In Greenville, SC and Charleston bound. Every city holding a different grace and nuance. Every bookstore abounding with stories I want to read. Every person that visits a signing or luncheon someone I wish I had time to pull up a chair with and get to know better. This trip started only days ago after a beautiful kick-off for Praying for Strangers at Bookman/Bookwoman in Nashville. Now, it seems light years and space miles away. Memphis followed with amazing stories, new friends and dinner with Susan Cushman, writer and keeper of an amazing blog and the her friend Emma, an Episcopal Deacon who began a writing program for troubled girls. Story. It heals us at every age.

Next up – Tupelo, Gumtree Books, and lunch with the infamous Mr. Jack Reed. I wish he stop reading so many books and run for President . Emily Gatlin took great care of me and shared the Praying for Strangers story with store visitors – pulling her beautiful mother-in-law along for lunch.

Eagle Eye Books in Atlanta tried to talk me in by cell phone and then I looked up to see my name on the marquee in front of the door – old movie theatre style. I had to snap a picture for Mother. One of the few I’ve actually taken on the road. Was able to visit with owner Doug Robinson and bookseller extreme, Charles on literature, music, the art of twitter. AND such lovely people visiting that night even under the threat of storm and high waters!

Savannah was just as charming as everyone hears or knows it is. The kind of place where visitors are smitten as they wander the streets, hear cathedral bells ringing, tugboats calling, wisteria blooming – and whisper I MUST move here! Everyone. Then they go home again at least to plan their next vacation. I’m putting it as a must stop when the Adorables have their Zaza and Baboo adventure.
E. Schaver bookstore charmed me as much as the city, as much as that late night dinner at Olympia’s Greek Restaurant staring at the riverfront, as much as the beautiful sight of old lovers walking and holding hands. I tucked Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand into my bag for a dinner companion but read only a little as a Trumpet played a medley of everything from Jesus Christ Superstar to the Sesame Street Theme Song. (It became a bit of a game to name that tune in five seconds or less.)

On to Greenville and to an amazing luncheon hosted by Fiction Addiction books. I’ve become huge fans of my table mates – Carolyn and Saidee. Now I know that Carolyn is 86 years old but didn’t catch Saidee’s age. They’ve been the best of friends for many years every since their children were married and they became ‘family’. And I cannot BELIEVE I didn’t pull out my phone and have my picture taken with these witty, world travelers. They blessed me just coming and going and I will be their fans for life! Thank you readers for the beautiful turn out, the great food and conversation. The city of Greenville has it’s own amazing charm to offer.

I am Charleston bound and will do my writerly best to whip out that phone and take more photos of beautiful booksellers and readers. I’m in awe of road warriors Shellie Rushing Tomlinson and Susan Gregg Gilmore that seemed to do it all on the road with grace, humor and speed!

Please check out the latest good news and words on Praying for Strangers: An Adventure of the Human Spirit. Have been holding radio interviews from the road with incredible shows both Indie’s and NPR show affiliates. Great questions and comments everywhere. Love that one interviewer traveled with Praying for Strangers though Spain and although she couldn’t speak the language began to view those around her in a completely new light.

The Nervous Breakdown honored us with a great interview. Murderatti did likewise. Guideposts is featuring a video interview on their site now and an interview and excerpt soon to come in the magazine. A Book of the Week feature with Examiner was picked up in syndication by NPR.

The good word is traveling quickly. The journey continues.

Thank you for being a part of it all.