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Blood, Power, and the Price of Loyalty: St. Mary’s County Author Jessica Housand Makes Her Mark with Blood Gilt
St. Mary's County author Jessica Housand is earning literary recognition for Blood Gilt, a psychological crime thriller exploring family loyalty, political power, and inherited violence. She'll meet readers in Leonardtown on November 7.
In the world of Blood Gilt, love is rarely unconditional, loyalty can become a weapon, and the past is never quite finished with those who survive it.
For Alejandro Whitmore Santiago, the central figure in Jessica Housand’s debut novel, family is both the thing he desperately longs to recover and the force threatening to destroy him. Raised in the shadow of a powerful criminal father and separated from his mother and siblings during El Salvador’s civil war, Alejandro finds himself caught between two competing inheritances: a transnational criminal empire and a revolutionary legacy rooted in a country he was forced to leave behind.
It is a brutal, morally complicated world—one in which political convictions, criminal ambitions, and family obligations can become nearly indistinguishable.
And the writer behind it lives here in Southern Maryland.
Jessica Housand, PhD, MPH, MFA, a St. Mary’s County author, researcher, and former U.S. Navy civilian scientist, has emerged as a notable new voice in literary crime fiction following the July 2026 publication of Blood Gilt. In just a few months, her debut has secured multiple literary honors, earned attention from established review publications, and introduced readers to a story that reaches far beyond the familiar boundaries of the conventional crime thriller.
On Saturday, November 7, Housand will bring that story to Leonardtown Library as a participating author at the St. Mary’s County Library’s 2026 Author Fair, giving local readers an opportunity to meet the writer behind a novel gaining attention well outside the region.
A Debut Novel Finding Its Audience
Published July 21 by Little Studio Films Publishing Co., Blood Gilt has already accumulated a noteworthy collection of literary distinctions.
In October, the novel received two second-place honors at the Fall 2026 BookFest Book Awards, recognized in both the Fiction—Thriller: Crime & Legal and Fiction—Thriller: Political categories. Those distinctions followed a Literary Titan Gold Book Award and a favorable assessment from Kirkus Reviews, which awarded the novel its “GET IT” recommendation.
Kirkus Reviews characterized the book as:
“An intelligent thriller that looks back to the past to expose the cruelty of the present.”
The assessment is particularly relevant to Housand’s ambitions as a novelist. Rather than treating historical conflict as a convenient backdrop for organized crime, Blood Gilt places the consequences of political upheaval at the center of its characters’ identities and decisions.
Kirkus praised the novel’s psychological complexity and relationships shaped by brutality, while also noting that its large cast, dense subject matter, and occasional uneven pacing could challenge readers. The review nevertheless recognized its success as both an action thriller and an examination of generational violence.
That distinction matters. Serious literary recognition is not simply a matter of collecting favorable adjectives; it also reflects a work’s ability to sustain critical examination.
More recently, the book was selected for the November 2026 recommended reading issue of Donovan’s Bookshelf. Reviewer D. Donovan, associated with Midwest Book Review, has highlighted its combination of psychological introspection, political themes, and Latin American historical influences.
Taken together, these responses suggest that Housand’s debut is finding an audience among readers who expect more from crime fiction than escalating danger and a final confrontation.
The sound arrived before the aircraft did.
That familiar roar — sharp, rising, impossible to ignore — cut across the Baltimore sky as pilots practiced for the airshow tied to America’s 250th anniversary celebrations. For a few moments, everyday life looked up. Traffic kept moving, phones came out, heads tilted back, and the city’s waterfront became a front-row seat to something larger than entertainment.
Charlotte Hall, Development, and the State of the Old Amish Market
Looking again at one of Charlotte Hall’s most familiar market spaces — and what it could tell us about growth, local culture, traffic, and the future of Southern Maryland.
Charlotte Hall has always had a particular feel to it. It is part pass-through town, part rural crossroads, part local shopping stop, and part reminder that Southern Maryland still has its own identity. It is not Leonardtown. It is not Waldorf. It is not Prince Frederick. It has always been something a little different — practical, rural, useful, and familiar.
One of the clearest examples of that character has been the old Amish market area. For many people who grew up around Charlotte Hall, the market was not just a place to buy produce. It was a regular stop for trinkets, tools, plants, baked goods, canned goods, handmade items, vegetables, flowers, and whatever else happened to be out on the tables that day. It had that outdoor market feeling that is hard to recreate once it fades: a little dusty, a little uneven, but active, local, and full of character.
St. Mary’s County Primary Results Set The Stage For November Ballot
St. Mary’s County voters went to the polls Tuesday, June 23, helping decide which candidates will move forward to the November general election in several federal, state, and county races.
LEONARDTOWN, Md. — St. Mary’s County voters have narrowed the field for November, setting up several county, state, and congressional matchups after Tuesday’s primary election.
The results remain unofficial, but the Maryland State Board of Elections reported 27 of 27 Election Day precincts in St. Mary’s County across the major countywide contests. The numbers give Southern Maryland voters a clear first look at who will appear on the general election ballot — and where the local political temperature is heading.
In the race for Maryland’s 5th Congressional District, Democratic voters in St. Mary’s County backed Adrian Boafo, who led the county with 1,419 votes, or 32.31%. Boafo finished ahead of Quincy Bareebe, who received 1,088 votes, or 24.77%, and Harry Anthony Dunn, who received 577 votes, or 13.14%.
On the Republican side, Chris Chaffee won St. Mary’s County with 2,943 votes, or 58.21%, defeating Michelle Talkington, who received 1,540 votes, or 30.46%, and Bryan DuVal, who received 573 votes, or 11.33%.
Chris Chaffee won the Republican primary vote in St. Mary’s County for Maryland’s 5th Congressional District. Image source: iVoterGuide candidate profile.
The 5th District race carries extra weight this cycle following the retirement of longtime Congressman Steny Hoyer, leaving voters to decide who will represent a district that includes Southern Maryland and portions of the Washington region.
In the governor’s race, St. Mary’s County Democratic voters favored Wes Moore and Aruna Miller, who received 3,596 votes, or 80.95%. On the Republican ballot, Dan Cox and Rob Krop led the county with 3,063 votes, or 57.71%.
Locally, the race for County Commissioner President delivered one of the night’s more closely watched Republican contests. Tom Jarboe won the Republican nomination with 2,344 votes, or 43.90%, defeating Roy H. Alvey, who received 1,793 votes, or 33.58%, and Greg Kolarik, who received 1,203 votes, or 22.53%.
Democrat AnnMarie Abell ran unopposed for County Commissioner President and received 3,639 votes, setting up a November race between Abell and Jarboe.
In the district commissioner races, Democrat Sheila Milburn won the District 1 primary with 2,920 votes, or 72.47%, defeating Wendy Smith Rice-Morton, who received 1,109 votes, or 27.53%. Republican Eric Scott Colvin ran unopposed in District 1 and received 4,419 votes.
In District 2, Democrat Brandon Russell ran unopposed and received 3,639 votes. Republican Tom Phelan defeated Thomas F. McKay, receiving 3,031 votes, or 57.19%, compared with McKay’s 2,269 votes, or 42.81%.
In District 3, Democrat Joshua Kyte received 3,482 votes, while Republican John O’Connor received 4,131 votes. Both ran unopposed in their respective primaries.
In District 4, Democrat Ryan B. Daniels received 3,540 votes. Republican Scott R. Ostrow won the Republican primary with 3,419 votes, or 67.84%, defeating Dawn Zimmerman, who received 1,621 votes, or 32.16%.
For State Senate District 29, Democrat Chuck Borges received 3,594 votes, while Republican Jack Bailey received 4,525 votes. Both candidates ran unopposed in their party primaries and are expected to face each other in November.
In the House of Delegates races, House District 29C produced one of the tightest local results of the night. Democrat J.W. Abney received 318 votes, or 38.22%, narrowly defeating Shaara Watts, who received 309 votes, or 37.14%.
Republican incumbent Todd B. Morgan won his primary with 1,311 votes, or 84.53%, defeating James McQueen, who received 240 votes, or 15.47%.
Delegate Todd Morgan won the Republican primary in House District 29C. Image source: Todd Morgan for Delegate campaign website.
In House District 29A, Democrat Jennifer Lynn Clancy received 1,311 votes, while Republican Matt Morgan received 2,408 votes. In House District 29B, Democrat Adrianne M. Mathis won with 1,583 votes, or 89.69%, defeating Kris McDonald, who received 182 votes, or 10.31%. Republican BJ Hall ran unopposed in District 29B and received 948 votes.
Several county offices were uncontested in the primary. Republican Christy Kelly received 4,305 votes for Treasurer. Republican Jaymi Sterling received 4,475 votes for State’s Attorney. Republican Debbie Mills Burch received 4,354 votes for Clerk of the Circuit Court. Republican Phyllis A. Superior received 4,244 votes for Register of Wills.
In the sheriff’s race, Democrat Carl Sturgis received 3,339 votes, while Republican Steve A. Hall received 4,581 votes. Both ran unopposed in their party primaries, setting up a November contest for sheriff.
For Judge of the Circuit Court, Circuit 7, Kevin R. Hill appeared on both Democratic and Republican ballots. Hill received 3,522 votes on Democratic ballots and 4,261 votes on Republican ballots.
In the race for Judge of the Orphans’ Court, Democrat Curtis J. King received 3,534 votes. On the Republican ballot, where voters could select up to three candidates, Bill Mattingly led with 4,158 votes, followed by Albert “Allie” Babcock with 3,634 votes and Michael R. White with 3,532 votes.
The numbers now move from primary-night arithmetic to November reality. St. Mary’s County voters have made their first cut, and the general election field is taking shape. While the results remain unofficial until finalized, the message from Tuesday is clear enough: the county’s next political chapter is now set, and the fall campaign has effectively begun.
Source: Maryland State Board of Elections, unofficial 2026 gubernatorial primary election results for St. Mary’s County. Candidate images sourced from campaign or public candidate-profile pages where available.
Southern Maryland’s Voice Belongs at the Ballot Box Today
Today is Primary Election Day in Maryland, and Southern Maryland voters have an opportunity that should not be taken lightly.
Polls are open today from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and voters across Southern Maryland have an opportunity that should not be taken lightly. Before heading out, voters should confirm their assigned Election Day polling place through the Maryland State Board of Elections voter lookup system. Election Day voting is based on a voter’s assigned polling place, not simply the nearest or most convenient building nearby. Mail-in ballots must be postmarked today or returned to an official ballot drop box or local board of elections by 8 p.m. That part is simple.
The larger question is whether Southern Maryland will make itself heard.
Primary elections are not political warm-ups. They are where voters begin deciding what kind of leadership they are willing to accept.
For too long, communities in Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s counties have watched decisions made in Annapolis and Washington without enough regard for the people who actually keep this region moving: military families, defense workers, tradesmen, watermen, small-business owners, parents, farmers, commuters, retirees, and taxpayers trying to make the math work at the kitchen table.
This primary is not just a preview of November. It is where voters begin choosing the kind of leadership they want representing them when the real pressure comes.
Southern Maryland needs leaders who understand that affordability is not a slogan.
It is the cost of groceries.
It is the electric bill.
It is gas, insurance, housing, child care, and the price of keeping a small business alive.
Families here do not need more polished speeches about “investing in the future” while everyday costs continue to climb. They need government that respects the people paying the bills.
Affordability is not an abstract policy debate. It is what families face every week at the register, at the pump, and at the kitchen table.
Voters also deserve candidates who take public safety seriously, support strong schools without turning classrooms into political laboratories, respect parents as the first authority in a child’s life, and understand the importance of the military and defense economy to this region.
Those are not merely partisan concerns.
They are common-sense concerns.
The same goes for growth and development. Southern Maryland cannot be treated as a dumping ground for decisions made elsewhere. Roads, infrastructure, farmland, waterfront communities, local businesses, and quality of life all matter.
Growth should serve the people who live here — not just planners, lobbyists, and political insiders.
A small number of voters can shape the choices everyone else sees in November.
That is why today’s vote matters.
Primary elections often draw lower turnout, but that only increases the power of those who show up. Anyone frustrated with the direction of the state, the cost of living, school policies, public safety, taxes, or the feeling that Southern Maryland gets overlooked should not sit this one out.
Complaining after the fact is easy.
Voting before the decision is made is how citizens keep their leverage.
Before heading out, voters should confirm their polling location through Maryland’s official voter lookup system. Anyone in line by 8 p.m. has the right to vote.
Southern Maryland has its own character, its own priorities, and its own backbone.
Today is the day to prove it at the ballot box.
The Thrift Trail: A Visit to Hooks & Hangers
At a Southern Maryland nonprofit thrift store, secondhand shopping feels less like a passing trend and more like a practical, local habit worth supporting.
Thrift shopping has always carried a certain appeal, but lately it feels like more people are beginning to understand it in a new way. It is no longer just about finding something cheap or replacing what you need at a lower cost. For many shoppers, thrifting has become a way to find useful items, discover unexpected pieces, stretch a household budget, and support local organizations at the same time.
That combination is part of what makes a store like Hooks & Hangers worth paying attention to.
This week, I stopped into Hooks & Hangers, a nonprofit thrift store with locations in La Plata and Charlotte Hall, Maryland. The store supports Spring Dell Center, an organization serving adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Southern Maryland. That mission gives the store a clear purpose beyond retail. Every donated item, every purchase, and every visit contributes to a larger local effort.
That matters, especially in a time when so much shopping has become disconnected from place. Online retail is convenient, and large stores have their role, but a community still benefits from businesses and nonprofits that keep resources circulating locally. Hooks & Hangers does that in a simple, practical way. It gives people a place to donate items they no longer need, gives shoppers access to affordable goods, and helps support services for people in the community.
Walking through the store, the first thing that stands out is the range. Thrift stores are not designed around the polished uniformity of a chain retailer. They are built from what people bring in, which means every section reflects real use, real households, and real turnover. In one corner, I found badminton rackets, sports gear, a wooden chair, umbrellas, crutches, boxes, and household items gathered together in the kind of practical assortment that only a thrift store can produce.
Old Line Press is Looking for Volunteers
Old Line Press is looking for Southern Maryland volunteers to help gather photos, interviews, stories, events, job postings, announcements, and community updates. Help us build a clear, useful local publication that serves the people, places, and stories that make our region home.
Old Line Press was created with a simple mission: to give Southern Maryland a clear, organized, and community-focused place to find local stories, events, jobs, announcements, opportunities, and information.
Too much of what matters locally gets scattered across social media posts, private groups, flyers, word of mouth, outdated calendars, and hard-to-follow websites. Old Line Press aims to bring those pieces together into one familiar, dependable place.
Now, we are looking for volunteers who want to help build it.
What We’re Looking For
We are looking for community-minded people who are willing to help with the footwork that makes a local newspaper possible.
That may include taking photos, conducting short interviews, writing local stories, sending in event details, gathering announcements, researching public information, or helping organize useful community updates.
You do not need to be a professional journalist, photographer, or writer.
What matters most is that you care about the community, communicate clearly, and are willing to help gather and share information that serves local people.
Ways Volunteers Can Help
There are many ways to contribute to Old Line Press.
Volunteers may help by taking photos at local events, businesses, landmarks, or community gatherings. Others may want to interview residents, business owners, organizers, public servants, artists, coaches, teachers, or local leaders.
Some may prefer writing short features, event recaps, business spotlights, community updates, or opinion pieces. Others may simply want to send in tips about upcoming events, job openings, fundraisers, school updates, church announcements, nonprofit efforts, or local opportunities.
Even small contributions matter.
A photo, a lead, a short write-up, or a verified event detail can help make Old Line Press more useful for everyone.
Who This Is For
This opportunity is for people who are naturally observant, curious, reliable, and connected to the places around them.
If you already attend local events, help with a church, school, business, nonprofit, volunteer group, sports league, neighborhood effort, or civic organization, you may already be in a good position to contribute.
Old Line Press needs people who are willing to notice what is happening, ask good questions, and help document the life of Southern Maryland.
The Bigger Mission
Old Line Press is not meant to be flashy, corporate, or complicated.
It is being built as a simple, useful, and trustworthy local publication — a digital newspaper that helps people understand what is happening around them and where they can get involved.
Our goal is to highlight local stories, support small businesses, promote community events, organize useful information, and preserve the everyday life of Southern Maryland.
A strong local publication cannot be built from a distance. It has to be shaped by the people who live here, work here, volunteer here, worship here, raise families here, and care about what happens next.
A Volunteer Role, For Now
This is a volunteer opportunity at this stage, but the mission is serious.
Our long-term goal is to build Old Line Press into a sustainable local publication that serves Southern Maryland with clarity, consistency, and purpose.
If you want to help document local life, support community connection, and be part of building something useful from the ground up, we would like to hear from you.
Whether you can write, take photos, talk to people, send in leads, help organize information, or simply keep your eyes open for what is happening around town, there may be a place for you at Old Line Press.
How to Get Involved
If you are interested in volunteering, please reach out with your name, where you are located in Southern Maryland, and what kind of help you may be interested in offering.
You can also include any experience, interests, topics, communities, or local areas you would like to help cover.
Old Line Press is being built for the community. With the right people involved, it can become a central gathering place for the stories, opportunities, and information that make Southern Maryland feel like home.
Send a resume and contact info to bryandesigns@pm.me
The Launch of Old Line Press
Southern Maryland deserves one simple place to find what matters. This digital magazine gathers local jobs, events, news, announcements, stories, and useful community information into a calm, organized home built to serve the people.
Southern Maryland has been my home for my entire life. I grew up here, and I’ve always felt this place deserved a more organized, useful, and direct way to find what’s happening around us. Too often, local information is scattered across disconnected Facebook groups, social media posts, news sites, event pages, business pages, and government websites that may or may not be fully updated. The result is noise, confusion, and missed opportunities.
This site exists to be something simpler.
It is not trying to be a flashy news organization. It is not trying to become another social media platform. It is meant to be easy, direct, familiar, and timeless — a central place where Southern Maryland can come to find what matters. Think of it as a digital magazine and community bulletin, carefully curated in one location. My goal is to gather and organize the everyday life of our community: jobs, events, local news, announcements, stories, opportunities, business updates, public information, and the small details that make a place feel connected.
I aim to serve as a curator and surveyor of Southern Maryland — collecting the useful, meaningful, and overlooked pieces of local life and bringing them together in a way that is calm, elegant, and easy to use.
All I ask is $10 a month from subscribers to help sustain this work and continue building the mission: a website that actually serves Southern Maryland, strengthens local awareness, and helps foster real community cohesion.
Thank you for supporting a project built for the place we call home.
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