I am excited to introduce to you all our newly named Editor, Holly Swafford. Over the last two years Holly has worked with the SoulGrown team as a contributor. Her “contributions” quickly grew into much more than the words she penned to paper (or typed to keyboard). While her stories have earned their place on the top of our most read, and her coverage of the Michelin ceremony proved her understanding of what our readers want and what Alabama needs; what stands out most is her passion to see our state represented in an elevated & beautiful way that makes people proud to live here. The vision of SoulGrown has always been to make people proud of Alabama, and to cultivate a legacy of state pride by honoring the artisans, traditions (both old and new), food, events and destinations that make Alabama so special. 

It is my belief (maybe a crazy one) that deep down, readers still care about real stories more than just consuming advertisements and how-to content. Our team has proven that depth can still move the needle & generate views. We are firm in our commitment to shine a light on people who make our state great, and there is no one more equipped, more deserving, and with more passion to guide our storytelling into 2026 and beyond, than Holly. 

Courtney Hancock, CEO

 

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been fascinated by the power of words.

In the fourth grade, I wrote a poem about summertime. My teacher loved it so much that she laminated it, handed it back to me, and sent me off with it to the Young Authors’ Conference in Birmingham. My little nine-year-old self couldn’t quite comprehend what I was doing there, but I’ll never forget the sense of disbelief and awe that I felt when an older gentleman walked to the podium and began to read. His name was David L. Harrison, and he read page after page from his book, Somebody Catch My Homework. I had memorized every line, and here he was — the author, the person who had given life to these stories, these captivating words — a real person, standing in front of me. Somewhere, I still have an autographed copy of that book.

My obsession with words then led me beyond the limitations of the English language and into the arms of French. After a high school trip to France, I was completely and utterly captivated by their vocabulary, their turn of phrase, the effortlessly cool and elegant prose. I loved it so much that I declared French as my major and moved to Grenoble so I could absorb it. In 2011, I graduated with my BA in French — sure, I had no idea what I would do with this newfound knowledge. But I soon learned that language is like a secret. It stays in your heart, hidden there, and it’s something no one can ever take away.

Entranced by the world of academia, I kept going with my study of language — this time with a Master’s in Literature. I would spend upwards of 12 hours a day on the campus of Texas State, beginning my mornings as a teaching assistant for a large lecture class, then reading, writing, and researching in coffee shops with like-minded students into the late night hours. I carefully studied the words of Virginia Woolf, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and spent a year researching the olfactory in the works of James Joyce (another story, for another time). These authors became living, breathing creatures, whose souls longed to tell stories; they were no longer merely words on a page, just how David L. Harrison had become real to me at that podium.

And that’s where I find myself today. After 11 years of teaching French and English, I made the bold and somewhat terrifying decision to step away from the classroom and pursue writing full-time. The rewards of that decision have been greater than I can possibly express, but I will try my best. For the past two years, I’ve had the privilege of telling your stories — the stories of Alabamians. From inn owners in Fairhope to farmers at the Appalachian foothills, from chefs in the Magic City to conservationists who boldly advocate for our natural resources, our state is overflowing with talent, skill, and care. 

There are so many stories left to be told, and someone needs to tell them. We are at a crossroads of how to tell these stories, as artificial intelligence continues to creep into our daily lives, promising ease and simplicity. And the people at the heart of these stories deserve more than surface-level snapshots; they deserve the depth and devotion that bring their lives fully into view.

Our stories deserve to be told by real people, real voices, whose passion and commitment can be felt with each word. As Editor, that’s exactly what I promise to bring to you. I promise to seek out the narratives that otherwise might go untold — stories of connection and heart. I promise to celebrate the people and places that make our state proud, and to champion them by showing up, listening well, and building relationships that last.

This role allows me to serve Alabama in the best way I know how—by honoring the voices that define it.

It’s an honor and a privilege to tell your stories.