Hello from Vince

Dear Reader,

It’s been awhile. I haven’t written an update for months.

There’s a good chance that you found me thanks to the great Charleston City Paper article by Alex Nettles: “A writer’s life on — and off — the streets.”

Some Background:

My name is Vince Shumate.

Photo Credit: Stew Gets Buckets

I’ve been facing homelessness for many years. I’ve written about it a lot. First for Speak Up and now here at I Am Vince.

You can support my work by becoming a paying subscriber. $10 a month.

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What’s new with me?

Currently I’m recovering from a seizure that led to a concrete and steel tumble down 13 steps of stairs.

I've been thinking a lot about my writing. Writing helps me survive. I need a laptop to do it consistently. I like Chromebooks. 200 bucks. (Become a Founding Member subscriber and that will more than cover it.)

I also need a phone. A camera would be nice.

And some pain relief. I somehow tore a muscle in my hip. Twice.

Though I did get to rest my hip when I spent a few weeks in jail. That jail story is a chapter by itself. Not many people would be able to pull off a cost-free physical rehab like I did. I surprised myself on that one. I also surprised the judge when I thanked her for allowing me to recuperate in her jail. No kidding.

I need to write. It's going to be essential for my survival. My latest AA story will bring happy tears to your eyes. I’m not quite there yet.

I only know the here and now. If I think about yesterday or tomorrow I want to die. 

I must be kept around for a reason. 

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Coming Soon — One Week On the Streets

Year ago I wrote an 8-part series for Speak Up called One Week on the Streets. It was a daily chronicle of my life while living rough in Asheville, NC. They published it as a standalone issue of the magazine.

I won an award for it from the International Network of Street Newspapers, based in Glasgow, Scotland.

Speak Up has agreed to let me reprint the entire series for my readers.

The first part comes on Wednesday.

Thank you.

I am Vince.