That Thing with Feathers: Hope and Literature in a Time of Pandemic
Sheltered in Place
In today’s installment of That Thing With Feathers, C. Joseph Greaves (Chuck Greaves) writes from southwestern Colorado, a beautiful and remote part of the country and the setting of his latest novel, Church of the Graveyard Saints. He reminds us that, while writing is a solitary endeavor, ultimately it creates community and connection—and, like each of us, requires community to grow and flourish. Here’s Chuck, connecting with us from Stark Haven Ranch:
It’s snowing as I write this, the pewter sky and slanting spring flurries further darkening an already gloomy week of “social distancing” here at Stark Raven Ranch which, perched like a parrot on the shoulder of the Sleeping Ute here in southwestern Colorado, is already some distance from what some might consider a rollicking social scene. But writing—the actual placement of words on paper—is itself a solitary endeavor, which means my daily routine remains little changed from those halcyon days before the term “COVID-19” entered the public lexicon.

My writing friends know what I’m talking about. For the rest of you, welcome to our world.