A book idea is born
or "If These Walls Could Talk"
Hey there, wonderful readers! Today marks a new chapter at Nat’s Sidewalk Stories, you see, this post is like a secret doorway into a hidden world within these digital walls. Soon, this post will take a turn, a teasing twist accessible only to my incredible supporters who’ve decided to take this book writing adventure alongside me. But don’t worry, there will be plenty of free tales for everyone to enjoy in the future!
Now let me give you a sneak peak of what awaits you beyond the paywall for my supporting subscribers.
Picture this: a Victorian house in Jersey City, standing tall since 1891, its walls echoing stories of generations of guardians. But here is the kicker - this isn’t just any house. Nope, it’s a living breathing character in the grand narrative of history. Intrigued yet? Hold on tight; we’re about to dive deeper into its secrets.
If These Walls Could Talk is more than just a catch title for a book; it is a portal into a world where history breathes and whispers secrets only to the curious ear. This Victorian house isn’t merely a static structure, it’s a living, breathing entity, a character in its own right.
For years, my artwork and paintings have been about buildings, stories, and architecture. It all started with my so-called “Strolls Through the Hood”, a blog series through photographs I shared on my old blog over a decade. I even wrote my first book Artful Adventures in Mixed Media about this process. But it all probably began way earlier. I remember playing in the streets of Düsseldorf with my friends, and a building that was being demolished showed an inside wall with remnants of bathrooms, living rooms etc. And as I stood there with my friend we started telling stories…one story (pun intended) at a time, and I felt a sense of having a connection to that poor building, a kinship - as if the building was a person begging me to tell its story. Ok…now that goes a bit far…that I made up …it wasn’t like that but I did feel a kinship, that is true.
The pandemic, with its eerie empty streets and absence of the typical energy and bustling of city life, deepened my fascination with the essence of buildings. It was as if the stillness of the streets, asked me to explore more than just the architecture, to really look into the lives and stories lived within these urban canvases.
One block, in particular, fascinated me, a row of five Victorian brick townhouses erected around 1890. I photographed, painted and even immortalized these houses on sneakers (yes, you read that right!) and as a license designed stamp for a craft and art supply company because they really fascinated me.
Fast forward to today, and I find myself not just an observer but a guardian, residing in one of these historic townhouses. My husband and I affectionately call it “the old-lady” because it has charm and character. While starting to look into the people who lived in the house I stumbled across a fascinating tidbits and exclaim “what if these walls could talk?” …and then one day I heard this voice whispering “what do you want to know?”
And I thought, wow, sweet old lady, you have a powerful voice, let’s do it. Through conversations with previous owners and neighbors as well as deep dives into local archives, I have unearthed interesting stories that are connected with the old lady. From the Lenape people who once roamed these lands to the immigrants, settlers, and activists who shaped Jersey City’s narrative, each chapter in this house unfolds like a wallpaper of human resilience and aspiration. Sometimes, it’s told through the stories of the “other side” —those who did not actually live in the house.
As I am embarking on this literary journey of If These Walls Could Talk, I invite you to step through this doorway with me and peel back these layers of time. Lives lived, dreams dreamed, legacies left behind. In the next couple of months, I would love to share some excerpts with you and hear your thoughts. They are drafts, but will give you a good idea of where the book is going.
I am so excited to share my process with you, and so is the old lady—she is a bit terrified. Her voice was a bit creaky in the beginning, but she is getting stronger— really showing herself as the quirky, curious, 130-year-old, loveable, resilient East Coast Lady that she is.
Thank you for being a part of this ride!
Nat