- The Flower Letters, a Utah-based company, sends historical stories via snail mail.
- Subscribers receive 24 letters yearly, experiencing stories like WWII romance and regency tales.
- The initiative began during COVID-19, offering unique, engaging storytelling and community connections.
SALT LAKE CITY — Over 3 million letters have been sent all over the world, taking readers through a World War II romance, an archaeology adventure and a Jane Austen-style regency story, thanks to a Utah company
The Flower Letters, created by husband and wife Michael and Hannie Clark, is connecting readers to unique stories through traditional paper mail. They send 24 letters throughout the year via snail mail, providing subscribers with a unique way to become engaged in a good story.
The concept was born at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Clarks took a walk around their neighborhood and pitched an idea to friends and acquaintances: What if they could take a story, typically told in a book, and send it out through traditional letters?
Hannie Clark began researching and writing the couple's first series, centered around a couple during World War II.
"The original idea was that I was going to write to her, and then she would write back as we took on the personas of the characters," Michael Clark explained. "But it became clear that I'm not as good of a writer as she is. ... She had the vision for what it could be."
The first story soon garnered 30 subscribers, eager to receive a story in their mailboxes. The story was a smash hit, and by the end of the year, over 5,000 people had signed up with the company. The Flower Letters was born, combining storytelling and mail in an interactive way. Today, the company offers six unique yearlong stories.
"We had no idea how meaningful it would be to people, and to us," Hannie Clark said. "There have been so many stories from people. A lot of our customers are isolated — they are isolated in retirement homes, are sick or are passing away. ... That's what makes all the complicated stuff so worth it."
As a survivor of an extremely dark period in her life, Hannie Clark explained that she wrote each letter to help someone in a difficult place. To be able to turn her pain into purpose has made the Flower Letters personal.
Individuals can choose between a WWII romance, a regency romance, an archaeology adventure, a wild Western romance and three fantasy adventure chronicles. Most stories are historical fiction and do not include real characters.
The Clarks' love of family history greatly inspired their period choices. Additionally, the main characters in the stories have names from their family history, as well as a flower-inspired name — hence the company name.
Logistically, mailing out unique letter packages for different stories all over the world was near impossible. "There is nothing like it. ... We have had to invent as we go," David Clark said. "I've been in tech companies, and this is by far the most complicated venture I've ever done."
Each story package has to be subscribed to separately. After choosing between the different story packages, subscribers will begin seeing two letters in the mail each month. With over 800 individual pieces of artwork and letters, each package provides a unique experience.
The envelopes include letters between the main characters, postcards, posters, newspaper clippings, telegraphs and other keepsake-worthy pieces. By the end of the year, readers have taken a journey and experienced a story like never before.
"Our mission is to build connections and enrich the mind," said Angela Ahn, who works on the business development team. "It actually provides a lot of relief for people. They have written in about things where they were battling cancer or just going through a dark time, and this was something that they could look forward to that came in the mail regularly."
Some dedicated readers have even begun to build communities around the letters. Book clubs, reading groups and online forums have raved about the Flower Letters and how much they love the experience. Reviews also show individuals making scrapbooks of the letters, talking about how much they enjoyed the experience, and readers who have found a new niche interest.
In addition to the reading journey, subscribers also get the chance to learn more about a specific time period in history. With most of the stories being historical fiction, Hannie Clark will travel to the actual location where the story is set and do as much research as possible.
"Even the anticipation of waiting for the letter to arrive is all part of the experience. Then, you're experiencing what the characters experienced during the period, because most of them had to wait for their mail," Ahn said.
When reading, the letters also have an extended learning portion online. Unfamiliar highlighted words on the page can be found on the website and placed into historical context. Regardless of the period, the Clarks also try to ensure each story is family-friendly.
"It's a wholesome form of entertainment," Ahn said. "It genuinely brings happiness to people. … It's something that we can be proud of."
"We're just so grateful," Michael Clark added. "We get to work together and ... we know we've definitely been led here."
The Flower Letters debuted a new podcast featuring real-life stories earlier this year, and the Clarks have plans to release a new story this holiday season. Subscriptions can be placed at any time; for more information, visit the Flower Letters website.
