Podcast Episode Summary

Podcast: New Books Network

Host: Dr. Miranda Melcher
Guests: Shaunna J. Edwards & Alison Richman
Episode: "The Thread Collectors" (Harper Collins, 2022)
Date: February 22, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Dr. Miranda Melcher interviews Shaunna J. Edwards and Alison Richman, co-authors of the historical novel The Thread Collectors. The book explores the deeply intertwined stories of Black and Jewish characters during the American Civil War, focusing on themes of resilience, art, music, sewing, and the unexpected connections that form between disparate communities. Rich with personal and historical research, the authors reflect on collaborative writing across difference and what their novel means in today’s divided world.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Origins & Personal Connections

(00:50–08:33)

• How the Collaboration Began:
  • Alison and Shaunna met over a decade ago at a legal reception in Las Vegas, bonding over literature before envisioning writing together (03:12).
  • Alison's family inspired the novel’s premise: her ancestors, two Jewish brothers, fought on opposite sides in the Civil War.
  • Shaunna’s contribution re-envisioned the story to include Black soldiers’ journeys and women’s resourcefulness, particularly through the lens of sewing and love (05:59, 07:09).

“I saw this Black woman ... sewing a map with thread to help her beloved run away to join the Union Army. Like, that is how he gets to the battlefield.”
—Shaunna Edwards (05:59)

2. Music as a Connecting Force

(08:33–11:44)

• Historical Accuracy & Meaning:
  • Alison’s Jewish ancestor was a musician; so too are the novel’s two male protagonists.
  • The unique role of musicians allowed black and white soldiers to interact across lines, which the authors embrace as a historical and symbolic connector.
  • The culture of New Orleans, its musical legacy, and diverse population are key to the story’s setting.

“Most troops during the Civil War were segregated... with the exception, however, of musicians.”
—Shaunna Edwards (08:56)

3. Key Characters & Representation

(11:44–14:33)

• Main Characters:
  • Two couples: William & Stella (Black), Jacob & Lily (Jewish).
  • Teddy, a young Black drummer boy, serves as an anchor for discussions on childhood, trauma, and protection.

“...for me, as a Black woman, sometimes Black children are not necessarily given the full latitude of childhood...”
—Shaunna Edwards (12:15)

• Teddy becomes a conduit for hope and empathy for readers.

4. Deep Research: Archives, Places, & Family Lore

(14:53–22:19)

• Jewish History in the Civil War:

  • Alison traces and validates family stories with historical societies and foundations (14:53).
  • The Chappelle Manuscript Foundation provided original documents, including the will disowning a Union brother—a moment of real family rupture (16:09).

• African American History & Regional Archives:

  • Shaunna leans on resources like the Amistad Collection (Louisiana) and the Historic New Orleans Collection to ground the experiences of free Black people and New Orleans life (18:24).
  • Key battle: Port Hudson. Limited Black history education was reflected on and challenged through research (20:01).

“It just makes you think about the history that we prioritize, and where are the missed opportunities to really go back and study our heritage.”
—Shaunna Edwards (20:54)

5. Why Sewing and Fabric Arts Matter

(22:46–26:26)

• Personal & Cultural Legacy:
  • Shaunna’s family quilts, sewn under humble circumstances, inspired the central motif of sewing-as-resistance and sewing-as-connection.
  • Stella's embroidery embodies agency, resilience, and the covert transfer of knowledge even when all other freedoms are denied (22:49).

“How do you make something happen when you have next to nothing?”
—Shaunna Edwards (24:53)

• Women’s Contributions:
  • Alison emphasizes Northern women’s sewing circles as sites of bonding, resourcefulness, and unexpected friendship (24:53).

6. Collaborative Writing Process

(26:26–30:46)

• Logistics:
  • Written in Google Docs during the COVID-19 pandemic, with weekly (masked, outdoor) meetings and layer-by-layer drafts.
  • Every word required mutual agreement—highlighting the importance of language, especially across differences.

“Every word has power. And how we hear those words, you know, is important. It’s important to be respectful. It’s important to make sure that you are always listening to people and learning from them as well.”
—Alison Richman (30:24)

7. Unexpected Discoveries & Complexity of History

(31:10–35:14)

• Hidden Histories:
  • Shaunna uncovered anti-Semitism in the Union army, such as General Grant’s order expelling Jews from military districts (31:10).
  • Alison learned of the burning of the Colored Orphans Asylum in NYC—a story not widely taught.
  • Both authors highlighted the necessity of studying uncomfortable and erased aspects of history, not just the “Kumbaya North, bad South” binary.

8. Process, Personal Growth, and the Value of Connection

(35:14–36:23)

• Writing & Family Bonds:
  • Shaunna reflects on how writing the novel offered opportunities for intergenerational connections and conversations within her own family.

9. What They Hope Readers Take Away

(36:23–37:47)

• Building Bridges & Shared Humanity:
  • The authors want to highlight what binds people across difference, especially in a divisive world.
  • Friendship and universal emotions transcend time, race, and religion.

“We wanted to write something that, you know, built bridges between communities, to show what really connects us.”
—Alison Richman (36:41)

10. What’s Next for the Authors

(38:03–39:08)

• Upcoming Project:
  • A new collaborative novel about jazz legend Louis Armstrong and the maternal figures in his life—both Black and Jewish, again highlighting Black-Jewish relations and the importance of music in community-building.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Collaboration:

  “We knew that we needed to create sort of a sacred trust between each other that we were always going to tell each other if something rubbed us the wrong way or a word didn’t seem right.”
  —Alison Richman (26:40)

• On History’s Complexity:

  “America, we’re taught a very dichotomous view of the Civil War … when you read the history, it’s more complicated than that.”
  —Shaunna Edwards (31:10)

• On Sewing’s Significance:

  “For me, it has always been that idea of textiles ... it’s also that, like, connection, that familial connection between—I may not have much, but I’m giving you what I can.”
  —Shaunna Edwards (22:49)

• On the Power of Literature:

  “Sometimes literature and then the process of bringing a story to life really gives you a great excuse to have those conversations.”
  —Shaunna Edwards (35:14)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Origins & Genesis of Collaboration: 03:12–08:33
• Music’s Role & Character Connections: 08:33–11:44
• Teddy and Themes of Childhood: 12:15–14:33
• Deep Research & Family Lore: 14:53–22:19
• Sewing, Quilting, and Women's Agency: 22:46–26:26
• Collaborative Writing in Practice: 26:40–30:46
• Uncovering Forgotten Histories: 31:10–35:14
• Literature and Personal Connection: 35:14–36:23
• Takeaway Messages: 36:23–37:47
• Next Book Preview: 38:03–39:08

Conclusion

This episode offers a rich exploration of how fiction can unearth, thread together, and make deeply felt sense of personal, communal, and national histories. Through their collaborative process and commitment to historical accuracy, Shaunna Edwards and Alison Richman bring to life stories too long marginalized—showing how empathy, music, and art can bridge even the widest divides. Their insights will resonate with anyone interested in storytelling, history, and the power of connection.