LetitiaFT Interviews Summerberrie
A peek into the online life of a writer with a passion for natural history and art
Okay, an odd question to start but one I’ve just been itching to ask ever since I discovered your writing through your Hub on the
ornithologist and bird painter Alexander Wilson (1766-1813): how did you come by a hand-colored copy of his American Ornithology?
My husband and I love to visit antique stores and shows. While at an antique show at the Charleston Gaillard we happened upon a room filled with rare books. Displayed on a table of an exhibitor of rare books was the full nine volume set of Wilson’s American Ornithology. Even twenty years ago, a complete set was rare. We were both mesmerized and intrigued and felt it was our duty to be a steward of these lovely etchings so we made the investment. It is fascinating to look at his etchings.
The A. Wilson Hub exemplifies your work as a writer with a background in art history and a keen understanding of natural history. For you, how do the two fields relate?
I think so often we try to teach or grasp history by stringing it out and resting it stagnate as a designated point on a timeline. I see history more organic; moving and overlapping. Almost like a pool of water when a pebble is throw in and ripples are made. This is how I see history as ripples. These ripples are made by both simultaneous and overlapping events. Larger ripples last longer and are more widespread. As those ripples continue more stones are thrown on top creating multiple ripples. I’m not sure the ripples ever really stop. I know here in the south we still feel the ripple of the Civil War. Natural disasters and wars cause large ripples while our daily experiences create smaller ones. I say all this to illustrate the connection between art and our natural world. Art is a form of visual expression. It is a very powerful way to communicate. To communicate effectively an artist needs not only skill and talent but an understanding of the natural world. Art with the greatest historic values are those where the artist has best communicated visually a ripple. In the Hub on Alexander Wilson, I tried to make this connection.
Your Hubs on enjoying nature, whether by observing wildlife in its native habitat, attracting it to your backyard, or contributing to conservation efforts, are both delightful and educational. What is your key to writing such fun, hands-on Hubs?
Thank you. I am glad they come across as fun. I write about things I care about. It makes it easier to share my experiences in the form of Hubs when I have such a wonderful group of followers. It really is a platform of sharing. I never really thought about my daily life while watching birds or wildlife as being extraordinary, until fellow Hubbers who live in England or India or even a different region of the U.S. begin to leave comments and then I realized my ordinary experience is really extraordinary to someone living out their experiences in a different part of the world. This is what I enjoy about HubPages. I love reading about different cultures, perspectives and environments.
Your family has been in South Carolina since the 1700s and many of your Hubs, from Gullah culture and crabbing to pecan pie recipes are strongly anchored in the American South. Do you consider yourself a regional writer?
I suppose I see myself as a regional writer, but I might add one with a global perspective. I’ve been to both Ecuador and Africa. My family spent several months in the jungles of South America. We also spent many summers taking road trips across the country. I take being a southerner with good humor.
Few Americans can claim roots as deep as yours, yet you manage to retain something of your French Huguenot cultural heritage as well and somehow you seem all the more American for it. What advice might you offer Americans of more recent origin who are wondering how to juggle their American identity with the cultural heritage of their ancestors?
America provides the framework for individuals to maintain their ancestral cultural autonomy without compromising their autonomy as Americans. I see America as a land for pioneers and risk takers. I think the individuals who are willing to take risk and be pioneers are the individuals who define our greatness as an American culture. I think the spirit of the Gullah culture is a great example of this.
You began writing for HubPages only six months ago, yet you’ve been highly prolific. What organizational tips can you share to help other writers step up their production of Hubs?
There are many great Hubs sharing organization tips that are worth reading. But some of the things I do are create my titles for the month. Then I go through and add subtitles and any capsule to enhance the Hub. Once the framework is complete I type the Hub. I type directly into the capsule because I find copy and pasting from word document cumbersome. Lastly, I add photos.
What has joining the HubPages apprenticeship program meant to you? What was the one thing you’ve learned from it that has surprised you the most?
The apprenticeship program gave me focus. I know the types of questions to ask myself before I hit the publish button. Did I give proper attribution to photos? Are my titles search friendly? Did I optimize using the subtitles? Can I add a Map, Poll or Quiz Capsule? Can I add a video? Do I have at least 500 words? Is my Hub aesthetically pleasing? As a writer, this means a great deal and I appreciate being part of the program. I am mostly surprised by the friends I have made. It really has become a close knit group.
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