James Tejani Writes Out Loud
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Welcome to Season 4 of Drafting the Past! The first interview of 2025 is here, and so is my refreshed commitment to this newsletter. Who knows what's happening with social media these days, so I'm planning more regular newsletter posts to keep you updated on new episodes along with additional history writing content.
Is there anything specific you'd like to see in this newsletter? Let me know!
Brand new: I interviewed James Tejani for episode 58 about his new book A Machine to Move Ocean and Earth: The Making of the Port of Los Angeles--and America. I’ll be honest, this book was on my radar for a while, but I wasn’t sure how excited I was for a book about, well, a port. Don’t be like me! This one turned out to be fascinating, and so beautifully written that I was shocked to learn that James has only recently begun to think of himself as a writer. Check out our interview here, then read the book for yourself. It’s an especially good time to read it when Los Angeles and its environments are weighing heavily on our minds.
I subscribe to Jillian Hess’ newsletter Noted, which explores the note-taking practices of creators past and present. Since I know you’re all process nerds, too, I think you’ll enjoy this recent issue about academic writing teacher Helen Sword and her many notebook phases and practices. You might find some ideas to steal!
When I’m not writing and podcasting, I’m an enthusiastic (if somewhat inept) gardener. I loved this video about Harlem Renaissance poet Anne Spencer’s garden (h/t to the Old House Garden newsletter for the link).
My friends over at R2 Studios do great history podcast work. They have a brand-new series coming up that I’m eagerly awaiting, called Finding Jane Austen, with Anne Fertig.
Take a break from the news, spend time on something you care about, take care of your neighbors, and I’ll see you back here soon.
-Kate