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.
The Butterfly Man
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Coming back from a recent trip to Costa Rica where the butterfly represents the spirit of nature and many good things it's no surprise that I just mentioned to the Butterfly man (tending the BF garden in the park) that it was a beautiful day and he laughed and said - They're all beautiful! Gave me pause for thought. He's right and of course I subscribe to that passionate life theory but ascribing and living it out are two different things. So here's my Pura Vida - Amen, Brother. (Pura Vida is a Costa Rican term for pure life meaning - good life! Safe Journey! Peace and easy does it! It seems to work well for most occasions where celebrating simple pleasures and wishing well are appropriate.) We all need more passion and joy when embracing everyday life!
FIRST - A great big thank you to the many notes I've been receiving on how much you continue to embrace Saints In Limbo, spread the word to friends, and recommend to your book clubs! I am grateful that the story is being so widely loved and how people are relating to different characters in the story. For some it's the main character, the southern stubborn lovely, Velma. For others her best friend and avid reader, Sara. And for others that rock n roll runaway Annie is the one that takes their heart. Please keep sharing your notes and thoughts with me. I love receiving them one and all.
And on embracing life . . . I've been doing it a thousand different ways just like you. Most recently made it back to Nashville after a funny and fabulous visit to the SIBA trade show where Shellie Rushing Thomlinson and I created havoc and mayhem everywhere we went but always with a laugh and a story. It was so wonderful to meet new bookstore owners and to say hello to those I've known for many years now. Wanda and her team did an incredible job of pulling off the event another year and including a Writers Block auction where authors were auctioned off allowing the winner to take the author to dinner. Not a bad deal for the author I tell you.
Now the last time I was away and under a writing deadline that has produced the new novel (Thank God for writing deadlines - really! - no matter how much I may complain) I had the pleasure of taking a break to visit via telephone with the B.B. queens
This is the great picture of this group of ladies who once upon a time didn't know one another, and now because of Jonni Webb who began this Pulpwood Queens book club chapter, has this great book club of ladies that are close knit crazy and having a blast reading and discussing books of all kinds. This is them when we were having our discussion of Saints In Limbo.
I'll continue posting stories and pictures of book clubs reading Saints. Please don't forget to join me soon if you are in the Nashville area next week where I'll be speaking during the Saturday 1:30 panel in Room 31 - Pilgrims, Saints, & Mystics and will also be producing the radio Show - River Jordan & Company. You can stop by and listen in to authors such as Sonny Brewer, Ron Rash, and many others as they share a few stories about the writing life.
Festival time is for celebration and never is that more true than when we are gloriously celebrating story and the Written word. I hope you'll make this great opportunity a priority for you as next weekend is quickly approaching. It's worth a road trip to hear so many diverse authors speaking - and the event is open and free to the public so pass it on to your friends!
Please be sure you check the schedule on the website. I hope I'll be in a city near you soon or you'll be in mine. Tomorrow I have the pleasure of visiting with 40 school children, reading from Saints In Limbo, talking with them about my journey as a writer, and hopefully inspiring them to take that leap for life into the pleasures of reading and writing.
Wishing you the glorious joy that comes from the early days of Autumn. And as the Butterfly man says - They really are all wonderful.
River Labels: All Things Southern, SIBA
posted by River Jordan at 12:30 PM
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Connecting in Costa Rica
Friday, September 11, 2009
It never ceases to amaze me that the every changing landscape of humanity leaves one thing in tact = the ability of the human heart to connect with others.
Fresh off the frenzied road trip to the delightful and wildly successful Decatur Book Festival where had the priviledge of presenting in the beautiful Baptist Chapel, meeting friends, making new connections, and talking to readers it astounds me afreash how the passion of story, the place of story, the importance of story connects in life to one another.
i must confess that i write this late at night in the colonial hotel of san jose, costa rica where i just flew in with my infamous cousin Deb. i just lost my captial connection key. there are strange and wonderous spanish signs on this keyboard. my laptop has been left behind that carried with it book festival pictures, book club photos, and updates on the new jeep liberty i´ve appropriately named angel thanks to the fact that i prefer to travel in said company and husband was such an angel to pull off driving through the night to iowa to procure the vehicle replacement i´ve longed for over a year. angel await my return but right now the rainforest will be calling at daybreak but readers i am thinking of you.
and of story. of how we are all part of eternal story that is larger than anything we dreamed ever possible. how we are connected to one another in the mystery of life unfolding in all its wondorous beauty.
now as i meet the people of this country, as i see this beautiful creation (also the setting for jurassic park) i am amazed at the bounty of creation and the need of humanity to respect one another. to look into the eyes of the man driving the shuttle cab. to lift up that soul of the man lifitng the bags.
we move onward on our journey because of each other, playing our part to no small degree in lighting the load with a small smile or a word, a gesture or yes, a silent prayer.
blessings on your journey as you travel through all the days of your life.
returning with stories and photos soonest.
your friend,
river jordan Labels: costa rica, pura vida, traveling, world
posted by River Jordan at 6:00 PM
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Pilgrim on the Road
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
It never ceases to amaze me that the every changing landscape of humanity leaves one thing in tact = the ability of the human heart to connect with others.
Fresh off the frenzied road trip to the delightful and wildly successful Decatur Book Festival where had the priviledge of presenting in the beautiful Baptist Chapel, meeting friends, making new connections, and talking to readers it astounds me afreash how the passion of story, the place of story, the importance of story connects in life to one another.
i must confess that i write this late at night in the colonial hotel of san jose, costa rica where i just flew in with my infamous cousin Deb. i just lost my captial connection key. there are strange and wonderous spanish signs on this keyboard. my laptop has been left behind that carried with it book festival pictures, book club photos, and updates on the new jeep liberty i´ve appropriately named angel thanks to the fact that i prefer to travel in said company and husband was such an angel to pull off driving through the night to iowa to procure the vehicle replacement i´ve longed for over a year. angel await my return but right now the rainforest will be calling at daybreak but readers i am thinking of you.
and of story. of how we are all part of eternal story that is larger than anything we dreamed ever possible. how we are connected to one another in the mystery of life unfolding in all its wondorous beauty.
now as i meet the people of this country, as i see this beautiful creation (also the setting for jurassic park) i am amazed at the bounty of creation and the need of humanity to respect one another. to look into the eyes of the man driving the shuttle cab. to lift up that soul of the man lifitng the bags.
we move onward on our journey because of each other, playing our part to no small degree in lighting the load with a small smile or a word, a gesture or yes, a silent prayer.
blessings on your journey as you travel through all the days of your life.
returning with stories and photos soonest.
your friend,
river jordan
posted by River Jordan at 7:51 PM
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