Embedded in Clay

Clay sits quietly on the west bank of the St. Johns River. Compared with neighbors Jacksonville and St. Augustine, Clay attracts relatively little attention, and its stories often go untold. In 2013, members of Clay County Writers were challenged to collaborate on an anthology. More than a dozen local writers set out to explore people, communities, and events that shaped the character of this area. Drawing on historical documents, interviews, and other materials, each writer unearthed a fresh point of view. Residents responded generously, sharing memories, contacts, and other resources. Organized in roughly chronological order, these stories span the early 1800s to the present. They offer glimpses of the challenges, conflicts, and commitments of a diverse group of people—people who made a difference in Clay and in the world. Though the stories belong to the individual writers, in all ways, this anthology has been a community effort.