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Microhistory
is, according to the Oxford English Dictionary: "Historical study which addresses a specific or localized subject; a historical account of this nature, a case study." Often, history is told in long, broad strokes, with the narrative centered on key figures of great socio-cultural, economic, and political importance. But the John F. Kennedys, Nikita Khrushchevs, and Marilyn Monroes are not the only individuals who inhabit this world. They may shape and define major historical events and trends, but they are not the only ones who live to see and react to these monumental occurrences. In fact, one could argue that the stories of the billions of unnamed individuals who live through this history are just as important as those of its key players. Their stories deserve to be told as well.

Since November of 2017, I have had the absolute joy of writing Blue Skies in Camelot: An Alternate 60's and Beyond and sharing it with all of you here on AH.com. That timeline, which asks what the world might look like if Marilyn Monroe had survived her untimely death in 1962, can be read here. The timeline, as many in AltHistory do, takes that macrohistory perspective I mentioned earlier. John F. Kennedy, Nikita Khrushchev, Mao Zedong, Johnny Cash, Marilyn Monroe, these "big name" types take up almost all of the focus of that text, and through their stories, I aim to provide a "big picture" perspective on this alternate world.

But what about the so-called "little people?" What about the hypothetical George Baileys of this world who live their very real, very potent victories, losses, triumphs, and tragedies in this forever changed world? What effects do the changes (such as JFK living to serve a second term) have on everyday folks? Around Christmas Time last year, I hit upon the idea of creating a second, supplemental thread to accompany Blue Skies, which would tell the stories of everyday people through fictional characters of my own creation and devising. This is that thread! :D Here is what you need to know, in a nutshell, about Blue Skies in Camelot: Closer to Home.

1. This timeline will begin in the form of an epistolary narrative. Each update will feature letters written to and from the various characters I and other users create, and through these letters, we will catch a glimpse of what life is like for everyday people ITTL. I am not married to the idea of this TL staying strictly epistolary. If I or other contributors decide that a more straightforward narrative format is more conducive to the story we are trying to tell, then we will use that form instead. Please let me know if the format is working for you as we get going here! :)

2. Unlike the base timeline, where I am happy to take suggestions but insist that I have complete control over what ultimately makes it into the official story, Closer to Home is meant to be a little more open ended and much more collaborative. I openly invite fans of Blue Skies in Camelot to create their own original characters and share their stories with all of us in this thread if they have any interest. They can be as simple or complex as you desire, and I will do my best to keep up with any and all updates you feel compelled to share. This means that I will threadmark relevant posts (including your own letters) and try to compile your characters' names and details in the master character list at the beginning, which will obviously expand as TTL grows and develops. That being said, I must insist on maintaining final say about what does and does not fit into the world of TTL. Please do not write entries or stories which contradict anything occurring in the base TL, and please try to keep entries dated to any point before the base TL has moved to. If you don't know who the President will be yet in BSiC's 1984, please don't talk openly about that election just yet, and so on. If you have any questions, comments, concerns, and so on, feel free to PM me and I will try to get back to you as soon as I am able. Please keep in mind however that I am a college student, and not superhuman, and so it may take a few days for me to get to threadmarking your update or responding to your message.

3. As with Blue Skies in Camelot proper, I welcome feedback, criticisms, and of course, open discussion in the thread. I love seeing what you all come up with in terms of analysis and engaging, polite, conversation. Remember however, to please follow all board rules and treat each other with kindness, patience, and respect. TTL is meant to be a fun supplement, and I hope you all enjoy it.

I aim to update TTL and the base TL at least once a week. That's the goal, anyway. We'll see if that manages to hold or not with my ever changing schedule. :) Anyways, without further ado, here is Blue Skies in Camelot: Closer to Home!


Above: Salem, Massachusetts in the Late 50's/Early 60's. This is where my first portion of our story begins.
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