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.
This Wild Ride Called Life
Sunday, October 25, 2009
I'm sitting in front of a warm, glowing fire. Everyone else in the house - meaning husband, the big, barky dog, and the demanding cat have curled up and fallen asleep. I have reading by the fire on my schedule, but first I wanted to share a few things with family, friends, and readers.
Writers often hear that readers want to peek inside their lives and that their blogs are a good place to do that. To share a little of what's on our minds. Sometimes writers are very, very good about 'branding' their blog. It takes on a certain tone, flavor, or interest and that is a very popular thing for everyone. My blogs don't do much more than take on the tone and flavor of the week I'm currently in and whatever season I happen to be journeying through on the moment. Case in point -
Here's my moment.
As many of you know two incredible young men in my life are in the military and have been deployed this past year. One to Afghanistan and the other to Iraq - so my greatest news and blessing is that both my sons are on home ground in America!!! This week my mother heart will rest easier than in has in many moons gone. I am exceedingly blessed beyond measure. My heart of understanding goes out to all the wives, mothers, father, sisters, girlfriends, children, and so on forever, who have loved ones serving in foreign places. My prayers for their safe keeping and safe return are with you.
Other things on my heart are my recent travels to book clubs, including the Metro Church in Marietta, GA. (And the questions and comments were so amazing from the readers on Saints In Limbo that I must recapture them and post those on my site) visiting Denise Hildreth's beautiful group the Whole Woman Revolution in Franklin (and having the honor of hearing her teach), and then having a full weekend of visiting with the Waterbrook (Random House) team in Nashville. They did an incredible job of escorting eleven of my fellow authors to visit Ingram books and to escort us to signings at Davis Kidd and two Lifeway stores in the area. Now, with two separate birthday celebrations for husbands birthday, a day of turning leaves, football and long walks we took along the Cumberland, it is indeed time to snuggle in for a little quiet reflection. What the week has given me is many new faces and friends across the transom of my life. And for good reason - I count that well.
Earlier in the week I received news that a dear friend passed away. She was somewhere in her seventies, had fought several different battles with cancer, was one of my trusted first readers of early manuscripts, and had one of the greatest attitudes about living life to the fullest that I've ever seen. When I think of Janis, I think of light - as if she was made of that essence. Even in the midst of one cancer fight and losing all of her hair, she painted her head with henna tattoos and soldiered on with pizazz and at style that was all her own. Her message seemed to always be one of joy in life, in travels, and yes, even in the midst of sorrow. I pray that her example will become mine. That all the blessings I have in this life will not be taken for granted. That her ability to find joy and share it is not beyond my possibility - somber child that I am. I pray to have a touch of that wild and wonderful spirit that Janis so easily possessed. And to share it as easily and readily with the world around me.
The morning after the news reached me I dropped into a salon and in the process met a new friend for the first time. I hope it won't be my last and if she reads this that she'll remember to look me up so we can have that cup of coffee we talked about. She is a wonderful, lively, funny 87 years old. That's the way Janis would want it. For me to celebrate her life to the fullest by making a new friend, breaking bread with them, and sharing the stories that lay between us.
As we move deeper into the season of Thankfulness, and towards holidays that can sometimes engulf us and busy us, I encourage you to read some great words, cherish your people, and make new connections within the community around you. My travels will soon take me to Dahlonega for the book festival in Dahlonega, Georgia, then to Southern Writers Reading event in Fairhope, Alabama. Please join me if these great events are anywhere near your hometown. We are in this thing called life together and you just finding these words and reading them links our lives together. It's an amazing journey full of surprises and the wildest of rides.
Keep reading, keep dreaming, and keep believing!
Many Blessings,
River Jordan
Labels: Dahlonega book Festival, Denise HIldreth, Southern Writers Reading
posted by River Jordan at 8:46 PM
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It's a Wonderful Life & the Accidental George
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
As I reflect on this month, on some very special young men in my life making their way home soon, and on the blessing of being a writer, on loving the work I do, and on the people in my life I am thankful beyond measure. What a season as the leaves begin to change in Nashville (and Momma they are changing faster than expected so that trip up here better be sooner than later!) I feel like Jim my Stewart when he said it was really was a wonderful life. I agree Mr. Stewart and even on our darker days, when the world feels a little sad and lonely, all in all, ain't that the truth of all truth's.
Now a little time has passed since I last blogged about being in Costa Rica with Cousin Deb and what great fun we had there and in the meantime it seems like life has been on fast forward. I have so MANY adventures and stories that I want to share. One's about being at the SIBA trade show and causing mass mayhem with friend and fellow author Shellie Rushing Tomlinson, and about this past weekend here in Nashville at the Southern Festival of the Book with over 200 authors invading Nashville once again. I was fortunate enou  gh to see old friends (they aren't old - we just been around writing for awhile) and making new writers friends like The Accidenta  l George. Okay - I accidentally picked him up in my jeep by yelling in him in traffic with the window down something l ike, "Hey You! Is your name George and are you a writer?" (promise - truth) And he says, "Yes." And I say, "Well, get in because they sent me to pick you up!" Now never mind that I get a few blocks down the road and discover that I have the WRONG George in my car because he is George Bishop and I am supposed to be picking up George Stewart (who I have yet to meet) but thank goodness he really was supposed to be at the Penthouse cocktail party fund raiser event for the Southern Festival of the Book. George Bishops new novel Letter to My Daughter will be out in the new future and I have made a new friend in the process.
Patience friends as I add all your websites and new book titles because I love promoting authors and their works of words. Case in point - Spent three hours producing River Jordan & Company radio at the Southern festival where I had the pleasure of interviewing  authors right up until five minutes before my panel Pilgrims, Saints, & Mystics where we had a great time!
Photos include hanging out on the Radio with Silas House, Janis Owens, Sonny Brewer, Janna McMahan, William Ferris Les Kerr, Darnell Arnoult, JT Ellison, and more. Look for the show and excerpts soonest. And a very special thank you to the people from Radio Free Nashville for coming out and making the production possible.
In the meantime, moving toward the editing phase of The Miracle of Mercy (working title) and a top secret project that blesses and breaks my heart that I can't wait to share with you soon.
Keep reading, keep dreaming, and keep believing!
River Jordan
Labels: Baja Burrito, Janis Owens, JT Ellison, Nashville, Silas House, Sonny Brewer, Southern Festival of the Book
posted by River Jordan at 10:01 PM
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