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- Fundraiser for Waverly Train Museum
Hello again!
It’s been another eventful month! See below for pics and details from April’s author events. I’ve been so humbled by the continued outpouring of support for this book—and the number of people from Waverly who come out to these events! It has been incredibly gratifying to see how the book has brought people together: new friends, old friends, people who haven’t seen each other since their high school graduations, and on and on.
As I have said before, I believe that what the response to the Waverly Train Disaster illustrates is the triumph of community over chaos, and that is what I hope comes through in the pages of Walk through Fire. It seems fitting, then, that so many community-building events should be arising organically from the release of this book.
One such event is the 45th Anniversary Commemoration & Fundraiser event that will take place on June 15 in Waverly—this was the brainchild of Patti Hoehn Damesworth, and I think it is going to be a great event! We’ll have refreshments and live music, display stories and memories from the disaster (see below for how you can participate in that!), and hear directly from the survivors.
See below for how you can donate to the fundraiser and share your own story. If you have any questions about this or any other event—or about the book itself, just reply to this message.
Until next time,
Yasmine
Help Restore the Waverly Train Museum
The GoFundMe campaign has been launched to raise funds for the restoration of the Waverly Train Museum: https://gofund.me/93aec426
Cash or check donations can also be made in person at the First Federal Bank in Waverly (inquire for the Waverly Train Museum Restoration account in the names of Patti Hoehn Damesworth and Pam Gunn), and will of course be accepted at the fundraising event itself on June 15 at 5:30 p.m. at the Waverly Methodist Church.
The train museum in its former glory:
The train museum now:
You can learn more about the event on Facebook at https://fb.me/e/DRLgB7VV
Once again, the GoFundMe link to donate online is: https://gofund.me/93aec426
Share Your Story
Do you have a story or memory about the Waverly Train Disaster? I’ve heard from so many people at my author events, and I know there are more stories out there.
We’d like to collect these stories for display at the 45th Anniversary Commemoration event on June 15, and then preserve them in the train museum itself to share with generations to come.
If you would like your story to be included—it could even be a story that was passed down to you by your parents or grandparents—please email it to [email protected]. Please email all stories by May 20, 2023.
Please include where you were and your age at the time, if you feel comfortable doing so. Do not include anything in your email message that you would not want to be made public. These stories will be collected and on display the night of the 45th Anniversary Commemoration of the Waverly Train Disaster and Fundraiser for the Train Museum event on June 15, 2023, and preserved in the train museum for posterity. Your email address will NOT be made public, but please add your name at the end of your message as you would like it to appear in the display. If you do not wish your name to be included with your story, write “anonymous.”
Pics from April Events (Thus Far)
At the Tennessee State Museum on April 8:
With all the attendees from Waverly! (Photo by Tennessee State Museum)
Reading from the book at the TN State Museum. (Photo by TN State Museum)
At the Nashville Chapter of the Women’s National Book Association on April 6:
With some of the WNBA members after the event.
Upcoming Events
Sunday, April 23, 2023
2:00 p.m.
This will be a presentation on the history behind the writing of the book, Walk through Fire: The Train Disaster that Changed America, and the role of Johnsonville in the history of the railroad. The park will have books for sale, and a book signing will follow.
Saturday, May 6, 2023
Houston County Public Library (Erin, TN)
2:00 p.m.
Book talk and signing for Walk through Fire, sponsored by the Friends of the Houston County Public Library, Houston County Historical Society, and the Houston County Archives & Museum. Reading Rock Books will have books for sale at this event.
Facebook Author Page
Well, I’ve finally gone and done it—set up my official Facebook Author Page! I’ll be posting about author and creative writing news, including future books and events, quote collections, various writing-related musings, and more. You can follow my author page at: https://www.facebook.com/yasmine.s.ali.md.author/
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Quote of the Month
“Be faithful to that which exists nowhere but in yourself—and thus make yourself indispensable.”
(Photo by Tennessee State Museum)