The WHY of Song of Jaybird
Why was the turpentine industry referred to as Naval Stores?
The history of shipbuilding began in Europe, burning pine trees to extract tar to paint the bottom of wooden ships, which waterproofed the hulls. When resources ran out in Europe, the New World offered erroneously thought of as “limitless” forests. Naval Store operators harvested millions of acres during the Colonial and Antebellum periods. The process of extracting and distillation changed over the years, making household products. However, the name Naval Store remained throughout the turpentining industry.
Why is this book important?
Song of Jaybird is a site-specific historical fiction based on the turpentine industry during 1897-1907; more significantly, it is a forgotten story of Black laborers working the trees. Song of Jaybird describes their way of life, labor skills, and resolve to leave debt peonage.
Why do I enjoy historical research?
I am a treasure hunter, not of gold and silver, but of stories discovered in archives, newspapers, and other documents. When I find them, they are like artifacts to an archeologist. These tidbits show me how people traveled, where they lived, what they struggled with, and other obstacles they overcame. The stories I discovered are intertwined into the lives of my fictional characters giving them purpose.
Why did Delia seek Hattie’s friendship?
She was a young wife at fifteen expecting a child and needing a mother figure to fill the void of her deceased mother. Hattie’s character encompasses the gift of motherhood, friendship, a midwife, and a grief counselor. A mother-daughter relationship continued with Delia and her daughter, Ola, as she sought education for her. Women living in the quarters were caregivers; they looked out for the men, each other, and their children. They were silent heroes bearing the brunt of disease and loss with little concern for themselves.
Why do I enjoy writing and reading historical fiction?
Historical Fiction shares stories about those who survived in unfamiliar times. Individuals were making a difference living in conditions unaccustomed to my modern life. I am encouraged by people who endured, dared to dream, and found hope in their darkest moments, embodying their existence and survival.
Although I read fiction, I tend to gravitate more to historical fiction. Over the past few years, here are a few of the novels I have read: The Vanishing Half by Britt Bennett, Four Winds by Kristin Hannah, Kindred by Octavia E. Butler, The Cape Doctor by E.J. Levy, Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neal Hurston, Lighthouse Keeper’s Daughter by Hazel Gaynor, and Saints of Swallow Hill by Donna Everhart, set in a North Carolina turpentine camp during the Great Depression.
Photo Credit: Tom Ritchie, Etna historical site, 2020
