{"value"=>"<p>Childress published only one adult novel during her life, <span class=\"title\">A Short Walk</span>, in 1979. This subseries contains manuscripts for several novel projects, including a novel she was working on at the time of her death, <span class=\"title\">Almost Free</span>, a fictionalized story based on the lives of her great-grandmothers: one of whom was born in Africa and was enslaved until the age of nine, and the other was a white woman who lived in South Carolina. Also found here are two manuscripts, \"Blood March\", and an untitled work.</p> <p>The <span class=\"title\">Almost Free</span> files include handwritten and typed drafts, notebooks, and research data describing the customs, food, and life in general during the 19th Century.</p> <p>The <span class=\"title\">Blood March</span> file contains an incomplete manuscript, typed and handwritten notes, research information about Seminole and Creek Indians, character descriptions, and an outline of the chapters, along with a letter to a Miss Ullman (April 19, 1961) that provides insights into Childress's idea about the story she wished to create. This was her first attempt at penning a novel that wasn't strictly about blacks and whites.</p> <p>Files for <span class=\"title\">A Short WalK</span> (1978-1981, undated) contain a number of typescript drafts, a final manuscript (all with annotations by Childress), publicity information and reviews, and research information which includes handwritten notes featuring <span class=\"title\">A Short Walk</span>'s working title, <span class=\"title\">What to Do Until Freedom Comes: A Novel about a Life of a Black Woman</span>. There is also information about Marcus Garvey, a copy of a letter to \"Art\" that explains her modus operandi concerning her writing style (\"I write in swatches\") and her rationale for writing the novel.</p>"}