South Porch is in the old part of Summerville, a town about 30 minutes northwest of Charleston, SC. I noticed its pine trees right away—a draw to those avoiding summer bouts of malaria back in the day, since its drainage prevented mosquitos (at least until a few dacades ago). I came here to work on Tired, my novel about generations of interaction between Liberia and the U.S. I knew Charleston was vital to an understanding of our country’s slave trade participation, but I never dreamed I would encounter past residents of Summerville who would insist on becoming major characters and diverting my direction somewhat—just as some of their fellows diverted rivers for rice planting.

Summerville itself had a lot to offer, but its nearness to a group of Ashley River plantations, to the offshore islands, an to Charleston itself were invaluable to getting a sense of time and place, and the contributions of many SC residents—Brad and Brian, Fleming, Dr. Ed, Miss Janey, and my cohort of writers supplied lots of inspiration.

Summerville sites and citizens