In 1896, Henry James wrote in The Spoils of Poynton that he gathered “germs” for his novels, saying most of his writings sprung from a single seed—a floating particle in the stream of talk. I got i...view moreIn 1896, Henry James wrote in The Spoils of Poynton that he gathered “germs” for his novels, saying most of his writings sprung from a single seed—a floating particle in the stream of talk. I got it! I understood, because as a Southern Fiction writer, I’m a gatherer of seeds, also. I was born and reared in the Deep South. I love this land. I love my people. I listen to what they say and what they leave unsaid. It’s the unsaid—those tightly woven secrets—that become unraveled in my books. I’ve been referred to as a Southern Gothic writer, even though my novels take place in the 1930’s. I hope you enjoy these romantic Southern Secrets.view less