Wild Cats

We have a wild cat with kittens living under our bathtub! Yes, under. She got in through the little access door set in the wall on the porch. Now we have to wait till they're old enough to come out on their own to get them out cause we can't get back there! We are serenaded every time we go in the bathroom. The mother is pretty but skinny. She's multi-colored short hair. I have no idea where she came from. Oh kitties...

Frustration with Facebook...

Trying to work out how to edit 'pages' I have on Facebook and some don't seem to let you edit them once you've started them! How does this work? How do I do this? I'm confused. It wasn't hard on some pages, but then others I don't understand. Sorry, repeating myself. I'm going to stop for now and go live some life. Be back tomorrow, when hopefully all will be clear... Smile and have a great Sunday afternoon.

FOLLOW UP ON FIRST BOOK SIGNING EXPERIENCE

My table

It was a good event to attend to support reading. I hope I did well getting my name out there. I had a good set up on the table and was well prepared. I think the only thing I will do differently next time is to have a ‘drawing’ where folks sign up and win something, like a free book, or pecans from the south, or something else interesting.

The most wonderful thing that happened, besides my friends coming out (one of them buying a book for a friend and then carrying it around the whole time she was there to advertise!) was that a lovely lady came up to my table with her children in tow, three I think, and she read the back of Evangeline’s Miracle. While she was doing this her young daughter, around 7 or 8 years of age I think, and who had an armload of books, asked to have a piece of candy. Her mother said something to her and called her by name. I thought I’d heard wrong, so I paid attention to see if she would say her name again. The little girl got between the tables at one point, as her mother was paying for her book, and the mother said, “Miracle, come out from there…” I couldn’t believe it! Instantly I asked, “Is her name Miracle? Did you just call her Miracle?” The mother said yes and I had to tell her the story of how ‘my’ Miracle came to be in the book.

Geoffrey Buie-Collard, Frank Hudson

Debra Clay, Lisa B-C, Harvey Mays and Frank Hudson

I told her of the time, so many years ago, when one day I picked up Marjorie up from school (my daughter at that time in 5^th grade), I asked her how her days was and she proceeded to tell me of how she and her friend “Miracle Hess” had done something. I couldn’t believe it. A young girl named Miracle, Miracle Hess. I LOVED the name the moment it hit my ears and I asked Maaj to ask her friend if I could use her name in my book. She did the next day, and, the rest is laid to read in Evangeline’s Miracle.

Enjoying another author and Harvey

I told this to the woman who had just bought my book, the first person to do so whom I don’t know personally, and her daughter’s name is Miracle. There are no coincidences. I was so overjoyed. It was like a small blessing upon my efforts there, that I had done the very best right thing I could have done with my day yesterday. When she told me her name, Jacqueline, I signed her book and thanked her. Then she told me that her little girl, Miracle, had already been through so much in her short life that she deserved the name she carried.  I hope Jacqueline enjoys my story. I know I won’t forget the one she shared with me.  She made my day.

With my library card!

Today's Book Signing and other interesting things...

Today is a big day for me, I hope! At our local library http://www.sgrl.org/ they are having a 'Summer Celebration' Festival to send out the summer reading program with a bang and I, along with five other authors, have each been invited to have a table, sign and sell books, and generally promote reading. This is, I hope, a wonderful way to get Evangeline's Miracle and my name out into the community in a community-orientated way. I hope it will be a success. Keep your fingers crossed for me please. I am nervous, but have done all I can to prepare. Once this is done I should know better for the next time what I did right and wrong and change accordingly.  Many friends have assured me they will be there in support! I am so blessed to have such friends...
Also, a friend bought three copies to give as birthday presents to her sisters and friends. What a wonderful idea, and it goes along well with the theme of promoting reading as a past time as well as for information.
Eugenia Price has once again come through for me. I will hate when this 'Diary of a Novel' ends. She writes of her insecurities, her hopes for the book, and bemoans the fact that writing the sixth novel is no easier than the first! This does make me feel better. As well as the time she gives to her community on St. Simon's Island. I know, I am writing as if she is still there, but for me she is very alive right now. Very here and helping in a very 'now' kind of way so I can't think of her anywhere else.
More sales on EM have also helped my self confidence this week. I've been hearing some good reviews... still waiting for the bad ones... Okay. I'm off to load up the van, to dress, eat lunch, and prepare my head for the two hours I will be on display. Please wish for a positive experience for me today! I'll need all the help I can get! Until later...

Greg, my 'other' father

It seems silly to say this, but having over two hundred folks come and check out my blog is wonderful, merveilleux, as the French say. Now if only someone would leave comments and follow me, that would make my year... I'm trying to create more of a presence online. I'm trying to create more of a presence in my life in reality! Ha! Nerves are terrible things to have attack you, especially first thing in the morning. I woke up with a song stuck in my head. When this happens I know I won't go back to sleep even if I don't have to get up for another half hour, or even hour. Once the song is stuck on replay, it won't stop and I won't sleep again. I don't listen to music as much now as I used to for this very reason. I'm sorry about that because I have loved music all my life.
And speaking of time, which I wasn't, but will do now, Barbara, the lady with whom I had the pleasure of having an interview in Black Mountain on Monday, wrote asking me about putting my parents name in the article she'll be writing. I thought that was very nice of her to check with me first to see if I wanted my 'step' father's name as well, which of course, I do. He's getting all kinds of attention lately, my 'other' father, Greg, with a G!
Time creeps up on you when someone asks questions of this nature. Greg has been married to my mother ten years longer than my father was. He was there for my son's birth and has been a grandfather to my son and daughter in a way my father wasn't able to be. He's been there all of my children's lives. They don't know their grandmother without him being in that picture. Wow. I am glad my mother was lucky enough to find him, at a wedding no less. Yes, must be careful at weddings if you're single!
I will attend my first book signing event this coming Saturday, at 2:00 pm, at our local library in Valdosta. I'm excited, nervous, and hopeful about it. There was a write-up by Dean Poling in the Valdosta Daily Times yesterday about the different authors that will be there. Very nice. I like being in the newspaper.
Work now to be done. Actual writing to accomplish, besides this I mean. I look forward now to these entries. Will post part of the first chapter of Evangeline's Miracle here later today. Salut!

Working for previous employer today

Been at 'work' today, temping for my previous employer. Not too much to do, hence the 'previous' part. But I fill in every now and then when they need someone. I've had some time to keep up on FB, Twitter a bit, and find new friends at the Georgia Writer's Association. I'm hoping I did a good thing by joining them. So far it seems to be much more for non-fiction writers and that makes me wonder if I should be there. Especially since I paid dues! We shall see.
"My Little French Girl" Sandra, whom I am fast coming to adore even more than I already did, got lost today on I-75! Yes, not an easy feat, but she did. I reminisced about Tristan, my son, and the numerous times (I can almost not count them) he lost himself, in such interesting ways, too, making us good stories that still tickle the ribs. Back to Sandra, we're going to go to Blue Springs in Madison, Fl if the weather isn't too stormy tomorrow. She is so easy. We have spent hours talking now, learned much about each other and I find I truly enjoy her perspective. She has already experience more than most her age and it has shaped her well. I'll write more later as it is... closin' time...

On the way home...

On the way home! La route est longue, the French say. Eight hours from here to there. Between south Georgia and North Carolina or the reverse… Sandra and I have talked almost the whole way, in spite of the fact she didn’t go to bed until four this morning! My morning was busy today, Monday. Went into Black Mountain to attend an interview with a lovely lady named Barbara who works for the Black Mountain News. She obviously has done this type of interview before and put me at ease, even though I felt I stumbled through parts of it. As my mother reminds me, it was my first interview, so maybe I didn’t do too badly!

An important part of the interview for me came unexpectedly with some of the questions Barbara asked, taking me back to the beginning with Jill. My mentor Jill Jones, multi-published by St. Martin’s Press. She has seven books out. She took me literally under her wing, gave me advise, painstakingly helped me revise my first manuscript (which started life with over 700 pages!). I’ll never forget the red pen and how it took me at least three days to adjust to the changes needed each time I sent it to her and received it back. I would read them, put them down, take deep breaths, close my eyes and tell myself it was all right. Then I would wait a day or two, until I couldn’t stand waiting anymore. Only then would I wade in, take the plunge with both hands held high and swim among all that red. Before long I noticed that each time the red grew less and less. We went from her actually writing in the words that needed to be there, or something like those words, to ‘I understand what you’re trying to say here, but this needs different words, or sentence structure or direction’, to ‘this doesn’t work. Change it.’ To ‘I like this but not this, find out what’s wrong.’ She was a graceful editor, gentle but to the point. She didn’t let me off easy, but she made it easy to accept my deficiencies and grow. She cultivated me and my ‘potential’, didn’t overshadow me with her own obvious talent. She gave my seedlings sun and rain and clouds and good fragrant earth to grow in. Then she let me alone to grow. I can’t thank her enough. Someday when that first book sees the light of day it will be dedicated to her. Jill Jones. If you’re interested in reading her books you can find them at amazon.com. Emily’s Secret is the first, and my personal favorite.

We then went into Asheville to Malaprop’s Book store to ask about them carrying Evangeline’s Miracle before the book signing in September, so if someone wants to buy the book before the signing they can in a local bookshop. We’re also working on a local bookstore in Black Mountain proper.

Sandra was awake and ready to go once we returned to my sister’s house. Along with Mother and Tristan in her car, we passed by her house to say good bye to Greg, and then headed into the green of the road they live on, literally covered in some areas with kudzu. Such a destructive plant to be so green and beautiful. I wish someone would find a way to use it for some good. It must be worth something!

Listening to Duffy right now and loving it! Mercy! She sounds like a throwback to the 50’s in this song. Straight from Motown. This was the first song I heard of hers. I bought two of her albums the same day I heard them. Well well well was my next favorite, and now I have too many to count. Time flies while driving and listening to Duffy. And Jean-Jacques Goldman, Sinead O’Conner, and Paolo Nutini… and Procol Harem. I’m introducing Sandra to new music, for her anyway. I will write about the weekend tomorrow I hope. It’s too much to put all in one post. Wonderful and worth sharing… stay tuned….

Hot hot hot

I'm used to it being hot in south ga, but not so much here near Asheville NC. It is so hot I'm sitting in my sister's pool house, getting ready to get in the pool after a day in town having a LOVELY visit with my Dad! And A LOVELY lunch at the Monte Vista with my mother and our wonderful friend (and for me mentor) Jill Jones and her husband Jerry. We discussed a book signing coming up in September. Just in time for my birthday! Plans to make. Have two other book signings coming up earlier in Valdosta. I'm nervous about this. First times and all that. But have to admit, I can't wait to TALK to folks face to face about the book, about Evie and where she came from, about whatever it is one talks about at these things. I want to do more. I want to write more. I'm missing being home and alone. It will come soon enough though, I know. So I try not to get too many ants in my pants! Going swimming now. Be with my sister and her family and friends and oh, everything. I'm enjoying Twitter more than I thought I would. Especially right now following Star Trek folks!! LeVar posted a photo of himself with Angelou and Lou Gossett Jr! What talent all together! I thanked him for posting it! Bye!

I'm almost half way through Eugenia Price's Diary of a Novel. I'm finding it fascinating from the point of view of a writer. Being inside the thought processes of a very published and well known author who wrote for 30 or more years is quite 'heady', no pun intended! She also suffered from vertigo problems! She too, had to organize and maybe not even really write every day because of the daily demands of being who she was and living by the code she had set for herself. This resonates with me, as I feels so unorganized trying to keep up, to do the 'right' thing, and being there for family and friends when needed. There is so much information out on the internet that I almost wish for the days she had which were perhaps not simpler, but at least slower in that letters were sent by 'snail mail' and she had a 'real' editor at a 'real' publishing house; she was part of a team in publishing her works. This is SO sadly lacking in today's world. One is told "If you want to publish with a publishing house, you must send in your work 'print ready'. There is no more time for editors to help 'build' a writer, to nurture and encourage a promising writer's craft."
I grew up feeling one among many. I like feeling a part of a group, a team, especially when I can still have time to myself, on my own. I do need my 'alone' time. So, comparing my situation to that of E. P.'s I feel a sense of loss, and yet, I am doing what I am doing the only way I can for now and that will have to do. I have to learn to pick and chose among the information bombarding me what is relevant for me, my situation, what might work the best, and also learn how to move on from mistakes made. For now that will have to do. I wonder what E.P. would think today of writing, publishing, of what has happened in our world since she left it....
I'm off to have some morning "Maca Magic" MaCafe, my 'coffee' sans caffeine yet still packing a punch! Love it and thank the Peruvian Indians for giving it (well, selling it) to the world! If this interests you, find out more at www.macaroot.com. Check out my links on this blog (or my webpage) for more interesting information. Guess a hungry tummy can turn even an esoteric post into a very basic one! I'm gone!

North Carolina

It's too early to be awake after a late night, but here I sit in bed in my sister's pool house, my son asleep in the other bed, Sandra (my 'by osmosis' step-daughter or maybe I prefer daughter of the heart, if not the body) is also sleeping in the 'bunk' style bed. Cars are whizzing by down on the road that loops around the bottom of the hill that the main house, pool and pool house sit upon. The birds have already stopped their morning serenade and are off I'm sure busily finding their day's rations. The constant hum of the pool pump is only a bit louder than the ringing in my ears that plagues me these days. Dr says nothing to do for it. Things to try, but no 'cure' as they don't even know what causes it.
While I'm up here to visit my Dad, and the rest of the family, to see my god daughter and cousin (who are married!) and to see other cousins as well, I'm also going to be interviewed, evidently on Monday before I head home! This is exciting, I hope. I'm not really paying it attention at the moment or I'll just get nervous. Too much to do before then to indulge in a case of nerves.
I hope to find my father in a good state of mind. Today is a 'Clarence' day (Clarence is his driver-guardian angel-saint of a friend, did I mention saint?! He is in his late 70's while my father is 84). Clarence has been driving my father around for years, maybe 7 or more? He puts up with my father's tirades, and yes they can be nasty, and he does his best to please Archie, which isn't easy. Not even for his daughters at times and so we appreciate more than words can express, the patience - and tolerance- our man Clarence has with our father! Life for us would not be the same without him. I've brought Clarence some honey, as I try to do each time I come up. Clarence loves honey in his morning coffee, we love Clarence in our daily lives. As soon as I can I'll put a photo of him here...

Book Signings

Excitement comes in many forms. This time it is taking shape in the fact that there are two book signings now on schedule for Evangeline's Miracle! First one will be on Saturday July 30th at 2:00 pm at the Lowndes Co. Library (South Georgia Regional Library), and the second one will be on Friday August 5th "First Friday" downtown  at Katie Marple's 'The Vintage Dragonfly' Boutique starting at 6:00 pm (both in Valdosta Georgia). If you are in the area for either or both, please join us in celebrating the book going out to work its magic upon those interested!

About time!

Whew, it has been a long two weeks, or more, since I've been here. I've managed to post on FB, on Twitter, but haven't had a chance to update this blog. Love that word blog. The most interesting one I've heard for a journal or diary, which is what this really is, for the most part. Rambling now. I'm stopping!
Been working for my previous employer a bit (week and a half), which was nice, but put me way behind in marketing and getting the news out on Evangeline's Miracle. Then went down to Orlando to visit friends with my mum. A friend of hers/ours, has cancer. We wanted to see her now, to make good memories to go with ones from the past, not wait until she was so gone that she wasn't there anymore. We did that once with another very very dear friend. We got there in time to see her, to be with her and she recognized us. But that was all she could do and it was heartbreaking. I was glad we saw her, glad to have kissed her and held her and been with her before the end, but it was 'tellement triste' when I knew the woman she had been. Talk about taking life 'by the balls' to put it mildly! She was the epitome of a 'go-getter'. Not one to let life pass her by and she, Darcie, left four beautiful children to the care of the world, to us. A better legacy she could not have.
Our friend Dee, Delores, is another one of those heavy hitting women out to storm the world and take no prisoners. She is fighting, taking life - and potential death - by the horns, determined to rule. She is amazing to me. So are her daughters. My dearest friends growing up, we were parted too soon back then, but are lucky enough to have come together again now. Lisa and Becky. We are re-learning each other in our new personalities that are older, maybe wiser?, and definitely more beautiful! Of course!
The road ahead may throw stones at us soon, but I hope Lisa and Becky know/feel they can count on us, on my mother my sister and me, to be there for them, as I hope they can be there for us. What incredible women they are.
So, that is what I've been doing/learning. Keeping in touch with life around me and not barricading myself in my office, which I sincerely want to do! I will have to soon enough, or go insane with this longing to tell stories. Two are hammering at the door and the sound is getting intense.
In the meantime I am going, once again, to North Carolina to visit my father, my sister, friends too and will return in time to work for said previous employer for two days before I do, in fact, barricade the doors and wallow in words.
To help me get through I am reading a book I could not resist splurging on in St. Augustine at Wolf Books (Like old books? Go there, heaven on earth it is). Eugenia Price's Diary of Novel, Margaret's Story. A signed copy!!!!! Yes I paid dearly for it, but it is oh so worth it. A prize, a first edition. And, go figure, it's very good reading! She is showing me her day-to-day while writing a novel, teaching me about mine, calming me into believing I can really do this. That maybe one day someone will care about reading something like that from my point of view, my journals, or even just my books. What a thought. A gentle writer she is. I admire her very much now. Though I knew she was an important writer (loving St Simon's Island the way I do) I had never read her novels. Now I am reading HER. I love this.

Janette Merilion

Here is the link to the site of my favorite Flower Historian. She does so much more than that, but was so very helpful to me in my research for EM. Just click on her name and it will take you right to her site...! Enjoy!

Perry Snow

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~britishhomechildren/perry_snow.htm

Here is the link to one of the people who helped me in my research on EM. I thank you, Perry, for all your help.

Coming soon to...

Also, by the end of this week, check out the book on smashwords.com as well!

smashwords.com

Online sales

Okay...THE BOOK "Evangeline's Miracle" IS NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM AND BN.COM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FINALLY. And, be sure to check out the Kindle Store and the Nook, it's there too!! Please give Evangeline a try and let me know what you think. She's coming soon to Smashwords as well...