Clapham Sect

The third book in the Creek Indian family saga begun with Swimming with Serpents has taken me on a new research adventure. I am tackling the issue of slavery and the anti-slavery movement in the late 18th and early 19th century. The Clapham Sect, founded by evangelical Anglican pastor in the Clapham section of London, Henry Venn, figures prominently in this movement. According to historian Stephen Tomkins the Clapham sect was "a network of friends and families in England, with William Wilberforce as its center of gravity, who were powerfully bound together by their shared moral and spiritual values, by their religious mission and social activism, by their love for each other, and by marriage".
Members of the Clapham Sect included:

• Thomas Fowell Buxton (1786–1845), MP and brewer
• William Dealtry (1775–1847), Rector of Clapham, mathematician
• Edward James Eliot (1758–97), parliamentarian
• Thomas Gisbourne (1758–1846), clergyman and author
• Charles Grant (1746–1823), administrator, chairman of the directors of the British East India Company, father of the first Lord Glenelg
• Katherine Hankey (1834–1911), evangelist
• Zachary Macaulay (1768–1838), estate manager, colonial governor, father of Thomas Babington Macaulay
• Hannah More (1745–1835), writer and philanthropist
• Granville Sharp (1735–1813), scholar and administrator
• Charles Simeon (1759–1836), Anglican minister, promoter of missions
• James Stephen (1758–1832), Master of Chancery, great-grandfather of Virginia Woolf.
• Lord Teignmouth (1751–1834), Governor-General of India
• Henry Thornton (1760–1815), economist, banker, philanthropist, MP for Southwark, great-grandfather of writer E.M. Forster
• Henry Venn (1725–97), founder of the group, father of John Venn and great-grandfather of John Venn (originator of the Venn diagram)
• John Venn (1759–1813), Rector of Holy Trinity Church, Clapham
• William Wilberforce (1759–1833), MP successively for Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire and Bramber, leading abolitionist. He was also a Wesleyan and it was to Wilberforce that John Wesley wrote his last letter.

This group of men and women had influence far beyond England's shores.

Books Alive

It was great fun participating in Books Alive in Panama City, Florida. Pat Conroy kept his audience entertained with stories of the writing world and teasing the man who introduced him, Panama City's former mayor, Gerry Clemons, one of the event's greatest supporters. Kim Boykin, Cassandra King, Patty Callahan Henry, Cynthia Lord, River Jordan, Cynthia and Clif Graubart have now become old friends through the many festivals we have attended together.

My presentation kicked off the event at 9:00. I was delighted that my room filled to overflowing Unfortunately, some had to be turned away! I always enjoy talking about my book and the events in the story and I had a receptive audience. The events in the novel are with day trip distance of Panama City.

Successful Launch of In Pursuit

 In Pursuit got successfully launched on January 23 at Dothan's Cultural Arts Center with an intrepid audience that braved the bitter cold. Ann Cotton and her staff set the stage for our event with wine and hors d'oeuvres.