The delivery truck pulled away and left a heavy box sitting on my porch. I heard the engine fade down the street before I even opened the door. My palms were a bit sweaty when I finally grabbed the box and brought it inside. I used a kitchen knife to cut the tape. The smell of fresh ink and paper hit me the moment the flaps opened. I pulled out the proof for Black History They Didn’t Teach You. It is perfect. The matte finish on the cover feels smooth under my thumbs.
Seeing these names in print is a different kind of weight. I spent so long staring at the stories of the Maroons in the Great Dismal Swamp on a glowing screen. Now, those stories have a physical home. The pages make a satisfying, sharp sound when I fan them out. I looked at the section on Mary Bowser and felt a chill. The print is clear and the layout looks exactly how I imagined it would. I actually tripped over the rug in my hallway because I wouldn’t stop staring at the cover. My heart is still racing.
The ebook version is live and ready for you to download right now. I am just waiting for the final word on the paperbacks. They will be available in a few days. I will share that link the second it goes live. This book is a record of people who were forced into the shadows for too long. Holding it makes those stories feel a little more permanent. I am so proud of how this turned out. I hope you feel that same weight when you finally get your copy.
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