Who am I? My name is Justin Cliburn. I grew up in Lawton and live in Oklahoma City. I have never written a book, but I've written as a newspaper reporter and attorney. In my day job, I represent public school districts in state and federal courts across Oklahoma. What do I need to tell this story? More than anything, I need to hear from Kiowa County residents, past and present. I have developed a questionnaire that I hope you will share with fellow Kiowa County brethren. Why am I writing this? I stumbled on the story of the Babbs Switch fire in 2020 and could not get it out of my head. The more I dug, the more interesting it became. When I attempted to borrow a book about the story, I realized no one had told the entire story. Before I knew it, I had saved dozens of newspaper clippings, re-constructed family trees, and e-mailed myself note after note after note. Why should I be the one to tell this story? I am a lifelong Oklahoman, lover of history, reader of narrative/creative nonfiction, and utterly fascinated with this story. On a more personal level, I feel a connection to this story. Although I do not have a familial connection to the fire (I have learned there were Cliburns in Hobart though, including "Shady" Cliburn), I know what it is like to wake up, rub your eyes, and suddenly remember that you are giving the eulogy for your brother that day. Or your nephew. Or your niece. I empathize with the people—and they are people, not characters—in this story. What is my timeline? I hope to publish this book in time for the 100th anniversary of the fire, which would be in 2024. Right now, I am working with Brendan O'Meara of the Creative Nonfiction Podcast to develop an agent query letter and book proposal. Why? Because I only get one chance to tell this story, and I owe it to myself, the readers, and the subjects of the book to get it right. Below is the query letter, which is used to secure a publishing agent who will shop the book to publishers. Agent Query Letter On a frigid Christmas Eve in 1924, guests throughout Kiowa County flocked to a one-room schoolhouse on the shortgrass plains of Southwest Oklahoma for its annual Christmas Tree celebration. Its teacher planned the event for weeks, and the school had never looked better. Candles and gas lanterns cast the room in a warm glow, and shadows danced on the freshly-painted ceiling as neighbors chatted about climate, crops, and Christmas. In the corner stood a Christmas tree adorned with candles, crepe paper ornaments, cotton icicles, and a star of Bethlehem. The school at Babbs Switch, six miles south of Hobart, was always a cozy environment and was especially so that night. Designed for 40 students, almost 200 souls were packed inside.
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