Join Rick Hodges and Colin Mustful to discuss The Death of Driftwood. Free ebook for registrants! Pre-orders ship December 3.

Hidden along the Virginia coast lies Driftwood, a town founded in the eighteenth century by escaped slaves and shipwrecked French Quakers. For generations, its Black and white families lived together, intermarried, and survived in secret, even hiding their children from the census takers. By 1960, that fragile peace is crumbling. A rebellious teenager named Delaney threatens to expose the town, and a minister with a troubled past arrives offering hope, only to sow distrust and division.

The Death of Driftwood is a sweeping, multigenerational story of refuge, resilience, and the devastating cost of fear and intolerance.

During this conversation, Rick and Colin will explore the history and imagination behind Driftwood, what it means for a community to survive by staying hidden, and how Rick's own roots along the Virginia coast shaped the novel. Rick will also share a short reading, and attendees will have the chance to ask questions during a live Q&A. Everyone who registers will also receive a free ebook copy of the novel, delivered through BookFunnel.

Get it early. The Death of Driftwood officially releases on February 23, 2027, but readers who pre-order directly from the History Through Fiction online store will have their orders fulfilled on December 3, 2026, nearly three months before the release date, and just in time for the holidays.

Rick Hodges is a professional writer and award-winning author. His debut novel, To Follow Elephants, won a Nautilus Book Award, and his stage play Three Generations of Imbeciles examines the history of involuntary sterilization in the United States. He lives in Arlington, Virginia, and grew up along the Virginia coast where The Death of Driftwood is set.