What is a hero post and why should you pay attention?
A hero post is essentially a post written and dedicated to be the “hero” of your publication.
In other words, the aim of the piece is to serve as an overview of what, when, how and who, so that anyone who’s new to your publication can quickly assess whether it’s a good fit for them or not.
Hello. A warm welcome to “I live in the countryside now” and, as of February 2024, its new sections: Lay it on the Line (reviews of books I’ve read, writing classes and what I’m reading here on Substack) and About the Garden (a monthly column about the garden.)
My name is Debbie, but please call me Bee, it’s a childhood nickname that stuck (I preferred it to Button Nose.)
I write on here at least twice a week and none of my posts are behind a paywall.
There’s an option to subscribe financially, £8.00 a month or £55.00 a year, if you want to support my writing over the course of 2024.
A little bit about me. I’m sixty later this year, and plan on celebrating that occasion with a rave in a viking longhouse. Then again, it might be an altogether more chilled-out night of folk music, we’ll see. So, in one way my Substack is all about thriving in the countryside beyond midlife. As you’ll see if you decide to follow me, I often feel like I’m not living my life to the full. Like you, I’m experiencing life’s challenges and setbacks, I’m trying to learn from them and grow.
I moved from Dorset to Cumbria ages ago, used to commute from Dorset to a career in the Creative Industries in the city, back in the day. Gardening was a side hustle then, but I went back to school, studied horticulture and set up my garden design practice later on. While involved in all kinds of projects, outdoor set design for television, an award-winning public garden... I’ve practiced what I do quietly <shy wave> So, Chelsea Flower Show (etc.) never appealed and I am always happiest when immersed in the everydayness of a relaxed, residential garden. I’m an ecological horticulturist.
These days, I write full time in the winter months, but take on garden design commissions and/or a bit of gardening occasionally, for gentle, like-minded folk who want their gardens to look anything but designed. My husband, M, is a landscape gardener, has always been, so between us if you’ve any garden-related questions do reach out, happy to help.
Some time ago now, I secured a literary agent while writing my first full-length manuscript. Soon after, though, I put that manuscript in the drawer, made the leap to nonfiction - a memoir, and wrote a proposal. When the time came to submit, to pitch my memoir, we were going through a trauma here at home. and I wasn’t up to facing anymore pressure. Neither did I want to put myself out there on socials, I’ll always wrestle with that one.
My writing is intimate and confessional, and Substack feels like a safe, professional space (long may that continue.) Right now, I’m weaving my memoir with new work, some of which is also memoir, some essays and narrative journalism too. It’s all here on my Substack.
I hope you don't mind. I searched you out on Substack after you said you had an account last night on Lily's zoom call. I've been umming and ahhhing for months about starting mine, but now, having read yours, I think it's given me the kick up the backside I needed. Thank you!
How lovely to learn more about you Bee! It’s never too late to follow a dream to write and I also think Substack feels like a very soft and gentle “social space” to do so ❤️ happy to connect and I can only imagine what a wonderful garden you must have!!