What You Mean to Me, and December’s Guest Interview
Dear Readers, thank you for following me through my years of writing—from the time of trying to become a published author so that my stories can be publicly read, for your encouragement between books (9 novels and 3 short stories in anthology collections), and for recommending my books to others who enjoy reading about strong, resilient people who willingly face each day so others may move forward. I could not have achieved this, or dared to believe I should continue, if it weren’t for you.
I’ve appeared as a guest on the Facebook Global Girls Online Book Club for each of my historical fiction novels. Always, I’ve had a lovely reception and met fabulous readers from around the world, several of whom have become great friends and devoted readers of my books. I was featured in a recent newsletter, which I’ve excerpted below:
What inspires your writing?
Ever since I was a child, I’ve communicated best through the written word, either learning about life from my readings or writing what I wanted to say. Growing up in Brooklyn, NY (until I was 15, when my family moved to a suburb north of the city), I was fortunate to be surrounded by people of many cultures, races, and faiths… and during a time of social change, which also encouraged me to “beat a drum” for those who struggle throughout the world. This developed into a passion for history, both reading and writing. I was also blessed by a mother who loved to read and who dabbled in writing poetry, and an aunt who was a fabulous oral storyteller.
What advice would you give new writers?
Stay true to yourself and write what you want and enjoy. Trust me, readers are smart and will notice if you’re just writing to produce a story quickly or to jump on a popular genre. Writing a novel takes a lot of time—from the first draft through multiple rounds of editing. Besides writing, you’ll also need a significant amount of time to catch the eye of an agent or publisher, or to indie-publish. In short, since this process can take several years, it’s best to enjoy each stage.
What do you do when you are not writing?
My husband and I live in Upstate New York, near the Massachusetts border. It’s an easy drive to the New England states to explore small towns and cities, rich in history, with quaint shops and eateries, antique shops for him, and, of course, bookstores for me! I’m also a big walker, and especially before winter arrives, I try to take as many walks as possible—surrounded by trees, hills, farmland, and creeks, it’s definitely soul-cleansing. I also enjoy reading, and lately, my husband and I have become devoted servants to our 1-year-old kitten, especially when said kitten isn’t pouncing on his geriatric “brother.”
Love libraries? My eBooks and audiobooks are now available to request or check out on OverDrive, BorrowBox, Cloud Library, Odilo, Hoopla, and Palace Marketplace. Please recommend the purchase to your library, or, if you can, donate the purchase price to it. Thank you for your consideration.
My author guest this month is Jann Alexander, a fellow BTW author. I’ve had the pleasure of reading and reviewing her debut novel, Unspoken, a story of hard-scrabble characters who rise above a horrific time in dust-storm-impacted Texas.
What inspired you to write with the goal of publication?
There’s a commonly known Dust Bowl history about the Okies who went to California, thanks to Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath. But the hidden history of the double whammy that hit the Texas Panhandle, when dust storms raged and the Great Depression made millions destitute, is less told, yet has themes that echo today’s.
Upheaval, betrayal, family estrangement, families lost and found, homelessness, mass migration, and poverty are the themes we wake up to in today’s headlines. In the 1930s, during the Great Depression and Dust Bowl, things were no different.
That made it very alluring to write the best-selling Unspoken: A Dust Novel, a story of those who stayed behind, who didn’t abandon their homes, families, or land, and to understand why and how. In ten years of research where I sought answers to this question, I uncovered some hidden aspects to those times with great dramatic and emotional potential. And that forms the core of the novel, a poignant love letter to women driven apart by disaster who bravely lean on one another, find comfort in remade families, and redefine what home means.
Who do you visualize as your typical reader?
Broadly my readers are those who love history and especially the thrill ride of history guised as fiction. As for demographics, they tend to be older, female, sometimes members of book clubs. As for their reactions, I hope my readers find commonality with the characters I write, who face down their fears and who are as realistic as possible in a historical fiction setting. I also imagine them to be curious, empathetic, and open to learning little-told but important history.
What has your writing taught you about yourself?
I’ve always loved to write, and have written in some form or another since I was pre-teen. And I’ve realized how curious I am, and how well that combines with being a full-time author of historical fiction. I can play the girl detective to figure out why characters behave as they do, what makes plots and structure work, how to problem-solve and do new things in publishing. I’ve learned I can combine many of my creative skills and passions to research, write, edit, design, create marketing, speak, and above all, to dedicate most of my life to being an author. At this point in my career, when I’ve had many dream creative gigs, this one is my dream job!
What do you wish to convey to readers?
I’m that author who brakes for historical markers and uncovers any angle in any topic I write about. I research relentlessly to find hidden stories, and for bring deep accuracy to what and how I write.
So my books are as close-to-true as fiction can get. In my first novel in The Dust Series, Unspoken, my characters are strong females who prevail despite the odds, and face the real and very daunting challenges of the times they inhabit. As Kirkus Reviews noted, they are “formidable female characters” who are “buoyed by hope.” And readers use descriptions like courage, spunk, resilience, to characterize the strong bonds between mother and daughter at the heart of Unspoken: A Dust Novel.
What would you like to share about your current release? What can readers look forward to in the coming months/year?
Unspoken: A Dust Novel is the first book to be released in The Dust Series, in July 2025. Readers who want to dive deeper into the history behind the novel can visit Unspoken History on my website.
Next year, the novel that inspired the story of Unspoken’s main characters, call Vacancy, will be published in September 2026. The third book in the series, Overdue, is with my editor and has a good chance of being released next year as well. The series itself is not chronological, and relies on the setting as its one constant, with characters who take on major or minor roles, or even appear just once, as it progresses.
There are at least two more novels planned for this loose series set in the mythical town called Hartless, in the Texas Panhandle, where in the first novel, nobody knows how to fix air you can’t breathe.
Author Bio:
Jann Alexander is the author of the best-selling historical novel, UNSPOKEN, set in the Texas Panhandle during the Dust Bowl and Depression eras, and her first book in The Dust Series. The next novel in the series, VACANCY, will be released September 2026.
She’s a public speaker on Texas historical topics, and writes on creative topics in her blog, Pairings. She’s a 20-year resident of central Texas and creator of the Vanishing Austin photography series. As a former art director for ad agencies and magazines, a painter, photographer, and art gallery owner, creativity is her practice and passion. Jann’s lifelong storytelling habit and her more recent passion for Texas history merged to become the historical Dust Series. When she is not reading, writing, or creating, she bikes, hikes, skis, and kayaks. Jann always brakes for historical markers.
Jann can be found at:
Website: https://www.jannalexander.com
Blog: https://www.jannalexander.com/blog
Book Clubs: https://www.jannalexander.com/book-clubs
https: //www.facebook.com/JannAlexanderAuthor
https://bsky.app/profile/jannalextx.bsky.social
https://www.instagram.com/jannalextx/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jannalextx/
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/2708203210
https://www.goodreads.com/jann_alexander
https://www.youtube.com/@JannAlexTX
https://www.pinterest.com/jannalextx/
May you and your loved ones be blessed with holiday joys this Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanza season .
As always, I hope you’re enjoying a great read. I’m presently reading The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb and loving it!
If you enjoyed this newsletter, please consider forwarding it to a friend and suggesting that they subscribe. Thanks so much!
See you next month,
Elaine
Website: https://elainestock.com/index.html
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorElaineStock
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elainestocklovestowrite/
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/elainestock.bsky.social
Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/ElaineStock
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/elaine-stock
LibraryThing: https://www.librarything.com/author/stockelaine
Very nice post. Loved getting to know Jann.
Thank you for this wonderful opportunity to showcase my writing passion, Elaine! Your message of gratitude to your readers really resonates, too. December offers many things to take pleasure in, and gratitude is surely in abundance this month. Again, you have mine!