One more chat before the porch light comes on.
There is a particular kind of anticipation that comes just before something good arrives.
Not the hurried sort.
Not the loud sort.
But the steady, warm kind — like setting an extra cup on the table because you know someone will soon be coming by.
That is where we are today.
Next Saturday — January 24 — The Hearth & Holler Gazette will make its first appearance here on The Writing Pages! And before it does, this felt like the right moment to pause, take a breath, and talk plainly about what it is, who it is for, and just as importantly, what it is not.
What’s Nearly Ready
At its heart, The Hearth & Holler Gazette is a weekly Saturday morning visit.
A small-town paper from a gentler place and time — filled with short pieces meant to be read slowly, smiled over, and enjoyed with a warm cup of coffee or tea for a moment before moving on with your day.
The Hearth & Holler Gazette is a fictional paper, created for enjoyment and relaxation, drawn from the characters and places of Little Red Bear’s Honey Hill Country.
Each issue will include familiar sections you can come to expect:
— lighthearted community tidings
— gentle humor and country chuckles
— a heartwarming piece from the Heart of the Holler
— and a closing reflection meant to leave you steadier than when you arrived
Nothing long.
Nothing demanding.
Just enough to feel like we passed a little time together.
Who It’s For
This Gazette is for readers who enjoy:
— quiet, comforting storytelling
— old-fashioned newspaper charm
— a sense of place and neighborliness
— kindness without preaching
— imagination without noise
It is for those who like to read with a moment, not race through one.
And What It Is Not
It is not a newsletter competing for attention.
It is not a commitment you must keep up with.
It is not something being sold to you, nor another thing to keep track of.
There are no subscriptions to purchase.
No ads or promotions to navigate.
No extras you must chase down.
No pressure to do anything at all.
If a week comes when you read it — wonderful.
If a week comes when you do not — it will be there when you return.
James Milson - The Writing Pages 