For over 100 years, New York, and other East Coast cities shaped America’s version of literary success. Since most literary agents and publishers lived in Manhattan and nearby areas, East Coast stories reflected their taste.
To be fair, these literary influencers shepherded southern wordsmiths to success; Faulkner (Mississippi), Rice (Louisiana), Lee (Alabama), Mitchell (Georgia), and McMurtry (Texas) for example. Still, no one can blame the establishment for focusing on what they know, and they know the East Coast.
An interesting question arises, based on a recent population study.
According to a moveBuddha article by writer Nick Pipitone, the largest city in the United States by the year 2100 will be Dallas – Fort Worth.
Oh, and #2 Houston, #3 Austin. According to the same report, New York will be the fifth largest city after #4 Phoenix.
The question is, will Texas’s literary influence rise as the population booms?
With over 2,000 homes sold and three Amazon #1 novels, Timothy Sojka offers a unique perspective as a Realtor® and writer.
“Home sales are booming in the Houston suburbs. People who can’t own homes in other states can own in Texas. As a Realtor®, I can tell you many of our listings sell to out-of-state buyers.”
“As an author, educators encouraged me to write about what I know. I embrace that mantra, but the best authors write about where you know too. I write about Southeast Texas, it’s what and where I know.”
Sojka offers an opinion from his head and his heart.
“My head tells me it’s simple economics, as Texas population booms, our authors will grow in number, talent, and diversity, then the infrastructure; agents, literary magazines, and publishers will transplant here to support the talent. Naturally, the influence of Texas authors, publishers, and literary magazines will explode.”
“My heart tells me I love Texas. And, I like our new arrivals, because I’m a transplant myself. The state nourished me and took me in at 5 years old. Texas felt like a different world, magical, welcoming, awe-inspiring, and terrifying at once. So, I will write about Texas. I can’t help but think new residents will feel the same way.”
Sojka’s novels feature or mention the cities of his youth, Beaumont, Silsbee, Winnie, Cleveland, Galveston, Houston, Warren, Fred, Orange, Port Arthur, Lumberton, and area landmarks like the Astrodome, Village Creek, the Neches River, the Jack Gore Baygall, the Old and Lost River, the Galveston Ferrys and much more.
Focusing on Texas continues to reap rewards for Sojka. With the help of his innovative Texas Publisher, Black Rose Writing, Sojka has stacked up awards. Readers’ Favorite gave his latest novel, 39: Your Last Birthday, the Silver Medal for Southern Fiction and a Five Star Review. The novel also garnered the coveted Maxy Award for Literary and Humor.
Sojka continues, “I’m happy Texas is getting more attention. Especially my stomping grounds Southeast Texas. I cannot wait for the rest of the country to see the diversity this state offers, from the influences (the Indigenous Texans, then the Spanish, French, Africans, English, Germans, and other settlers,) the intermingling of flavors (Tex-Mex to White Table Cloth), the music (Blues, to Country to Rock).”
Sojka concludes, “I am excited to watch Texas grow as a Realtor®, but more so as an author. Our state can nourish authors of different voices, creeds, and perspectives into the national conversation. The more perspectives Americans read, the stronger citizens we become.”
Sojka is the author of three Texas-based Amazon Bestsellers, 39: Your Last Birthday, Politikill, and Payback Jack.
