Grady Hendrix

Yes, well, you know, these girls are so hungry for information. And who gives people information but librarians? And in the late 60s and early 70s, it was a glut of these sort of supermarket paperbacks of, you know, everyday spells and how to cast charms and how to be a sensual witch.

And I thought, well, what if a librarian gave them one of these books that actually gave them what they want, which is some power and control over their lives? What if one of these books really did teach them how to do witchcraft? And, you know, as they say, be careful what you wish for.

And I thought, well, what if a librarian gave them one of these books that actually gave them what they want, which is some power and control over their lives? What if one of these books really did teach them how to do witchcraft? And, you know, as they say, be careful what you wish for.

And I thought, well, what if a librarian gave them one of these books that actually gave them what they want, which is some power and control over their lives? What if one of these books really did teach them how to do witchcraft? And, you know, as they say, be careful what you wish for.

Well, two things, really. I mean, one was, so when I was in my 20s, I found out that two members of my family had been sent away to maternity homes. And they were both in their 60s or 70s. Now, they never talked about it. And it kind of blew my mind, the idea that these women I loved very much had children. And... were expected not to know them or see them or think about them.

Well, two things, really. I mean, one was, so when I was in my 20s, I found out that two members of my family had been sent away to maternity homes. And they were both in their 60s or 70s. Now, they never talked about it. And it kind of blew my mind, the idea that these women I loved very much had children. And... were expected not to know them or see them or think about them.

Well, two things, really. I mean, one was, so when I was in my 20s, I found out that two members of my family had been sent away to maternity homes. And they were both in their 60s or 70s. Now, they never talked about it. And it kind of blew my mind, the idea that these women I loved very much had children. And... were expected not to know them or see them or think about them.

And for all they knew, their kids were dead or maybe they were alive or maybe they hated them or maybe they had forgiven them, but they had no idea. And so I was sort of thinking about that for a while and really wrestling with it and trying to figure out what was that like? Why was this okay?

And for all they knew, their kids were dead or maybe they were alive or maybe they hated them or maybe they had forgiven them, but they had no idea. And so I was sort of thinking about that for a while and really wrestling with it and trying to figure out what was that like? Why was this okay?

And for all they knew, their kids were dead or maybe they were alive or maybe they hated them or maybe they had forgiven them, but they had no idea. And so I was sort of thinking about that for a while and really wrestling with it and trying to figure out what was that like? Why was this okay?

And I read a book by a woman named Ann Fessler called The Girls Who Went Away, which is, there's very few books written about the Holmes. I mean- Anne's book and Ricky Sollinger's Wake Up Little Susie are kind of the only two. And Anne Fessler's book is an oral history of the homes, and she lets the mothers talk about their experiences. And I was really blown away.

And I read a book by a woman named Ann Fessler called The Girls Who Went Away, which is, there's very few books written about the Holmes. I mean- Anne's book and Ricky Sollinger's Wake Up Little Susie are kind of the only two. And Anne Fessler's book is an oral history of the homes, and she lets the mothers talk about their experiences. And I was really blown away.

And I read a book by a woman named Ann Fessler called The Girls Who Went Away, which is, there's very few books written about the Holmes. I mean- Anne's book and Ricky Sollinger's Wake Up Little Susie are kind of the only two. And Anne Fessler's book is an oral history of the homes, and she lets the mothers talk about their experiences. And I was really blown away.

I mean, the fact that millions of kids were born in these homes And that these were kids, you know, these were girls and they were 14 and 15 and 13 years old. And we were telling them, give up your baby. Never think about it again. I mean, that's impossible for a mother to do. And just the cruelty of it. really sort of made me think there's something here.

I mean, the fact that millions of kids were born in these homes And that these were kids, you know, these were girls and they were 14 and 15 and 13 years old. And we were telling them, give up your baby. Never think about it again. I mean, that's impossible for a mother to do. And just the cruelty of it. really sort of made me think there's something here.

I mean, the fact that millions of kids were born in these homes And that these were kids, you know, these were girls and they were 14 and 15 and 13 years old. And we were telling them, give up your baby. Never think about it again. I mean, that's impossible for a mother to do. And just the cruelty of it. really sort of made me think there's something here.

And it took me years until I was sort of like, okay, I'm going to try this book. And then it took me two years to write it while my editor and I fought over a lot of it. And I failed to write it several times and things just sort of went off the rails. But yeah, so that's what I was thinking to get me here.

And it took me years until I was sort of like, okay, I'm going to try this book. And then it took me two years to write it while my editor and I fought over a lot of it. And I failed to write it several times and things just sort of went off the rails. But yeah, so that's what I was thinking to get me here.

And it took me years until I was sort of like, okay, I'm going to try this book. And then it took me two years to write it while my editor and I fought over a lot of it. And I failed to write it several times and things just sort of went off the rails. But yeah, so that's what I was thinking to get me here.

Right? Yeah, I mean, you know, and also I need to say, you know, I am a childless middle-aged man. I have no place writing a book in which every character is a pregnant teenage girl. And so I had about 12 moms who really shared their birth stories. I mean, they let me ask stupid questions.