(7/22/24) Begging your forgiveness for the delay, I now bring you my big pre-release update! In light of all the information I have to relay, it’s probably best I do it in another sort of faux Q&A.
Q: What on earth is this new book you seek to subject us to?
A: Zoomed out categorically, Meet Maybeth: A Confederate Girl, is a simply a work of historical fiction set in post-Civil War North Florida in 1867 during what’s been called early or “Presidential” Reconstruction. It’s a wholesome piece, with a strong message of friendship, intended for skilled middle-grade readers ages ten and up.
You may have noticed the little disclaimer on my home page which is also to be on my back cover: “Contains some certain language, as well as historical themes.” Given that my story is set on a cotton plantation in the immediate aftermath of the Civil War, I would hope this can be decoded without further explanation. Suffice it to say the language in my book is a great deal tamer than in Twain’s Huck Finn.
Q: Is this some sort of a stunt having to do with the “American Girl” franchise? Your title seems to suggest as much…
A: It is not a stunt, but good catch: it was inspired by American Girl. And I realize full well here my need to further explain myself. You see, while I may be a former middle-school history teacher, I’m also a male former infantry war veteran in his fifties, with no daughter (though plenty of nieces), and no desire to hang around department store doll displays.
In other words, me and “American Girl” had no business even encountering one another… Doing some research, I discovered that around the time the franchise was founded in the ‘80s, I was actually a young post-punk Goth college washout in the midst of heading off to live for nearly three years in West Germany. Now don’t think too poorly of that younger me; I did right that college “ship” later on in the ‘90s!
However, my obliviousness with respect to American Girl would change, and not too many years back, because of—ironically—Hollywood. You’ve seen the trash they’re releasing these days. It seems there’s nothing anymore to watch—no movies, no shows—all of it just a bunch of degenerate trash and horror. Exactly the sort of thing you don’t want to see when you’re curled up on the couch in December.
Unless… ENTER Samantha: An American Girl Holiday. Lo and behold, back in 2004 Hollywood had done something right. I challenge you to find a more precious little show. Have you seen it? You should. It really made an impact on me. Here was a historical drama featuring a heroic young protagonist in a wholesome story that also manages to sneak in a little history lesson.
Hooked, I’ve since watched a few more American Girl movies (even read a couple of the books). I particularly liked “Felicity” as well. Apparently, the founder of American Girl had gone to visit Colonial Williamsburg and been inspired to come out with a line of books (and dolls) to entertain and inform young girls about what it was like to have been their age back in the day. I just loved the concept so much that I couldn’t get it out of my head! Here I am a history buff/former teacher who had grown up on Tom Sawyer, the Hardy Boys, Little House on the Prairie, etc. Then toss in a heavy dash of my natural sentimentality and romanticism… Anyway, suffice it to say I was absolutely inspired.
So, no, this new book of mine is not a “stunt.” As I say in my official description, “Meet Maybeth: A Confederate Girl is a historical middle-grade novella written in the style of a popular American franchise. Its intent is neither to mock nor infringe upon that series but to simply offer a different perspective on another kind of girl who makes up the living, breathing tapestry of the Americas.” Notwithstanding my opinions on some of the odd decisions they’ve made recently with “American Girl,” I am confirming here and now that while that franchise was my original inspiration, nothing about my book represents a shot at it of any kind whatsoever.
Q: OK, so why Dixie? Couldn’t you have queried a new character or story to the American Girl people?
A: Well, first of all, unless there’s a fundamental shift in the publishing environment, I’m over ever querying again. Second, why not Dixie? Are some historical girls’ experiences somehow off limits? I’m Southern. I want to talk about Dixie—simple as that. My Great Grandmother is buried in Tuscaloosa next to Confederate soldiers. I attended her funeral back when I was about Fred’s age (you’ll meet him in my story; that’s Maybeth’s brother). My family in fact still talks about what it was like when the Yankee Cavalry burned the University of Alabama.
This will change; I had even intended a deluxe hardcover version, but these things are going to take me some more time. As you may have guessed, I’m now on my own with this project and am having to do almost everything myself.
Expect at the very minimum to see Maybeth through all of Ingram’s distribution channels at some point or another.
Q: When will we get to “Meet Maybeth”?
A: I told you, the Battle of Chickamauga! If your social studies teacher or your Google-fu has failed you, I’m talking ‘bout the eighteenth of September—this September!
Sooo close! Tell your friends! The eBook is already in Pre-order!
Q: Tell us more about those “Two Goats” who designed that super smart cover!
A: I know, right! Les and I struggled to put my concept together once the professional designer I’d hired fell through, and let me tell you, this end result came out better than even the stuff those pros had suggested.
Every single one of those little stars had to be mathematically placed in my publishing software. Ugh! Not fun! I want to get back to writing!
Speaking of the stars, you may have guessed that there’re six more on the back. Why, that would leave one missing, wouldn’t it? Unless there’s one on the spine…. There is =) It makes the spine look like the Bonnie Blue Flag. Gee, I wonder if that was intended?
P.S. Further updates to come as I have more information. The physical proof is already on its way to me. They say I should get it on Wednesday. And don’t worry, in spite of how it may have sounded in my post last week, the cover isn’t going to change from here. I just hedged because I haven’t yet seen the colors printed. I recall that my second book was initially printing a little too dark. So, it’s just a shade thing, or not, that could perhaps come in late in the game.
