From the Editor...
Thank you for visiting Southern Edition.
Comprised of departments devoted to general interests, travel, food, gardening, history, books and humor, this publication is easily navigated and capable of providing hours of reading pleasure.
Several factors prompted me to begin publishing Southern Edition in May 2006. First of all, I discovered that some of the topics about which I wished to write were of little or no interest to most periodicals. Additionally, two Atlanta Journal-Constitution articles---"Blacks wear Southern label with pride" and "Old South's distinction melts away"---appeared on December 29, 2005, reminding me that change, both positive and negative, is inevitable and some desirable elements of the American South are fading fast.
Less prevalent are the South's distinctive accents and cultural nuances. Our major cities are increasingly occupied by transients. And many of our communities have experienced such an influx of outside influences that entire neighborhoods now merely resemble snapshots of the Hamptons or the Jersey shore. Nonetheless, a great deal of the region's character and intrigue remains intact, and there is much to preserve and share. Historically, the South has indelibly impacted American culture, and the region is not to be underestimated today.
As a writer who is passionate about the South, it is to my advantage that so many others possess my level of enthusiasm. I am aware that my readers have included best-selling authors, Grammy Award-winning recording artists, legislators, prominent businessmen, professors, radio personalities, television producers, ministers, teachers and, to my delight, inquisitive college, high school and middle school students. Could I have envisioned this reception years ago when other publications might have rejected what have become some of my most popular articles? Certainly not. Am I discovering my niche? Hopefully so. Only time will tell.
Meanwhile, I am grateful for your time spent poring over the pages of Southern Edition. The good word of my readers has been my only source of promotion, and today my monthly page views number well into the thousands. If you enjoy a story, by all means, please take advantage of the share buttons that accompany each article and conveniently recommend it to family and friends from your own e-mail, Facebook, MySpace or Twitter account. Lastly, your feedback and suggestions are always welcomed, and I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely yours,
Greg Freeman
Editor, Southern Edition
editor@southernedition.com
