My Southern grandmothers, like all Southern grandmothers, taught me that one should be quietly proud of accomplishments but never brag. The eternal model, of course, being General Lee. I am going to violate their good advice (and not for the first time in matters of behaviour) by boasting about the near miraculous creation and success of Shotwell Publishing. Which I had a little something to do with.
In the last decade Shotwell has published over 100 unapologetic Southern books, many of which would not have seen life elsewhere. These include history, original documents, fiction, poetry, memoirs, and contemporary commentary. We have become a publisher of choice for a number of top-drawer Southern writers—the Kennedy brothers, Karen Stokes, Joseph Stromberg, Philip Leigh, Catharine Savage Brosman, Jack Trotter, Joseph Scotchie, James E. Kibler, Randall Ivey, and Yours Truly.
Most of the books are entirely new, not reprints, although we have republished some Southern classics by Walter Brion Cisco, John Remington Graham, and the Kennedys. Most of our books are available on Kindle and some have audiobooks.
We have also showcased the life of the South, not just for The War but for our three centuries, and not just for the Confederate States but for the greater South, from Maryland to Oklahoma.
I said I had a little something to do with Shotwell. The greatest credit goes to Paul C. Graham, the CEO and his outstanding technical, business, literary, and networking talents. And credit also goes to Paul’s sister Karen Shealy who is responsible for brilliant format and cover design. Much of the work of publication has been done without compensation. Nobody is getting rich from our efforts, but we are paying our way.
The most pleasing thing about Shotwell is that we are showing that the South is still alive and well, intellectually and artistically, in a time when we have had relentless hate from the powers-that-be.
I started writing late in life (at least for publication). My books, all novels, are (and will be) stories about the South—usually mid twentieth century time-period. I found a mid-list publisher at the time which was actually a Mormon group out in Utah. But they loved stories about the South. My first novel, MISSISSIPP COTTON (2011) did pretty well and was even a Kindle best seller. They (editors) ask me question after question about the South and things they were not aware of.
A skinny Mississippi boy can get fat pretty quick at the Ego Table, I can tell y’all.
But one of my great disappointments during that period was the collapse
(I guess) of Pelican, a New Orleans publisher, a place where Southerners had a chance at Southern stories. For some reason they went to the woods with the wild dogs and that was that, as far as the South and stories of it were concerned. But, dang, I digress.
I am very happy for Shotwell and although they are not yet Random House, Dr. Wilson, remember the old adage about tiny acorns becoming mighty oaks (especially down south).
Three cheers for Shotwell!
Keep pushing the truth…people are looking for it. My SCV camp has had the privilege of building a replica of the HUNLEY submarine and SCV patriot Jack Cowart has trailered it to dozens of venues since its dedication. Brother Jack and I went at the invitation of the Dothan JUNETEENTH Organization and spoke twice to them on truth using their Facebook website in live interviews. Thousands of people are now seeing the world in a different light. The SCV was paid three hundred dollars for this service…of course, the funds went back toward the HUNLEY.
HUZZZAH, for Dr. Wilson, Paul Graham, Karen Shealy and Shotwell publishing. Southerners cannot thank you all enough.
Rather hear the Rebel Yell than the Yankee “Huzzah.”
Other than this I’m enjoying the books you’re putting out.
Amen.
Congratulations on a successful beginning. May the Lord continue to bless the invaluable work being done at Shotwell!
Congratulations on your success at Shotwell, Dr. Wilson! And thanks to “Team Shotwell” for all of its hard work: I’ll put in a word for your daughter as well.
Got to get my Confederate Calendar ordered. Keep forgetting about that.
I wrote a book. If you go to amazon books and look for Platt Family Tree, you’ll find it…nothing but truth as told to a young child. Southern history from the 1600s to present. It’s free on Kindle.
Celebrate Black History…Louisiana CONFEDERATE Native Guard…First black military officers in the New World. Over one thousand free, black men from New Orleans VOLUNTEERED to fight in service to the Confederacy. When yankees took New Orleans, these same men were CONSCRIPTED into union service as cannon fodder.
Dr. Wilson, I am sure your well-intentioned grandmother is very, very proud and looks down with a smile at your lifetime of educational and publishing efforts. In today’s putrid sea of mediocre history books being published, Shotwell is a needed breath of fresh air Thank you to all at Shotwell!
Thank you so much sir, and to all the writers who keep the Old South alive in today’s hate-the-South atmosphere.
SSSOOoo thankful for Shotwell and pulling for its continued success!!
“The truth will out, sooner or later”, and Shotwell is fulfilling that axiom!