Welcome to Southern Stories! My name is Elizabeth Poland Shugg and I write about life in the South. I love history, dogs, and the beach. I'm also a wife, mother, and co-creator of Backroad Portfolio magazine.
My name is Elizabeth Poland Shugg. I write stories about life in the South. I'm also a wife, mother, dog lover, and co-creator of Backroad Portfolio magazine.
Writing about the future of nation-states, capitalism, and humanity. Building a media collective.
Backroads where the pace slows, where old mansions crumble, forgotten train depots, and orchards go untended, that's where I find inspiration. Change, abandonment, and seldom-seen places. That's my beat.
Sean Dietrich is a columnist, novelist, stand-up storyteller, and musician, known for his commentary on life in the American South. His work has appeared in Newsweek, Reader's Digest, Southern Living, and he makes appearances on the Grand Ole Opry.
Backroad Portfolio celebrates Americaโs southeastern backroads through modern storytelling and compelling imagery. Subscribe digitally here on Substack, or to our print magazine at backroadportfolio.com.
Your home for all types of captivating storytelling, from Southern humor and historical tales to true crime and Southern Gothic fiction.