Ahhh, 4:47am. What a delightful time of the morning. Some writers do this on a regular basis. Set their clocks. Rise at 3 or 4 am and write away the hours until the sun comes up. What a romantic notion. What a way to guarantee deep, dark, circles under your eyes and keep the beauty business in business.

The mighty Titan barked at 3am. and 3:33am. And 3:47 am. For no good reason. Dreams. Desires. Chasing rabbits in his sleep.

But now I'm up. A little before the 5 am alarm as I pack (oh, yes - last minute) to catch an early plane for Texas. But the rewards they be awaiting. For those of you who haven't heard of the this great literary good time event check out the Beauty and the Book website. http://www.beautyandthebook.com/GirlFriendWeekend.cfm

Those people are so wild and wonderful and love books of all shapes, sizes, and colors. For those of you who haven't made plans to hit Texas - there's still time. Just get those car keys out, and gas up that road hog and hit the mighty trail. (You know, just once, you should leave a note that says 'I've gone to Texas. Be back soon' because life shouldn't be that gosh, darn predictable everyday.)

So in a few hours - I'm off to Texas to join Doug Marlette http://dougmarlette.com/ , Cassandra King http://www.cassandrakingconroy.com/ and a host of other writers who will be a part of the incredible group of talent and fun taking the stage. Hats off to Kathy Patrick for undertaking one of the most ambitious literary and 'fabulicious' weekends that I have seen in la literary ine-up. What an awesome way to start the year!

A special thank you to the Fanklin, TN http://www.williamson-franklinchamber.com/ bookclub (and hostest Susan Merritt) for choosing 'The Messenger of Magnolia Street' as your recent book of the month. I wish I could have taped the luncheon because honey, that chocolate dessert was just DIVINE and also, because of the deep, thoughtful questions and comments regarding the novel and it's reflection of not only the old south disappearing but of family histories and a culture at large disappearing before our very eyes. And the good time had by all in casting the potential movie version. (When all the woman collectively and unanamously voted that only Mathew MCConaughey could play the lead role of Nehemiah Trust I had to laugh. My mother-in-law would agree whole heartedly but hey - they all declare that he is a true southern, gentleman, could wear a suit, be shirtless and barefoot, and rescue a woman or an entire town, and these are important qualities for the character. So for the ladies of the Franklin bookclub - here is the only site I see that looks slightly official where your pick of the Hollywood elite resides: http://www.ranaroyale.com/McConaughey/

For those of you who have written with your many wonderful comments regarding The Messenger of Magnolia Street, and asking when the next books will be out, does the answer, "Soon and someday," suffice? The new fiction novel is yes, yes, something mystical and something southern. Other special requests have poured in asking for more Stories about the south (and about my family stories in particular, the ones I tell on the road when no family members are within arm's reach) yes, yes, those are underway as well. And another book that wades into more spiritual waters for those who keep checking back the Rock-N-Roll Pilgrim journal and requesting more entries. Watch for changes in the next few days to the journal space on this website along with a few other changes. A few of the journals that you've been following/reading/watching will be disappearing but not because they don't exist, just because they are moving off the web and in between some old-fashioned pages.

Well, Mr. Wonderful is reminding me that I'm not packed. And so I'm not. But I want to say that I really do appreciate all your emails through the website and the fact that so many of you have taken time to share with me what 'Messenger' has meant to you and how it has affected you. As always and with most things, literature and stories find their place. They find their people. I'm so very thankful that this story has found you. In a time of turmoil and uncertainty, it offers what I believe is real. That as long as there remains one good wish, one true heart, I will continue to report that all is well, my friend.

All is well.