CBS SUNDAY MORNING

VERY GREATFUL TO CBS SUNDAY MORNING FOR THIS PIECE ON THE WIDOW OF THE SOUTH.

 http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/the-widow-of-the-south/

The 'Novelization' of Those Who Lived

There's an often told tale around Franklin and Nashville that Carrie's McGavock's descendants are bitter & indignant over my 'novelized' version of her story. Truth is, no one has actually ever met one of her descendants who resents the book as I pretty much know them all and know how they feel. For the record there are some distant lateral cousins, particularly a Mormon branch, but not her descendants, who have (amusingly) taken personal offense at my portrayal. 

I tell all this because today I received the following letter from one of Mariah Otey Reddick's descendants who has retired to Panamá . Wonder what he will think when I finish The Book Of Mariah? 

Dear Mr. Hicks:
After conducting on-line genealogical research on and off for several years, about my mother’s family, I had reached a dead end. On a whim, I Googled my great grandmother’s name and her photo appeared. The caption and related information led me to your book, The Widow of the South.

Tears welled up as I discovered that my great grandmother, Mariah Otey Reddick, had been given as a wedding gift to Carrie Winder McGovack. That was on November 5, 2013, and I have continued my search since then. Of course, I immediately ordered your book and began to read it as soon as I arrived in the USA in mid-November from our home in the Panamá highlands, where my wife and I retired in 2004. 

I wish to express to you, Mr. Hicks, my and my family’s gratitude for the sensitive and multi-dimensional and even heroic way in which you novelized Mariah. Candidly, as I ordered the book, I wondered what a 21st Century white American male would imagine a 19th Century enslaved African woman in America would think; and how she would behave. You gave her a life independent of her “role” and, more importantly, an interior life of the mind as a key supporting character in the main story. Or, as one reviewer put it, Mariah was one of the “three main characters.” Your characterization was realistic, excellent and uplifting.

Again, I express on behalf of all of Mariah Reddick’s descendants, a deep appreciation and gratitude for the rare humanization of an enslaved person you fashioned in The Widow of the South.

Sincerely,
W. K.

Evelyn Waugh to Nancy Mitford’s request for advice on how to handle fan mail:

“I am not greatly troubled by fans nowadays. Less than one a day on the average. No sour grapes when I say they were an infernal nuisance. I divide them into…

(a) Humble expressions of admiration. To these a post-card saying “I am delighted to learn that you enjoyed my book. E. W.”
(b) Impudent criticism. No answer.
(c) Bores who wish to tell me about themselves. Post-card saying “Thank you for interesting letter. E. W.”
(d) Technical criticism, eg. One has made a character go to Salisbury from Paddington. Post-card: “Many thanks for your valuable suggestion. E. W.”
(e) Humble aspirations of would-be writers. If attractive a letter of discouragement. If unattractive a post-card.
(f) Requests from University Clubs for a lecture. Printed refusal.
(g) Requests from Catholic Clubs for lecture. Acceptance.
(h) American students of “Creative Writing” who are writing theses about one & want one, virtually, to write their theses for them. Printed refusal.
(i) Tourists who invite themselves to one’s house. Printed refusal.
(j) Manuscript sent for advice. Return without comment.

I also have some post-cards with my photograph on them which I send to nuns.

In case of very impudent letters from married women I write to the husband warning him that his wife is attempting to enter into correspondence with strange men.

Oh, and of course…

(k) Autograph collectors: no answer.
(l) Indians & Germans asking for free copies of one’s books: no answer.
(m) Very rich Americans: polite letter. They are capable of buying 100 copies for Christmas presents.

I think that more or less covers the field.”