The different ways that family history and genealogy intersect with other aspects of the culture is growing. But I think this project might be a first for family history.
Broad Street Magazine, which publishes nonfiction narratives in a variety of genres, has begun a six-week series of feature articles on six poems from my family history poetry and flash prose chapbook Kin Types. Each article publishes one poem and then provides information on the research that went into the poem. Included are family photos, historical records, and old newspaper articles.
An introduction to the series can be found here. SERIES INTRODUCTION
The first feature article is Family Laundry: “An Account of a Poor Oil Stove Bought off Dutch Pete,” by Luanne Castle
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You do amazing work, how did you get started?
Thanks, Mary! That introduction link kind of gives an overview of how I got started. There were two separate things I was interested in: creative writing and family history and for a long time they were separate until the day i decided to put them together! 🙂
This is fantastic, Luanne! Congratulations!
Thank you so much, WJ!
Amazing, Luanne. You write so well!
Thank you, Anneli. So do you!
Tnx, Luanne. It’s a lot of fun and very satisfying when it turns out right.
So true!
I look forward to the rest of the series—will you be posting links? And I hadn’t read the introduction before—very well done!!
Yes, I will post links. I know I wouldn’t be able to remember to watch for them ;).
Exactly….
That was a wonderful adventure, following the links and reading all about it. The prose poem is a gripping, horrific tale of unbridled heroism that I felt and understood and made my eyes sting with tears. I’ve always had the feeling your ancestors have been truly honoured by your book Kin Types – now I’m sure of it. I hope you will post the ensuing weeks links for us to follow both why/how you do it and your composition.
Ah, thanks so much, Pauline. I hope I did justice to the bravery and kindness of Alice. From what I know of her, she is my favorite of all the ancestors I have not met.
I will post links!
Luanne, this is truly exciting!! What a wonderful celebration of the massive amount of work you have done for years – with the icing on the cake being your poetry!
I am so happy for you and The Family Kalamazoo…
Thank you, Sheila. I am so happy for my family and for the hybrid genre itself. I hope more people start to tackle the intersection of poetry and family history/genealogy!
Congratulations Luanne ~ this is fantastic and the series so well deserved! Kin Types is so precious book! ~ Sharon
Sharon, thank you so much! I will post links in case you can follow along!
Well done Luane! You’re fortunate to have so many great family records, but finding time to write and research is another thing entirely. Good luck!
Yes, the time thing is a huge problem! I must have a better collection of family photos than 90% of people, maybe more. And so much of what I have collected for the family has been since I started this blog! Thanks, Barb.
Congratulations, Luanne! This is such exciting news!
Thank you, Clare! It really is exciting. I hope other people are inspired to bring their family history and genealogy research into creative writing!
Congratulations! It’s wonderful to hear that Broad Street Magazine is publishing the articles.
Thank you, Sheryl!
The first featured poem — Simply WOW! Congratulations, Luanne!! Kin Types is now on my Christmas Wish List.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Valarie! I’m so glad the poem resonated with you!
Congrats, Luanne. I found the poem difficult to read as I have a horror of fire, but it was so well written.
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