Back Then Right Now · the book club by mail
Women's voices, 100 years apart.
Every month, letters in your mailbox: what a woman was writing 100 years ago this month, and T.J. Colman writing back to her today.
Free with your first box: T.J. Colman's A Book of One's Own. First boxes ship the first week of January 2027. US addresses only.
Our welcome gift
A Book of One's Own
Six answers to Virginia Woolf, a century later.
Every new member receives T.J. Colman's A Book of One's Own in their first box. Woolf's six chapters of A Room of One's Own are printed whole, each followed by T.J.'s answer, written a century later from her own journals and letters. It's what Back Then Right Now does every month, in one book.
A Book of One's Own
Six answers to Virginia Woolf, a century later
One paperback per membership, sent with the first box.
How it works
Three voices in every envelope
Then, now, and you, plus a song and a work of art from the month it all happened.
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Then
A woman's book or story from this month 100 years ago, with a letter about her life and her year, and keepsakes from that month: a clipping, an ad, a recipe.
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Now
A personal letter from T.J. Colman, writing back across the century: what has changed for women, what hasn't, and her own story.
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The song and the art
Sheet music from that month, restored from the original, with a link to a modern cover; and an art card of a woman artist's work published that same month.
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You
A prompt card that asks you to write a line of your own. Keep it, or send it back. Every story counts.
The song of the month
Sheet music from 100 years ago
November 1926: Gertrude Lawrence introduced “Someone to Watch Over Me” on Broadway. December brings “Blue Skies,” which Belle Baker sang for 24 encores on its opening night.
- Restored from the 1926 printing, folded to fit the envelope.
- A modern cover, recorded for the club, a scan away.
- The story of the woman who first sang it.
Your correspondent
T.J. Colman
T.J. Colman is the author of the A Light in the Dark series. She writes about finding your voice again. Each month she answers a woman from a century ago, and invites you to answer too.
Join
Choose your letters
Your first box ships the first week of January 2027. Shipping is included; sales tax is added where required. US addresses only.
Letters
The letters, keepsakes, song and prompt. Bring your own copy of the book.
- Free with your first box: A Book of One's Own, by T.J. Colman
- The “Then” letter on the author and her year
- T.J. Colman's letter
- Keepsakes from that month, 100 years ago
- The song of the month, with a modern cover
- An art card from that month, by a woman artist
- A reading guide and your prompt card
- Add any month's book whenever you like
Letters + the book
Everything in Letters, plus H.D.'s edition of the month's book.
- Free with your first box: A Book of One's Own, by T.J. Colman
- Everything in Letters
- The month's book in H.D.'s first-edition-text paperback
- Matching covers for your shelf
- The best gift version
Subscriptions renew every month at the price shown until you cancel. You're charged when you join, then on the same date each month.
Cancel yourself, any time, no email needed: sign in to your account, open Subscriptions, and choose Cancel before your next billing date. The month already paid for still ships. Need help? support@hdpublishing.org.
By subscribing you agree to our Services Terms. Every envelope is plain, with H.D. Publishing as the return name.
Questions
Before you join
When does my first box arrive?
The first boxes ship the first week of January 2027, with the January 1927 book. After that, each box ships early in the month.
What's the welcome gift?
T.J. Colman's A Book of One's Own, one paperback per membership, sent with your first box. Gift subscriptions include it too.
Why “100 years ago”?
Each month we read what women were writing exactly a century earlier. Books that old are in the public domain in the United States, which is why we can print them in their first-edition text.
Which plan should I choose?
Choose Letters if you already have the book, borrow it from the library, or read it free online. Choose Letters + the book for a matching shelf of H.D. editions, or as a gift. Letters subscribers can add any month's book separately.
Can I give it as a gift?
Yes. Tick “This is a gift,” add a message for the first box, and enter the recipient's address as the shipping address at checkout.
Do you ship outside the United States?
Not yet. Some of these books are still under copyright in other countries, so the club ships to US addresses only.
Some of these books deal with hard things. Is that addressed?
Yes. Some months deal with difficult subjects, such as an abusive marriage. Each box carries a content note inside, never on the envelope, and support information. The envelope is always plain.
How do I cancel?
Yourself, any time, with no email or phone call: sign in to your account with your email (we send you a sign-in code), open Subscriptions, and choose Cancel before your next billing date. You can also pause or change your card there. The month you've already paid for still ships. If anything goes wrong, support@hdpublishing.org will help.
Where do I manage my subscription?
In your account, under Subscriptions. There's also a Manage subscription link on your order confirmation.
Not ready yet?
Leave your email and we'll write when each month's letters are ready.