Monthly Archive for August, 2010

Big Dogs and Breathing

Published on August 31, 2010 in Dogs, Life and Story. 0 Comments

Me and Big Dog went walking. We moved ourselves from behind the desk (him taking up most of the floor behind me) and hit the rails to trails where we crossed three bridges, past Tennessee streams, and inlets along the Cumberland River. First I’m checking emails as I walk and responding, earphones in, music jamming. But in a little while, the more I take in the trees and sky, the fact that I can hear the water running over those rocks in spite of what’s rocking in my head, I catch myself. I slow down, take the earphones, out of my ears, shove the palm in my pocket (yes I’m holding out till the Iphone makes it to Verizon) and soak up a little of the moment. Me. Big Dog. Blue Sky.

It amazes me always how fast it slips by, this thing we call time, this stuff we call life, if I let it. In all my business of serving life and not living it.

Breathe. Good life in. Busy life out.

It takes a little getting used to this shifting gears. Big dog, he’s always living in the moment. Hugs. Treats. Hiding from the thunder . Pausing to listen to a stranger’s story. Pausing to stare at the clouds. Literally, pausing to catch our breath before we push on.

Then we came home as the day grew darker, and how shall I say this, pockets of sunset came busting through the clouds. I stood there thinking, If only I had an iphone I’d take a picture and I twitter this. But we did no such thing. We just stood there staring for a really, long time.

Starred Reviews and SAGE Words

Published on August 26, 2010 in Clearstory Radio Blog. 0 Comments

2010-08-27 09-00-00 WRFN PROGRAM AUDIO Okay – If you missed this great chat with Michael LIve you can hear it at the link above at your leisure! Now, please enjoy the 1 min and 29 seconds of quiet meditative silence prior to the show. * see small print – programmer error (mine). The show kicks in and doesn’t stop right after that beautiful moment of silence.

LISTEN LIVE HERE – at 9am Central or in places around Nashville area tune in to 107.1fm

This week award-winning author, Michael Lister drops in to chat about his most, magnificent year. With four new titles out in the same year (yes, that’s right – and you’ll have to tune in to understand how), a stage work of his novel Double Exposure, starred reviews, the 11th Gulf Coast Writer’s Conference and more he has reason to be enthusiastic about the writing life – even down right puffed up prideful but he’s not the least bit. What captures your attention is the fact that he strikes you instead is a man who has paid his dues, been around the block, worked hard at developing his craft, and now works tirelessly to help shine the light on that path for other’s wanting to get into the game.

Whether you are a seasoned professional writer, someone dreaming of getting the words to the page, or a lovely reader who never desires to write a single word, this is a man you want to pull up a chair and give a listen to. Michael visits with Clearstory and also shares his thoughts on some of the works out there that might lend a little insight to this thing called The Writer’s Life. The REAL Writer’s life that is.

A few of those in passing so that you can check them out at leisure are Outliers,and Talent is Overrated . One of his recommended great Summertime reads is James Lee Burke’s most recent. Mr. Lister says it’s one of his best ever and I love the fact that regardless of anyones age – their 18th novel can surpass them all.

Tune in for other upcoming news of literary releases, signings, author appearances, festivals worthy of your time – and a great little place to grab a journal or a laptop and hideaway.

And as always – Special musical interludes. Tell your friends, drive around, hang over someone’s live link feed, or sit on the porch within shouting distance – but just be there.

Getting Real

Published on August 19, 2010 in Clearstory Radio Blog. 0 Comments

Listen Friday morning at 9am on 107.1 fm Nashville area or Listen LIVE here through Radio Free Nashville.

Steve Elder speaks with Clearstory very candidly about his the message found in his new book, How Much More Longer. A survivor of a head on collision just out of high school, Steve silently suffered for years from the effects of that car crash that remained unseen. But fortunately, he found a way to communicate with someone who made a difference in his life. He has now brought that story to the page so that others who are like him can find a way to feel free about being exactly who they are.

The powerful questions Steve poses — in his speeches, coaching sessions and book How Much More Longer? — challenge people to disengage from auto-pilot, cultivate their authentic selves and redirect their energy towards meaningful goals.

I like his style. Warm, honest, and bare to the bones. The man doesn’t put on any airs and you’re going to enjoy his inspirational message.

On Steve Elder’s bedside reading table: The BullPen Gospels . I’m a girl that happens to love the poetry of baseball and even if you don’t = checking out the story is always worth the time.

Plus more news on the writing world, upcoming festivals, new book selections, where book clubs can connect, and how you can discover stories in your own back yard!

All with that eclectic musical mix you love.

Join us for a celebration of the power of story and all the wonder ways it weaves itself through our daily life.

Thunder and Lighting

Published on August 14, 2010 in Life. 0 Comments

We caught the storm from the porch. First the bats catching their dinner at high speed and then the clouds rolling in big, wide and wild.

“Heat Lightning,” husband said.

“Storm coming,” said I.

I was right. Somethings are buried in memory and raging southern, summer storms are one of them. I pulled ‘em up out of my memory pocket by the dozen as we sat there watching the wind pick up, the trees blow, the lightning crack and the thunder roar.

“It was like this – just like this I told him.” But it wasn’t exactly. It was low-lying flat land of North Florida. Back woods in the arms of my Grandmother or my Mother carrying me to the little picture window in our ever-so-tiny living room to gaze out at the night sky flashing on and off. I was maybe one but I remember it all.

What I remember most was having absolutely no fear. No correlation at all in my mind to storms being wicked or bad or life-threatning. Only that they were wild and wonderful.

Now we watch the storms roll from the hill which is a higher hill in an already hilly region of Tennessee. The thunder booms and echos a long, long time up here so that you can feel it down in your soul a long time after the storm has passed and rolled away.

Much like those memories.

The Moments We Miss

Published on August 13, 2010 in Praying for Strangers Blog. 0 Comments

Praying for Strangers A few days ago I was standing in the grocery store when the music playing through the speakers kicked off a song that always makes me want to dance. It’s pretty much a mindless pop song that many might not care for but my body immediately wants to respond. It’s a tune by the group Fine Young Cannibals title ‘She Drives Me Crazy’ which has no correlation to anything other than the fact I remember them playing it one week on 30 Something when it was a hit tv program in relation to one of the episodes. And the song for whatever reason has always made me want to dance. And it made me want to dance that day in the grocery store. I wanted to break out in spontaneous boogie whether anyone did or not but doing my best to maintain a little dignity at all costs I willed my feet to stay flat on the floor and the other parts of my body to concentrate on the bread aisle wheat or white? Whole grain or multi-thousand grain? Sourdough or cinnamon? But here’s the thing – the man standing next to me did it. He broke out in boogie. I saw him out of my peripheral vision walking past him. He was even singing along. I tried not to look at him at all. I certainly didn’t want to smile at him. And I didn’t want his . . . what? freedom maybe – to taint my . . .what? dignification? I’ve never been worried about being dignified and I try real hard not to worry about what people think of me too terribly much because that can lead to all kinds of traps and boxes forever falling down the rabbit hole to perfectionism and pleasing others. BUT – the man kept dancing, I think I heard him speaking to a woman who was asking him questions who might have been his wife, who was not dancing, and who maybe was wishing he would stop this silliness in public. I made it safely out of the bread aisle and gathered up my list of items and headed for the door. But I couldn’t help feeling that I had cheated myself out of a moment that mattered. Just one silly moment in a multitude of otherwise boring moments in my life where I’m just running errands, crossing t’s, dotting i’s. I should have danced. Really I should. Even if it was only for the first few lines of the song.

The thing is I wanted to and stopped myself from doing so. And it’s exactly the same feeling I have when I want to tell a stranger that I pass that they stood out to me as someone special and that I will be thinking of them, offering a special prayer of blessing for their life before I fall asleep. So many times, for whatever reason, shyness, business, fear that I won’t be well received by the person, stops me. Or wins out if you will against the other side of me that feels compelled to make a short, sweet connection with another human being. I miss the chance of the dance. And not a single time where I’ve felt compelled to connect with someone and overridden that impulse has it not haunted me. I still offer the prayer but just like that silly pop song, the image of that person keeps playing in my head.

So my prayer today is that all those embracing this strange idea to offer up a prayer for a stranger will be a little bolder when we are led to connect with someone to follow the music of our hearts – not our minds. The results of that freedom might just astound us.

Connie May Fowler, A Good Blog, and New Beginnings

Published on August 12, 2010 in Clearstory Radio Blog. 0 Comments

Clearstory Show 8/13/10 Click here to Listen to the entire show with Connie May Fowler and a Salute to A Good Blog Is Hard To Find.

LISTEN LIVE HERE - Friday 9:00am or http://www.radiofreenashville.org or 107.1 fm in the Nashville area

Much like a magic trick new ideas seem to appear from thin air. The new movie Inception delves a little into the creation and inception of new ideas but it’s really focused more on fast action in our dream states.

“There is no denying the depth of Connie May Fowler’s talent and the breadth of her imagination.”
~ The New York Times Book Review

Well, this weeks program focuses on some fascinating women that obviously haven’t been lost in level three (4? 5?) of the dream world but they’ve been doing. Where they get all that Creative Energy? I’m sure If I asked each one of them that question I’d get a different answer – or a laugh stating they have no energy at all. But there is something really special about sparking something from thin air and bringing it together. Author, novelist, memorist, teacher, and environmental champion Connie May Fowler does all those things beautiful. IN her spare time – get this – she raises dogs and works in the garden.

Connie May Fowler is an award-winning novelist, memoirist, and screenwriter. Grand Central Publishing will publish her most recent novel, How Clarissa Burden Learned to Fly, April 2, 2010. She is the author of six other books: five critically acclaimed novels and one memoir. Her novels include Sugar Cage, River of Hidden Dreams, The Problem with Murmur Lee, Remembering Blue—recipient of the Chautauqua South Literary Award—and Before Women had Wings—recipient of the 1996 Southern Book Critics Circle Award and the Francis Buck Award from the League of American Pen Women. Three of her novels have been Dublin International Literary Award nominees. Ms. Fowler adapted Before Women had Wings for Oprah Winfrey. The result was an Emmy-winning film starring Ms. Winfrey and Ellen Barkin. In 2002 she published When Katie Wakes, a memoir that explores her descent and escape from an abusive relationship. Her work has been translated into 18 languages and is published worldwide. Her essays have been published in the New York Times, London Times, International Herald Tribune, Japan Times, Oxford American, Best Life, and elsewhere. In 2009, she received the first annual Peace, Love, and Understanding Award from WMNF Community Radio. From 1997-2003 she directed the Connie May Fowler Women Wings Foundation, an organization dedicated to aiding women and children in need.Domestic violence shelters and family violence organizations have honored her with numerous awards. From 2003-2007 she served as the Professor of Creative Writing at Rollins College and directed their award-winning visiting author series Winter With the Writers. Ms. Fowler travels the country, speaking on topics such as writing, self-employment in the arts, literacy, domestic violence, child abuse, environmental issues, and popular culture. She teaches writing workshops and seminars globally and serves on the faculty of The Afghan Women’s Writing Project. Most recently she was the visiting author for the Vermont College of Fine Arts. She is a Florida native but possibly considering a future that might feature other places. Now if that’s not a woman full of new beginnings I don’t know what is!

To catch Connie May Fowler live and in person, and to reap the benefits of her gracious teaching spirit – catch her on the Florida Gulf Coast September 18, 2010! The Gulf Coast Writer’s Conference founded by author Michael Lister is one of the best around and happens to be the exact kind of even where I first connected with other writers and landed an agent.

ON Connie’s bedside reading table – Mother of Sorrows. Follow the link and find out more.

We’re going to take our hats off to Karin Gillespie the founder of A Good Blog Is Hard To Find who started this wild, wonderful collective blogger site years ago. Primarily southern authors but all who are published and tied into the book industry who blog about writing, publishing, and the written word. Recently Karin decided life was changing seasons so she passed the baton off to another woman full of creative ideas and spirit – Kathy Patrick, the founder of the Pulpwood Queens who has taken over at the helm to herd writers like feral cats to the page. We’ll be featuring some of the blogs and pointing you to the many authors, (uhmm) who contribute on a regular basis.

OH yes, and some great musical interludes from some of your favorite new groups and some old stuff that makes you want to jam where you stand so stay tuned to Clearstory Radio for more book news, travel views, and creative inspiration.

Moonshine and Max Watman

Published on August 5, 2010 in Clearstory Radio Blog. 0 Comments

LISTEN LIVE Here Friday mornings at 9am Central!

Start off your Friday Morning with some great words on story. This one happens to be one of outlaws, outcasts, and Oh, yes, the founders of our Country. Mr. Max Watman shares with us how the story of Chasing the White Dog got started and where that journey has taken him. A delightful character and accomplished writer (winner of the NEA Fellowship for literature!) leans back and chats with complete with

Clearstory sound effects it the background. A little rain, abarking dog, and a few good laughs! (Also, if you’re in the Nashville area in October search the schedule of the Southern Festival of the Book for Max Watman!)

What’s on your bedside reading table? If you’re like other listeners It’s a little of this and a lot of that with a pinch here and there of new discoveries. We’ll share some great selections so have a pen and paper, iphone or pda handy to jot down some great new titles.

Speaking of Titles – Max Watman just wrapped and highly recommends 97
O rchard. Here’s the great review on the book from the NY times.

And as always books news, events, festivals, road trips, signings and all mixed in with some tunes to take you there.

Next week as author Connie May Fowler joins us and we give a great big salute to Karin Gillespie and her creation of A Good Blog Is Hard as she now passes the helm to Kathy Patrick, the Pulpwood Queen Founder.