Ink & Inspiration
By Kristi Antley
The art of writing, regardless of the instrument utilized, is an intimate relationship with oneself, transferring emotions, experiences, and information into print. Many gifted wordsmiths call Lexington County home, and Our Town Magazine has been blessed from inception with amazing content derived from these unique local characters. We would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to a few of our talented and published writers, who are living in our own backyard.
Scott Vaughan
Scott was born into a family of skilled educators in Georgia who prioritized and encouraged literacy. “My parents were both readers, my grandmother was a public teacher, and my family was a storytelling family,” he says.
Scott’s own journey into writing began early. “My fourth-grade teacher encouraged me to write short stories and read them to the class. My seventh-grade teacher took me to the local newspaper, where I was published occasionally. I worked for the newspaper my sophomore year in high school, as my career choice was to be a newspaper writer.” He loved the position and the environment, as well as the opportunity to learn from seasoned mentors. “Jim Cosey, the newspaper editor, taught me how
to write all the different kinds of stories,” Scott explains.
After graduating from Forsyth County High School in 1977, Scott attended the University of Georgia on a Georgia Press Association tuition grant. Although weaving words has been his livelihood for over 50 years, with the publication of his seventh book on the horizon, Scott says his greatest accomplishment will always be his first work: Brookwood Road. Published in 2014, this book fulfilled a 40-year-old promise to his father.
Scott says he writes every single day for work, for adult Bible study, and for fun. When asked what advice he would give to aspiring writers, he replied: “To be a good writer, you must enjoy reading. The more you read, the better your vocabulary and your sentence structure.” He also adds: “Write for an audience of one—yourself. Be content with that. Be open to accepting and appreciating good editing—people who want to make your work stronger. It’s impossible to adequately edit your own work.”
TORI NEWTON
Having a variety of interests and talents benefits any career in print, and Lexington native Tori Newton is a solid example of this. Before she discovered that writing was her passion, she had her share of amateur experiences (actress, singer, jock, etc.). “Even though I stayed in the music bubble for most of my childhood,” she recalls, “I’ve always had a passion for telling stories.”
As a University of South Carolina (USC) alumnus, “I graduated with honors and a bachelor of music in 2011, and I’m still very much a loud and proud Gamecock—spurs up!” she says. During her time at USC, her favorite class was a theater course she took in her senior year. When tasked with making a movie, “My primary role was that of screenwriter,” she says. “Watching the class get teary during emotional scenes, gasp at shocking revelations, or laugh out loud at a clever one-liner gave me a high I’ve been chasing ever since.”
Her first major achievement as an author occurred in December of 2023. “I entered the seventh Writers’
Playground Challenge, and out of over 600 entries, my psychological horror short story took first place,” Tori says. That success rollercoaster has not stopped, and her short stories and novels have been recognized internationally, receiving high accolades in both the US and the UK.
Her advice for potential authors is this: “Write the story you want to write. If the story resonates with you, it will likely resonate with others. You’ll never be able to please everybody, you’ll always have critics, but first and foremost, I urge you to tell the story you feel led to tell.”
Tori strongly feels that her faith is deeply embedded in the fabric of her Southern horror and paranormal books, shining brightly between the lines. She realizes that sometimes it takes unconventional approaches to reach people with different perspectives. For example, “You picked up Calling Eldritch Hayes for creepy ghosts and demonic possession? You added No One Lives in Alva Anymore to your cart because you love a good werewolf story?” she explains.
“GREAT—now here’s a side of the Gospel to go with them.”
DAN WILLIAMS
In Dan’s life, writing words was a natural result of his passion for the Word of God. “I am constantly reminded of a few words that were given to me by a seminary professor in Texas, as he was conducting class: ‘Be a writer.’ I believe the Lord drilled that word into my heart and mind many times over my lifetime,” he says. Dan’s father, a Baptist minister, was also a pivotal influence in his lifelong faith journey.
His father’s ministry relocated the family clan from Dayton, Ohio, to West Columbia in 1970. While attending high school, Dan’s afternoons were filled with part-time positions and choral practices with a Christian group called “The Tellers,” and eventually, he secured a music degree from Furman University.
“I am in my second month of my 70th year of life outside the womb!” Dan declares, as a very healthy and active septuagenarian. In addition to playing tennis, he holds positions within Lexington Baptist Church, is involved in community activities, and continues to write music, play the guitar, and sing. “In 1993 I had bi-lateral vascular lesions on my vocal cords, which required a surgical procedure,” he says. “I thank the Lord every day that the surgery restored my voice and has let me sing His praises through the years.”
Most of Dan’s work in the print world has been in the form of newsletters, articles, sermons, and songs. “I wrote the ‘Senior Living’ column for a local publication for three years and published a collection of 52 of my best articles from that time,” he shares. “Also, one of my song recordings has been seen over
100,000 times on YouTube and I continue to enjoy writing music and working with local publications.”
