervoicethatitwasanoldrefrain.Iaskedher

ifitwastrueWilliamwould nevereatmealswiththe familyandshesaidtothis dayshecouldn'tgetanyonein thefamilytositdownata tableandeat.ThatWilliam wouldtakehisplateandgo inthebedroomandclosethe door.

Shethoughthewasinthere reading.Shesaidhereadall thetimeandthatwhenhewas growinguphewaspoor, reallypoorandshethought readingwashisescape,that hecouldfindanotherreality inbooksanditwasbetter thanthedirtpoorlifehewas living.Shesaidhewould neverkeepajob,thatthey hadtomoveeveryfewmonthsbecausehewouldn'tholdajob andpaytherent,allhewantedtodowaswriteandwhenhe gotgoinghewouldsituplateatnightwriting.

WilliamandDianestandinginfrontofa 1958Thunderbirdshortlyafterthebirthof theirfirstchild,WilliamJr.

IaskaboutWilliam'sparentsandifitwasjusthimandCody andlearnedtomysurprisetherewasayoungerbrothernamed Bradley.Shetoldmehecommittedsuicide,thathehadhung himselfafewyearsback.IaskedaboutWilliam'sUncleScott andsheconfirmedhewasWilliam'sfather'sbrotherandthat hewasapsychic.ShesaidpeoplewouldcomefromArizona andotherplacestryingtolookhimupandthathehadmadea

smallfortuneonfightingcocks,sothatwasalsoabitofnew information.Iaskedifsheknewaboutthesharecroppingdays andshesaidthatwasbeforehertime.Iaskedwhentheygot marriedandshesaiditwasin1968,whenhewastwenty-nine andshewassixteen.Afterthattheylivedallovertheplace, theystartedoutonaplacecalledSinkingCreekbutleft quicklybecausetheykeptfindingrattlesnakesinthefront yard.Shesaidtheywouldendupmovingeveryfewmonths anditwasn'tuntil1978thattheystarted workonthehouseandshehelpedhim buildit.Shesaidwhentheymovedin theystilldidn'thavearoofovertheir head,justplasticstretchedoverthe rafters.

IaskedmoreaboutWilliam'sparents andshesaidtheyneverhadacar.His dadworkedatasawmillwheretheycut railroadties.Hewalkedtoworkevery day.Shesaid,"Itwassixoreightmiles, sometimesmydadwouldgivehimaride becausehewasworkingatalocalfactory thatwasnearby."ShesaidWilliam's motherwouldalsowalktotowntogetgroceries.

AsweweretalkingthedooropensanditisWilliamJr.,he seemspleasedtoseeme.Hecomesinandtalkswithherabout tryingtoeatmore,thatsheneedsgainsomeweight.Isuggest icecream.IcanseesheistiredandlooksstrainedsoIgoout withJr.andsaygoodbyeandfollowhimovertohishouseand wetalkaboutalltheaffairsoftheestatebeforeIleavefor home.

William’sfatherworkedin asawmill,cuttingrailroad ties

OnmynexttriptoHohenwaldIwasonamission.Both ChrisandWilliamJr.hadtoldmeabouttheatticinthehouse thatWilliamhadbuiltandthatIshouldgoupthereandseeif therewereanynotebooks.IdroveupWilliamGayRoadand foundDianeontheporchwithababyinherlap.Oneof William'sgreatgrandchildrenthatshewashelpingtoraise. Thenateenager,oneofLaura'ssonsnamedDallascamein. Hehadseenmedriveup,andcameovertogreetme.I mentionedtoDianethatIwantedtogoupintheatticnext doorandshetoldDallastoshowmehowtogetupthere. Dallascamewithmetheshortwalkbetweenthetrailerand house.

Wewentupthestonestepstotheporch.Ilookedatthe stone-work.IknewWilliamhadlaidthosestones,justtwo stepsbutnicelydesignedandstandinguptothetestoftime. William'sdaughterLauraandherhusbandKoryandtheirfour kidshadlivedinthehouse.Koryandacoupleofthekidswere home,heshowedmearound.IcouldseeWilliam'spaintings inacoupleofrooms.IexplainedIwantedtodoabookof William'sartworkandwastryingtophotographallthe paintingsandwouldliketotakepicturesofalltheoneshehas. Heassuredmeitwasokayandwestartedtakingthemoffthe wallsandcarryingthemoutsidetogetbetterlighting.Once thatwastakencareofImentionedgoingupintheattictosee ifanyofWilliam'soldmanuscriptswerethereandhetookme backintoahallwaywheretherewasasetofwoodensteps leadingtotheopeningtotheattic.Itwascoveredwithloose boards.Dallaswentupandpushedoneoftheboardsasideand webothclimbedupintotheattic.

Ononewallwasalongsetofbookcasesthattookupthe

ofoldcheappaneling,butithasbeentornintwo.Itakethe piecesandputthemwiththeotherpaintingandwegoon lookingaround.

Thereareacoupleofsmallerpartitioned-offareasandwe peerintothosebutdon'tseeanythingofinterest,plusitisdark inthereandwedon'thaveaflashlight.Inthedimfilteredlight itlooksempty.ThenIreturntothebookshelvesandatoneend oftheshelvesthereisasmallcardboardboxwiththelids foldedshut.Ipullitopenanditisfilledwithtypewritten sheetsofpaper.Itlookslikehundredsofpagesofoldcheap typingpaperthatareinvariousstagesofdecayandyellowing withlotsofthembentandcrumbled.

Ican'tbelieveit.Ilookdownthroughthepagesand recognizenamesofsomeofthecharactersfrom TheLost Country,unbelievable,Ihavefoundahoardofpapers.AsI lookcloserIseetheyareatotalmess,someofthepageshave numbersonthebottombutmostdon't.Iclosetheboxandsit itbythesteps.Welookaroundafewmoreminutes.WhileI waslookingatthebookcasesDallashascomeupwitha couplemorenotebookssowepileeverythingtogetherand headdownthestepsgladtogetoutofthedustandgrimeand spiderwebs.

OncewearedownstairsDallasmentionstherearemore paintingsliketheoneswesawupstairsinthekitchen.Wego intothelittlelaundryroombythekitchenandhepullsouttwo bigpaintings.Oneofthemisreallybig,likethreebyfourfeet andtheotheronejustabitsmaller.Theyarebothpaintedon thebackofoldpanelingboardsandarelandscapes.Bothare inanearlystyle,notasrefinedasthepaintingsIamusedto seeing,andneitherofthemissigned.

TheyboughtthelandfromhisUncle.Theylivedtherewithno electricity,withplasticononthewindowsandeventuallygot itbuilt.Butthentheylostitbecausetheyhadtomake paymentstothecompanythatsuppliedthekitandWilliam wouldn'tmakethepayments,sotheyhadtogiveitupand move.Thenin1978theymanagedtobuythelandwhereshe stilllivesandstartedbuildingahouse.

Hewouldteardownoldbarnsandhousesandother structurestogetmaterialsandthenhewouldstartbuildingon thehouseforawhile.Onceagainthefamilymovedinbefore theroofwasadded,andbeforetheplaceelectricity.The youngcouplemanagedtobuildalittleatatimeastheycould afforduntilthehomewaseventuallyfinished.

OnthedrivehomeIcouldn'tbelievemyluck,aboxofold manuscripts,abunchofhandwrittennotebooksandsome paintingsthatWilliamhaddonemanyyearsbefore.Icouldn't waittogethomeandstudyitmorecloselyandseewhatIhad. WhenIwalkedinthehouseIshowedSusantheboxandshe openeditupandlookedatitwithamixtureofcuriosityand disgust.Theboxsmelledlikestalesmokemixedwithmouse droppingsandwascoveredwithdust,grimeandspiderwebs. Icarrieditintomyofficeandsatitonthefloorandalmost immediatelymycatwasbesideitsniffingitwithagreatdeal ofinterest,circlingitandlookingitoververyintently.

ForthenextweekIsatonthefloorofmyofficesortingthe manuscriptsandreviewingthevariousnotebooks.Allthe writingspredatedwhenhehadmovedoutofthehouse.They representedabigchunkofhisworkinthedecadesofthe EightiesandNinetiesbeforehestartedgettingpublished.The manuscriptpageswereoldandyellowandbrittlesoIputeach

pageinaplasticsleeveandcollectedtheminabigthree-ring binder.Someofthepageswerenumberedandsomeweren't. Isortedthemallaccordingtothecharacternamesthat appearedonthepagesandthentriedtoorderthemaccording towhateverpagenumbersIcouldfind.Itwasanexciting literarypuzzleandeventuallyitallfelltogether.Therewere alsoallthehandwrittennotebooksandIstudiedthemtoseeif theywerethedraftsforwhatwastypedonthetypescriptsand foundthat,forthemostpart,thenotebooksandtypescripts werenotrelated.

Istartedworkingwithsomefriendswhohelpedmeget themalltypedup.SusanMcDonaldandSheliaKennedyboth spentcountlesshoursstudyingWilliam'shandwritingasthey struggledtodecodehisprose.AtsomepointWilliamhad stoppedcrossinghist'sanddottinghisi'sandthatmadeit evenmoredifficulttodecipherthewords.Sincetheauthor's vocabularywassoextensive,ittookalotoftimeforgingdeeply intothepagesofsomeverybigdictionariestorenderand revealmanyofthepassages.

Ittookseveralmonthsoftypingtogetitallinthecomputer. Whenthesmokehadcleared,wewerelookingatone completenovel,alargenovellaandacollectionofshort stories.Itwasexhilaratingtohaveunearthedthatamount ofliteraturethatmightotherwisehaveneverbeenseenby anyoneotherthantheauthor,himself.Itmademebelieveall themoreinwhatweweredoing.

IrememberedthatWilliamhadoncespokenaboutsome unpublishedshortstoriesinaninterviewthatwaspublishedin alocalcollegepaper.Hehadsaid,"I'vegotseveralshort storiesthatareinlonghandthatI'venevertypedupand

submitted.I'mnotsurewhy.Itseemstomethatthefunisin writingthemandafterthatit'sjustworktoputthemonthe computer.Justwritingthestory,that'stherealfunpartofit. Countingsomethathavealreadybeenpublished,there probablyisenoughforanothercollection."Heretheywere, longneglectedintheattic.

William'sbusinessdealingswereamessandhehad contractswithpublisherswhowereoutofbusiness.Itwill takeawhiletogetitallsortedoutbuteventuallyitwillall surelybepublished.ItisallclassicWilliamGay:great writing,alotofitevenfunnierthanmuchofhispublished workandallofitfilledwiththespeciallanguageandunusual charactersthatdefinehisstyle.

OnceallthepaperswerecopiedandtypedIcontacted SewaneeUniversityandspokewithTamCarlsoninthe EnglishDepartment.ProfessorCarlsonwasanoldfriendof William'sandhadhostedWilliamatSewaneeonnumerous occasions.Hewasveryexcitedaboutthearchivesolsenthim alistingofallthenotebooksandpapers.Heworkedwiththe peopleattheSewaneeLibraryandtheyendedupmakingan offertothefamilyforthepapers.AfewweekslaterSusanand IgatheredupeverythinganddeliveredittoSewanee.Itwas veryimpressivewalkingintotheSpecialCollectionsRoomat theSewaneeLibrarywheretheyhavearoomthatisornately appointedwithbeautifulwoodworkonthewallsandfloorand averyhighceiling.Thereareglasscoveredbookshelvesand displaytablesallovertheroomwhichhousesthepapersof manyofthegreatwritersintheSoutherngenre.Iwasde lightedtoplaceWilliam'spapersinthatcollectionandleft withthefeelingthathewouldhavebeenveryhappytoknow

thathisworkwasinsuchprestigiouscompany.

THEBIOGRAPHY

ITSEEMSTHATWITHALLTHINGSRELATEDTO WILLIAMGAYTHEREARENOFACTS,ONLY STORIES.HewasbornonOctober27,oratleasthis familycelebratedhisbirthdayonthatdate.Buttheyearhas beenverymuchinquestion.Helikedtosayhewasbornin 1941butatsomepointhebackedoffthatacoupleofyears andtheyear1943hasappearedinsomeofthebiographical informationinprint.However,accordingtohisyounger brotherWilliamwasbornin1939.That'sthewayitgoes.

Itappearshisfatherandhismothereachcameseparately fromAlabamaandmovedtoLewisCountyabout1934where theymetandmarried.HisfatherwasnamedArthurandhis mothercalledBessie.Theylivedinthepoorestareaofthe countywhichwascalledSwissColony.Hisfatherhada fourthgradeeducationandhadadefiniteattitudeabouttaking helpfromthegovernmentoranyoneelse.Hewanted absolutelynothingfromthegovernmentanddidn'tbelievein givingthegovernmentanythingofhis.Hewasabigman, aboutsixfeettall,butWilliam'smotherwasshort.Theold manwasagoodmusicianandpeoplewouldcomeoverand askhimtogetouthisbanjoandplay.

ThereisastreakoftalentthatrunsinWilliam'sfamily.His

grandfatherwasabanjoplayer namedElbert,andhisUncle Scottwasapsychicwhowas knownfarandwideandwould give,psychicreadings.William's oldestsonisamusiciananda songwriter.Andhisdaughter,Lee Gay,isapublishedwriter.William knewhewasawriterfroman earlyageandwrotehisfirst "novel"whenhewasateenager. Whenhewasayoung boyheand hisbrotherhadapath throughthe woodsfromthe housewherethey grewuptotheirgrandparent's house.Astheywalkedalongthepath,Williamwouldmakeup storiesandtellthemtoCody.Hehadafascinationwith WesternsandhadcreatedaherohenamedtheCowboyKid. HewouldrecitetheadventuresoftheKidtopassthetimeas theywalked.Hewantedtowriteasearlyashecould rememberbuttherewerenopencilsorpensinthehousehold sofortheearlieststorieshemadehisowninkoutofwalnut stainandwrotethestorieshehadbeentellingCodyontheir walks.Byagefifteenhegotalittlethree-ringbinderand wrotetwo"novels."Thesewereunnamedexcepttheword "novel"appearsatthetopofthefirstpageofeach.Hewould fillupeverypagewithhishandwrittentextandthenturnit overandwriteonthebackofthepagefrombacktofront,a habithemaintainedtherestofhislife. Williamwastheoldestofthreeboys.Hewasbornathome

In2010Christopherperformedathis father'sartshowopeninginOxford.

inatwo-roomhousewherehegrewupwithoutacaror electricity.Theboys'fatherhadplowedalldaybehindamule forfiftycentsadaywhenhewasinAlabamaandthingsdidn't getmuchbetterwhentheygottoTennessee.

ArthurGaywasahard-workingmanandendedupwithajob inawoodmillwheretheycutrailroadties.However,thejob wasinHohenwaldandhedidn'thaveacarsohewouldwalk aboutsixmilestoworkandthenbackhomethatevening.On weekendsthewholefamilywouldwalktotown.People wouldseethemwalkingtotownlinedupaccordingtoheight whentheywentgroceryshoppingonSaturday.Inthosedays thegrocerystoreskeptanoldtruckandwoulddriveyouhome withyourgroceriesifyoudidn'thaveacar.

WhenWilliamwasaboutfifteentheymovedtoalarger houseinalocalcommunityknownasGrinder'sCreek.Itwas onabigfarmandtheyweresharecroppinganddidn'thaveto payrentiftheywould"lookafter"theplace.Thefamilynever ownedacarandwasraisedpoor,astheysayinrural Tennessee.ForChristmasWilliamwouldgetsomethinglike alittletoythathadcomeinacerealbox.Theydidhavearadio andWilliamwasimmediatelytakenbythesoundsheheard whenElviswaschangingeverythingandthegreatestsounds werecomingfromSunStudioinMemphiswheretheywere inventinganewformofmusiccalledrock-n-roll.

Asateenager,andasayoungman,Williamwasnotaperson toprovokeafight,butheneverbackeddowneitherandended upinanumberofbrawlsthatlandedhiminjail.Hisfatherhad tosellhisbanjoonetimetogethimout.

Williamlikedtotellthestorythathiscompulsiontowrite startedintheseventhgradewhenateachernoticedhewas

hissearchforthestone,theleaftheunfounddoorwerelikea hallucinatorydrug."

William'sex-wifetellsthestoryabitdifferentlyexplaining thattheauthor'sloveofreadingwasanescapefromthetotal povertyhegrewupin.Buthewasfascinatedwithlanguage andtooktoreadingandtocollectingbooksandmagazines fromasearlyashecanremember.Hestartedwithcomic booksandmaintainedafascinationwiththemallhislife.As akidhemanagedtogetacollectiongoingandhadasuitcase withaclaspwherehecouldkeepthem.Itwasjustwide enoughtoholdthreerowsofcomicsneatlystackedinthebed ofthesuitcase.Theonlyplacetogetcomicsandpaperbacks wasatthedrugstorewheretheyhadarevolvingbookrack Thelocaldentistalsohelpedout.HerecognizedthatWilliam lovedtoreadandwould,fromtimetotime,giveWilliamold copiesof Look and Life and Reader'sDigest. Hekeptthemin hiswaitingroomandwhennewissuescameinandtheold oneswereoutdatedhewouldgivethemtoWilliam.Buthe wasdissatisfiedwiththisreadingmaterialand,whilehe faithfullydevouredit,hecouldn'treallyrelatetothepeoplein it.IntheSouthernnovelsofthedaythepeopleformedlynch mobsandweredoingthingsthathehadneverexperienced.It wasonlywhenhestartedreadingFaulknerthathefounda depictionofruralcountrypeoplewhoseemedasrealasthe neighborsandfamilymembershegrewupwith.

Tennessee'spublicschoolsrankneartheverybottomofall theschoolsinthecountry,somethinglikeforty-seventhoutof thefiftystates,andtheschoolsinLewisCountyrankverylow amongtheschoolsintheninety-twocountiesofTennessee. Educationalopportunitiesprovidedbythepublicschoolsas

assumingthatitwasa privilegeyouwouldhaveto payfortogettohangoutin thelibrarywithallthebooks.

Oncehegraduatedfrom LewisCountyHighSchool heenlistedintheNavyand spenttwoyearsintheservice, partofwhichwasspentoff thecoastofVietnam.William nevertooktobossesand foundtheauthoritiesinthe ArmedServicesabitdifficult tohandle.Oncehewasfound AWOLandthrowninthe brig.HewasfondoftellingastoryofbeingonboardaNavy shipandhehadasmallrecordplayerandhewouldsituplate atnightandplayhisrecords.

HetooktoBobDylanveryearlyonandwasfascinatedby Dylan'spoeticlyricsandbyhisknowledgeofAmericanfolk music.HewaslisteningtoDylansing"LikeaRollingStone" wherehehastherefrain"Howdoesitfeel"andinwalksone ofhissuperiorswhohearsDylan'svoiceandisimmediately soupsetthathepullstheplugontherecordplayeranddoses thelidandhaulsthewholethingtothesideoftheshipand throwsitoverboard.

WhenWilliamfinishedhisserviceheendedupinNewYork andlivedintheVillageforawhile.Hehadbeenstationed thereandhadagirlfriendnamedSarah.Hegotintroublewith SarahoveraBobDylansongaswellwhenhekeptplaying

"Don'tThinkTwiceIt'sAllRight"overandoveranddrove herabitcrazy.TheenergyofNewYorkmusthavebeen inspiringtohim,thecounterculturewasatitsheightand,as anaspiringwriter,hecouldfeeltheliteraryenergyinwhat wasthen,asnow,thepublishingcapitalofthecountry.By 1962hewaswritinginnotebooksandcrankingoutshort storiesandworkingonnovels.In1965hewroteacomplete novel,stillextant,setinruralTennessee.

Hestartedpaintingwithoilasaveryyoungman.Atone pointsomeonewhoknewhehadaninterestinpaintinggave himapaint-by-numberkit.Itwasoneofthosethingsyou couldgetwiththepicturesketchedontothecanvaswithlittle numbersineachsectionofthepictureshowingyouwhat colorstoputinthatsection.Williamturneditoverandpainted onthebackofitandpaintedapictureofarailroadtrain crossingatrelliswithadarkskyoverhead.Hismotherframed itandithunginherhouse.

HefoundhiswaybacktoLewisCountybuttherewaslittle inthewayofworkandhewasrestlessanddecidedtogoto Chicagotomakesomemoney.HeandhisbrotherCody movedtoChicagoandlivedinaredneckghettowherepeople fromruralTennesseeandotherSouthernstatescongregated. Hefoundworkbutwasn'tsatisfiedwithlivinginthecityand quicklymigratedbacktoHohenwaldandsettledthereforthe restofhislife.Fromthenuntilhestartedpublishingin1998 heworkedonandoffdoingcarpentry,hangingsheetrock,and paintinghouses.Hewouldoccasionallytakeafactoryjobof onekindoranotherbuttheyneverlastedlong.Hewouldwork longenoughtopayafewbillsandwouldquitanddevote himselftowriting.Evenwhenhewasworkinghewouldtake

housewherehewouldgositattheedgeoftheyardanddohis writing,andoncehegotallthekidstobedhewouldstayup lateandwriteinhisnotebooks.

WilliamhadbeencalledBusterbyhisfatherstartingwhen hewasasmallboyandnooneamonghisfamilyandfriends calledhimWilliam.Whenthefamilyputupaheadstonefor himinthefamilycemeterytheyputhisfullnameacrossthe top,WilliamElbertGayandbelowitinparenthesistheyput Buster.

Hisfascinationwithpaintingstayedwithhimandthefamily wouldtypicallygivehimsomeoilpaintsforaChristmaspresent andhewouldpaintuntilthepaintsranout.Hewouldtakeold thirty-threerpmrecordcoversandpaintonthemandeventually hestartedtakingoldsalvagedfour-by-eightfootpanelingboards andcutthemintocanvassizesandpaintingonthebacks.These wereacommonbuildingmaterialintheFiftiesandSixties.They werethinmanufacturedpanelsthatwereslickonthefrontbut texturedonthebackso thattheyheldthepaint andservedmuchbetter thancardboardasan impromptucanvas.

Williampainted landscapesaround SinkingCreekwhere thefamilywaslivingat thetime.

Duringallthistimehe waswritingin spiralboundnotebooks, filling

MichaelWhiteatgraveofWilliamGay

themwithhishandwritingonbothsidesofthepages. Typicallyhewouldsittherewritingwithhiscoffeecuponthe oppositepageofhisnotebook.Hewouldfindworkuntilhe eitherhadenoughmoneyforfoodandotherexpensesorhe justcouldn'tstandthebossandwouldquitandwrite.He eventuallyfinishedthehouseandhadanatticwherehebuilt longbookshelveswhichhefilledwithbooksofallkinds. WhenheWhenhefoundabookhereallyadmiredhewould readitoverandover.HestudiedFaulkner,readinghisbooks untilhehadreadeverybookFaulknerhadwrittenplusthe variousbiographiesandcriticalstudiesthatappeared.Hetook aspecialinterestin AsILayDying and TheHamlet andwould readthemovernearlyeveryyear.Heeventuallystumbledon abookbyCormacMcCarthyinajunkstoreinHohenwald, Tennessee.Hohenwaldisfamousforitsjunkstoresandthe onlybooksavailableintownwereeithercheappaperbacks fromthedrugstoreorusedbooksfromthejunkstores,sohe watchedbothforanythingthatmightappealtohim.Butin Columbiatherewasarealbookstoreandhewouldgothere anytimehehadthechance.Plustheyhadamagazinerack wherehecouldfindcopiesof TheNewYorker andother magazinesthatpublishedshortstories.Hewouldreadthem andthenthrowthemintheattic.Eventuallytheatticfloorgot coveredwithmagazinesseverallayersthick.

WilliamfoundacopyofCormacMcCarthy'ssecondbook, OuterDark,inoneofthejunkstories.Itscoverwasrippedoff butthatdidn'tmatter.Hequicklyreaditandwasthrilledto findsomeonewithastylecomparabletothegreatshesomuch admiredwhowaswritingaboutthepeopleandplacesinrural Tennessee.HepassedthenoveltohisbrotherCodywhoalso

enjoyedreadingandlikedSouthernliterature.ThenWilliam wenttothebookstoreinColumbiaandorderedacopyof The OrchardKeeper,Cormac'sfirstbook.Hegotitandreadit withthesameenthusiasm.Herewassomeoneheadmiredand hequicklyfiguredoutthattheauthorlivedinKnoxville.So onedayWilliamcalledinformationforKnoxvilleandasked iftherewasaCormacMcCarthylistedand,tohisamazement, theygavehimaphonenumber.Hecalledthenumberandwas inshockwhenCormacansweredthephone.Williamhada verydistinctiveaccentsoCormachadtoknowrightawaythat hewastalkingtosomeonewhowasfromaruralbackground. Theyconnectedbytalkingabouttheirmutualadmirationof FlanneryO'Connor.Williamwouldcallhimfromtimetotime andtheycontinuedtotalkonthephoneuntileventually CormacaskedWilliamifheeverwroteanythingandwhenhe learnedWilliamwasalsoawriterheofferedtoreadsomething Williamwaswriting.BythistimeWilliamwasworkingona varietyofnovelsincludingthestorythatwastobecome ProvincesofNight andhemanagedtotypeupalongsegment ofitandsentittoCormac.Alittlelateritarrivedbackwith nearlyeverypagecoveredwithnotesinthemargins. Forexample,ononepageWilliamwrotetheline, Belowhim therailroadtracksranparallelwiththehighwayandwith unholydinthetrainpassedbelowhim.Boydwatchedthe rattleandshakeofthecarsuntilthetrainwasgone.The forlorncryofthewhistlehungintheairlikethecryofsome torturedpenitent,mockingbutsomehowaccusatory. Cormac underlinedthewords"belowhim"topointoutitappeared twiceinthatonesentencewithanarrowtoacommentonthe marginofthepagewherehewrote,"BestadviceG.Steingave

E.H. concentrate."E.H.beingofcourseErnestHemingway whogreatlyadmiredGertrudeSteinandwasaregularvisitor athersaloninParis.McCarthyalsonotedthewords"therattle andshakeof'withbrackets<therattleandshakeof>. Apparentlyheused<>asmarksofapprovalforphraseshe liked.Cormacendedwithamarginalnoteaboutthelast sentenceintheparagraphsaying,"Abitdramatic?"Onthe remainderofthatsamepageCormacnotedthatWilliamhad usedtheword"pale"threetimes,underliningitonceonthe firstoccasion,twiceonthesecondandthreetimesonthe third,withamarginalnote,"Thiswordoccursveryoften". In anotherplaceWilliamusedtheword"churted"describinga roadthat,fromadistance,"reappearedredandchurtedinthe gaps".Cormacnotedinthemarginthatthewordchurtedis notinthe OxfordEnglishDictionary.Onthenextpage Williamhadwrittentheline,Heslidthelastfewfeetdowna churtybankandarrivedpantingandoutofbreathbytheside ofthecar.Cormacunderlined"churty"withtwolinesand makethemarginalcomment,"chertymaybe?(Ididn'tlikeit the1sttimeallthatwell.)"

J.M.(Michael)WhitehaspublishedtwovolumesofWilliam Gay'sprose.Asaresultheendedupasthestewardforthe WilliamGayarchiveandhasworkedwithateamof William'sfriendsandfanstopreparethemassiveamountof materialinthearchiveforpublication.Thisyearwillseethe publicationofbothStoneburnerandLostCountry.Those alongwithLittleSisterDeatharethefirstfruitsofthe archivewhichstillcontainsanothersubstantivenovellaand acollectionofshortstories.Hehasalsopublishedseven booksofhisownwritingsincludingamemoirofhistime withWilliamBurroughsandAllenGinsbergcalledNaropa Journals,hisjournalsoftravelsinTibet,PeruandMexico titledPortsofEntryandTheBirthofDeathwhichisanaccountaboutvisitingthePaleolithic artinthecavesofsouthernFrance,alongwiththreebooksofpoetryTheBeyondWithin,The Latch,andConfidentialAdvisefortheUnconventional,andanoveltitledFutureNothingness Already.michaelwhite@dtccom.netfuturenothingnessalready.com

LamontIngalls

EditorEmeritusofWildDog/AnomolaicPress

BornandraisedinNashville,spiritualhomelandinNew Orleans;MAfromTulane;editorofnumerousbook-length publicationsoffictionandnon-fiction.LiveswithAmyand doxie,Tennessee,ina50’scottageinFlorida.

AsaSouthern-bornEnglishMajor,I’vebeenenamoredof thewritingofFlanneryO’ConnorandCormacMcCarthy formuchofmyreadinglife.About15yearsago,Michael WhiteintroducedmetoWilliamathiscabinonLittleSwan CreekinHohenwald.Williamsoonwasaddedtomyliterarypantheon.Asoneoftheeditorsof therecoveredmanuscriptsofWilliamGay,Iamquiteproudtobeinvolvedwithsendinganew flockofWilliam’stalestoflybrilliantlyabouttheworld.ingallsedits(at)gmail.com

PaulNitsche

Editor,Illustrationanddesign,Webdesign

PaulcameintotheArchiveasafanofWilliam'swriting.A correspondencebeganbetweenPaulandMichaelWhite shortlyafterWilliam'sdeath,andbeforelongPaulwas involvedwitheditingtheunpublishedmaterial.Heis gratefulandhonoredtobehelpingwiththisliteraryproject. PaulgraduatedwithaBachelorofFineArtsfromtheSchool oftheArtInstituteofChicagoin1992.Currentlyresidingin ruralsouthwestWisconsin,Paulinhabitsa1895churchthat servesashomeandstudio.Hissculpturesandlithographic printshavebeenshownthroughouttheU.S.andhis illustrationanddesignwidelypublished.HeismarriedtoCertifiedProsthetistandOrthotist RebeccaLamsonNitsche.Paulnitsche.compaulnitsche(at)hotmail.com

SheliaKennedy Editor

Iconsidermyselfoneofthefortunatefewtohavebeen involvedinbringingWilliam’s“lost”manuscriptstolight.I becamefriendswithWilliamafewyearsbeforehisdeathasI washisdriverfortheClarksvilleWritersConferenceand thoseridestoandfromHohenwaldandsubsequenthourslongphonecallswerefilledwithlaughter-filledconversation aboutbooks,musicandlife.Ididn’thesitatewhenMichael WhiteaskedifIwouldbeinterestedintypingthe manuscripts,aliteraryjigsawpuzzle,Ithinkhecalledit! Asidefromhandwritingthatwasnearlyillegible,William’svocabularywasvast.Mineisnot! Googlewasaninvaluabletoolandtheparticularwordbeingresearchedwasalwaystheperfect oneforthesituation.Attimes,thewritingwassobeautifulthatIhadtostopforaperiodof timetodigestandrelishit,knowingthattherewasnochoicebuttohelpgetasmuchas possiblepublishedsothateveryonecouldenjoyit.notreallymanagement(at)gmail.com

SusanMcDonald Editor

SusanisaretiredattorneylivinginMiddleTennessee.She enjoyseditingbooksandisPresidentofanonprofit organizationwhichhelpsfeedchildreninPeru.Shewas privilegedtospendtimewithWilliamGayandhisdog Knucklessoitwasajoytoworkonunravelingand transcribingsomeofWilliam'shandwrittenmanuscripts. Williamwasaveryhumble,kind,unpretentiousandunique manwhocouldeasilyhavebeenacharacteroutofhisown novels....andperhapswas.SheisproudtobepartofTeam Gayandinsomesmallwayhelptoperpetuatehis remarkablelegacy!ameliaview(at)bellsouth.net

DawnMajor Editor

DawnisalsoanAssociateEditoratSouthernLiterary Review.Shewrotehermastercriticalthesisonthe supernaturalelementsonWilliamGay’sbodyofworkand sincethattimehasworkedwiththeWilliamGayArchive providingeditorialassistancetopublishhisposthumous works.SheenjoyslecturingaboutWilliamGay’sproseand artworkatliteraryconferencesandfestivals.Heradvocacy withtheWilliamGayArchivehasledhertopromote southernauthorsandliteraturethroughherblog.DawnreceivedherMFAinCreativeWriting fromtheEtowahValleyWritingProgramatReinhardtUniversity,herBAinEnglishfrom

KennesawStateUniversity,andaCreativeWritingCertificatefromEmoryContinuing Education.ShewasawardedtheJamesDickeyFellowshipandactedaseditorialassistantfor theJamesDickeyReview.ShewontheDr.RobertDriscollAwardforExcellenceinWritingon RegionalThemesandtheFacultyChoiceAwardalsoforExcellenceinWritingatReinhardt University.HerpublishedworkmaybefoundatHeavyFeatherReview,ElderMountain:A StudyinOzarkStudies,GeorgiaGothicAnthology,SpringerMountainPress,FivePoints-A JournalofLiterature&Art,JamesDickeyReview,SanctuaryJournal,SedimentsLiteraryArtsJournal,andFamilyLifePublications.SheisamemberofAtlantaWritersClub, BroadleafWritersAssociation,GeorgiaWritersAssociation,andHorrorWritersAssociation. Sheisactivelyseekingpublicationofherlinkednarrativecollection,TheBystanders.Tolearn moreaboutDawnMajor,visitherwebsiteatwww.dawnmajor.comwhereshesharesherwork, collaborateswithandadvocatesforsouthernauthors.

MatthewSnopewascorruptedearlyonfromreadingaHarry Crewsnovelatatoo-youngage.Fromtherehefellinlovewith SouthernLiteratureandlaterdiscoveredWilliamGay.Hisfirst loveofWilliam'swritingwasProvincesofNight,butLittle SisterDeathhasbecomeafavorite.Matthewhastaughtatthe universitylevel,workedasajanitor,anddonemanythingsin between,includingjournalismandsocialwork.Hehaslivedin CaliforniaandGeorgiaandcurrentlyresidesinruralNew Jersey.Hisotherinterestsincludeart,Buddhism,andBizarro Fiction.TogofromcasualreaderofWilliamGay'sworkto helpingeditposthumousworkhasbeenatremendoushonor.

GeorgeDilworth- MuchlikeWilliam,Igrewuplovinganything todowithliterature.LostmyfatherwhenIwaselevenandbooks wereacomforttomeespeciallyduringthattime.Somethingof anodd-ballsociallywithfewfriends.Marriedattwentyand workedavarietyofjobsovertheyears(22yearsconstruction withDukePowerinNorthandSouthCarolina;plantwork; boileroperatorwithClemsonUniversitysteamplant;custodial work;etc.).Helpedmywiferaiseourthreechildrenandtookan earlyretirementpackageatsixtytodrownmyselfinnature, books,andwriting.FindingWilliamGayattheageofsixty-six waslikediscoveringThomasWolfewhenIwassixteen!

CompelledtothankandencourageMichaelandthe“thefirst five”forwhattheyweredoingfortheworldofliterature,myletterultimatelyledtothehonor ofmyservingonTeamGay.

JonSokolfirstdiscoveredWilliamGay’snovelsandshort storieswhilepursuinghisMFAinCreativeWriting.Asa devoteeofWilliamFaulkner,FlanneryO’Connor,Cormac McCarthy,andLarryBrown,Jonquicklybecameafanof Gay’sgrittylyricism.AnewcomertoTheWilliamGay Archive,Jonisexcitedtobeworkingonfutureprojects. Jonisawriter,forester,traveler,andfurniture-maker.He livesinNortheastGeorgiawithhiswife,Karen.Hemostly writesfictionoftendriftingtowardsoutherngothicandhis fascinationwithallthingspeculiar.Jon’sworkhasappeared intheJamesDickeyReview,Gray’sSportingJournal, SouthernLiteraryReview,GutwrenchJournal,TheDead MuleSchoolofSouthernLiterature,andotherjournalsandanthologies.In2021,he graduatedfromReinhardtUniversitywithanMFAinCreativeWriting.Joncanbefound onlineatwww.jonsokol.comand@JonSokolWriteronTwitter.

Dr.RandyMackinteachesEnglishatMiddleTennessee StateUniversitywherehedirectedtheTennesseeLiterary Project.HeistheauthorofGeorgeScarbrough: AppalachianPoet(McFarland2011),whichwasnominated fortheWeatherfordAward.Hispoetryandfictionhave appearedinnumerouspublications,andhehascontributed toTheNashvilleScene,Chapter16,TheIronMountain Review,andLSU’sSouthernWriters:ANewBiographical Dictionary.HehaspresentedattheAppalachianStudies Conference,SouthernFestivalofBooks,andSouthern LiteraryFestival,andwasavisitingwriteratthe2022 ReinhardtUniversityMFALiteraryFestival.

AsajournalistheisarecipientofawardsfromtheMeemanFoundation/UTPressInstitute, TennesseeSchoolBoardAssociation,andNationalNewspaperAssociation.

WilliamGayToday:

Onceallthematerialsinthearchiveswerecompiledand typed,itwaspossibletoseeeverythingthatWilliamhad written.Itturnedouttobeasignificantamountof unpublishedmaterial.Thefirstbooktocomeout posthumously,in2015(DzancBooks),wasLittleSister Death.ItwasWilliam’stakeontheLegendoftheBell WitchofRobertsonCounty,Tennessee.TheBellWitchis themostinfamousghoststoryinTennesseehistoryand Williampresentsastorythatwillmakeyoushiverwhen heletstheghostspeakthroughtheyoungdaughterofthe familylivinginthehauntedhouse.

Theteamworkingontheseprojectsputtogetherabook everytwoyears.Next,in2017,cameWilliam’sversionof ahardboiled,detectivestorytitledStoneburner (AnomolaicPress).Hehaditwrittenandhaditmostly typedwhenCormacMcCarthypublishedNoCountryFor OldMen.William’sstoryhadadrugdealgonewrong,a witlesscharacterontherunwithabriefcasefullofmoney, abeautifulblondeandaCadillac,allbeingchasedbyan oldsheriff.TheplotforNoCountryForOldMenfollowed asimilartrajectoryandWilliamwithheldpublication becausehedidn’twantreadersthinkinghehadstolenthe plotfromMcCarthy.HowtheCadillacendsupinatreetop isoneofthegreatstoriesinallhisnovels. Then,in2018,TheLostCountry(DzancBooks)was released,whichmayturnouttobehismasterpiece.The

writingandstorytellingareperfectlymatchedwiththe lyricalrealismofhispoeticprose.In2020,Fugitivesof theHeart(LivingstonPress)wasWilliam’stributetoMark Twain.Andfinally,tenyearsafterWilliam’sdeath,a collectionofshortstoriesfoundintheatticandtitled appropriatelyStoriesfromtheAttic(DzancBooks)was released.

Itwasonlywhenallthesebooksfoundtheirwayintoprint thefullscopeofWilliam’stalentwasapparent.Heread widelyandendedupwritingbooksinallthegenre’sthat helovedtoreadincludingthehorror/gothictaleof Twilight(Dzanc),theghoststoryofLittleSisterDeath, thehomagetoHuckFinninFugitivesoftheHeart,the hardboileddetectiveinStoneburnerand,ofcourse,the greatSouthernfictiontraditionofFaulknerandFlannery O’ConnorwithTheLostCountryandProvidencesofthe Night,andhistakeonCormacMcCarthywithTheLong Home.

Thefiveposthumouspublicationsconstituteallthemajor workfromthearchive.Whilethismaybetheendofthe publicationofWilliam’smajorworks,itisn’ttheendof hislegacy,andtheteamcontinuestowrite,lecture,and interviewaboutWilliamspreadingthewordaboutthe literarygeniusofWilliamGay.

Beingalong-timeproudsupporteroftheworkdoneby Dr.LaurieMarkerandCheetahConservationFund(CCF), Istillrememberthefirstcheetahmytwochildren “adopted”attheCCFcenterinNamibianearly10years ago.HernamewasPolly,andforthelongesttimewehad herpicturedisplayedprominentlyonourbookshelf!Years havepassed,andoursupportforCCFhasonlygrown.My childrenactivelyparticipateinawarenessandfund-raising activitiesfortheCCFTexasvolunteerchapter.AndI regularlyfollowtheactivitiesofCCFandsharethemwith friends.So,whenafewmonthsago,theCCFTexas Chapterwaslookingtoraisefunds,itjustseemednatural formetodonatetheentiretyoftheroyaltiesIwould receiveoverafewmonthsfromthesalesofmy3rdwork ofliteraryfiction,AQuiverinthePurlieu(Madville Publishing,Nov.2021),anddomypartinsupportingthe raisingofmuchneededfunds.

Icareaboutleavingalegacyofgivingbackformy children.ThereisnothingmorevaluablethatIcaninstill inthemthanadesireforaworldwithapristine environmentteemingwithwildlife.Suchaworldisa worldofabundance,ofwealth,ofrichness.Andacritical gaugeofhowcloseorhowfararewefromthatworthy goalishowsuccessfulweareinhelpingwildcheetahs surviveandthrive.Asatrainedscientistandengineer,I findtheapproachCCFisemployingtosavethecheetahs tobeattheforefrontofwhatItrulybelieveissaving humanitybysavingtheworld.WhatdrewmetoCCFis notsimplymyadmirationforcheetahs,abeautiful,

gracefulspecies,butscientificrigorthroughouttheir conservationmodel.CCFfocusesonnotjustcheetahs,but theentireecosystem–thegamutofcheetah-human interactions.Thisincludesworkingwiththelocal populationsbecausepeoplecanonlyfocuson conservationwhentheirverybasicsurvivalneedsare secure.Therefore,exploringwaysforthelocalpopulation toraisetheirstandardoflivingiscriticaltoconservation efforts.Ibelievethiscreative,expansive,andholistic approachtowardsconservation,onethatissensitiveand sympathetictogroundrealities,isanimportanttemplate forsavingotherspecies.

OvertheyearsIhavebeenparticularlyfollowingthe effortsofCCFtoshareitsgroundbreaking,effective programstoothercheetahrangecountries,maintaining andexpandingwilderness,andsupportingreintroduction ofcheetahswheretheyarenowextinct.Therecent SomalilandCheetahRescueandConservationCentre (CRCC)isagoodexample.Ihavealsobeenfollowingthe effortsbyCCFtoreintroducewildcheetahsinIndia,a countryonceteemingwithwildlife,andwhichismaking enormouseffortstowardsconservation.Thecheetahswere declaredextinctinIndiain1952.Ugandarecentlyinvited Dr.Markertobeanadvisoronreintroducingcheetahs. TheworkbeingdonebyCCFwithothersinattemptingto reintroducecheetahsgivesmegreathopethatnotonly willthecheetahssurviveandthriveglobally,butthe effortswillalsosupportlocalcommunitiesandpromote coexistencebetweenpeopleandwildlifeforhealthy

ecosystems.

TheworldowesanenormousamountofgratitudetoDr. MarkerandherCCFteam,particularlytothoseworking onthefrontlines.Theirworkcontinuestogivewild cheetahsthechancetheyneedtosurvive.Iwillplaymy verysmallroleintryingtoraiseawarenessandthe necessaryfundstoaidtheimportantworkofCCFwith theirproveninterventionsinaidinginthestrugglesofwild cheetahs.MyfamilyandIsupportCCFinmanyways,and oneisthroughthesaleofAQuiverinthePurlieu.Iask youtojoinmethroughyourownwaysofsupporttoplay yourpartinhelpingCCFkeepthewild,wild–save cheetahsandthepeoplewholivealongsidethem.

AmitVerma, 2022InternationalBookAwardsNewAge Finalist,isaresidentofHouston,TX,wherehedivideshis timeamongthingsheIspassionateabout,including moldingcaptiveImpressionablemindsandconducting researchasaprofessorInElectricalEngineering,aperfect family,andaneverperfect yard.Histwoworkson literaryfiction,TheLives andTheTimes,andThe LivesandTheTimesII havebeenvariously called,a“rarefind,”a “page-turner,”and“…Is refreshinganddoesa humoroustakeonsomeof thepressingIssues…”

OnceUponaPig

YearsaftermyDaddyreturnedfromVietnamtherewere stillghostswhohauntedhim.Fallenyoungmenhecould notsavenorresurrect.Perhapsthisiswhyhecamehome ononedarkandstormynightslightlyinebriated-which closertothetruthwashemighthavebeendrunkonhisass becausehestoodlikeamanonthedeckoftheboatand wouldsuddenlyslidesidewaysandthenstepupjustin timetocatchhimself.

Mymother,sister,andIwerealreadyinpajamasbutI don’tthinkwehadbeenfullyasleepwhenhearrivedwith hisprize.TherewasanoiseandDaddyshoutingandthe lightoninthekitchenandthenwewereallstandingthere staringattheoddthing-awetpighehadrescueddodging trafficonadark,rainynight.Thepigwasdrenchedand Daddywasdrenchedandthethreeofuspajamaclad regularcitizensstaredinastrange,stateofwonder.

“Whatisthatthing?”Mymotheraskedtonoonein particular.

“It’sapig,”mysistersaid.

Beingtheoldestchild,Ialwaysfeltguiltyfornoreason

andresponsibletorightallthingsgonesideways.SoI chewedmylipandthoughtaboutwhatstepstotakenext.

“No,hellit’snotapig,”Daddysaid,rightinghimselfto fullsailstandingagain.“It’sadamneddog.”

Weallstaredatthecreaturethatwasnowheartilyeating cold,red,slicesofBolognafromDaddy’shand.Itwas roundandfatwithalittlesnoutofaheadandacurlytoa fair-the-welltail.Mysistercanverifythesestatementsas fact.Allofit.It’sthekindofstorythatbearswelltohave awitness.

“Daddy,”Isaid,“Wheredidyougetit?”

“Hell,fromthemiddleoftheroad.Itwasgonnagethitin aminute.”Hegazedatitwithastrangekindofaffection. Likehisrescuingithadmadeupforsomewrongs.

Wewereacritterfriendlyfamily.Wehadalwayshadour personaldogs.Oneforme.Oneforsister.Andwehadalso beeneachgivenakittenwhichgrewintomamacatswho werelefttoroamwildsoafewtimesoftheyearwealso hadafreshbatchofkittens.Wehadownedrats,birds,and rescuedwildcreaturestohelpandhealthem.Butwehad never,notonceorever,hadapig.

Daddyhadalreadybeentryingtonumbthevoicesof thosedeadandseeingthatsnouty,curlytailedcreature, scaredandwetanddodgingbrakesandnearlymissedtires wasjusttoomuchforhim.Hecouldn’tsaveallthedead he’dknownbutbyGodhecouldpulloverandsavethis

onepitifulthing.Sohehad.

Thenextmorningthepigwasstillthere.Ithadnotbeena shareddreamorhastyrainynightillusion.Furthermore, uponinspectionwithproperamountsofcaffeineand sunlight,itwasobviousthepigwasexpecting.Asin offspring.

SisterandIlookedateachother.Wewerefondofall animalsgreatandsmallbuttherewasnothingaboutthe poor,pregnantpigthatusheredupanydeepfeelingsforus otherthanperhapsrepulsiveness.I’msorrytosaythis. BeingolderandkinderinmostofmywaysIwouldthink nowImightbeasmercifulasmyDaddy.

“It’sadamneddog,”Daddysaid.

MysisterandIshookourheadsinunison.“Nodaddy.It isapig,”wesaidandwestuckbyourclassificationofsaid snouty,short,pig-legged,pig-tailedthang.

AsthedayswentbyitbecameapparenttousthatDaddy andMamahadreachedanunderstanding.Thepigwould staywithusuntilshehadherbabypigletsandthen someonewouldfindahomeforallofthem.SisterandI washedourhandsofallresponsibilityofthismission.We figureditwasalosingproposalfromtheget-gobecause whowasgoingtowantapiglet.

Afewweekswentbyandthepiggythingbecamemore piggy-fiedasshebecamerounderandrounderuntilthe excitingdaywhenshegavebirth.SisterandIactually

rushedtoseewhathadbeendelivereduntotheearth. Whichturnedouttobefourlittlepigletswithsnoutsand curlyporky-pigtails.Wepointedtotheblanketwherethe pigletsrootedandnursed.

“Pigs!”wedeclared.

AtthisDaddylaughed,shookhishead,andsaid, “They’redamndogs.”

Now,wewerenotwithoutfaithorintrustingsignsfrom heaven.Thatistosaywewerenothard-heartedskeptics butweweren’tcertainhomeswouldbesecuredforanyof thesethingsthatsquirmedandsquealedandfiguredwe wouldbemovedoutandincollegebythetimethelastone diedofoldagecurledatDaddy’sfeetashewatched WesternsonChannel4outofDothan,Alabama.

Buthedidit.Daddydidit.Hesavedthatcreatureand tookcareofhertillshegavebirthanduntilherlittle mirrorselveswereoldenoughtogiveaway.Foundhomes foreveryoneofthemandthelastfamilyvolunteeredto takethemamaalso.

ForyearspeoplecamebytotellmyDaddyhowthose littlegiftsofloveweredoing.Eachofthemdeclaredit wasthe“bestdamndogthey’deverhad.”

Meandsisterrolledoureyes.“Bestdamnpig,”we whispered.

TheSecretsWeHide

by PatriciaSands

“Anengrossingsagaoffamily,secrets,andserendipity.” ~Kay Bratt,InternationalBestsellingAuthor

ThedeeptraditionsandvaluesofKaitoTanaka’sJapanese heritageareseverelytestedwhenhereturnshometoHonolulu fromdutyinVietnamtofindhiswife,Hana,inthegripof progressivementalhealthchallenges.

AsHana’sconditionworsens,Kaito’slifebecomesabsorbedin protectingandcaringforherandtheirdaughter,Kiana.Hana becomesincreasinglyreclusivewhiletheirdaughterKianagrows troubledandrebellious.Afriend’smysteriousdeathfollowedby Kiana’ssuddendisappearancecutdeeplyintoKaito’ssoul. MeditationisKaito’sdrugofchoice.Secrecyhidesthetruthfrom othersbutKaito’scommitmenttoHanaisunwavering. Asyearsgoby,Kaitobeginstomakeanannualpilgrimagetoa BuddhistretreatinKoyasanthatrenewshisspirit.Intheend,a serendipitouscoincidencethereopensthedoortohappiness–if hecanallowhimselftoacceptit.

“SetagainstlushbackdropsinHawaii,Japan,Corsica,andthe southofFrance,thisbeautifulstoryofresilienceperfectly balancestheheartbreakanddestructionofmentalillnesswiththe compassionandserenityofanunforgettablehero.”

Barbara ClaypoleWhite,bestsellingauthorof ThePerfectSon andThe PromiseBetweenUs.

OriginallyfromToronto,Canada,thepandemiccausedPatricia andherhusbandtomovetwohoursnorthtoTheBlueMountains withGeorgianBayintheir‘frontyard’andskihills8minutes away.Anadmittedtravelfanatic,Patriciacanpackabagina flashandbereadytogoanywhere…particularlythesouthof France,forherannualvisit.