My name is Hilary Layne. I’m a writer and a lifelong student of literature and history. I was born and raised in the strange, mythical time before the internet and social media and so books were how I occupied myself. Books and writing.

By the time I graduated from high school I had already seen a great deal of our beautiful nation and so spent some time in Europe familiarizing myself with the old world of my people (Germans, principally). As an American, the notion of ancient roots can be somewhat difficult to comprehend, but I could not help but notice that such ancient-ness seemed to be slipping out of view. Nevertheless, in Europe and in the strange, ancient environment of my upbringing, I found a love for things that are not so much old as they are timeless.

I am frequently asked where I learned what I know and talk about in my videos. The answer, broadly, is life. And books. I did not go to college and opted instead to travel and teach myself. If one is to become a writer, they say, one must travel. What you learn by seeing the world with your own two eyes cannot be taught. Everything else I know I’ve taught myself. It has taken a long time, it has been a lot of work, and it is by no means complete, but every inch of it was worth it.

I believe in the power of storytelling in the formation of cultures, civilizations, and individuals. After all, we are what we read. Writers and storytellers have an obligation not just to entertain, but also to illuminate. Stories are not just the lifeblood of a people, they are also our nourishment. I think we, as a society, ought to look more closely at how we’re choosing to nourish ourselves.

I currently live in a quiet part of beautiful America with my husband and daughter. And some eight billion books.

In addition to my writing, you can also join The Book Club. More information here.

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Thank you for stopping by!