When writing a book on the subject of racial tensions, the first thing I must acknowledge is the incredible inadequacy I feel for addressing such a sensitive topic. I come at this recognizing the privilege that is mine: I can choose to consider race relations and different perspectives, and I can choose instead to give them no thought. One of the first things I needed to comprehend is that for many people in America, there's no such freedom to forget their skin color, their race, their gender, their minority status, their rejection and exclusion, however they come by it.
Once I set out to spend time writing this story (which I could not get out of my head), I felt my only option was to immerse myself in expressions of culture and points of view unlike my own. The tragic events of Ferguson dominated the news at the time, and I read all I could from various professional media and insightful bloggers. The content of Malcolm Gladwell's David and Goliath and Blink further focused my plotline into what is presented here. The wide range of topics and views covered in essays by prominent African-Americans in America Behind the Color Line, by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. fascinated me.
Essentially, this book isn't so much an attempt to say something worthwhile about race in America as it is my effort to open my mind and process other perspectives and experiences. Though I hope readers find this moving and enjoyable, this project was for my own benefit.
I need to thank my friend and coworker, Tony Bird. Without his initial prodding, I would not have given NaNoWriMo a try. Tony led the Okinawa chapter of NaNoWriMo and urged us on in our efforts, without which I doubt I'd have seen the task through to completion.
I'm deeply grateful to the Omaha WordSowers writing club, and especially all those involved in Kat's Critters, the critique group that honed whatever skill I demonstrate in these pages. Don't hold my failures against them, but trust that any success I make in communicating something worth reading is due in great part to their constant advice and correction of my other works. Kat, Jeanie, Angela, Merrie, Teresa, Shari, Mary, Dwight, Norma, Tammy, and so many others, thank you.
I don't have sufficient thanks for my best friend and critic, my lovely wife Jami. For several years, she has put up with rants about plotlines, characters, fantasy magic systems, and sci-fi technologies. Meanwhile, she's kept four kids off my back long enough to let me finish two manuscripts in addition to short stories and blog posts. For eighteen years plus, I have been blessed beyond my expectations and dreams. I look forward to sharing many more years (and many more stories) with you.
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Author's Note: Having just finished my third National Novel Writing Month (check it out at http://nanowrimo.org for more info), I revisited this book as the first manuscript I ever completed and a departure from my sci-fi/fantasy norm.
I've made the whole book available here on WattPad because while purchases on Amazon or Kindle put a buck or two in my bank account, what I really need is readers. If you read this and enjoyed the book, more than a purchase, I'd love an honest review on Amazon or Goodreads. Thank you.
https://www.amazon.com/Not-Swift-David-Williamson-ebook/dp/B00ZA137CW
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27711483-not-to-the-swift
I fully intend to write a sequel to this book, Not to the Strong, perhaps as next year's NaNo effort. I have included a preview of one scene here:
YOU ARE READING
Not to the Swift
General FictionWhen a white policeman shoots an unarmed black teenager, the faith and strength of two families are shaken and a Midwest inner city community struggles with all-too-familiar tensions. The city's lead investigator strives to control escalating protes...
