You might have heard it referred to as The Mansion, you might have heard the rumor I’m trying to spread about the horses that once lived there (fictional but fun! Let’s keep it going!), you might have passed it on your trips to the Island, and if you’re very lucky, you might even have had a chance to visit it. The League-Kempner House is definitely the stuff of legend! Currently this stately Galveston home is undergoing an ambitious restoration process, and any proceeds from tickets go towards efforts to bring it back to its former glory. You can also donate directly on their website and you can sign up to volunteer your time!
Soon, you will be able to also support them (and me!) by purchasing some of my art that will be exhibited inside, and also my books. Of course, if you’re familiar with my work, and especially my writing, you’ll know that this house is extremely meaningful and influential to me. About a decade ago, I got to visit it for the first time, and its elegant structure mixed with its air of mystery seeped into my subconscious. When I was writing Storms of Malhado, my Galveston hurricane novel, this is the place that my mind was going to. It’s impossible to imagine writing Storms of Malhado without having visited this stunning house. I feel that it’s become an important part of my creative life, and I welcome the opportunity to give back. Also, what fun to see work inspired by Galveston, by its history, and by the @leaguekempnerhouse itself displayed in its vast and beautiful rooms. Stay tuned for more details, but the art should be up sometime in the second part of October – just in time for haunted season
