Thanks to one of the first friends my husband and I made when we moved to Tennessee, I’ve been following a writer almost daily. Sean Dietrich, also known as Sean of the South, posts an anecdotal story every day. Every. Day. It’s all I can do sometimes to post a blog once a week! But Sean is a very unique writer who has a deep connection with the downtrodden and those ignored in our society.
I posted one of those stories last week—The Writer—which literally had me in tears. I read it on my phone while waiting for Chris in the car, and I kept it together. When I told him about it, he asked if I’d read it to him while he drove. Near the last paragraph, I got so choked up, I had to stop and flick the tears from my eyes before I could continue. Does this ever happen to you? You read a book or story to yourself, and you’re good. You read it aloud and it’s like hearing the words brings more emotion to the surface. I had the same experience reading Max Lucado’s children’s book, You Are Special, which was assigned to me by a counselor I saw for a short time.
But back to Sean. The way he sees people and writes about them makes me want to see them that way, too. He inspires that in his readers. It’s what we’re called to—to see people through the eyes of Jesus. But I have to admit, I fail at this all the time. Sean, however, is drawn to those others so easily pass by. He finds what is beautiful and unique and then shares it with his readers.
Apparently, I’m not the only one who connects deeply with this Southern, uneducated (his words, not mine) man. Recently, he was approached by Thomas Nelson Publishing and asked if he had ever written a novel. It just so happens, he has! One thing led to another, and his first novel, Stars of Alabama, will be released on July 9th. I’ve already pre-ordered my copy and I hope you’ll consider doing the same.
Being new to the South, I love reading about the lives of those who grew up in this warm, connected part of the country. California born and raised, I never gave much thought to how one region may be different from another. If you want a taste of country, may I suggest you subscribe to Sean’s daily blog post and get ready to be inspired.
