My Journey
This project is a presentation of the of my formerly enslaved ancestor, George Wheaton. I grew up hearing his name as well as stories about his enslavement, his 2000-acre land purchase from Old Man Bridgeman, and his being run out of town due to his economic success and political activism. In an attempt to discover the facts behind the legend of George Wheaton, I am writing a biography of my ancestor that describes his origins, migrations, and family…the historical events, laws, social norms, and cultural values that might have impacted him as well as the legacy he left behind.
Project History
1843. George Wheaton was born.
1907-1910. George Wheaton died.
1990’s. I started paying attention to the stories my great grandmother, Gertrude Farrell, told me about her grandfather, George Wheaton.
2000. Grandma Farrell, died, and I started investigating George Wheaton’s life..
2010s. I started thinking about writing a compilation of stories about relatives but, ultimately, didn’t do it.
2020. The COVID pandemic hit, and I decided to launch this blog and to start writing a book specifically about George Wheaton.
Project Timeline
Winter 2022. I finished the main part of the manuscript and sent it to an editor (Lisa Lickel) referred to me by my genealogy buddy/cousin.
Spring 2023. On Lisa’s advice and encouragement, I submitted book proposals (which included sample chapters) to seven academic presses and was rejected pretty quickly by all but but three of them.
Summer 2023. I heard from the remaining academic presses. One said the equivalent of, “We’re too busy right now to look at this. You’re welcome to rescind the query or just wait for us. LMK.” “Another said, “Yeah, but can you take a more creative non-fiction approach?” The last one said, “We like what you’ve got so far; send us the whole manuscript please.” WHOOP!
June 2023. I have submitted my full manuscript and am waiting to receive feedback from experts in my field and to find out if I will be able to proceed through the rest of the publishing process. If I don’t get the opportunity to sign a contract with this press, I’m prepared to self-publish through IngramSparks.
October 2023. The editor sent me the feedback from the first reviewer. I started working to address the reviewer’s concerns, which were as follows:
The reader notes that this book could make a contribution to scholarship, and they appreciate your style of writing. They do make some recommendations for strengthening the book, including removing extraneous information and deepening your research to include non-digital resources, diverse resources, and more primary resources. Overall, the reader argues that the book does not yet make any broader argument beyond a personal family history. They suggest ways to better engage with scholarship and use your family history as a lens through which to examine history, which would better position the book to examine sociocultural history and give context to your family’s story.
November 2023. The second reviewer never responded with feedback, and the editor said that she would reach out to another reviewer.
May 2024. In response to an email I sent seeking a status update, the editor apologized for the delay and assured me that she was “actively working on [my] project”.
July 2024. The editor informed me that a second reviewer had already started reviewing my manuscript and was expected to submit feedback in July.
October 2024. I attended a writing club meeting where a prolific author presented various topics, including self-publishing. He confirmed that it is not uncommon for publishing in the world of academia to take this long…now over a year.
December 2024. In response to a recent inquiry, the editor said that she would give me a status update “shortly”. Meanwhile, our family reunion is scheduled for August 2025, and I would like to have something available for distribution at that time.
The Genealogy Griot 