16 Comments
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Jane Kurtz's avatar

I ended mid sentence but maybe that’s appropriate!

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Deborah Wiles's avatar

It is indeed.

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Jane Kurtz's avatar

You were the first person I became close to who had childhood roots in the South, and I’ve learned from and been inspired by you and your courage to keep trying to tell the hard as well as joyous stories. As one of my Ethiopian American friends says, we have a deep wound at the heart of this country and we keep ripping the bandage off again and again. The stories you have to tell

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Deborah Wiles's avatar

Thank you, Janie. I was just talking with someone this morning about this very thing (deep wounds, lack of restoration or reparations, how foundations dictate futures, etc… ) Courage — and joy — to both of us (all of us). xo

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D. R. Lane's avatar

We saw a lot of Truth growing up in the South (Florida being a more tempered South than the Mississippi you were exposed to). I so admire your grit; it takes a lot to share these uncomfortable truths with the world. And it takes even more for people to come to terms with the truths of their own internal prejudices—which we all need to make our life's work. I know your story will advance this work in the world, and I am grateful.

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Deborah Wiles's avatar

Thank you, thank you. Your words mean a lot to me. xo

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Jennifer Guyor Jowett's avatar

Whoa, Debbie! This will be an important and timely book and I cannot wait to read it (though that, and it, scares me too). I appreciate the strength that carries you forward in exploring deeply rooted beliefs and prejudices and bringing them to light.

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Deborah Wiles's avatar

Thank you, Jen. I feel less naked, writing it all out, when folks respond, especially with such heartfelt words. I'll keep writing about it here, I think... maybe it will spur me on. It already has. (It scares me, too.) xo

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Becca Rowan's avatar

There is clearly a fire in your heart for this story that so desperately needs telling...needs to be really and truly heard. As a writer, I’m deeply inspired by your fortitude, and also by the way it seems you and the book are evolving together with the nation so you can share this important story in the way it wants to be shared. I look forward to reading it when it’s ready to arrive.

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Deborah Wiles's avatar

Thank you so so much, Becca. Thank you. xo

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Anniegage's avatar

Wow. What a journey. Thank you gor sharing part of the story behind the story.

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Deborah Wiles's avatar

I wouldn’t want to keep on journeying with this story, without you here. Thank you, Annie.

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Robin Hoffman's avatar

I am taking a very deep breath for you and all of your readers. This will be an important book. A story we are living every day. Honestly, each day is so heavy, we need to read to exhale.

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Deborah Wiles's avatar

It feels beshert that you are here, Robin. Thank you for being here. Deep breaths indeed. I think we all need one another more than ever these days, all of us somehow finding our way back to ourselves. That’s my hope.

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Mariacathlena's avatar

Debbie, I was wondering, wondering what happened to that unbearably heavy story in your writing from 2020-onward. World all-compounding. Thank you for filling in🤎

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Deborah Wiles's avatar

Thank you, Carol. I'm glad you remembered, and I'm glad I wrote it, especially because you wondered. xo

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