At Sheila Quinn Writes Home I’m inviting you to join me in two places I love.
First, step into the home I’m making. From the garden to the kitchen and my life as a creative, homemaker, and business owner, I’ll share the adventures and reflections of everyday life. Second, you’re invited to the home that made me. Roosevelt County, New Mexico is a real place full of real people. It’s also the setting of my grandma’s stories, family lore, and the historical fiction I’ve be writing since 2015. I’ll share those stories here, spanning generations and branches of the family tree, but always rooted in the Roosevelt County of my imagination.
Why A Newsletter?
I’m exhausted by social media, and maybe you are too. With your help, we can create a cozy place for conversations about food and living a creative life. We can share recipes and tell stories like we would in a friend’s kitchen. If all goes well, we might even become Internet friends. And around here, the trolls have to pay a toll to cross the bridge.
What I Write About
Strong women. From teachers and ancestors to Baba Yaga and myself, I’m drawn to strong women and love to share their stories of resilience and connectedness.
Food. I love growing food and sharing recipes. Eating is essential to life and something we all have in common, so how could I help writing about it?
The Natural World. I’m convinced that the ways we work with and in opposition to the natural world shape who we are. From the Dust Bowl of my novels and short stories to my personal (and it’s very personal) battle against horned worms in my garden, you can count on references to the seasons, weather, and other miracles of the natural world.
What You Can Expect
Roosevelt County Fiction: Installments of my work in progress, The Gambler’s Daughter. You can start at chapter one or jump in to the most recent post. You can also preview my novel So Long As It’s Wonderful, published a year ago. There are also short stories featuring the same characters. Posts also include an audio version of the chapter or story.
Memoir of Infertility and Pregnancy Loss: These posts are more personal, so they’re behind a paywall. I’m offering this post for free to give you an idea of the style and tone. This series also includes a folklore take on some of the key events and themes in my story. If this is a story you need or you know someone you think could find healing in it, send me a message and I’ll comp your paid subscription or gift subscription.
Gardening: Come for the ideas, stay for the adventure! These posts usually begin with a brief report or reflection free to everyone. The videos are more candid and invite you to my garden, so those are behind the paywall. Here’s a free sample.
Cooking: Similar to the gardening posts, there’s nothing polished or perfect happening in my kitchen. I’ll invite you in, tell you what I’ve been cooking, canning, or learning, and then paid subscribers get the recipes, instructions, or behind the scenes glimpses into my culinary life. Check out this free preview.
Why Subscribe?
As your host, I’ll welcome you back about once a week, but the door to the archive is always open. You can pick and choose what genres of my writing land in your inbox. Follow this link if you want instructions on how to make your selections.
If you can show your appreciation for my work financially, I’m extremely grateful. If Substack subscriptions aren’t in your budget, send me a message, and I’ll get you on the list.
What Readers Say
"I love your writing. It comes straight from your heart, which is something really missing in most of today's writing." —Jennifer
"Your voice is authentic and I love the gardening content." —Esther
"I support your work because I find it meaningful, helpful, encouraging, and supportive.” —Tiffany
About Me
I grew up in West Texas and spent significant time visiting family in Eastern New Mexico. Now I live and write in Franklin, TN where I enjoy gardening, hiking, and reading good books with my husband and children. Between these chapters of my life, I spent twenty years working with public schools and teacher preparation programs. I am the author of This Year, Lord: Teachers’ Prayers of Blessing, Liturgy, and Lament and , So Long As It’s Wonderful: A Roosevelt County Novel. My short stories have been featured in Cricket Magazine, The Concho River Review, and El Portal.
