Rachel Louise Martin
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rachellou.bsky.social
Rachel Louise Martin
@rachellou.bsky.social
450 followers 490 following 120 posts
Author. Historian. Storyteller. Feminist. Teacher. Re-placed Tennesseean.

Author of A Most Tolerant Little Town, Hot Hot Chicken and a forthcoming biography of Rosalynn Carter.

she/her/Dr.

www.rachelmartinwrites.com
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rachellou.bsky.social
A Most Tolerant Little Town is 2 years old!

Two years ago, I woke up wondering if anyone would bother to read the book I'd spent literal decades researching and writing, then I got a Google alert for a New York Times review ...
The book A Most Tolerant Little Town propped behind a carrot cake with a candle
June 30, 2025 at 5:21 PM
rachellou.bsky.social
Rosalynn Carter often had a prickly relationship with the press. In March 1979 she addressed the Gridiron Club, DC's media elite. Some respected comics wrote most of her speech, and then she added her own ending on the importance of uncensored free journalism in a democracy.

It resonated with me...
... The element that binds us together is the very freedom of open discussion and criticism which you produce. I hope that discussion and criticism -- that debate -- will always be as open, as vigorous and as free as it is today. I love you -- I don't love you. I praise you and commend you -- and I get very angry with you. That's democracy. That's my country -- the country that I love -- the United States of America. Handwritten note: Jane -- this was RSC's idea at the last minute
March 14, 2025 at 5:11 PM
rachellou.bsky.social
Poor kitty cats ...
January 14, 2025 at 2:00 AM
rachellou.bsky.social
Well this is concerning ... Will Nashville survive the weekend?
Screenshot of Jim Cantore reporting from Broadway
January 9, 2025 at 8:32 PM
rachellou.bsky.social
A book club in Knoxville created a miniature bookcase to showcase what they read in 2024. This is officially the cutest version A Most Tolerant Little Town.
From the Knox County Public Library: "This handcrafted miniature bookcase was gifted to the library's facilitators of the All Over the Page Book Club by one of its members. On display is every title the group discussed this year! "Those included The Road, A Most Tolerant Little Town, Daisy Jones & the Six, and even a live poetry session. This club meets monthly at Lawson McGhee Library and (usually) discusses literary fiction with a guest facilitator. The group always welcomes new members. "Up for discussion on Monday, January 13, 2025 at 6:30 pm is 'Good Omens' by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett with facilitator Mik Burns. We can't wait to see you there!"
January 8, 2025 at 4:37 PM
rachellou.bsky.social
ACK! I failed to tell y'all THE BEST NEWS I had in 2024:

I had a new screenshot! My next book is going to be a biography of Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am FLABBERGASTED that this project is mine! For the next 18 months, if you need me, well, I am probably in Atlanta or Plains!
Publishers Marketplace Deal Report Oxford American contributor and author of A MOST TOLERANT LITTLE TOWN Rachel Louise Martin's ROSALYNN, about Rosalynn Carter, celebrating her unsung political genius and using her life to explore what happens when a person's values collide inside her and she's forced to reckon with being a person of faith without being a conservative and a proper lady while challenging the status quo, again to Megan Hogan at Simon & Schuster, by Susan Canavan at Waxman Literary Agency.
January 3, 2025 at 6:01 PM
rachellou.bsky.social
I have coffee, water, a 9 year old computer and the first deadline of the next book. LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
A photograph of my ancient MacBook Air, still on the logon page because nobody needs to see how many tabs I have open. Next to it on the table is a glass of water and a cup of coffee
December 1, 2024 at 7:48 PM
rachellou.bsky.social
Good morning
My cats sitting on the couch, hoping for breakfast. Juniper is a longish haired patchwork tabby, and Georg has short black hair. Both of them are about 7 pounds and still kittens at heart though Georg just turned 12
November 17, 2024 at 2:46 PM
rachellou.bsky.social
After a very dry autumn, rain finally fell in Middle Tennessee over the weekend. Though it was a small thing, it felt like hope. Here's a video of it in case you need to capture a bit of that feeling before we dive into this week's fight.
November 11, 2024 at 10:08 PM
rachellou.bsky.social
A year ago today, my sweet Millicent left us. I still miss her purr. I still think about how cranky she'd get when Georg would chase her tail. I still find myself reaching out to hold her paw first thing in the morning. I will always wish Millicent was still here to share whatever comes next.
March 7, 2024 at 3:55 PM
rachellou.bsky.social
An icy morning in Nashville
A close up of ice crystals on my window
January 17, 2024 at 1:40 PM
rachellou.bsky.social
Yet more praise for A Most Tolerant Little Town as interpreted by Janina Edwards and Megan Tusing! This time, it comes from the Library Journal!

www.libraryjournal.com/story/Audiob...
Audiobook Stars: Top Titles to Know, Ahre and Listen To
December 15, 2023 at 9:00 PM
rachellou.bsky.social
Well, look at this! Hot, Hot Chicken has made bookshop.org's list of Read It & Eat Books this year!
Bookshop.Org's 2023 Reading Books, by Read It & Eat. On the top row is Hot, Hot Chicken: A Nashville Story by Rachel Louise Martin.
December 4, 2023 at 7:36 PM
rachellou.bsky.social
I was getting quite attached to the spunky, independent, creative Beatrice Fretwell, so stumbling across her obituary this afternoon gave me pause.

Sure, she died in 1939, but it was still too soon.
From a 1939 newspaper: Again has the angel of death visited a home in Tensas and taken one of our fairest and best ...
November 15, 2023 at 8:20 PM
rachellou.bsky.social
I had a rather important oral history interview to conduct this morning. And then #JuniJoan joined it. 😹😹😹
Screen shot of me, starting intently into the computer camera as I try to ignore my 3 month old kitten who is putting on a show on the bookcase behind my head.
November 6, 2023 at 7:24 PM
rachellou.bsky.social
Last week, I got to talk about A Most Tolerant Little Town with @thisisnashville.bsky.social's Khalil Ekulona. Did you miss it? Check out @wpln.bsky.social's podcast page to get yourself caught up!

www.npr.org/podcasts/108...
October 17, 2023 at 4:30 PM
rachellou.bsky.social
This is the face of a cat who doesn't realize a younger sister is moving in by the end of the day. Say so long to your single cat era, little Georg!
A green eyed black cat sitting on an unmade bed, staring pensive to the right of the camera lens
October 11, 2023 at 4:27 PM
rachellou.bsky.social
Next week, I'll be back on the road with A Most Tolerant Little Town. First stop will be in Murfreesboro!
At MTSU in COE 160 on Wednesday, September 27 from 4:15-6:30. The first 25 students recieve a free signed copy. Books will also be available for sale.
September 22, 2023 at 7:42 PM
rachellou.bsky.social
A Most Tolerant Little Town is getting covered by journalists in the Netherlands?! What a world-traveling little book!
An article in the NRC includes a section about A Most Tolerant Little Town. I'd tell what it said, but I'm afraid I don't know Dutch.
September 21, 2023 at 4:27 PM
rachellou.bsky.social
Do we blame it on the moon?
Skyline of 1980s NYC with a giant moon overhead. Moonstruck
August 31, 2023 at 1:54 PM
rachellou.bsky.social
Now The Week named A Most Tolerant Little Town their Book of the Week!

What?!

I gotta tell y'all, this love for my book isn't getting old ...
The Week Magazine's Arts Section: Book of the Week: A Most Tolerant Little Town
August 23, 2023 at 7:16 PM
rachellou.bsky.social
This Thursday I'll be at Light Trap Books! Come join us to chat about A Most Tolerant Little Town!

Learn more here: https://facebook.com/events/s/a-conversation-with-author-his/213457318362949/
The cover of A Most Tolerant Little Town along with the author's headshot. Light Trap Books presents a conversation with Rachel Louise Martin, Thursday, August 24, 7PM
August 22, 2023 at 5:22 PM
rachellou.bsky.social
Reminder! Tomorrow (Saturday, August 12), I'll be at the Tennessee State Museum, chatting with Historian Linda T. Wynn about A Most Tolerant lIttle Town. Come join us!
August 11, 2023 at 9:24 PM