Shadows and Storylines

Pelham Pugh
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Shadows & Storylines is a voice-only series about place, memory, and the quiet moments that shape a life and the stories that come from it. Each episode explores the people, landscapes, and experiences behind the writing — from the Wiregrass of southeast Alabama to backroads, historical sites, family history, and the imperfect search for meaning in forgotten places. This isn’t a how-to podcast or a highlight reel. It’s reflection. Observation. And the long shadows that follow us into the work we do. New episodes every Monday.

  1. 5d ago

    Shadows and Storylines 26: When Plans Fall Apart

    Sometimes you make the plans, spend the money, book the hotels then everything falls apart. In Episode 26 of Shadows & Storylines, I step away from stories about my formative years and come back to the present. I talk about my decision to cancel my trip to the Decatur Book Festival after forecasts called for heavy rain, why I decided the financial risk simply wasn’t worth it, and what the experience taught me about trying to sell books as an independent author. Then, just when I thought I had salvaged part of the weekend, my planned research trip to Aiken, South Carolina unraveled too. I also talk about where I go from here: stepping away from expensive book festivals, concentrating more on online sales and advertising for the Fractured Horizons trilogy, continuing to build my audience, and looking toward the possibility of traditional publishing with Come Our Way. Being an independent author is a business. Sometimes you make money. Sometimes you lose money. And sometimes the smartest decision is knowing when to pull the plug. This is one of those weeks. Thanks for watching Shadows & Storylines with Pelham Pugh. Subscribe for more episodes about writing, growing up in the South, the stories behind my novels, history, travel, and everything that happens along the way. Visit pelhampugh.com to learn more about my books and read the first chapter of Perfidious Tides free. #PelhamPugh #ShadowsAndStorylines #IndependentAuthor #AuthorLife #WritingCommunity #SelfPublishing #FracturedHorizons #SouthernFiction

    Shadows and Storylines 26: When Plans Fall Apart

  2. Oct 5

    Shadows and Storylines 25: Trucks, Coon Hunting & the Memories That Shaped Me

    This week on Shadows & Storylines, I'm taking you back to the early 1990s—a time of old trucks, coon dogs, late nights in the woods, and friendships that helped shape the person I am today. In 1992, I bought my first truck, a 1978 Ford F-150 four-wheel drive, and began spending my nights coon hunting in the swamps and woods of southeast Alabama. Along the way, I met a group of friends who would become a big part of my teenage years. But this episode is about more than hunting and old trucks. It's about how a familiar song can suddenly take you back thirty years to a moment you thought you'd forgotten. Recently, listening to Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb" brought back memories of those years so vividly that it inspired an idea for a new novel—one that may be the most personal story I've ever written. Join me as I look back on the friendships, music, adventures, and memories of the early 1990s and how they continue to influence my life and writing today. Visit my website: https://pelhampugh.com  Subscribe for more episodes of Shadows & Storylines, where I share stories from my life, discuss my writing, and reflect on the people and experiences that have shaped me. #ShadowsAndStorylines #PelhamPugh #1990s #SouthernStories #CoonHunting #FordF150 #PinkFloyd #WritingLife

    Shadows and Storylines 25: Trucks, Coon Hunting & the Memories That Shaped Me

  3. Sep 28

    Shadows and Storylines 24: From Segregation Academy to Public School & Teachers Who Changed My Life

    In Episode 24 of Shadows & Storylines, I look back at one of the biggest transitions of my childhood—leaving a segregation academy and entering public school after my family lost the farm.It was a different world. There was culture shock, bullying, adjustment, and the complicated realities of growing up in rural Alabama during the 1980s. But this episode ultimately isn't about the schools. It's about the teachers.I remember the educators who saw something in me long before I saw it in myself—the teachers who made history and stories come alive, who expected more from me, and who showed me what it meant to truly care about a student. Decades later, their influence is still with me every time I walk into my own classroom.Today's "influencers" have millions of followers. The greatest influencers I ever knew stood in front of a classroom.This episode is my way of saying thank you.#ShadowsAndStorylines #PelhamPugh #Teachers #GreatTeachers #AlabamaHistory #GrowingUpSouthern #1980s #SouthernStories #Podcast

    Shadows and Storylines 24: From Segregation Academy to Public School & Teachers Who Changed My Life

  4. Sep 21

    Shadows and Storylines 23: Growing Up on a Southeast Alabama Peanut Farm

    In Episode 23 of Shadows & Storylines, I go back to where much of my story began—a peanut farm in Southeast Alabama. I remember the tractors, peanut fields, livestock, long days, and the Ford 4100 that has been on our farm since 1982. But this episode becomes about something deeper: the farm crisis of the early 1980s and the day my family lost the farm. I was only a child, but some memories never leave you. Those experiences—and the feelings of loss, betrayal, family, and survival that came with them—have found their way into my upcoming novel, Come Our Way. This is a personal look at the real memories behind parts of that story and at a generation of farmers who watched a way of life disappear. My family lost the farm. But farming never completely left us. Stories from the land that shaped us. #ShadowsAndStorylines #PelhamPugh #ComeOurWay #AlabamaHistory #PeanutFarming #FarmLife #SouthernStories #SoutheastAlabama #Wiregrass #FamilyHistory

    Shadows and Storylines 23: Growing Up on a Southeast Alabama Peanut Farm

  5. Sep 14

    Shadows and Storylines 22: The Toys That Made Me a Writer

    From die-cast Ford tractors to He-Man, Transformers, and long afternoons spent on an Alabama farm, this episode is a look back at the toys and imagination that helped shape me into a writer. I share memories of growing up in southeast Alabama during the 1980s, building stories on the floor with Ertl tractors and action figures, and how those childhood adventures eventually led to writing the Fractured Horizons trilogy and my current novel, Come Our Way. Sometimes the smallest moments of childhood become the foundation for everything that follows. If you grew up in the '70s, '80s, or '90s, I think you'll recognize a little of your own story in this one. If you enjoy Southern storytelling, writing, history, and a healthy dose of nostalgia, be sure to subscribe for more episodes of Shadows & Storylines with Pelham Pugh. 📚 Books by Pelham Pugh: https://pelhampugh.com 🎥 Subscribe: https://youtube.com/@PelhamPugh #ShadowsAndStorylines #PelhamPugh #WritingLife #Author #ChildhoodMemories #HeMan #Transformers #Ertl #FordTractors #SouthernStories #Nostalgia #Alabama #Storytelling #WritingJourney

    Shadows and Storylines 22: The Toys That Made Me a Writer

  6. Sep 7

    Shadows and Storylines 21: The Last of Those Who Care

    Every community has a story. Every family has a place that shaped who they became. In this deeply personal episode of Shadows and Storylines, I take you back to the old farmhouse that has sheltered six generations of my family and to the small community of Elamville, Alabama. Together, we'll remember the country stores, the old church, the oak tree, front porch conversations, and the people who slowly disappeared as time moved on. As I begin writing Chapter 20 of my upcoming novel, Come Our Way, I reflect on how my family's experiences during the 1980s farm crisis continue to influence the story. While the novel is fiction, many of its emotions and settings are rooted in real memories. This episode is about more than an old house. It's about preserving a way of life before it's forgotten—and asking who will remember when we're gone. Sometimes it feels like we're the last of those who still remember... the last of those who care. If this episode brings back memories of your own hometown, I'd love to hear your stories in the comments. Subscribe for more episodes of Shadows and Storylines, where history, memories, and the stories behind the stories come together. #ShadowsAndStorylines #PelhamPugh #Elamville #Alabama #Wiregrass #SouthernHistory #FamilyHistory #RuralAmerica #CountryLife #OldFarmhouse #Storytelling #Nostalgia #1980s #FarmLife #ComeOurWay #AuthorLife #WritingCommunity #SmallTownAmerica #PreservingHistory #Memories

    Shadows and Storylines 21: The Last of Those Who Care

  7. Aug 10

    Shadows and Storylines 20: Season 2 Finale - New Shows, New Books & What's Ahead

    Season 2 comes to a close as I reflect on where this podcast has been, where it's headed, and what's coming next across the Pelham Pugh channel. In this episode I talk about: The future of Shadows & StorylinesThe upcoming hiatus for American ShadowsContinuing adventures on The Wandering WriterMy progress on Come Our WayThe new genealogy series Bloodlines & BackroadsPlans for a new Disney podcastWhy I keep creating, even when the audience is still growingI also share updates on my writing, thoughts on preserving history through storytelling, and what's planned for Season 3. If you've been listening since the beginning, thank you for being part of this journey. Your views, downloads, comments, and encouragement mean more than you know. 📚 Read my novels:Perfidious TidesLast Castle in the SkyLive the Last Day If you enjoy history, Southern fiction, travel, and storytelling, consider subscribing so you won't miss what's coming next. #ShadowsAndStorylines #Podcast #WritingLife #Author #AmericanShadows #TheWanderingWriter #ComeOurWay #History #Storytelling #PelhamPugh

    Shadows and Storylines 20: Season 2 Finale - New Shows, New Books & What's Ahead

  8. Aug 3

    Shadows and Storylines 19: Why Every Like, Share, and Subscribe Matters

    Have you ever wondered if clicking Like, Share, or Subscribe really makes a difference? In this episode, I pull back the curtain on what it's really like to be an independent author and content creator. From writing novels like Perfidious Tides to producing American Shadows, The Wandering Writer, and this podcast, I share how every book, video, and story comes together—and why your support is far more important than you may realize. We'll talk about: Why likes, comments, and shares help creators reach new audiences How YouTube and Facebook algorithms work My long-term goals as an independent author The future of the channel and some new series currently in development Why I'm passionate about telling overlooked stories and preserving local history Whether you've followed the channel for years or just discovered it today, thank you for being part of this journey. Every view, comment, share, and subscription helps me continue creating new stories, exploring forgotten history, and bringing more books to readers. If you enjoy the content, please consider: 👍 Like the video 💬 Leave a comment 🔔 Subscribe so you never miss a new episode 📤 Share it with someone who loves books, history, or independent creators. Visit PelhamPugh.com to learn more about my books, join my newsletter, and stay up to date on future projects. Thank you for watching—and thank you for supporting independent creators. #IndependentAuthor #WritingCommunity #BookTube #YouTubeCreator #AmericanShadows #TheWanderingWriter #Storytelling #History #SelfPublishing #PelhamPugh

    Shadows and Storylines 19: Why Every Like, Share, and Subscribe Matters
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About

Shadows & Storylines is a voice-only series about place, memory, and the quiet moments that shape a life and the stories that come from it. Each episode explores the people, landscapes, and experiences behind the writing — from the Wiregrass of southeast Alabama to backroads, historical sites, family history, and the imperfect search for meaning in forgotten places. This isn’t a how-to podcast or a highlight reel. It’s reflection. Observation. And the long shadows that follow us into the work we do. New episodes every Monday.

Information

  • Creator
    Pelham Pugh
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    26
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Pelham Pugh
  • Show Website
    Shadows and Storylines