February 1 - 28, 2014
I did this challenge last year and have a lot of disconnected stories and facts. That was actually helpful as it made me really work to find information. This year I am better prepared so for 28 days, I will try to put it into some sort of order.
My subject is Martha Jane McCollum. She was my great grandmother and captured my attention when I found myself in possession of five letters she wrote to my grandparents in 1918 and 1919. The letters were time capsules into the past and provided information on all the families in Sneedville, Tennessee.
I wanted to know more about her so I spent the last year searching for her. I was fortunate enough to make a trip to Tennessee and see the area where she lived. It has made a difference in how I view her. I also found new facts that changed my perception of her and her life.
The challenge should be interesting. What started as creative non-fiction has turned into historical fiction. It won't be perfect because it will be the first time I have tried to write her story in some sort of order. She was an interesting woman who struggled and rose above all the challenges to raise her children. I think she did well.
