The book: The Thread Collectors
The author: Shaunna J Edwards and Alyson Richman
The drink: New Orlean's own Sazerac This is the recipe I used and it's spicy and delicious and packs a serious punch.
Best line in the book: "As everyone around her knew, there were so many ways to not be free.”
This is a very original story and beautifully told. And like any good historical novel - I learned a lot. Let's not get into boat schedules down the Mississippi. :)
However in this interview my mind is blown several times by how Shaunna and Alyson brainstormed and wrote this book. I've interviewed a lot of writing partners and I feel like their process is brand new and exceedingly graceful.
Grab the book here
“An unforgettable story of female strength, hope and friendship. This collaborative work is magnificent—a true revelation!” —Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author of The Woman with the Blue Star
“A brilliant story brimming with unexpected friendships and family ties. Historically sound and beautifully stitched, The Thread Collectors will stay with you long after the last page is turned.” —Sadeqa Johnson, international bestselling author of Yellow Wife
1863: In a small Creole cottage in New Orleans, an ingenious young Black woman named Stella embroiders intricate maps on repurposed cloth to help enslaved men flee and join the Union Army. Bound to a man who would kill her if he knew of her clandestine activities, Stella has to hide not only her efforts but her love for William, a Black soldier and a brilliant musician.
Meanwhile, in New York City, a Jewish woman stitches a quilt for her husband, who is stationed in Louisiana with the Union Army. Between abolitionist meetings, Lily rolls bandages and crafts quilts with her sewing circle for other soldiers, too, hoping for their safe return home. But when months go by without word from her husband, Lily resolves to make the perilous journey South to search for him.
As these two women risk everything for love and freedom during the brutal Civil War, their paths converge in New Orleans, where an unexpected encounter leads them to discover that even the most delicate threads have the capacity to save us. Loosely inspired by the authors' family histories, this stunning novel will stay with readers for a long time.