Ramblings. As in: Have Words -Will Ramble. As in: Ramble: to write or talk aimlessly or without sequence of ideas, to proceed with turns and twists; meander As In: observances of an everyday life in passing through the spectrum of extraordinary.
Thunder Crash, Lighting Boom, Rain Pour Down!
Friday, May 29, 2009
It's official. I have heard the single, biggest thunderclap of my entire life. I don't know if you can see the water pouring down in this picture (otherwise known as rain) but just before it dropped this deluge, there was a sound right over the porch that made the big white dog scratch to actually get in the house so he could hide. He weighs over a hundred pounds for goodness sakes but I have to say - I understand. Only difference is I love a good thunder and lightning storm when I'm not in the middle of it holding a metal pole. For that I have to thank my Mama who would pick me up and take me to the window when a huge storm hit so that we could be amazed at the awesomeness of all of it. I still am. Thunder crash, lightning boom, rain pour down and I'm kinda dancing on our little front porch. Without the dog of course who knows I'm crazy!
A few days past we had the kick-off for Saints In Limbo at Davis Kidd in Nashville. Thank you to all of you who took time out on Memorial weekend, a sunny Saturday afternoon no less, to usher in this wild and wonderful southern story! I was delighted to see each of you including fellow artists Robert Hicks and Tom Kimmel. The questions were so wonderful I wanted to repeat a few and answer them in writing. And as I continue traveling and promoting Velma True and what happens to her and around her, I'll post a few from time to time to share the answers with those far and wide.
Often, when sitting in an audience of strangers someone is hesitant to raise their hand and voice a question. And oftentimes, they'll either whisper their question or comment to me while I'm signing their copy of the new novel. Or I'll receive an email from them saying, I was going to ask you this but . . .
No worries. You can always ask me anything and never be shy in public, and you can always feel free to write to me through the website contact. I love to hear from readers and do my best to respond in a timely manner.
And if you are anywhere in the area, please check the events calendar and join me for what's happening next. I'll be reading and signing at the Evening with An Author event June 4th and then will be leaving for days of fun with the Pulpwood Queens in Jefferson, Texas - Soul Surroundings - June 8th and Pulpwood Queens Book Club Meeting with Patti Callahan Henry June 9th.
The new novel is underway, the characters are captivating, the place is filled with by southern Alabama bay humidity, moss in the trees, and old southern mystery. If I'm not mistaken, it's scheduled for release May 2010 so for those of you who just finished Saints In Limbo and are curious if a new book is in the wings - Yes, very winged, and on it's way soon.
For those of you who wanted a copy of the little book of blogs and essays, The Deep, Down, & Dirth South - yes, it'll be available next week. Those great folks at Published by Westview have worked round the clock to make sure it stayed out there or else - it wouldn't be there.
Also - I promised and promised to upload a few interviews I've had recently for Saints In Limbo and the podcasts of my readings from same but we are still experiencing Technical Difficulties in getting those to load up. Lord, I think one day that's what I'll put on my tombstone, Please Stand By, Currently experiencing technical difficulties!
I'll also keep you posted on the new book releases of author friends who are writing around the clock as well so you'll never be wondering what to read next! For Local mystery, murder, and suspense, check out J. T. Ellison's new novel Judas Kiss. Tasha Alexander is celebrating the release of her latest in paperback for Historical fiction lovers and Eric Wilson continues to hit the mark with his suspenseful, supernatural thrillers.
So here posted for your pleasure is a few questions from the Davis Kidd event.
Q. Do you feel the title to the new novel fits the story.
A. Yes, and another yes, yes, yes. It is such a beautiful story about how we are all Saints in our small ways yet we are all also in this stage of transition, growing from one thing into another. I think that may just be a never ending part of life. But each of the characters in the novel is developing and growing in different ways. I think the title captures that perfectly and when you finish it I think you'll completely agree.
Q. Can you tell us a little bit about the setting in the novel and why you chose it?
A. I 'm so glad you asked. I can't believe I didn't bring that up earlier. The setting for my novel isn't fictional at all. Not where Velma lives in the woods on the creek. The town of Echo, Florida is a combination of small towns very close to this property that is my Daddy's old homestead. It really is seven swampy acres that run along the creek and is bordered by piney woods, and a dirt road. The house is literally the house Daddy grew up in. I might have tidied it up a bit. When the editors of Waterbrook sent me a map of the place in the story that they had created just from the words I was astounded. I didn't know that they were so serious about details in regards to fiction. They are! The map was perfect and I was so happy that the story captured that. And even though I love the place we call The Creek - it was not my purpose to write a novel set there it just happened. I saw this character of Velma True sitting on her porch and thought - oh my, that's The Creek. The story just took off from that first, simple image.
Okay - more questions to drop in later but right now - these characters from down south are trying to tell me a story. And they are really serious about it. Labels: Eric Wilson, Evening With An Author, J.T. Ellison, Pulpwood Queens, Robert Hicks, Tasha Alexander
posted by River Jordan at 9:29 AM
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Thunder, Lightning, and A Deck of Cards
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
As you know we've been on the road for what feels like a month. A huge, big thank you to folks like Virginia Dixon and Bettina Mead down on the Gulf Coast in Panama City who hosted and put on the Meet the Author event at the Bay County Library. Also thanks to those who kicked off the Saints In Limbo signing at Borders Pier Park. It was a pleasure to bask in the sunshine just a little, visit with family and old friends. Ahhh, salty air and God's variety in all it's glory.
The next week found us in Smokey Mountains of Georgia. Now, everyone knows I'm a Chanel girl. Not the suit (although I like!) but the perfume-s. And then because husband is also Mr. Outdoors I get to do the camping thing. Not that I wouldn't camp alone cause yes, I would. The writer in me longing for campfire, stars, and solitude for the page would win out over my Chanel perfume and grand old hotels soul - but - camping in the middle of a floozeing thunder and lightning, 45 mile per hour wind, top of the mountain experience - I'd be sleeping in the car. However, Husband decided that backpacking into the woods to be more primitive might be a BAD idea in the coming storm so he pitched sons tent that was built for the army. Like, maybe for 20 guys with a screened in porch. So he has pitched this tent and telling me not to talk anymore or ask questions but just to hold this pole and not to move. Hmmm. I'm holding the pole. It's dark. The winds are huge. The lightning crashing really close and then even closer and I'm thinking - Okay, I'm not suppose to talk but I think I'm holding a metal pole in the middle of a raging lightning storm and I happen to know that my Mama and Forrest Gump would agree on this situation. Fortunately, Husband moved faster than the lightning and we were inside and dry when the deluge hit. A few hours and many tunes later thanks to the great little thingamijig that the ipod was plugged into - we notice that the lantern is moving on it's own. My first thought is maybe God's trying to get my attention. My second thought was - we're under water. And so we were. The water was rushing underneath us so that our things and our sleeping bags were floating. Ahhh, the joy of the great outdoors. Enough to say, those hours were quality fun times as usual of us hanging out and listening to great music, laughing, playing cards, and telling stories. And wondering if the rain and wind were going to wash us down the mountain.
Next morning I left Husband in the woods and hit the switch backs down the mountain to attend the Cherokee County Arts Festival where Yawn Books was sponsoring the written word portion with author panels Saturday and Sunday. It's always such a humble pleasure to meet new readers, see old friends and make new ones. Saturday's panel featured yours truly with Patty Callahan Henry, Karen White, and Rebecca White where we discussed what being a southern writer means, and how stories play such a huge role in our lives. It was great to hear the personal stories of all the authors and I wish we would have had time to hear the stories of those in the beautiful auditorium. (The room we were in used to be an old church and everyone knows how transfixed I become with old churches.)
Sunday we discussed Inspirational Writing and I again took a seat on the panel. This time with Ginger Garrett, Cathy Lee Phillips, and Karen Spears Zacharias. I wish both of the sessions had been recorded and that I could have posted them entirely on site. It's wonderful to talk about Southern heritage and story telling and it's also very inspiring to talk about all things Divine and how that plays out in our writing.
I just missed writer friend J.T. Ellison but did get to see Jackie Cooper and Raymond Atkins.
The sum of the tale is the event brought me closer to the written word, to authors I have known and introduced me to new talent. That's worth a drive and a half and a few nights in a rainstorm!
In the process I discovered one of my favorite new places in the world and that's the Corks and Crumbs wine store and bakery in Eillijay on the old town circle. The moment I saw the building I had to slam on brakes and go in. For one - I was in desperate need of a Latte after campfire cowboy coffee and Two - The storefront captivated me the moment I spied it. Now get this - I go in to discover the owners sitting at the little storefront bar - reading. Apparently, they have a long history of books and of all things (unlike me as cousin knows) I walk in with a bookmark in my hands. The store closed before I could make it back to town but I have every intention of revisiting Ellijay and spending a little more time meandering.
We made it home safely and unpacked. I was able to wash my house boots that look like cheap imitation Uggs and I put them on the minute I come home. Favorite jeans - house boots - mean I'm home and all is well. I sat by the washer and dryer last night like a little kid who is waiting on that teddy to reappear unharmed. They cost me all of about 7 dollars on close out and I don't know what I'll do when they turn to fuzzy nothing.
But the fuzzy boots are safe, the hummingbirds are back, big dog is sleeping at my feet dreaming of snow not summer. Random House chose Saints In Limbo as one of their Editor's Choice picks for the month and it's currently on their home page. The Nashville Scene has selected the Davis Kidd signing this Saturday at 2pm as one of their highlighted Editor's picks for the week, and someone has just told me that 1200 people registered to receive one of the 25 contest copies of Saints In Limbo on Goodreads.com . Velma True's story is unfolding now and touching lives. And that's what writer's live for. Someone asked me at the panel what was our definition of success. My first response was living to be an old, old, woman in right mind and sound body with a long, long table filled with the presence of my husband, my sons and their children and their children's, children. But I suppose that is really the satisfaction of old age and all things well. Success as a writer has meant different things at different ages. When I was very young it was just to get published, when I was older - to have the respect of critics and peers, and now - just this one thing - To touch the hearts of readers and help illuminate beautiful truths in this journey we call being human.
Be well this week in all the wonder that is you. Labels: Random House, SAINTS IN LIMBO
posted by River Jordan at 7:57 AM
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SAINTS Surfacing
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Today debuts the new novel, Saints in Limbo, and what a little jewel it is - I promise you. If you love southern and stories that run a finger through the mystery on the other side of Tuesday, you won't want to miss Velma, Rudy, Long Sara, Annie, and Rose as they step off on this great adventure of life. For those of you who might not know that ever-talented, fastest pen in the South, Joshilyn Jackson has featured Saints in Limbo on her world renown blog - FASTER THAN KUDZU where you can enjoy her three questions with yours truly and leave comments far and wide at will.
This week leading up to the big TADA! moment has been full of sites and pleasures. Everything from Nuns picking them up and putting them down on the streets of Nashville to Garrison Keillor and Prairie Home Companion broadcasting live from the Ryman. That specter of light is Mr. Keillor himself - white suit, red hig  h-tops, red socks, red tie. A fashionable man. Brad Paisely was one of the featured guests along with mandolin player Sam of which I immediately became a fan of both. A delightful evening for someone who once met Mr. K. at the Southern Festival of the Book and reacted just like Richie on The Christmas Story when he met Santa Clause. Mr. K. kept asking if I had written this novel, The Gin Girl, and I just kept nodding, big-eyed and tongue-tied. He finally gave up the attempt to have any manner of conversat ion- much less anything intelligent. Fanship - it happens.
Husband and I wandered Broadway beneath the Batman, walked into Jacks Barbeque and walked out drunk on Barbeque sauce. Okay - so we're heading down to the salty, no longer sleepy, Gulf Coast for Mother's Day and to kick-off Saints. A friend tells me I need to be ready. And that ready means - I need more books, new clothes, maybe some botox and a spray tan. Yep. Well, the deal is you know how it is when you see some folks you haven't seen in long, long time and the paper has run an old photo of you from the file where you looked a litttle - ummmhmmm - fresher. So this is what I thought I'd do. Think I'll head home as my friend from Africa tells me - home is not where you call home now and where you live, home is where you come from. Think I'll head to the home I come from. Think I'll show up with this face I've been wearing for a while now through a lot of ups and downs. And maybe will wear some pants. Possibly a new shirt. Most likely not. Thought I'd pack some words and stories and memories, show up and share a few. And let some new stories develop in the process. That we'd all just relax and have a good time.
Because in the end, in the big picture of things, it's not about my tan. And it's not about those faces we keep checking in the mirror and keep saying, "Same, same," like the character in End Game. The current state of the world is more important than the current state of our image. Our reflections should be full of light, life, and the things that tell us we have a purpose for being here. As long as we recognise that light in our eyes if nothing else - it's going to be alright.
As I write this an old Simon and Garfukel song plays and I sit looking out into the trees full of green growing deeper by the second. And thinking of Velma rocking on her front porch knowing her story is about to unfold.
Life is good. Labels: Garrison Keillor, Ryman, SAINTS IN LIMBO
posted by River Jordan at 8:00 AM
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