Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 47F. Winds light and variable..
Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 47F. Winds light and variable.
Updated: December 27, 2024 @ 3:07 pm
Charleston, SC — Historian Sherman E. Pyatt’s newest novel, Standing in the Gap, is a captivating exploration of Gullah culture, chronicling African American family life from 1915 to 1917 on Wadmalaw Island and in Charleston. This poignant story weaves themes of heritage, suspense, and spirituality through the life of young Jacob Rouse, a Gullah child with a profound connection to the spiritual world.
Set against the rich backdrop of the South Carolina Lowcountry, the novel follows the LoganRouse family of Wadmalaw Island, whose ancestors carried their spiritual traditions from Africa centuries ago. The story begins on a humid summer day as a midwife arrives to assist in the birth of Jacob’s cousin. Readers quickly discover that Jacob is no ordinary child—born “under the veil” and marked by a distinctive birthmark, he is believed to be a divine gift, standing as a bridge “in the gap” between Heaven and Earth.
Written in authentic Gullah dialect, Standing in the Gap offers readers an immersive cultural experience. To assist readers in navigating the language, the novel includes a helpful glossary of Gullah terms.
Sherman E. Pyatt is a Charleston native with deep roots in the Lowcountry. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from Johnson C. Smith University and a Master of Library and Information Science from Indiana University, later completing certifications in archival sciences at Georgia State University. Pyatt has worked as a research librarian, interim director, and archivist at various institutions, including The Citadel Military College, the Avery Research Center at the College of Charleston, and South Carolina State University. A dedicated community volunteer, Pyatt served as a commissioner on the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor (2016–2020) and currently contributes as a research assistant at the International African American Museum in Charleston.
His previous publications include Martin Luther King, Jr., An Annotated Bibliography (Greenwood Press, 1986), Apartheid: A Selective Annotated Bibliography, 1978-1987 (Garland Publishing, 1990), A Dictionary and Catalog of African American Folklife of the South (Greenwood Press, 1999), Charleston, South Carolina: Black America Series (Arcadia Publishing, 2000), Burke High School: 1894-2006 (Arcadia Publishing, 2007), and The Other Side of Skillet: Healthy and Alternative Eating in the Lowcountry (Lulu Publishing, 2015).
There will be a presentation and book signing on Tuesday, February 4th at 6 p.m. at the Charleston Library Society, located at 164 King St., Charleston, S.C. The event is open to the public, and tickets may be purchased.
Standing in the Gap will be available for purchase online at eveningpostbooks.com for $19.95 plus South Carolina sales tax and shipping. For wholesale orders, contact assistant editor Elise Lusk at elusk@eveningpostbooks.com. ISBN: 978-1-929647-98-9
Consumer Publications, LLC dba Evening Post Books began publishing titles in 2008 by SC authors with subject matter dedicated to the Lowcountry and has since expanded to publish books about the greater American South. Additional information may be found at eveningpostbooks.com
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