The Story of Still Waters
George Stinney Jr. was a 14-year-old boy when he was accused of killing Betty June Binnicker, 11, and Mary Emma Thames, 7, in his hometown of Alcolu, South Carolina, in 1944. George, Black, Betty and Mary, white, are enough details to let us know how this story ends. We’ve read it a million times, watched the recordings a million more. In a span of 83 days, he was accused, charged, tried, convicted, and executed. He was lynched, not by an angry mob, but by his government. Like so many men and women, boys and girls who’ve come before and after him, George Stinney Jr.‘s life, and future—a world of possibilities we’ll never see or experience—were taken from him, and us.
My name is Jenna Caldwell and I am the author of Still Waters. I felt compelled to write this book because I never knew George. I was never given the chance to. None of us were. This book is an attempt to breathe life into George’s future—into one of the millions of paths it could have taken. An imagining of his future. While his legacy has been clouded by one of the most tragic events that can happen to a person, let alone a child, this book is a reminder that he was a person. A person who could see, touch, smell, and process the world. A person who could impact others. Not a once-upon-a-time-tale about the death of a boy tragically killed in South Carolina. He was so much more. So much that we’ll never know—like the millions of Black boys incarcerated and graved before their time.
My hope is that, in reading this book, you will confront the death of possibility—and the tragedy it entails. I want you to see this book as an opportunity to learn more about not only George, but engage with the systems that have made his story an all too common one and ask yourself how do we stop history from repeating itself?
You will love this book if you enjoyed Jordan Peele’s Get Out, or Angie Thomas’ The Hate U Give.
Still Waters speaks to people everywhere who want to experience a new perspective on the loss of life, possibility and whose stories matter.
Ultimately, I hope that Still Waters inspires reflection and fruitful dialogue, pressing into engaging questions like:
- What is the communal toll of death?
- How can we stop history from repeating itself?
- What role can I play in regards to criminal injustice?
I really look forward to exploring these questions and beyond with my readers!
What We Need & What You'll Get
My book will be published with New Degree Press. I set up the pre-order tiers to help cover the costs for publishing my book. Money raised will go toward the following:
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The Editors I will work with to revise and publish my manuscript.
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The Cover Design of my book. (The mockups you see currently are a placeholder!)
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The Layout Design for the interior of my book (physical copy, ebook formats).
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The Copy Editing for my book to polish the grammar and spelling prior to publication.
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The Launch & Promotion Efforts for my book when I ultimately publish.
I am also offering some exclusive rewards for people who pre-order now:
- You will receive a personally signed copy of my book when I publish and a handwritten thank-you note.
- Your name will appear in the Acknowledgments section of my book (“with Special Thanks to”).
- You will receive early access to the Introduction and some excerpts from my book, with the opportunity to review it and give me early feedback.
- You will have the opportunity to be involved in selecting my cover and title.
- You will be invited to join my Author Community and get behind-the-scenes sneak peeks into the publishing process.
- And more!
Campaign Goals
Tier 1: When I hit $6,500 the ebook/softcover editions get published (this is the minimum needed)
Tier 2: When I hit $7,500 the book will get a hardcover edition
Tier 3: When I hit $9,500 the book will get a hardcover and audiobook edition
About the Author
Jenna Caldwell is a journalist at TIME magazine—primarily working for TIME100 Talks, the magazine’s virtual conversation series aimed at convening the world’s leading voices to spotlight solutions and encourage action toward a better world. She has had the immense joy of profiling past TIME100 Talks guests ‘me too.’ Movement Founder Tarana Burke, Chef and World Central Kitchen Founder José Andrés, American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancer Misty Copeland, disability rights advocate Haben Girma, fashion designers Blake Van Putten, Harris Reed and Aurora James—among many others.
As a storyteller, and profile writer, Jenna regularly celebrates her subjects’ life work. She finds that the greatest tragedy of the death of George Stinney, Jr. is not simply the miscarriage of justice that took place, or the grossly accurate portrayal of racism it paints, or even the fact that a mother, and father, never saw their child again. The greatest tragedy is the death of what could’ve been. What would George’s story have been?
George, 14, is the youngest person to be executed in the United States during the 20th century. His story was cut short and because of this she chose to write one of the many paths his future could have taken. His story is particularly harrowing and to confront it is to confront the ugliest truths of this country—truths that we have done little to rectify, truths that we’ve done little to prevent from happening again and again. And again.
Jenna does not write fiction, let alone fiction novels. But the same way we are made to adjust to a world—often, unknowingly so—of so many missing Black men and women, she felt compelled to tell this story.
The story of what could’ve been.
For more information, you can connect with Jenna at jennacaldwell0720@gmail.com and Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.
International Preorders
For international preorders, please do the following:
- Identify the perk that interests you
- Select the pink "Back it" button to "Make a contribution" for the same amount (this choice bypasses the shipping address page)
- Use this form to share your mailing address, so I can calculate the international shipping costs and invoice you for that amount via PayPal/Venmo
Risks & Challenges
The biggest challenge with publishing a book is delivering the finished book to the backer, specifically my mailing of the book to you. I have eliminated this risk by building into the campaign the mailing and shipping costs of your signed copies to you within each pre-order tier. For international backers, please see section above.
The risk of delivering the pre-sale copies of my book is contingent on the publisher we use. I will be working closely with New Degree Press to make sure we get the earliest possible ship date of the signed book copy to you. We will keep all pre-sale backers up-to-date as my book hits each key milestone and publishes. You will know when the copies are expected to ship.
Other Ways You Can Help
Not everyone can support, but that doesn't mean you can't get something out of it!
I will reward the top 3 people who refer the most backers at the end of the campaign (30 days). Here's how:
- At the top of the campaign page, you will see the "share" buttons. Click on the "chain" icon to get a custom link just for you. (Note: don't use the URL in the browser window as it won't work to track referrals and you won't get credit ?)
- Copy that link and paste it on your social media, email it to a friend, or text a fellow book lover.
- When someone clicks on that link and backs the book, you get 1 entry!
Please use #STILLWATERS and tag me as well as my publisher, New Degree Press, so we can help amplify your efforts!
Tag:
Instagram - @jennacldwll / @newdegreepress
Facebook - Jenna Caldwell / @NewDegreePress
Twitter - @jenna__caldwell / @NewDegreePress
Thank you so much for of all of your love and support!
Thanks again,
Jenna