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.