WELL READ Magazine March 2023

BloodintheLowCountry by PaulAttaway

Stepbackintimeabit.Theyearis1973,andbyallappearances, MontyAtkinshasawonderfullife.Alongwithhiswife,Rose, thegirlofhisdreamshemetincollege,theyareraisingtwo boys,EliandWalker.Humblebutcompetitive,Montyisslowly butsteadilybuildingaprofitableandwell-respectedlawpractice inbeautifulCharleston,SC.Hishardwork,steepedinadeeply engrainedProtestantworkethic,ispayingdividendsintheform ofasecondhomeonKiawahIslandandmembershipinthe exclusiveWappooCountryClub.

Rose,anaspiringsocialite,chairscommitteesandworks tirelesslyforherchurchandtheschooltheirboysattend.

So,yes,MontyAtkinshasawonderfullife,untilhedoesn't.Ina flash,everythingchangeswhenabrutalmurderandashocking betrayalturntheirworldupsidedown.Brewingbeneaththe surfacelurksaconspiracyofliesaboutwhotheyareandwhat theybelieve.Thewellspringofdeceptionandensuing dysfunctionthatthreatentodestroyalltheyhavebuiltisRose's past,apastshecan'toutrun.

Inthehuntforthekiller,Montydrawstheireofoneof Charleston'smostprominentbusinessmen,whosetsoutto destroyhim.Montynowfacesamulti-frontbattle,onetosave hisfamily,onetosavehisbusinessandonetosavehislife. Stepbackintimeandimmerseyourselfinataut,tension-filled thrillerwherethegenteelveneeroflifeintheSouthlivedby thoseforwhomSundayBruchattheClubisasholyasthat morning'schurchserviceisstrippedaway.

“…Attawayeffortlesslyblendsanticipationofafast-paced thrillerandemotionalquotientofawell-craftedstoryintoa complexandengrossingplot.Attaway’simageryoftheSouth bringsittolife.Theissuesoffaith,revenge,andredemption makeupaheftyportionofthenarrative,andcarefulrevelations andthepromiseofrenewalkeepthereaderinvested.Though AttawaydeliversanemotionalblitzintheAtkinsfamily’sstory, thenovel,withitsrelentlesssuspenseandhightensionremains asuspensethrilleratheart.There’sanonstopsupplyof surprisingtwistsandshockingrevelations,plustendermoments oflongingandlove.Theresultisanexpertlyplotted,utterly engagingthrillerthatkeepsthereaderdeeplyinvestedallthe waytoitssatisfyingconclusion.WithitsatmosphericSouthern setting,masterfulexecutionoftheplot,andnail-bitingaction, thiswell-polished,multifacetednovelsshines.”

BookReview

ThePraires

PaulAttawaywasbornandraisedintheAtlanta,Georgiaarea. Paulandhiswife,Lyn,metincollegeatGeorgetownUniversity andweremarriedafterPaulgraduated fromtheUniversityofGeorgiaSchool ofLaw.TheymovedtoPhoenix, Arizonain1988wherePaulembarked onathirty-yearbusinesscareerbefore retiringsohecouldwritefiction.Paul andLynraisedthreechildrentogether inPhoenixandnowsplittheirtime betweenPhoenixandCharleston,South Carolina.

TheBystanders by DawnMajor

THEBYSTANDERS (MoonshineCovePublishing,2023), weavestogethersmall-towneccentricitiesandcharacters beginningwiththeinvasionoftheSamplesfamilyto Lawrenceton,Missouri.Townie,EddyBauman,andnewcomer, ShannonLamb-Samples,comeofageinthe1980swhenbig hairisbigandMadonna’s“LikeaVirgin”blastsoverthe airwaves,buttheycouldn’tbemoredifferent.Therealtownof Lawrencetonandthesurroundingareawerepartofthe LouisianaPurchase,andcenturieslater,theold-timersstill speakPawPawFrenchandtime-honoredtraditionsrundeep.

Thoughsomesaysmalltownsarebigfamilies,Lawrenceton doesn’twantanythingtodowiththeblacksheepofthefamily. Shannonwithher“GirlsJustWanttoFun”attitudeandfashion, herfortune-telling,Paganmother,WendySamples,alongwith herhard-partyingandabusivestepfather,DaleSamples,are outliersfromLosAngeles.Shannonmightaswellhavelanded onMarswhenWendyandDaledecidetheyneedado-overin thecountryside.ThoughShannonisnonetoopleased,Eddyis enthralledbyherValleyGirlways.Inatownofannualchurch picnicsandbeautifullandscapes,theSamples’straileronthe outsideofL-Townisaneyesoretothetownsfolkandthefamily isquicklysnubbed.ShannonandWendy,whocouldreallyuse somefriends,mustlearntorelyuponthemselvestoclawtheir wayoutofpoverty,abuse,andespeciallyDale.

TheBystanders -sometimeslightandhumorous,othertimes darkandtragic–payshomagetoAmericanaandtheruralpeople oftheNorthernMississippiDeltaregionofSoutheastMissouri.

“InTheBystanders,debutwriterDawnMajorwriteswith subtlety,compassion,andunderstandingaboutatimeand placeintheworldthatmanyauthorshavetackledbutfewhave mastered.Thisinterconnectedcollectionofshortstoriesfrom theheartlandisoneofthoserareworksthatisabletocapture remembrances,andtoremindusallwhythosemomentsare worthremembering.”- RaymondL.Atkins,authorof Set List,SweetwaterBlues

Bystandersstandstallinthe worldofcoming-of-agenovels.” –GeorgeSingleton, authorof You

“Withoutadoubt,DawnMajoristhoroughlyschooledinthe full-blownexistenceofjealousy,lust,love,confusion,pettiness, mystery,violence,hope,etal,exhibitedbysmall-towndenizens. TheWantMore:SelectedStories

“TheBystandersisadeliciouslydarknovel.Majorcreateda castofcharactersthatareathomeinaFlanneryO’Connor story.Readerswillnotputthisbookdownuntiltheyfinishthe lastpage.”--AnnHite,award-winningauthorofHaintsOn BlackMountain

Asachild,MajormovedfromCalifornia nearLawrenceton,Missouri,thetownthat inspired TheBystanders.Shehasa graduatedegreefromtheEtowahValley

CreativeWritingProgram.Shewasa recipientoftheJamesDickeyReview LiteraryEditorFellowship,theDr.Robert DriscollExcellenceinWritingAwardon RegionalThemes,andReinhardt University’sFacultyChoiceExcellencein WritingAward.

onFacebooktofindoutmoreabouttheauthorsand contributorsyouseehere.Lotsofgreatextraslike reviews,events,personalstories,thingstocelebrate,and opportunitiestowinfreebooksdirectlyfromtheauthors ineachissue!

NOWLET’SHAVESOMEFUN!

RulesfortheScavengerHunt:

somewhereonthe followingpages:

Tagme(MandyHaynes), andyou’ll winahardcover, personalizedcopyofDonnaEverhart’snewnovelThe SaintsofSwallowHill:AFascinatingDepressionEra HistoricalNovel!

I’llannouncethewinnerinthegoodnewsgroupand connectyouwithDonna.

Allweaskisthatyouleaveanhonestreviewandtell everyoneyourgoodnews.

DONNAEVERHART

REVELATIONS

InterviewbyMandyHaynes,followedbyDonna’s essay, ANEDUCATIONINDETERMINATION

“You’vegottokeepwriting,that’sthemainthing becausenothingisgoingtohappenunlessyoudo.”

REVELATIONSWITHDONNA

EVERHART MandyHaynes

DonnaEverhartisfullofsurprises!SheistheUSA

Todaybestsellingauthorofauthentic,vividSouthern fiction,includingtheSoutheasternLibraryAssociation Award-winning TheRoadtoBittersweet,IndieNextPick andAmazonBookoftheMonth, TheEducationofDixie Dupree,TheForgivingKind,TheMoonshiner’sDaughter, andhermostrecent, TheSaintsofSwallowHill.Hersixth novel,currentlyuntitled,willbereleasedFebruary2024.

Beforewegetstarted,here’sjustafewofthegreat endorsementsDonna’swritinghasreceived:

"Rousing...movinglyexploresJessie'sstrugglewithher eatingdisorder,viscerallydescribinghertwindesiresfor nourishmentandpurginginrelationtoadeepneedto defineherself...Everhart'sstoryofself-discovery,rifewith colorfulcharactersandasatisfyingtwist,willthrill readers."

—PublishersWeekly,STARREDREVIEWfor

TheMoonshiner'sDaughter

"ReminiscentofthenovelsofLeeSmith,KayeGibbons,

andSandraDallas,Everhartbuildsafirmsenseofplace, portrayingthetirednessandhopeofadrysouthern summerandvoicingstrongsouthernwomen." —Booklist on TheForgivingKind

"Anadventurestoryandcoming-of-agestorywrapped intoonesatisfyingpackage...DonnaEverhartskillfully evokesaharshlandscapeandharshtimes,squarely placingthereaderinAppalachiarightalongwiththe family.WallisAnn'scomplicatedrelationshipwithher sisteriswellexploredandservesasacatalystforher growthintoamatureyoungwoman." —HistoricalNovels Reviewon TheRoadtoBittersweet

"Withgravitasandheart...DonnaEverhartdoesadeft jobofwritingaboutinnocencelost." —BusinessInsider, InsiderPickfor TheEducationofDixieDupree

“Thedistinctivesettingoftheturpentinecampsinthe SouthduringtheGreatDepressionwillmakeanimprint onreaders,justasthecharactersofRaeLynnandDeldo. FansofSarahAddisonAllenwon'tbeabletoputit down.” —Booklist

Sheisoneofmyfavoriteauthorsandthisfivestar readerreviewIfoundforSaintswastoogoodnottoshare. Thereadersaysitallintwoshortsentences-“Ihave neverreadabookIbecamesoobsessedwithandexcited overIwouldfindeverysecondpossibletogetinafew pages.IloveditsomuchIcouldn’thelpbutnarratethe storytomyhusband.”

Ifoundmyselfreadinglinesoutloudmyselffrom The

Moonshiner’sDaughter. Istoppeddog-earingeverypageI wantedtogobacktoandrealizeditwouldbeeasierjustto readDonna’sbooksoveragain.WhichIdid,andI’llkeep doingituntilthepagesfallout.

Herlatestnovel, TheSaintsofSwallowHill takesusto theturpentinecampsandpineforestsoftheAmerican SouthduringtheGreatDepression.Ididn’tknowanything aboutTurpentinecampsbeforereadingDonna’snovel.I wasalmostembarrassedtoadmitit,butIdid.

“NeitherdidI,”Donnalaughs,“andIcomefromthe stateknownastheTarheelState.”

Donnagoesontoexplain,“Myresearchtendstokindof meander.Ifoundmyselfdoingalotofresearchonthe historyofNorthCarolinaandcameacrossthetermNaval Stores.Ihadnoideawhatthatwas,andthatinterestin wantingtounderstandwhatitwasaboutuncoveredthe TurpentinecampsthatwereprevalentinNorthCarolina andthesoutheastingeneral.”

InlearningaboutthehistoryoftheNavalStores,Donna readalotaboutthebeginningoftheturpentineindustry whichwasduringtheseventeen-hundredstothelate eighteen-hundreds.

“ButIdidn’twanttowriteaboutthattimeperiod,I alreadyhaditinmyheadIwantedtowriteaboutthe Depressionera,andwhatwasfascinatingisthatthese campsexisted-andwereheavyduringthattimeframe.”

Thatcommentbroughtmetomynextquestion.Donna’s settings,likeusingtheTurpentineCampsfor Saints,are

unique.Forexample, TheMoonshiner’sDaughter (oneof mypersonalfavorites)issetinthe1960s.WhenIpicked upthebookIassumeditwasgoingtobesetbetweenthe 1920s-1940s.

IaskedDonnaaboutherwritingprocess.Particularlyif shehasthecharactersfirstandthenthesettingcomes after,orifshehasasettingandbuildsthecharactersfrom there.

“WhenIfirststartedwritingIwouldhaveacharacterin myheadandnoideawhereIwantedtoputher.”Donna’s loveofresearchbroughthertothe1940floodinwestern NorthCarolinawhichbecamethesettingforherfirst novel, TheRoadtoBittersweet,andgavethemain character,fourteen-year-oldWallisAnnStamper,aplace totakeroot.Thesamethinghappenedwithhersecond novel, TheForgivingKind,andhernextcharacter,twelveyear-oldMartha“Sonny”Creech.

“IknewIwantedtowriteaboutayounggirlgrowingup onacottonfarmwhoknewhowtodivinewater,butI didn’tknowwhenorwhere.Butfor TheMoonshiner’s Daughter,Iwantedtowriteaboutmoonshining.Ididn’t reallyhavethecharacterinmyheadyet.”

Donna’sresearchgaveherthesettingofWilkesCounty knownasthemoonshinecapitaloftheworld-“ButI’llbe honest,I’veheardthesameclaimsincountiesinKentucky andTennessee,”Donnalaughs-anditalsogaveherthe timeframe,the1960s.BythattimeDonnahadhermain character,Jesse,and TheMoonshiner’sDaughter was

readytobewritten.

Somepeopleliketoreadstorieswithhappyeverafter endings,alltiedupwithashinybow.Ilikestoriesthat hurtalittlebitandsodoesDonna.

“IthinkpeoplethinkI’malittleinsanewhenIsayI loveCormacMcCarthy.Ilovehimbecausehehasa uniquewayofwriting.I’veoftenheardthephrase,when you’regoodenoughyoucanbreaktherules,well-he’s oneofthosewriters.Hewritesverydarkandverytaboo subjects.Oneofmyfavoritebooksofhisis ChildofGod. It’sverysickandtwisted,soIdon’tknowwhatthatsays aboutme,”Donnalaughs.

“Themaincharacterisnotrightintheheadandhedoes theseverysickthingsbutit’salmostfunny,”shegrins.“I meanlet’sfaceit,yuck…butthedarkhumor.Cormack wasabletopullitoffandactuallymakeyoufeel sympathetictowardsLesterBallard,averysick individual.”

Forthoseofyouwhohaven’tread ChildofGod,it’s beendescribedas“...themostsympatheticportrayalof necrophiliainallofliterature.”Andit“...depictsthe mostsordidaspectsoflifewithdignity,humor,and characteristiclyricalbrilliance.”

“Icouldn’tgetintoMcCarthy’snovel Suttree, becauseI feltlikeitwasdisgustingforthesakeofbeingdisgusting. Ihaveastrongconstitution,”shelaughsagain,“butthere werepointsandtimesinthatbookthatIwasjust…ick.”

SomehowthatmademethinkofBukowski’spoetry.

Thepoem, TheLaughingHeart,isoneofthemost beautifulthingsI’veeverreadbutinthesamebookthere arepoemsthataresoraunchy,I’llcatchmyselflooking behindmetomakesurenobody’sreadingovermy shoulder.

Donnaadmitsthatsheneverreallywasintopoetryuntil recentlywhenshewasgiventhebook, SamRagan, writtenbyLewisBowling.SamRagan,alsoknownas NorthCarolina'sLiteraryGodfather,isthekindofpoet thatDonnasaysmakesyouwanttoreadpoetry.Shesaid thesamethingaboutanotherpoet,ZachariaClaypole White.“He’sverytalented,andeventhoughI’mnotone toreadpoetry,henotonlymakesmewanttoreadit,but he’sgoingtomakemeloveit.”

IaskedDonnawhatshe’sbeenreading.Someofher mostrecentfavoritesare LovingtheDeadandGone by JudithTurner-Yamamoto, TheQuickening byMichelle Hoover, TheColorofLightning byPauletteJiles, The NickelBoys and UndergroundRailroad byColson Whitehead,and TheWindDrinkers byFranckBouysse. It’salwaysfuntogetreadingrecommendationsfrom someonewhogetsexcitedtotellyouwhatthey’vebeen reading-andDonnadidn’tdisappoint.Sheisavoracious readerandherstacksofbookstobereadfillupseveral shelvesofherbookcase.Donnaalsosharedasecretyou’llneverguesswhoshehasn’tread!Ifyouwantto knowwhothatis(andbelieveme,you’llneverguess), youcanfindoutsooninthefullinterviewat Betweenthe

Pages.

TwoauthorswhosewritingimpressedDonnaearlyin hercareerareKayeGibbons, TheLifeAllAroundMeby EllenFoster andDorothyAllison, BastardOutof Carolina.

“Ican’ttellyouhowmanytimesI’vebroughtupthose twonamesandthosetwobooksbecausethosewerethe booksthatmoreorlessgavemetheimpetustowrite.I’ve readthemnumeroustimes,knewthosewerethetypesof storiesIwantedtotellaboutgirlsandyoungwomen strugglingthroughsomeofthemostcomplicatedand difficulttimes.”

IcantestifythatDonnamasteredthecraftoftelling thosestories.Donnasaysshestruggledtofindtheideafor booknumbersixwhichisduetobereleasedinFebruary of2024.

“Saints wasahardbooktofollow.Therewassomuch aboutthatstorythatresonatedwithmeasawriterwhereI foundmyselfdoingthatthingsomewriterstalkaboutbreakingthroughinparticularscenes.Itwasavery differentbookthanmyotherbooksbecauseallofthose arecomingofage,writteninfirstperson;butSaintsis writteninthirdpersonfromtheperspectiveoftwo differentcharacters,andthey’readults.

ItwasmyhusbandwhotoldmeIshouldwriteaboutthe civilwar.Hetoldmemorethanonce,andfinallypointed out-whatdoesitsayonyourwebsite?”Atthetimeher bylinereadShewritesaboutfamilyhardshipoftroubled

timesinabygoneSouth.“HesaidIdon’tknowofany moretroubledtimesthanthecivilwar.”

IntrueDonnaEverhartstyle,hertakeonthesubjectis unique.

“Iwantedittobedifferent.Mymaincharacter,Joetta McBride,andherfamilyaresubsistencefarmers.They neverhadslaves,don’twanttohaveanythingtodowith thewar,andtheyaretryingtomaintaintheirneutrality untiltheirson,whoisinfluencedbyhisgrandfather,runs offtojointhewar.Thissetsoffachainofeventsthat causesEnnis,Joetta’shusband,togolookfortheirsonand heendsupinscripted-whichmeanshe’sinitforthree years.Joetta,likesomanywomenatthattime,isleftto runthefarmonherown.Shecontinuestomaintainher neutralityandbecomesapariah.”

KeepaneyeoutforherFirstSentenceFridayswhere she’llintroducethefirstsentencetoeachchapter(andfill usinonalittlebitofthestory)eachmonthoveron her AuthorFacebookpage;somethingshe’sbeendoingsince TheEducationofDixieDupree.

WetalkedaboutDonna’spersonalpublishingjourney, whichsheexplainsinheressay, AnEducationin Determination,thatfollowstheinterview.“IcansaythisIamgratefuleverysingledayofmylifethatithappened, eventhoughithappenedinaveryunusualway.Ittakesa littlebitofluck,ittakestalent,andittakesdetermination.”

Weclosedtheinterviewwiththispieceofadvicefrom Donnaforwriters-

“You’vegottokeepwriting,that’sthemainthing becausenothingisgoingtohappenunlessyoudo.”Donna laughs,“Thisisabadanalogybutit’srightoffthetopof myhead.Ifyouplaygolfandyouwanttobeabletohita holeinone-you’renevergoingtohitaholeinoneunless youkeepplaying.”

Sheadds,“Rejectionsareroughbutoneofthemost encouraginglessonsIeverreceivedformyselfistoread otherauthor’sjourneys.ThinkaboutKatherineStockett andherbook, TheHelp.Ibelieveshehadoverahundred rejections.Soifyou’rewritingandyou’reinthatdark tunnelwhereyoudon’tseealightattheendofit,and you’vehadpeoplereadyourworkandthey’retellingyou itwillhappen-you’vegottokeepon.Ithelpstoseekout otherpeople’sstoriesabouthowtheirpublicationtook place.”

Iagree,andthat’sexactlythegiftshegivesuswithher essay.DonnaEverhartisawriterwhoallwriterscanlook upto.

DonnaEverhart

IwillremainforevergratefulthatthecompanyIonce workedforwentbankrupt.Doesn’tthatsoundstrange?

Thetruthis,iftheyhadn’t,I’dprobablystillbethere,a cubiclerat,asIcalledmyself,busilyworkingtoward retirement,gatheringmybi-weeklypaycheck,while daydreaming... whatif? But,beforeIgotothatmoment intime,Ihavetobackupafewdecades.

TheveryfirsttimeItoldsomeoneIwantedtowrite,I waseighteenyearsold.Alittlehintaboutme.WhenIget theitchtotakeonanewhobby/pastime/interest,Itendto declaremyintentions.Likerunning.Istartedoutwitha halfmile.Ifinishedit,andthought,well,ifIcandothat andnotstop,Ishouldtrytodoamile.Ididthat,andthat wasthedayIdeclaredmyselfarunner.I’veoftenheard,if youwanttocommit,tellsomeone.That’swhatIdid.

EventuallyIwasrunningroadraces,5Ks,10Ks,a15Kor two.Next,IdeclaredIwasgoingtorunmarathons.

(That’s26.2milesforthosewhodon’trun.)Iloved running.Itdefinedme,andwhoIwas.

SayingIwantedtowritewasanotheroutoftheblue declaration.I’vealsosaidIwantedtolearntoplayviolin, andIboughtone.But,thereitsitstothisday,gathering dust.Anyway,partofmyproblemwashavingnoidea whatIwantedtowriteabout.WhatIbelievedbackthen wasitwouldgivemeacoolvibe.ThatwassomethingI wassorelylacking.(stillam)Atthattime,Ienvisioned how“writer,”mightlookonme.Ipicturedmyselfstating thisoutloudtowhoever,andtheirreaction.Mouth droopinginstunneddisbelief,ashiftingofexpression fromincredulitytoawe.Iwouldpreenalittleperhaps, brushingofftheiramazementwith,youknow,thecool vibe.

Aftermakingthisdeclaration,andIcan’tevenrecall everyoneItold,Idabbledwithithalf-heartedly.My problemwasIwantedquickresults–withoutputtinginthe work.Itried.Idid.Iwasleftmostofthetimethinking, wow,thisisreallyhard.Geez,thisisforthebirds!I’dthen putawaymy“playthings.”Writer?Well,Ihadworktodo, billstopay.

Decadespassed.Iwrotealittlehereandthere, especiallywhensomethingwouldhappenatwork.I’d dragoutwhatIcalledamanuscript,festeringovertypical

work-a-dayproblems.I’dmutter,“I’mgonnaquit.I’m gonnagointomyboss’sofficeandsay,‘Here.Takemy badge.I’mquittingtobecomeawriter.’”IdaydreamedI’d walkoutwithmyheadsomewhereupinthestratosphere. Except.I’dsoonhavealittlerealitycheckaboutthose billsIhadtopay.I’dquietlytuckthemanuscriptbackinto itslittlehidey-holeandnottouchitagain,for,oh,Idon’t know–years.

Ofcourse,I’vealwaysreadasmuchasIcan.There isn’tadaythatgoesbythatIdon’t.Somewherealongthe wayIfiguredout what Iwantedtowrite.Thishappenedin theearly90safterI’dreadavarietyofgenres,andIwas currentlyinmyStephenKingphase.Thiswaswhenhis writingwasgettingalittleweird,andIwaslookingfor somethingnew.IwishIcouldrememberexactlyhowI landedon EllenFoster byKayeGibbons.WhatIDO rememberafterIfinishedthebookwasI’dexperiencedan awakeningofmywriterself.Itshowedmethesortof novelistIwantedtobecome.Iwasenthralledwiththis sub-genreIcametolove,andeventuallywrite–Southern fiction.Iwentbacktothehorrible,terrible,reallybad,and lessthanhalfwrittenmanuscript,andIbegantooverhaul it.Thinktotalhouse-guttingandrenovations.Thiswasthe wayIspentmytimewritingforthebetterpartofadecade orso–stillwithhugegapsintimewithoutdoingmuch.

Nowwecomeintolate2008,andthecompanywas

goingbankrupt.Iwenthomeandmadeanotheroneof thosedeclarations,thistimetomyhusband.

“IfI’mevergoingtoseeifIcanbecomeawriter,now isthetime.”

Bynow,Iwasolder,morefocused.Icameupwitha plan.First,Iwouldcontinuetoworkuntiltheykickedme outthedoor.Thecompanyintendedtocontinuebusiness whileitsoldoffvariousareastocompetitors.Ittooka whiletoshutthedoors.WhileIwasworking,(myend datewasanunknown)Ialsowentbacktoschoolandgot mydegree.Thedegreewasmysafetynet,shouldmy dreamofwritingnevermaterialize.Icontinuedtoputin forty-plushoursaweek,didschoolworkatnight,andon weekendsIwrotelikeafiendwiththeintentionstofinish themanuscript.

Sometimeinearly2011,Ifinallyhadaroughdraft.I decidedIneededafreelanceeditor.HowdidIgoabout findingone?GoodoldGoogle.Ilandedonanindividual, AnnPatty.IfoundherbasedonaspecificsearchIused. (YoucanGoogleherandseewhosheis)We communicatedviaemail,andsheagreedtoreadthe manuscript,because,“Youhaveavoice.”Sidebar:that complimentwaseverything!Iwasoverthemoonandit encouragedmesomuch,but,littledidIknow,the manuscripthada“fatalflaw.”Becauseofthisfatalflaw, AnnPattyreferredmetoa*freelanceeditorwhoworked

withfirsttimeauthors.ThisistheeditorIwouldwork withforthenextyear,fiftypagesatatime.Shewasvery direct.Kind,butdirect–shewasexactlywhoIneeded. Thisparticularfreelanceeditoralsoworkedinavery uniqueway.Shesaid“if,”shebelievedamanuscriptwas worthyofanagent’sattention,shewouldqueryona writer’sbehalf.Shecoulddothisbecauseshehadcontacts inNewYork.Shehadworkedatvariouspublishing housesovertheyears,andknewmanyinthepublishing industry.Thisiswherethatbitofluckwehearaboutcame informe.Inearly2012,shebelieved TheEducationof DixieDupree wasready.Shebegantosolicitagents immediately,oneatatime.Ihoveredovermyemail. Answerscamequick.Twoturneddownrepresentation,but thethird?Theysaythree’sacharm.

It’sbeentenyearssinceIsignedwithmyagent,John Talbot.ThedayIgothisphonecalloffering representation,hisenthusiasmwassoinfectiousallIcould dowasgrin.IhavenoideawhatIsaid.Isignedacontract onMarch,9,2012,andleftmycompanyonMarch30th, 2012–exactlythreeweekslater.Myenddatehadnothing todowithsigningthecontract.Ihadknownitsince January.Itwaspurecoincidence,butIwashappytoshare mygoodnewswithmycolleagues.

TheEducationofDixieDupree wentonsubmissionthat

samemonth.Expectationswereitwouldsellquickly.I guessthisiswheremyluckranout.Duringthefirstfew monthswhile Dixie wasbeingshopped,IdidwhatIcall “panicwriting,”meaningIwroteasecondbookfastand furious.ConsideringIhadnitpickedon Dixie foralmost twentyyears,wow,IwrotethesecondonelikeIwason fire!Iquicklyturneditintomyagent,buthere’swhatI learned.Thisisnotaprocesswheresubmissionsoccurat will.Itwastoosoon(!)foranotherbookfromDonna Everhart.Whileitwashardtosetbooknumbertwoaside, Idid,andatthebeginningof2013,Ihunkereddownto writethethird.

Meanwhile,thesubmissionclockfor TheEducationof DixieDupree tickedon.Nooffer.Onlysilence.Itwas devastating,quitehonestly.Itookmytimeonthethird book.Onedaymyagentsaid,“Dixieisinactive.”Iasked whatthatmeant.Inmoreorlesswordshesaid,“Itmeans ifsomeoneaskstoseeit,I’llsendittheirway,butwe’re notactivelysendingitout.”

Byearly2015,thethirdbook,whichwasavery differentstory,wasreadytogoonsubmission.Bythen,I hadresolvedmyselftothefactmyfirstbookwouldnever beonshelves,andneitherwouldmysecond.Duringthose threeyears,Ihadmaturedasawriter.Forthissubmission, Iwasmuchmorereservedinmyexpectations.Becauseit

wasahardcrimenovel,thepotentialacquiringeditorlist wasmuchsmaller.Iwashopeful,butIwentintoit knowingtheopportunityforsuccesswasmuchlessthan before.

Anotherwaitingperiodbegan.Insomeway,I understoodIwaspotentiallyatacrossroadsinmywriting career.Istronglybelievedifthisbookdidn’tsell,my agentmightfindithardtojustifyretainingmeasaclient. Henevergaveanyindicationshethoughtthisway,it’sjust thatit’satoughbusiness.Theeditoratthepublishing housewhereIthoughtIhadthebestchancebecauseofhis relationshipwithmyagent,rejectedmynewbookwithin days.Myagentrelayedthatrejectiontome,butalsosaid thiseditorlikedmywritingstyle,andwantedtoknow, “doesshehaveanythingelse?”Myagentmadeamental connectionaboutthisparticulareditor’slikesanddislikes. Hetookachanceandforwarded TheEducationofDixie Dupree.

Myagentforwardedtherejectionsforthehardcrime novelasI’daskedhimto,becauseIliketoknowwhat’s goingon.WhenIgotanotherforwardedemailonApril 1st,Iwasrathersickofthembythen,soIignoredit.I wasn’tinthemoodforanotherrejection.Icleanedhouse instead.Lateronthatafternoon,Ifinallyopenedtheemail up,feelingIcouldstomachwhateverwassaid.These words(andwe’veheardthisdescriptionbefore) jumped

outatme:

Afterthreeyears,andunbelievablybecauseofa completelydifferentmanuscript,myveryfirst–andatthat time–theonlybookI’deverwrittenhadfinallysold.

WhenItellthisstory,Ialwaysgetgoosebumps,even nowasIwritethis,Ihavethem.Sincethen,I’ve completedeightbooks,fivearepublished,thesixthwill comeoutsometimein2024,andI’mabouttobeginonthe ninth.Ihopethispersonalaccountoffersaglimpseinto howunusual,anduniquelydifferentpublicationcanbefor thoseofyouwriting.Thereisnocookiecutterprocess. Granted,itprimarilyremainsaquery/slushpileprocess formany,butIalsoknowarandomelevatorpitch,a chancemeeting,aneditoronthehuntforacertainkindof story,canresultinpagesrequested-andthen?Magic.

(*namewithheldbecausethisfreelanceeditorhasretiredandisa veryprivateperson)

“WEHAVEANOFFERONDIXIEDUPREE.Callme assoonasyougetthis.”

Behindthescenes withDonnaEverhart andTheSaintsof SwallowHill DesideratumPodcast

HELLOWRITERS!

ThefirstannualMurderCreekWritingRetreatwillopen forsubmissionsonMarch15,2023throughJune1,2023.

Spaceislimitedandtheretreatisopentowriterswho haveaworkinprogress.Submissionapplicationswill requireyoutosendyourfirstchaptersogetthosepages ready!

Awebsitewithinformationandapplication linkswillbelivelaterthismonth.Youwillbe abletofindit

HERE

Wewillalsobeannouncingourlineupofspeakers throughoutMarch,sostaytunedtoourFacebookpage MurderCreekWritingRetreat|Facebook

Ifyouhavequestions,feelfreetoemailtheorganizersat info@murdercreekwritingretreat.com

WriterswhoparticipateintheMurderCreekWriting

RetreatwillcongregateinBrewton,Alabamalocatedon thesouthernborderofAlabamajustnorthoftheFlorida

Panhandle.Brewtonwasknowninpasttimesasthe richestlittletownintheSouthandhasbeenvotedoneof the100bestsmalltownsinAmerica.

It’sawellknownfactthatthere’ssomethingspecial(some sayit’smagic)aboutthestateofAlabamawhenitcomes tothenumberofwell-knownauthorswithinitsborders.

I’vebeentoldthattherehavebeenstudiesonthesubjectisitsomethingintheair,inthesoil?AsfarasIknow,no one’sfiguredoutascientificreasonforit,soI’mgoing withmagic.CreativitybreedscreativityandBrewtonis thebirthplaceofmanycreativetypesincludingtwoofmy personalfavorites-authorSuzanneHudsonandsinger/ songwriter/storytellerGraysonCappsaswellashometo WilliamGoldenoftheOakRidgeBoys,singer/songwriter HankLocklin,andauthorandscreenwriter,Michael McDowellwho’sbeendescribedbyauthorStephenKing as"thefinestwriterofpaperbackoriginalsinAmerica today."

Thisretreat,organizedbyHollyHartShirleyandMandy HaynesandsponsoredinpartbyWELLREADMagazine andthecityofBrewton,isgearedtowardwritersofall backgroundswhohaveaworkinprogress.

Nomatteryourwritingexperience,you’llleavethe

MurderCreekWritingRetreatwithimportantinformation includingthecraftofwritingdifferentgenres,what publishersarelookingforandhowtosubmityourwork, theprosandconsofself-publishingv.traditional publishing,howandwheretofindaudiobooknarrators, andlotsoftechniquesandtipsabouttheartofstorytelling thatarebeneficialtoauthorsofallgenresandwillhelp strengthenourvoiceonthepage.

RetreatDates:

September1st -4th

Allinterestedparticipantsareencouragedtoapplyassoon aspossibleduetothelimitedspaceavailable. RetreatRates willrangefrom$995to$1495per participantbaseduponaccommodations.

Costoftheretreatincludesthefollowing:

Dailybreakfast,dinner,snacks,andthreenightsatthe historicHolleyHouseBedandBreakfast.

Twodaysofin-personworkshopsaswellasafewvirtual

classesledbysomeofthemostentertainingandwellestablishedauthorsandpeopleinthepublishingbusiness.

(ListoffacilitatorsTBA)

SwagbagsfromTheHolleyHouseandWELLREAD filledwithuniquegiftsandtreatsfromlocalbusinesses.

Groupactivitiesinclude: Fridaynightmeetandgreet barbeque,amoonshinetastingfromtheMurderCreek Distillery,storytellingsession,alowcountryboil,anda concertputonbylocalmusicians.Wewillalsohavetime setasideattheendofSaturdayandSundayfor participant’stohaveinformalcritiquesessionsand readings.

ABOUTTHEACCOMMODATIONS:

ThehistoricHolleyHouseBedandBreakfastwill accommodatefourteenauthors.Withthreelivingareas,a diningroom,aneventroomwithtentablesandample placestoplugincomputersandchargers,highspeed wirelessinternetthroughoutthehouse,eightporches,and achapeltoclearyourhead,the15,000squarefoothistoric BedandBreakfastwillbeyourhomeawayfromhome whileyoulearnfromawardwinningauthors,workshop

withyourpeers,putwordsonthepages,andreviseyour manuscript.

Eightsuiteshavequeenorkingbedsandprivatebaths, whilethetwoupstairssuiteswithmultiplebedroomshave sharedbathswithaccesstoakitchenandtwolargeliving areas.

Everyroominthe5starbedandbreakfasthasluxurious bedsandcomfortablerobestospoilyouwhileyouwork onyourmanuscript.DeborahGeorge,InnKeeperof HolleyHouse,willprovidehomecookedmeals(including herfamouschickenanddumplings)plusplentyofsnacks forattendees.

TheapplicationprocessfortheMurderCreekWriting RetreatwillopenonMarch1st.

WearesoexcitedaboutthiseventandtheHolleyHouse can’twaittoopentheirhomeandheartstoeveryonethis fall.

AlFonto.Itwasanuncommon nameforacreativelycuriousman, anditfithimperfectly,yeteveryone calledhim“Doc”…

Doc

HollyHartShirley

“Amanwhodenieshispastisamanwhotrulydenieshimselfa future,forherefusestoknowhimself,andtodenyknowledgeof oneselfistostumblethroughlifeashandicappedastheblind mute.” ―TobshaLearner,

TheWitchofCologne

Mybestfriendwassixty-fivewhenIwasborn.Neither ofushadanyteeth,andweprobablyhadthesameamount ofhair,Imighthavehadmore.Idrankoutofabottle,he occasionallyhitthebottle,andduringourbottletime, WillieFredbabysatbothofus.WelovedPBSandwearing ourpajamas,andwemusthavereadathousandbooks together.Duringourtwenty-sixandhalfyearstogether, wewouldfindoutthatwelovedoneanothermorethanwe lovedanythingelse.Therearen’tmanythingsofwhichI amresolutelycertainofinmylife,butIammostcertain thatIwasGranddaddy’sfavoritepersononearthand withoutequivocation,hewasmine.

YoumightimagineGranddaddywasretiredwhenIwas born,buthewasn’t.Duringmyearlychildhoodyears,Isat onhisdeskwithastethoscopewhilehe,apracticing generalphysicianwhohadlong-sinceretiredfrom performingsurgery,examinedpatients.

Hehadaruralclinicthatwasattachedtohishome—he rolledoutofbed,stoppedinthekitchenforraisinbranand wentstraighttowork.Heneverchargedforofficevisits, onlyforproceduresormedications,andsawatleast seventypatientsperday,sixdaysaweek.Patientspaid withchickens,vegetables,eggs,bakedgoods,andone ladyhadherhusbandpayherbillaftershepassedaway withanantiquewashstandthatwasherprizedpossession.

Granddaddytriedtorefuseit,butthemaninsisted.For yearsitremainedinthelaundryroomatthefarm.

HislastnamewasHolley,myfirstnameisHolly—soI tracedhisnameontheprescriptionpadsoverandover untilIcouldwritemine.UntilIwasaboutfour,Ithought mynamewasspelled“Dr.A.F.Holley,M.D”.

Granddaddywasmymother’sstepfather.Lenis,my grandmother,hadpushedformymothertohavean abortionbecausemybiologicalfatherwasandstillis unreliable,soMotherthoughtthatbynamingmeaftermy grandparents,theywouldbemoreinclinedtobeexcited aboutmyarrival.IwasborntwodaysafterChristmas;the nurseassumedHollywasaholidaynameandIwas

cheatedthe“e”onmybirthcertificate—thatwasjustthe beginningofmenotbeinga“real”Holley.

GranddaddywasbornAlfonsoHolley,namedfor AlfonsoXIII,thereigningKingofSpainin1906.Ashe approachedjuniorhighschool,hewasveryupsetthatthe otherchildreninhisclasshadamiddlename.Believing thathismothernamedhimincorrectly,aroundagetwelve orthirteen,AlfonsochangedhisnametoAlFonto,two names-andtothisday,otherthanmyuncleandhisson,I haveonlyfoundahandfulofpeoplenamedFontoandI foundallthreeofthemonAncestry.com,butnoAlFontos.

AlFonto.Itwasanuncommonnameforacreatively curiousman,anditfithimperfectly,yeteveryonecalled him“Doc”,likeDoctorwashisfirstname.AuntJoyce’s childrencalledhimUncleDoctor.IstilllaughifIsaythat outloud.WhatifmyniecesandnephewscalledmeAunt Designer?Thatwouldbecrazy,right,butDoctorwashis name.Granddaddyhadabrotherwhosegivennamewas CaptainSisbyHolleyandtheycalledhimBob,soIguess itcouldbecompletelyplausiblethatsomeone’sfirstname couldbeDoctorifyourbrotherwasCaptain,andyour sisterwasDollie.

Somepeopleareborntoogoodforthisworld,andGod takesthemearly—thosearetheoneswhodieasinfants,as children,oryoungadultsatthebrinkofbeginningalife. TheothersthatcomefromtheverybestpileofsoulsGod

hascreated,theoneslikemyGranddaddywhochangethe world,theyfeelthingssodeeplyandtheirloveissopure, thattheyfindunusualwaystocopewiththeenormityof thisworld.Astheystrugglethroughfeelingwhatother peoplefeel,theseempatheticsoulsbecomethecreators, thebuilders,thepoets,thecomposers,theartists,the healers—hewasallthesethings.

Lenisalwayssaidthatsomethingchangedin GranddaddywhenIwasborn.Iwasthefirstchildhewas allowedtotakecareofunsupervisedandhetookthatjob veryseriously.Iwashisredemption,hischancetomake upforallthetimehehadspentwrestlingdemonsand angelshisentirelife—achancetomakeupfornotbeing presentforhisownchildrenandbeingdrunkandmean duringtheirformativeandteenageyears.Drinkingnearly destroyedhimmorethanonce,andIdobelievethatifhe hadn’tmarriedLeniswhenhedid,hewouldhavedieda youngmaninhisfifties,drunkandpenniless.Instead,he was92andtouchedthelivesofthousands.

DocknewIdidn’thaveadaddy,andforme, Granddaddywaseverythinghisfatherwasnotforhim.I oftenfindmyselffeelingguiltyforgettingthebestyears ofhislifeandknowingthattheothersmissedwhatshould havebeentheirbirthright,yetIamsoverythankfulIhad himtomyself.It’slikeGodsawwhatwascomingand gavemeaheadstartofgoodness.

AnunshakeablefaithanchoredDocwhenhewould driftfromhistruth.ThefirstthingIrememberhim teachingmeanddrillinginmyheadwastheBibleverse, John3:16.EverydaywepracticedituntilIwouldgetit right.“ForGodsolovedtheworld,thathegavehisonly begottenson,thatwhosoeverbelievethinhimshouldnot perish,buthaveeverlastinglife.”Ialwayssaid,“only forgottenson”andhewouldlaughandcorrectmeuntilI finallygotitright.Nomatterhowhefaltered,howhe failed,orhowhewouldstumble,Granddaddy’sfaith alwaysbroughthimbacktocenter—toaplacewherehe wasgroundedandsafe.Athisfuneral,Isangthesong “TheAnchorHolds”—nothingcouldhavebeenmore appropriateforhim,becausehewaslikeabatteredship thattheanchorheldsafeintheharbor.

Hisfather’snicknamewasBully,andthatwasan appropriatenameforamanwhodrankuncontrollablyand causedhischildrentoliveinterror.Granddaddyspent manynightsofhisyounglifehidingunderneaththehouse toescapethewrathofhisfather.Ibelieveallhis

insecurities,hisinabilitytointeractsociallywithout havingadrink,andhispreferenceforthecompanyof childrenandderelictswhowerecompletelyjudgmentfree, werethereasonsheandmygrandmotherweren’tinvolved inmanysocietyfunctionsinoursmalltown.Theysaythe predispositiontoalcoholismisgenetic,butcoping

mechanismsarelearnedbehavior;Granddaddyspentthe latteryearsunlearninghispoorcopingskillsandfreeing hissoul.

Granddaddylosthisfatherwhenhewasfairlyyoung andhadtodropoutofhighschoolforayearandrunthe family'sdrugstorewhenhisfatherdied.Hismotherdied whenhewasinhisfifties,andIknowthathealways missedher.OtherthanGod,shewashissourceof unconditionallove.

Docsufferedfrommilklegthatwasaresultofscarlet feverhesufferedasateenager.Duringthewaryears, becauseofhisleg,hewastheonlydoctorintown,andhe keptthelocalhealthcaresystemrunning.Herarelyslept andcarriedahugeburdenformyhometownuntilhis peersreturnedfromWWII.Insteadofthanks,hewas rewardedwithdisdain.Thefirstboard-certifiedsurgeonin EscambiaCounty,Alabama,theMayobrothershadasked Dr.Holleytogointopracticewiththemwhenthey startingtheirclinic.Hecompletedpartofhisresidencyat BellevueHospitalinNewYorkCityandworkedatEllis Islanddoingimmigrantintakeintheearlythirties.

TheyearDisneyWorldopenedtheirdoors,wewere there,andallthekidshadonmouseears,andmostwith theirnamesmonogrammedonthemlikethekidsinThe MickeyMouseClub.Iwantedapair—theywere$4plain and$7monogrammed,Iwillneverforgetit.Ibeggedfor

thoseearsandMothersaid“Holly,theyaretooexpensive, youcanhavesomewhenweleavesoyoudon’tlosethem inthepark.”Granddaddywalkeduptothemouseear counter,slappeddownatwentyandsaid,“Iwanttwo pairsofears.IneedonesetthatsaysPaDr.forme,anda smallsetthatsaysHolly.”WhenMothersaid“andI’m Deborah”Hesaid“Ohnooooo,Debber,thosearetoo expensive.”Shedidn’tgetanyears.Wealsogotmatching MickeyMousewatches.

Iwasaboutthreeorfouryearsoldwhenmybiological father,Terry,cameouttothefarminhisElTorino.Hehad calledtotellMotherhewas“comingtogethis goddamnedyoungin”.Therewasacirculardriveatthe farmthatwentaroundthemainpartoftheyard.Iwill neverforgetTerry’scarslinginggravelasheroundedthe circlecomingbythehouse.Granddaddywalkedoutsideto examinethesituation-andtoldmetostandbehindhim.

Granddaddyliftedthebarreloftheshotgunandshot warningshotsoverTerry’sElTorinosaying,“Nottoday yousonofabitch,nottoday.”Terryleft.

Helistenedtomyclangingonthepianoandwould alwayssay“you’reimproving”evenwhenIcompletely sucked.Luckyforhim,hewasnearlydeaf.Itookhimto gethearingaidsonce,butwhenhecamehome,hecould heareverythingLenissaid,sohetookthemoutandthey stayedinadraweruntilhedied.

Idon’trememberaconcertoraplayIwasinthathe didn’tattend.WhenImovedfrompercussiontobassoon inhighschool,hewentuptomybanddirectorafterthe concertandsaid“Mr.Folsom,nexttime,Iwould appreciateitifyoucouldmoveHollytothefrontrowsoI canseeher.Ican’tseeheratallbacktherewiththose tubas.”

Granddaddystudiedgardeninglikehewaspracticinga religionandwasconstantlygraftingdogwoodtreesto createhalfwhite,halfpinktreesthatweretreesoffairy legends.Ontheedgeoftheten-acreyardathishouse,he hadasmallvineyardofgrapesthatwetendedtogether, and,everyfall,wemadescuppernongwine.Iprobably learnedmoreduringthosedaysaboutwhohewasthan anyothertime.Granddaddyhadanunquestionablework ethic.Hewouldworkyouinthedirt,butonlyafter11 a.m.,neverduringtheWalterCronkitenewshourfrom5-6 p.m.,andthenagainfrom6p.m.untildark.

Weharvestedthegrapes,ranthemthroughthewooden pressthatseparatedthejuicefromthepulpandhulls, strainedthejuicewithcheesecloth,andputthejuiceand sugarandyeastinfive-gallonplasticcontainerswith aeratorsontopandwaited.

MyGodfather,whomIcallUncleDonnie,hasoften toldthestoryofthedayheandhisbrotherColumbus dranksomehomemadewinewithmyGranddaddy.The

morningafter,bothsworeoffdrinking,forever.Columbus especiallywasnotedassaying,“IfGodwilljustletme live,IwillneverdrinkanyofDr.Holley’swineagain.”

Ifthereisarecordforit,Granddaddycouldruina Cadillacinrecordtime.Youcouldsetyourclockandin threemonthsflat,bythetimeheandhispalLawrence (pronouncedLarnce)Lucashadworkedonanythingwith amotor,itwastrashed.Grandmotherwouldgivehima two-year-oldCadillac,inmintcondition,andwithinafew daystherewouldbebatteriesinthebackseat,tools, greasyrags,wateringcans,pliers,hotcansofCountry ClubBeer(incaseofanemergency),candywrappers,and usuallyanoldMobilePressRegisterortwo.

Whateverhewasdrivingsmelledlikecigarsmokeand peppermintcandy—myfavoritesmellever.Someone shouldmakeacandlecalledDocandputcigarsmoke, peppermintcandy,andAramisropesoapsmellinit—I wouldbuyacaseandburnthemroundtheclock.

PriortoLenis’sdeath,wewerediscussingCountryClub BeerandhowthatwasGranddaddy’sfavoriteduringhis heyday;shesaid,“Youknow,thoselittleeight-ouncecans ofCountryCLUB.”.HelikedthoseandMillerponies—so muchthatathisfuneral,IhadMillerponiesintheparking lotandcigarsformycousins—Leniswouldn’tletmetake theminsidethefuneralhome.

UponmyresearchofCountryClub,Ifoundthatthe namewaschangedfromBeerinthefiftiesandit'snotbeer atall,butamaltliquor.Oneoftheirearlyadssaid “CountryClub-it’sthelittlecanwiththebigsurprise!”

That’sallIneededtoknow.Granddaddywasagangster— ridingaroundinabroken-downCaddydrinkingMalt Liquor,shootingoverpeople’sheadsandhangingoutwith hismoonshiningfriend,CussingCarey,whoswore incessantlyandneverstoppedtalking.

Onmorethanoneoccasion,Iheardhimsay“I’mthe bosswhenLenisisgone.”Leniswentoutoftownone timeandhedecidedhewasfreetobuyabulldozer.Not anybulldozer,mindyou,anAllis-Chalmersbulldozer,the biggestbulldozermadeatthetime-itwascalledtheBig Royandwasthesizeofanarmytank.WhileLeniswasin Nashville,DocbribedWillieFredforthekeytothe bookkeepingcabinetandwroteacheck.WhenLenis returned,sheaskedwherehegotthemoney.Hetoldher hehadwrittenacheckandthenasked,“We’vegot enough,don’twe?”

Morethanonetime,Granddaddyremarkedthathehad specializedinproctology,becauseGodknewhewasgoing tobesurroundedbyassholeswhenhewasold.Hewould laughandpointatmygrandmother.EverytimeItoldon him,hewoulddenyitandsayImadethewholethingup. HewasaturncoatwhenitcametoLenis-heneverfessed

uptoanything!

Aportlyfellow,Docwasonly5’8”,woreasize8shoe, andhada40”waist.Youmightnotthinkhewouldhave beengraceful,beingbuiltlikeHumptyDumpty,buthe wasthesmoothestdancerinlowerAlabama.Hecould spinyouaroundonthedancefloorlikeaprincess.Imust havedancedamillionmilesonhisfeetinthedentoGuy Lombardo’sorchestra.WhenLeniswasanArthurMurray champion,everyonewaslookingather,butalltheladies wantedtodancewithhim.

Hebelievedthatlongfingernailswerenastyandpaid me$20tocutmineeverytimeIletthemgrowoutlong.I madealotofgasmoneyinhighschoolgrowingmynails.

WhenIwentofftocollege,everyweekIwouldreceive aletterwithanarticleonsomekindofsexually transmitteddisease,usuallyfromtheJournalforthe AmericanMedicalAssociationortheNationalEnquirer. Everyoneinmydormwaitedforhislettertoarriveandwe wouldreaditandjusthowl.Hesentmeanarticleabout gayguyshavingsexintheHaleyCenterbathroomsand toldmenottogointhere.IexplainedtohimthatIwas neithergay,norgoinginthemen’sbathroomsthere,and hesaid,“Youdon’tknowwho’swhothesedays,sojust mindyourselfandstayoutofthere.”Hisconcernwith AIDSbeingspreadby“deepthroatkissing”alsomadethe

greatesthitscollectionoflettershesentmeatschool.

Inhisletterswouldbe$20fortaxifare,codeforgas money,andhepromised$20taxifareformyreturnto schoolifIwouldcomehomefortheweekend.Henever wouldsaythathemissedmeandneversaid“Iloveyou.”I wouldcallhimcollectandusuallytalkforanhour.Before sayinggoodbyeIwouldalwayssay,“Iloveyou, Granddaddy”andhewouldjustrespondwith“Sametoya, Boy.”

Thereisn'tadaythatpassesthatheisn'twithmein someway—whetherit'smyworkethic,myabilityto creativelysolveproblems,ormyinabilitytosugarcoat anything—Icredithimwithallmybetterattributes.He waspatientandhewaskind,hedidn'tboast,hewasnot proud,hedidn'tdishonorothers,hewasn'tself-seekingor easilyangered,andhekeptnorecordofwrongs-ifthey gotitrightinCorinthians,hewaspurelove.

Onweekendswhenhewasbedridden,Iwoulddrive 400milesround-triptotakehimamilkshake.Hewould starthisSaturdaysasking,“Where’sthemilkshakelady?”

Iwouldtakehimamilkshake(withicecreaminit),and wewouldgooutsideinthewheelchair.I’dcrankupFrank Sinatraonmycarstereoandonmorethanoneoccasion, wesmokedafewMonteCristos.Hewouldalwaysaskme “Areyouoldenoughtobesmokingthese?”Iwouldtell himIwas,andhewouldsay“Iamtoo,butdon’ttellLenis

wedidit.”

Hecalledme"Boy"andIansweredtothatuntilhetook hislastbreath.Granddaddyinterrogatedmydateslikehe wastheirjailerandmadecommentsunderhisbreathwhile theystoodatthefrontdoor,hewalkedmedowntheaisle whenIwasmarriedthefirsttime,andhewastherewhenI gavebirthtomydaughter,buttohim,Iwasstilljust "Boy".

IknowhewillbethefirstfaceIseewhenIarriveatthe gatesofheaven.IhopehepicksmeupinastinkyCadillac withcarpartsstrewnintheback,wetoastwithaCountry Club,smokeastinkycigar,andIgettokisshimonhis baldheadandgostraighttoGuyLombardo’shousewhere wefloatacrossthefloorlikeweareslidingonglass.

BestfriendsHollyandherGrandaddy

HollyHartShirleyisthefifthgenerationofwomentoliveat HolleyHouseandsharetheirloveofgoodfoodandhospitality.

Sheisaninteriordesignerandworkedalongsidehermother, DeborahGeorge,forfourandahalfyearsontherenovationand reconstructionofthebedandbreakfast—leavingnodetailto chance.HollylivedatHolleyHouseasachildandlaterasa youngadultandnowisthefounderoftheMurderCreekWriting Retreatthatwilltakeplaceinherchildhoodhomeeveryyear.

SheisanNCIDQcertifiedinteriordesignerandresidesin Birmingham,Alabamawithherhusbandoftwentyyears,Jimbo, andtheashesoftheirlateMaltese,WillieNelson.Sheisa professionalmemberofWritersBootcampoutofLosAngeles, California,andisanalumnusoftheYaleWritersWorkshop.

HollyiscurrentlyworkingonamemoirentitledBlackwater Birthright.

WHATAREYOUREADING?

WHATAREYOUREADING?

ThisIsn'tGoingtoEndWell: TheTrueStoryofaManI ThoughtIKnew by

Daniel Wallace

Inthispowerfulmemoir,the bestsellingauthorofBigFishtries tocometotermswiththelifeand deathofhismulti-talentedlongtime friendandbrother-in-law,whohad beenhisbiggestheroand inspiration,inapoignant,lyrical, andmovingmemoir.

Ifwe'relucky,weallencounteratleastonepersonwhose lifeelevatesandinspiresourown.Foracclaimednovelist DanielWallace,hehadoneheroandinspirationforso muchofwhatfollowed:hislongtimefriendandbrotherin-lawWilliamNealy.Seeminglyperfect,impossiblycool, WilliamwasJamesDean,ClintEastwood,andMacGyver allrolledintoone,anacclaimedoutdoorsman,afamous cartoonist,anaccomplishedauthor,amasterofallhe undertook,WilliamwastheidealthatDanielsoughtto emulate.

ButwhenWilliamtookhisownlifeatage48,Danielwas leftfirstgrieving,andthenfuriouswiththemanwho brokehisandhissister'shearts.Thatangerledhimto commitagrievousactofhisown,abetrayalthattookhim

downadarkpathintothetorturedrecessesofWilliam's past.Eventually,anewpictureofWilliamemerged,ofa manwithtoomanysecretsandtoomuchshametobear. ThisIsn'tGoingtoEndWell isDanielWallace'sfirstforay intononfiction.Partlovestory,parttruecrime,parta desperatesearchfortheselfandhowlittlewereallycan knowanother,ThisIsn'tGoingtoEndWelltellsan intimateandmovingstoryofwhathappenswhenwe realizeourheroesarehuman.

"Arevelatoryandreflectivetaleabouthowmalesperceive othersandhowtheypresentthemselves.Morethan anything,Ifeltcompassionfortheirvulnerabilityandfear, andmademerealizeperhapswearenotsodifferent,men andwomen,afterall."

--SandraCisneros,authorof Martita,IRememberYou

"InThisWillNotEndWellyouwillfindtheexpected DanielWallaceclarity,humor,andprecision.Butyouwill notfindfiction.ThisisatruestoryaboutDanielhimself andhiswild-manmentorandrelative,WilliamNealy.Few writerscansoseamlesslythreadtogetherlove,loss, admiration,fear,pain,andhope.Andthisnarrativeisnot traditionalmemoir-fare.Itmovesmagically--unlikeany traditionalgenreyou'veeverread.AttimesIexperienced thatthrill-feelingofarollercoasterdroppingawayfrom beneathme.Thisbookisararegemgiftfromoneofour verybestwriters."

--ClydeEdgerton,authorof Raney

OurLyingKin by Claudia HagadusLong

“Hello?Iknewyourfather…better thanyoudid.”

ZaraandLillyareback,buttheir relationshiphassomecracksinit. Throughthelongpandemic isolation,Zara’sgonefromstraightlacedtorigid,whileLilly,trueto form,hasindulgedinsomedubious —andnot-particularly-legal— adventures.Butthey’restillsisters, andsistersarespecial.

WhileZaraisvisitingNewYorktohelpLillytestifyagainst thethiefandmurdererWalterRosen,asurprisephonecall rockstheirviewoftheirfamily:awomanclaimsashocking relationshiptotheirdeceasedfather,andnowtothem.Zara andLillyturntheirconsiderablesleuthingtalentstoward unravelingaseriesoffamilymysteries...buttheirquest beginsinearnestwhentheylearnthatRosen,whonearly killedLillythelasttimetheymet,hasescapedfromcustody.

CanZaraandLillydiscoverthetruthabouttheirnew-found —possiblyersatz—relative,whilekeepingthemselvesand theirlovedonessafefromaNazi’svengeance?

Lacedwithverbalphotographsofafamily’ssecrets,and filledwithhumor,siblingrivalry,andlove,OurLyingKin tellsahuman,hauntingandrollickingstoryoftheravagesof thepandemicandthepoweroffamily.

“Whenyou'vereadthecharactersketchesofthe "WanderingJews"ontheopeningpagesofClaudiaLong's "OurLyingKin,"you'llalreadybeassatisfiedasifyou've finishedawell-plottednovel.Butthere'smore:thestory unfoldsamidsnappydialoguebetweentwosistersonan up-and-downpathtowardmendingtheirrelationship whiledealingwithshadowsfromtheirpastandtough decisionsinthepresent.WhoseNewYorkhouseisit?Is thismenorahfakeorreal?Thetwistyplotdoesn'tspareus Nazithievesorthehardshipsofthepandemicofthe 2020s."OurLyingKin"isfilledwithdetailsaslightas coffeewithcreamandsugar,called"regular"ontheeast coast;andasheavyasthequestionofmorality:isarulebreakermoreorlessmoralthanarule-follower?”

CamilleMinichino,authorof ThePeriodicTable mystery series,28cozymysterynovels,shortstories,andarticles

“InOurLyingKin,sistersembarkonajourneytouncover thetruthabouttheirfamily'spastandclaimownershipof acovetedhistoricalartifact.Asthey unravelcluesandobstaclesintheir path,theymustalsoconfronttheir owncomplicatedrelationshipand learntotrusteachother.Long understandstheintricatedynamics

ofsiblinglovewell.” Stuart Rojstaczer,authorof The Mathematician'sShiva

DogwoodBlues

by BrendaSuttonRose

SavedbyaSong:The ArtandHealingPower ofSongwriting by MaryGauthier

Thisbookisforyouif… youlovemusic,songs,and songwriters,ifyouarean artist,writer,songwriter,if youloveone,ifyouarein recovery,ifyouare interestedinthecreative process.

SavedByaSong isan explorationofthe

redemptivepowerofsong,

throughtheeyesofaGrammynominatedsongwriter whoseaddictionandrecoveryprovidethebackground storytodemonstratethepowerofsongstoinspireand changelives.Songscanrepairheartsandhealsouls;this bookcelebratesthisamazingalchemy.Itisadeepdive intotheartandhealingpowerofsongsforboththe songwriter,andthelistener.

"Generousandbig-hearted,Gauthierhasstoriestotell andworthwhileadvicetoshare."―WallyLamb,authorof IKnowThisMuchIsTrue

Oliver by Mandy

Haynes

“WhatasweetSouthern yarn.Makenomistake:the narratorhasplentyof spitfireandsass,which keepsthetalelively,butit's thesweetbrothermostof thetownhasbulliedand dismissedwhocarriesthe storytoitsheartwarming conclusion.Theauthorhas agoodearforSouthern dialogueandprose rhythms,butthisisatale thatcallsupontheYiddish andEasternEuropeantraditionofthewisefool.Think IsaacBashevisSinger,"Gimpel,TheFool,"forexample. ThinkAristotleandperipitas,orreversals,inwhichthe weakbecomemightyandthemightyweak,andthenjust enjoyagood,colloquialSouthernread.” LeeZacharias, authorofWhataWonderfulWorldThisCouldBe “Alittlestorywithahugemessage.Ilovedthisshort story.ImpossiblenottofallinlovewithOliverandOlivia. Abeautifulandheartfeltstoryaboutfamily,childhood, innocence,kindnessandmagicthatwillcaptureyour heart”

FallingStar by

MicheleKwasniewski

Whoareyouwhennoone islooking?

Minutesbeforeher scheduledperformanceat thedroppartyforherthird album,sixteen-year-old popsensationDani

Truehartregains consciousnessamidthe smokingwreckageofacar accident,thecrumbled bodyofacyclistsplayedon theground.Momentsafter

theaccidentDani’stalentmanager,JennerRedman, reachesthesceneandhisimpulsivedecisionsetsin motionachainofeventsthatwillhavecatastrophic consequencesforeveryoneinthestarlet’sorbit.

“MicheleKwasniewskibringstolifetheglamourand pressureofbeingastar.”

—GeorgeBrown,Founding memberofKool&theGang,authorofTOOHOT!KOOL ANDTHEGANGANDME

“FallingStarrevealsthesacrificesmadeforfameand fortune–andthelengthssomewillgotokeepit.A riveting,5-starread.” NicoleGabor,award-winning authorof Catwalk Nicolegabor.com

AftergraduatingfromLoyolaMarymountUniversitywith aBAinTechnicalTheater,MicheleKwasniewskispent overfifteenyearsinfilmandtelevisionproduction. Startingoutasafilmsetassistantonmoviessuchas

INDEPENDENCEDAY,FACE/OFF,PRIMALFEAR, andEVITA.Micheleeventuallyswitchedtothesmall screenandworkedherwayuptheladdertoproduction manager,gainingexperienceontelevisionshowssuchas BIGBROTHER,ADOPTIONSTORIES,EXTRA YARDAGEandMEETTHEPANDAS.Sheisalsoa proudmemberoftheProducersGuildofAmerica.

Michele’scolorfulexperiencesintheindustryinspiredher towriteTHERISEANDFALLOFDANITRUEHART series.MichelelivesinSanClemente,Californiawithher husband,theirson,andtheirdisobedientdachshund.

RISINGSTARwasawardedFinalistin thecategoryofYOUNGADULT

FICTIONforthe2021BESTBOOK

AWARDSand2022INTERNATIONAL BOOKAWARDS.RISINGSTARwas awardedFinalistinthecategoriesof GENERALFICTIONandYOUNG ADULTFICTIONinthe2022

AMERICANFICTIONAWARDS.

“Inthishonestandauthenticmemoir, BruceMcIntyre,truetothetitleofthe book,makesnopretenseatprovidingpat answers.Thisisnotahow-tobook.Itis somethingmuchmore—thestoryofareallifejourneyofacorporatenomadturned businessownerwholearnshardlessonsin hardsituations.Acompelling,well-crafted account,writtenbyagoodman.I wholeheartedlyrecommendit.”

—FryeGaillard,coauthorof The SouthernizationofAmerica:AStoryof DemocracyintheBalance withCynthia Tucker

ThereAreNoAnswersHere, OnlyQuestions

by CharlesBruceMcIntyre

ThereAreNoAnswersHere, OnlyQuestions

by Charles BruceMcIntyre

Thetruestoryoftwolife-altering eventsandthepersonal transformationthatresultedfrom theirunlikelycollision.It’sthe memoirofanownerpreparingto sellhisbusinessandretirejustas heisdiagnosedwithcancer.Faced withthechoiceofcontinuingwith thesaleandwaitingtodealwith cancerorputtingthedeal-makingonholdwhiletreating cancer,ourbusinessownerdecidestotakeonbothatthe sametime.Isthispossible?Perhaps,butonlyifheallows otherstostepinwhilehestepsback,andthat’snevereasy whenyou’retheboss.

Oncefree,ournow-retiredownerrearrangesthe paradigmsofhislifetohelpthehomelessfindjobsand travelstoamarginalizedvillageinCentralAmerica, joiningothersincreatingtheholisticcommunityonlyits peoplecouldenvision.

ThereAreNoAnswersHere,OnlyQuestions isastoryof transformationandthenever-endingpromiseofhope.

“Thisbookisawarmandneighborlyinvitationtojoin BruceMcIntyreontheweatheredteakbenchunderthe giantoakinhisyardandbespellboundbythedualstories hespins—howhesoldhissuccessfulbusinessatthesame timehewasenduringdebilitatingcancertreatment.There AreNoAnswersHere,OnlyQuestionsisbeautifully crafted,wise,humorous,touching,andinspiring.Perhaps oneofthemosthearteningquestionsinthebook:“Isit strengththatgiveshope,orhopethatgivesstrength?” McIntyrerewardsthereaderwithageneroushelpingof both.”

—JudyGoldman,authorof Child:AMemoir

“BruceMcIntyreisamanofunfalteringfortitude,who hasthewisdomtogiveupcontrol,andhasclarityashe weaveshiswaythroughthedarkwoodandbeyond.His storyisaspiritualjourneyoftransformation,andaguide foranyhumanwhoneedsamusealongtheway.”—

BarbaraConrad,authorof WildPlums and ThereIsa Field

“ThereAreNoAnswersHere,Only QuestionsisthestoryofMcIntyre’s journeys,anditisatruepleasureto ridealongwithhim.Throughoutthis skillfulandengagingmemoir,Iwas remindedhowmanypeoplemakeup alifeandhowmuchbetteroffweare forthatgift.”––

PaulReali, cofounderofCharlotteCenterfor LiteraryArts

LibertyBiscuit by Melanie SueBowles

Doesafamilymysterystandinthe wayofsavingKip'sbestfriend?

KatherinePearlBaker--"Kip"for short--istheonlychildonher family'sruralpeachfarm.She longsforapettoeasethe loneliness.

Unfortunately,herfatherhasan angryoppositiontoallanimals--horsesinparticular.Why hedislikesthemisaconfoundingmystery.

HidinginthewoodsontheFourthofJuly,Kipencounters abedraggleddonkeywithoneeyeandafloppyear. Immediatelysmittenandcompelledtoprotecthim,she feedshimbiscuitsandtakeshimhome.Whenitis discoveredthedonkeyfledanabusiveowner,Kip'sfather finallyrelents,reluctantlyallowinghimtostay…

“Thisbookisagem.Aspiritedyoungheroine'sstoryof hopeandresilience—what'snottolove?It'sastorythat kidsneedtoday.Atouchingadventureforpeoplewho careaboutanimalsorforanyonewholovesasweetread withaninspiringmessage.I'drecommenditina heartbeat.”

—CatherineFreese,RetiredSchoolLibrarian

TheHitMan'sWife: RomanticThriller by Joy RossDavis

ThefirsttimeJodieMarshallmeets RussellMorgan,hehasagun pointedatherhead.Inatwistof fate,Russellclaimsherashisone truelove.AndeventhoughJodie loveshim,sheasksherselfone question.HowcanIleta governmenthitmantakeovermy life?Willsheallowitorwillsheclosethedooronhim forever?

“Theirmeetingwasbyaccidentbuttheirloveundeniable. Thelifeshethoughtshehadwasmaskedbyherpast.Can herhusbandfigureitoutbeforeit’stoolate?Thisbook wassoexciting,andawhirlwindofmysteryandrevealing secrets.It’swasdefinitelyanailbiterforsure.Ihighly recommenditifyoulikesittingontheedgeofyourseat.”

FiveStarReaderReview

“TheHitMan'sWifehasitall:romance,suspense,thrills, andabeautifullovestorybetweentwomostunlikely characters.Ithoroughlyenjoyeditandamhopingthat Ms.Daviswillfollowupwithasequel.”

FiveStarReader Review

Campbell'sBoy by Mary Kendall

Californiaplainsinthe1850s.After losinghismothertocholeraonthe wagontrainoutwest,Emmet Campbellmostlyfendsforhimselfin theboomtownofColusa,California whereheandhisbusyandambitious fathersettle.ComingofageforEmmet meanshidinginthecornersofhis father'snewsaloon,scroungingfor foodinthelocalbrothelsandfindingrefugeintunnels underneathColusa'sChinatown.Whilefightingofftown bullies,anevilIrishstepmother,andhisownlearning disabilities,Emmetstrugglestofindhisfootingbutnever loseshiscuriosityabouttheworldaroundhimandthepeople init.Whenforcedintoacourtcasetoestablishhisidentity andrightfulinheritanceaftertheuntimelydeathofhisfather, Emmetmustfindfamilyandidentityinplaceshemightnot havereckonedfor.Butcanhe?Withequalmeasuresofthe darkandthelight,Campbell'sboyisatendertaleaboutaboy whosefracturedbeginningsleadhimonajourneythroughlife thatrevealswhatitcanmeantobehuman.

"InCampbell'sBoy,MaryKendallexpertlypavesanodyssey ofDickensianproportions,takingusdeepintoColusatunnels beneaththeChinatownofEmmetCampbell'schildhoodand acrossthetumultuousplainofanextraordinarylife."

-Robert Gwaltney,awardwinningauthorof TheCicadaTree

Tell-TaleBones by Carolyn Haines

CarolynHaines’sTell-TaleBones marksthenextnovelintheseries thatKirkusReviewscharacterizesas “StephaniePlummeetstheYa-Ya Sisterhood”featuringsassySouthern privateinvestigatorSarahBooth Delaney.

PrivateInvestigatorSarahBooth DelaneyandherpartnerTinkieare inSheriffColemanPeters’soffice,askingColemanabout coldcases,whenElisaReddstormsinwithacaseher own.ShewantsColemantoreopentheinvestigationof hermissingdaughter,LydiaReddMaxell,theheiresstoa largefortunewhodisappearedalongwithherfriend Bethany10yearsago,whilethetwoofthemwere workingashumanrightsorganizers.NowLydia’s husband,Tope,issettoinheritthefortune,andElisa suspectshe’sbehindthedisappearance.

ArmedwithapileofmysteriousnotesmailedtoElisaover theyears,SarahBoothandTinkiefollowanincreasingly twistytrailalloverSunflowerCounty,leadingthemtoa treeandanemptygraveinthecountycemetery.Agrave that’ssaidtobehaunted…

TheRoadto

Marietta by Karla Jordan

It'sthesummerof1930, AugustVioletFinnegan longstobelikeother twelveyearoldgirls,but sheisnot.

Sheisthedaughterofa moonshinerunner,who decidesthatsheis gettinginthewayofhis money-makingbusiness.

WhenAugust'sfather agreestoanunthinkable dealthatwillaffectthe restofherlife,she

realizesshewillneedtogrowupquicklyinorderto survive.

Aseriesofeventswillleadhertoaplaceshehopestocall home.Sheisn'ttherelongwhensherealizesthatwon'tbe thecaseatall.

Shelearnsthehardwaythatdarkalleysinthecityaren't theonlyplacethatbadpeoplearetobeavoided.

FiveStarReaderReviews:

“Aswiththisauthor'sfirstbook,Ireadthisoneinless than48hours.Karlahasawayofwritingthatcaptivates it'sreader.Youthinkyouknowwhat'scomingnext,BUT letmetellyou....YOUDON'T.TheRoadtoMarietta evokessomanythoughtsandemotions.Itmakesyoulook atyourinnerselfandcontemplatewhetheryou'retruly leadingthelifeyouwanttolead.Thisbookistrulya MUSTREAD!!!”

“AswiththefirstbookofKarla's,Ireadin2days.It bringsyoubackintimewhenlifewassodifferent.You feelconnectedtoAugust,youwanttospeakupanddefend her.Anotherwelldonebook!”

“YouMUSTreadthisbook!Thedepthofthecharacters, thestoryline,theemotionsitevokes-youcannotputit downonceyoustartit!

AMAZING!!!”

“Karla,againyourwriting managedtocaptivateme.Iread thisinonesitting!TheEnd?

Hopefullynot!Greatjob!”

InBiggestLittleGirl,14-year-oldJoeyhas runawayfromhomeinsmalltown Californiainsearchofanythingbetter. She’sgotafewdollarsandabusticket north,butatatruckstopjust30milesfrom home,shemeetsJerrywithhisgoldwatch andwadofcash.JerrybuysJoeya hamburgerandoffersherajobinReno— makingdeliveries—anddesperatefor someonetotrust,sheaccepts.InReno,the BiggestLittleCityintheWorld,shacked upinamotel,JerrycutsoffJoey’shair, giveshernewclothes,andsendsheroutto runenvelopesintocasinosinexchangefor money.Thisisasurvivalstory.

TheGreenMageisataleinthefinestof swordandsorcerytradition—ahero’s journeytoldthroughtheeyesofthemage.

NorbertOldfootisasimplemagewho makeshislivingtravelingtheBeklaRiver Road,sellingtradegoods,performing healingmagic,andsingingtraditional songsofheroes.Hebecomesfriendswith Kerttu,acoppersmithwhohasdeveloped anewalloywhichisperfectfor manufacturingswords.

Withthehelpofthedragon,Tessiaplans tosaveherfather.Littledotheyknowthat inordertosaveKerttu,theywillfirsthave tosavethekingdom.

BeforeAllWhoHaveEverSeenThis Disappear,MichaelGills’fifthnovel, plumbsthedepthsoftheStepwellfamily tendencytowardtheatricalcatastrophe. WhenWeldonStepwell,bare-knuckled catcherfortheDanvilleLittleJohnsand townflorist,hashislegamputatedina wood-cuttingaccident,theteamshowsup onthehospitallawntogiveblood,pray, andcurseGod.Mostlytheygathertobe withthestrickenwife,daughter,andson andwaittoseeiftheirteammatewilllive throughthenight.Oneteammateissentto retrievetheleg,andjustwhatonearthdo youdowithsuchathing?

MADVILLEPUBLISHING seeksoutandencouragesliterarywriters withuniquevoices.Welookforwriterswhoexpresscomplexideasin simpleterms.Welookforcriticalthinkerswithatwang,alilt,oraclick intheirvoices.Andpatois!Weloveagoodpatois.Wewanttohearthose regionalismsinourwriters’voices.Wewanttopreservethesoundofour historiesthroughourvoicescompleteandhonest,dialectalfeaturesand all.Wewanttohighlightthosefeaturesthatmakeourculturesspecialin waysthatdonotfocusondivision,butrathershineanappreciativelight onourdiversity.

INSIDEVOICES

“IthinktheGothicismanythings,butreallyitcanbesummedupbyits relianceonsensualityandfear.Andwithsensuality,I’mnotjusttalking aboutsex!Althoughthatisoftenafactor.”

PauletteKennedy,authorof TheWitchofTinMountain

RobertGwaltneyinterviews

OriginallyfromtheOzarks, PauletteKennedy nowdivides hertimebetweenherMissourihometownandLos Angeles,wheresheliveswithherfamilyandamenagerie ofrescuepets.Whensheisn’twriting,sheenjoystending tohergarden,knitting,andfindinguniquevintage treasuresatthriftstoresandfleamarkets.

Asahistorylover,shecangetlostfordaysinher research—learningeverythingshecanabouttheplacesin herstoriesandwhathercharactersmighthave experiencedinthepast.

Robert: Yourfirstnovel,PARTINGTHEVEIL,was releasedNovember1,2021tomuchacclaim,andjusttwo yearslater,readersarefortunatetohaveyoursecond novel,THEWITCHOFTINMOUNTAIN,intheirhands. Iamalwaysinterestedtolearnanauthor’sjourney.Ifyou would,pleasehighlightyourroadtopublication.

Paulette: Myroadtopublicationbeganinchildhood, probably,withthesillylittlestoriesthatIwrotein elementaryschool.Butinmylateteens,incollege,I startedexploringthecraftofwritingcommercialfiction.I tookalongandwindingroadthroughlifeandabandoned writingduringmostofmythirtiestopursuephotography. WhenIcamebacktowriting,inmyforties,itwaswitha senseoffocuseddetermination.Idovedeepintolearning craftandwroteandrewrotethemanuscriptthatwouldbe

becomePARTINGTHEVEILuntilitbecameascloseto perfectasIcouldmakeit.Iwaspleasantlysurprisedby theresponsefromagents.Ireceivedmyofferof representationfrommyagentshortlybeforemy45th birthdayandPARTINGTHEVEILwaspublishedthe followingyearbyLakeUnionPublishing.Thedaythat mydebutlaunched,IfinishedthedraftforTHEWITCH OFTINMOUNTAIN,andmyagentsoldittomy publisherthesameweek.I’vebeenincrediblyluckywith myjourney.Idon’ttakethatforgranted,andItrytopay thingsforwardwheneverIcan.

Robert: Inapodcastinterview,Irecallhearingyousay thatpublicationcanbeamatterofluckandtiming.For ourreaders,doyoumindsharingwhatyoumeanbythis.

Paulette: Ilikenpublishingtostandinginfrontofacraps tableatacasino.Ittakesskillandknowledgetoplaythe game,andtheoddsarebetterthanmostoftheothergames inthehouse,butluckisstillanundeniablefactor.Ithink successinthisindustrycanlooklotsofdifferentways,but muchofgettingtraditionallypublishedisdownto timing—presentingtherightmanuscriptattherighttime, whenit’sexactlywhatapublisherwants.It’salmost impossibletowritetomarket,whichiswhyhavingan agentissuchaboon—theyknowtheindustryandwhatis sellingmuchbetterthanauthorsdo.Itrytopresentthree differentideas/pitchestomyagentatatime,andtogether,

wechoosetheonethathasthemostmarketviability.It’s aninterestingcombinationofartandbusinessstrategy. Eventhoughluckisahugepartofgettingpublished,hard workisalwaysafactor,too,muchmorethantalent.I oftentellauthorstofocusonwhattheycancontrol: writingthebeststorytheycanwrite.Astorythey’re passionateabout.Perseveranceiskey.

Robert: IamhugefanofGothicfiction,andthisiswhyI amdrawntoyourwriting.HowdoyoudefinetheGothic genre,andwhataboutitfuelsyourowninterest?

Paulette:AndIamabigfanofyourwritingforthesame reason!IthinktheGothicismanythings,butreallyitcan besummedupbyitsrelianceonsensualityandfear.And withsensuality,I’mnotjusttalkingaboutsex!Although thatisoftenafactor.It’smoreaboutengagingthe senses—aboutcreatingapalpablesenseofsimmering menaceandatmosphere.MyfriendKrisWaldherrsumsit upperfectly,andI’mparaphrasingherhere,butshesays theGothicis“dreadanddesire.”Thatdesiredoesn’t alwayshavetoberomantic—itcanbeadesirefor ambition,power,freedom.Lotsofthings.It’savery humangenre,withcharacterswhoareoftenflawedand brokeninmanyways.Ithinkthat’swhyitappealstome. It’sanopportunitytoexplorethespectrumofhuman emotion.Also,Ilovetheaesthetics.Crumblingchurches, oldhouses,fog,cemeteries,small,insulartownswith

secrets.It’sallcatnipforme!

Robert: Fromwheredoyoudrawinspirationforyour writingingeneral,andmorespecifically,fromwheredid theideaforTHEWITCHOFTINMOUNTAINcome?

Paulette: Ihavelotsofinspirations—music,film,visual art.Ialsogetalotofmyideasfrommyresearch.I’llbe readingapieceofnon-fictionforawork-in-progressand seeathreadthatIhavetochase!Oftenthosethreads becomestoryideas.ForTHEWITCHOFTIN

MOUNTAIN,IwantedtowriteabouttheOzarks,whichis whereI’mfrom.It’sanareaofthecountrythatpeopleare veryinterestedin.We’repartoftheSouth,butwealso intersectwiththeMidwest,andithasalwaysbeena liminalspaceinthesensethatideologiesoftencollideand combineandclashthere—sometimesliterally,astheydid duringtheCivilWar.Ifeltthesettingwouldbeperfectfor awitchstory—it’sabeautifulplacewithanetherealfeel, butthereareproblems,too.Iwantedtobehonestabout that,whileatthesametimetellingthestoryofthesethree deeplybondedwomenwhosharetheirwisdomwithone anotherthroughgenerations.Gracelynn’scharacterand voicecametome,first.Writingherfeltalmostlike channelingarealperson’sspirit.It’sthefirsttimeI’ve everfeltthatwaywithacharacter.

Robert: Ifyouhadtotradeplaceswithoneofyour charactersineitherofyournovels,withwhomwouldyou trade,andwhy?

Paulette::Goodness,that’satrickyquestion,becauseI reallyputmycharactersthroughsomedifficultthings!I thinkifIcouldtradeplaceswithanyone,though,itwould beDeirdreinTHEWITCHOFTINMOUNTAIN,sothat Icouldhavehernotmakesomeofthechoicesshemakes inthenovel.Mostlybecausesheremindsmealotof myselfasayoungwoman,andheavenknowsI’dliketo gobackintimeandshakemyself!ButifIdidthat,there wouldn’tbeastory,then,wouldthere?Deirdreisflawed forareason.

Robert: Paulette,ithasbeenwonderfulhavingthe opportunitytositdownandchatwithyou.Inclosing, whenreflectingbackonTHEWITCHOFTIN

MOUNTAINandthecreativejourney,whatwouldyou saythisnoveltaughtyou?

Paulette: THEWITCHOFTINMOUNTAINtaughtme towritewhatIknow.It’sadeeplypersonalbookforme, andtheclosestthingI’lleverhavetoacomingofage/ comingoutbook.Therearepartsofitthatweredifficult formetowriteformanyreasons.Writingthatbooktaught metobebrave.Totakechances.Andthat’ssomethingI’ll

carryintoeverynovel,goingforward.Thankssomuchfor havingme,Robert.It’sbeenapleasure.

RobertGwaltney, awardwinningauthorofsouthernfiction,isa graduateofFloridaStateUniversity.HeresidesinAtlanta Georgiawithhispartner,whereheisanactivememberofthe Atlantaliterarycommunity.Robert’sworkhasappearedinsuch publicationsasTheSignalMountainReviewandTheDeadMule SchoolofSouthernLiterature.Hisdebutnovel,TheCicadaTree, wontheSomersetAwardforliteraryfiction.

TheNightILeftPsychology

TomShachtman

Itwasalongtimeago,butthememoryisindelible. Ihadturnedtwenty-oneasmyfinalsemesteratTufts Universitybegan.ForthefirsttimeI'dmadetheDean’s List,andwasfinishingupaBachelorofSciencedegreein experimentalpsychology,afterwhichIplannedtopursue adoctorateinthatfield.Iwasdreamingofbeingawriter, butthoughtforsureI’dneedadayjobtosupportmyself.

I’dalreadyhadabitofsuccesswithmywriting,amusical comedyforwhichI’dwrittenthebook,music,andlyrics hadbeenproducedatTufts;I’dalsoearnedafewbucks forpenningsomesongsforanMITmusicalinwhichmy Tuftsleadwasstarring;andvariousstoriesandpoemsof minehadbeenpublishedinthecampusmagazine,The Tuftonian.

Ialsohadtalkedmyselfintoacurrent,ratherlargeinschoolwritingproject.Havingcompletedallthe requirementsofmymajor,Iwastakingcoursesofinterest tomeasabuddingwriter–AncientDrama,Modern

Drama,andonecalledPhilosophyinLiterature;inallof themwewerestudyingtheOrestessaga,andIhada20pagepaperdueineach;butI’dconvincedtheprofsin thosethreecoursestoletmewriteone60-pagepaperand submititforallthreecourses.TheyprobablythoughtI wascrazytotry,buttheyhadgivenmethego-ahead.

Beingarealist,IwaspursuingaPhDtrackinmymajor, experimentalpsychologythatIhopedwouldtakemetoa good-payingposition.Thefieldwascalled‘experimental psychology’todifferentiateitfrom‘clinical’psychology byemphasizingthat,unlikeclinical,weconducted experimentsandactuallymeasuredthings,mostly behaviors;thefieldwasmoreaccuratelyknownas ’behavioralpsychology.’

AtTufts,beingapsychmajorrequired,inadditionto corepsychcourses,passingsecond-levelelectivesin biology,chemistry,andphysics--thesortofadvanced sciencecoursesprimarilyattendedbypre-medstudents. Bymysenioryear,I’dcompletedallofthose.Actually, justthenIwasalsoenjoyingsomesatisfactionin experimentalpsych,havingdesignedandrunan experimentonhumanbeingsthatsoughttoassessthe powerofcuriositytoaffectlearning–ithadgottenmea patonthebackfromPsiChi,thenationalpsychhonor society.

Itwasareallyneatexperiment.

Idividedmyvolunteersintotwogroupsandtestedeach memberindividually,givingtoeachonecolumnsof figurestoadd,firsthorizontallyandthenvertically.While a‘subject’wasperformingthattask,Idistractedlyfiddled withanumbered-tilesquare,oneofthoseforwhichyou useyourthumbstorearrangethetilesandgettheminto order.Afterseveralminuteshadpassed,whenthe individualtest-takerfinishedtheadditions,I’dputaside mytile-puzzletochecktheresults.Thismomentwasat theheartofmyexperiment:Knowingthatthetile-puzzle wasenticingyettoocomplicatedtobecompletedduring thebriefintervalofmycheckingtheaddition,withthe groupAsubjectsIwouldplacethetile-puzzlewithintheir reachandletthemplaywithitwhileIdidmychecking. WiththeGroupBsubjects,I’dhidethepuzzleduringmy checking.ThenIgavetoeachsubjectthetaskofaddinga secondsetofnumbersintwodirections.ThoseinGroup A,itchingtogetbacktoplayingwiththenumbered-tile puzzle,completedthesecondadditiontasksfasterand moreaccuratelythanthoseinGroupB.

Ta-da!Curiositywasadetectableandmeasurableaidto learning!Ihopedingradschooltodomoreexperiments onthesubjectofcuriosity.

Toimprovemychancesofgettingintoatopgraduate school,atthesuggestionofmydepartmentaladvisorIhad signedupforagraduate-levelcoursein“physiological

psychology.”Theonlyotherundergradinthecourse,my labpartner,premedstudentBillMcPhee,laterwentonto becomeaneurosurgeon.Thiscoursewasnotgoingtobe aneasyAforme,butcompletingitwoulddemonstratemy abilitytodealwithgraduate-levelmaterial,suchaswas beingofferedatMcGillUniversityinMontreal,whereI hopedtogoforamaster’sandadoctorate.TheTufts departmenthadalsohelpedmeapplyforaWoodrow Wilsonfellowshiptohelppayforgradschool.Tomy astonishment,I’dwonone.

Iwasapsychmajorbecauseaswithmostcollege studentsIwastryingtofindoutwhoIwasandmight become,andpsychologyseemedamoremodernwayto dothatthanphilosophy;butmorespecificallybecauseof Dr.BernardHarleston,whohadenthralledmewiththe subjectduringhisteachingoftheintrocourse.Harleston wasanexceptionalman,atall,thin,smart,wittyBlack whowasanaturalleader,asheshortlyprovedwhenhe becamedepartmentalchairmanandthendeanatTufts,and later,presidentofCityCollegeofNewYork.WhenIwas hisstudenthewasaroundthirtybutseemedolderbecause ofhisconfidenceandmaturity.

Harlestonhadcometopsychologythroughchemistry andbiology,andwepsychstudentsatTuftswereona similartrack.AndsowerethoseatMcGillandatthefew otherexperimental-psychenclavesinNorthAmerica,all

ofusmore-or-lessfollowersofB.F.SkinnerofHarvard.A 2002pollwouldnameSkinnerasthemostinfluential Americanpsychologistofthe20thcentury.Whilebackin collegeIadmiredSkinner’sstudiesof“operant conditioning”andhisWaldenII,autopiannovelabouta behavioralpsychologist’sparadise,Iwasn’tsurethatI wantedtobeafull-court-pressSkinnerian.

Butmostpeopleinexperimentalpsychthenwere, includingmyphysiological-psychcourseinstructor, WilliamMills.Ididn’trealizehowcloseafollowerof SkinnerBillMillswasuntilheinvitedustohishomefor anafternoontea,andIsawthatheandhiswifewere raisingtheirinfantinaSkinnerbox.Itwasaplexiglass enclosurethatfeaturedtemperaturecontrol,humidity control,andasoftmeshatthebottomtoallowurineand fecestodroptoanunderlyingtrayforeasyremoval;inthe box,thebabywasnaked.Theideaofusingthesortof “operantconditioning”apparatusoriginallydesignedfor trainingcarrierpigeonsforusewithaninfantappalledme. Tomyrelief,Dr.andMrs.Millswerenotfullyadheringto theSkinnerprogram,sinceatintervalstheygaveinto theirimpulsestoliftoutandcuddletheirbaby.

IwassimilarlystartledbythespecificsoftheMills physiological-psychcourse,notsomuchbyouruseof medschooltextbooks–Irememberonebeingaboutthe eye–butbecauseoftheemphasisonsurgicaland

chemicalmanipulationoflabanimals.BillMcPhee,my labpartner,lovedthataspect,butIwasn’tgung-hofor suchthingsasimplantingelectrodesinrats’brains.And thentherewasourmajorexperimentsequenceforthe semester.Itbeganwithussurgicallyandchemically alteringthebrainsandgonadsoflabrats–injectingextra hormonesintosomemales,castratingothers,implanting maletestesinsomefemalerats,etc.Ofcoursewehad controlgroupsofratsthatwereallowedtoexistwithout ourmessingwiththeirnaturalequipment.Lateroninthe semesterwewereto“sacrifice”theanimalsand microscopicallyexaminetheirbrainstodiscoverand measuretheeffectsofourchemicalandphysical manipulations.

Sessionsofthephysiological-psychcoursewereheldon Wednesdayafternoonsinabuildingatthefaredgeof campus,onceaprivatehomebutsinceconvertedforuse aslaboratoriesandashousingforthedepartment’s animals,primarilywhitemice,whicheverybodycalledlab rats.Theanimalswereincagesinthebasement,anarea enteredfromthemainfloorthroughanold,internal woodenstairway.

Anti-authoritarianismhadyettoreachAmerican campusesbackthen.WemaleTuftonianswerecleanshaven,neatly-dressed,oftenwearingshirtsandtiesto class,andmostlynaïveintermsofsexualexperience.The

Pillhadonlybeenonthemarketforafewyears,and collegestudentswerenotyethavingsexwithoneanother asfreelyastheywouldbejustafewyearslater.Aseditor oftheliterarymagazineIhadgottenintodelicioustrouble publishinginoneissuetwoothercontributors’work,a storyandapoem,eachwithanaughtywordinit,which hadgiventhedeanofwomenvapors.Publiclyblastedby herforthat,Igotinafewpokesintheribsofauthority regardingherdisproportionateobjections.Atthattime,the officialtestofwhetherornotapublicationwasobscene waswhethertheU.S.PostOfficewouldorwouldnot deliverit.Isentacopyoftheoffendingissuetomyself throughtheU.S.mail,receivedit,andtookitunopenedto theofficesoftheTuftscampusnewspaper,whereIopened it.Thepaperwroteuptheescapade,andsooneveryone waslaughingatthedean,notatme.

Thelifecycleofthewhitemouse/labratwasknownin suchdetailthatthebreedercouldtellyouthedayandhour whenaparticularanimalwouldbecomesexuallymature. Sincethatdate-of-maturityforourbatchwiththemixedupgonadswasrapidlyapproaching,Millsdecreedthatwe wouldholdournextsessionintheevening,whenthe animalswerethemostsexuallyactive,andforbetter observation,wewouldconveneinthebasement,wherethe animals’cageswere.

Iwaslateforthatclass.

Comingdownthosericketywoodenstairs,Ibecame awareofarisingnoiselevel.WhenIreachedthebottom stepIcaughtsightofmyfellowstudents,andBillMills, allwithbottlesofbeerinhandandtiesloosenedor removed,talkingloudlyandcollegiallyinthewaythat peopledowhenslightlyinebriated,andmakingsemi-lewd remarksabouttherabidly-matingcagedsubjects.

Drunkmalegradstudents,encouragedbytheirprof, havingagoodtimewatchinglabratsfuck.

Somethingwaswrongwiththatpicture,andIdecided thatitwasme.Ididn’twanttobeinit.Ever!Thiswas absolutelynotwhatIshouldbedoingforacareer!

Thatdramaticmomentoughttobetheendofthistale. Butourlivesarenotasneatasdramas.Aftermy‘aha!’

moment,Ididnotturnonmyheelandstalkoutofthelab, asacharacterinaplayornovelwould.Iremainedatthe class,andalmostcertainlyhadabeer,sinceabstinence wouldhavebeenconspicuous,andImusthavetaken notes,forIdidpassthecourseandremainedontheDean’s List.Myparentswereveryproud.‘Mysonthedoctor’ wasanactualpossibility!

ButIdidn’twanttodothatanymore,andsotoldmy parentsthatIneededtotakeayearofftothinkthingsover. ‘Gap’yearswerenottheninstyle,butIgotMcGilland theWilsonFellowshippeopletoagreeand,withmoney I’damassedfromworkingasacabanaboyonabeach-

clubnearmyhome,Itookmygapyear.

InLondon,livinginabed-sitter,Iresearchedinthe BritishLibraryafull-lengthplay,andinagarretinParis nearSt.Germain-des-Prèstypeditoutonarented typewriter.I’dpromisedmyselfthatifIjudgedtheplay goodenough,I’dsenditofftotopdramaschools,andifit earnedmeanacceptanceI’dconsidergivingupmypathto anexperimental-psychPhD.Isenttheplayoff,and CarnegieTechofferedmeascholarship,whichdecidedme togothere.

Inastageplayormovie,onemightexpectthatthenext scenewouldbethekidconvincinghisskepticalparents thatheoughttogiveupthestraightandnarrowpathfor thediceyone.

Thatdidn’thappen.Myacceptancelettershadcometo myparents’homewhileIwasabroad,andatmyrequest myfatherandmotherhadopenedthem,sotheyalready knewaboutmywishtochangedirections.Butwhether theywouldagreetotheswitchofcareerswasstillin question.Myfather,whoseownyouthfulartisticyearnings hadbeenstifledduringtheDepressionbytheneedtowork tosupporthismotherandfouryoungersiblingsafterhis fatherflewthecoop,hadnoproblemwithmetryingto fulfillmine,andsaidsoinabeautifulletter.

Slowdissolve,andatitlecardsaying“Threeyears later.”

Iwas25,hadreceivedmyMFAfromCarnegieTech, hadworkedondocumentariesatWQEDinPittsburgh whilefinishingupthatdegree,andobtainedacontract withCBSNewsinNewYorktobearesearcher-writeron itsthen-new,future-orienteddocumentaryseries,The21st Century.

Iwasactuallymakingsomeofmylivingfromwriting!

Thatwouldleadmetoaten-yearcareermaking“awardwinning”documentaries,andthen,attheageof35,tomy firstnon-fictionbookcontract,forTheDayAmerica Crashed,aratherdocumentary-ishbookpublishedonthe fiftiethanniversaryofthe1929stockmarketcrash.

Fortybookswouldfollow,enoughofthemformeto continuallyearnmykeepbywriting.OfcourseIhad heartachesalongtheway,butonthewhole,beingableto makemywayinlifethroughmywritinghasbeengreatly satisfying.

Today,I’mstillwritingandenjoyingit.MadvillePress, whichin2020broughtoutmyexperimentalnovelMemoir oftheMinotaur,willpublishmynewnovel,Echoes,or TheInsistenceofMemory,inJulyof2023.

Andwhataboutpsychology?

Thecapstoneofthatstoryisquiterelevanttomy writing.BackwhenIwasworkingforCBS,onatripto California,Iarrangedavisittooneofthemaincentersof thethenveryhot‘humanpotential’movementin

psychology,WBSI,theWesternBehavioralSciences Institute,inLaJolla.Thestaffwasdoingmanythingsof interesttoafuture-orientedtelevisionseries,andWBSI wasalsotheprofessionalhomeofDr.CarlRogers,the psychologistwhose‘client-centered’therapywasatthe heartofthehumanpotentialmovement.ARogers-trained therapist–asopposedtoaSkinnerianbehaviorist-never triedto‘condition’anyone’sactions,andwassometimes parodiedasbeingtoolaid-backandacceptingofwhat ‘clients’toldthem,regardlessofthecircumstances. RogersoftenhadtodenythataRogeriantherapist, confrontedwithapatientabouttojumpoutthewindow, wouldsaytothatperson,“Ihearyousayingthatyouwant tojumpoutthewindow,”ratherthantakingactionto preventasuicide.

SkinnerandRogerswerenotfriendsbutwerenot enemies,andwereoftenaskedtoengageinpublic debates.Backthen,ifyouwerequestioningSkinnerian behaviorismaswellasclassicalFreudianpsychology–andweallwere–thenCarlRogerswasyourman.His approachwasalsobeingpopularizedinsuchbest-selling booksbyotherpsychologistsasGamesPeoplePlayand I’mOkay,You’reOkay.

IproposedtoCBS,andthenwroteandhelpedproducea documentaryentitledCircleofLove,featuringatherapy sessionrunbyapre-recordedaudiotape,thebrainchildof

WBSI’sBettyBerzon,whohadbecomeafriend.Shewas theonlytherapistIevermetwhohadoncebeenapatient inamentalinstitution.Whensheresolvedtheissuethat earlierinherlifehadputherinone,bycomingoutasa lesbianinherlatethirties,sheblossomedintoaleading feministontheWestCoast.RichardFarson,thepresident andfounderofWBSIandaformerCarlRogersstudent, alsoactedfriendlytowardme,andduringthisperiodI askedDickifIcouldmeethisteacher.

CarlRogerswastheninhislatesixties,graciousand approachableinthewaythatgreatteachersoftenare–somethingthatIwaslearningaboutfrominterviewing Nobelscience-prizewinnersforourCBSseries.Their abilitytotalktotheuninitiatedaboutwhattheywere doing,andwithouttalkingdowntoyou,isinmyview whatseparatedthosefirst-tierscientistsfromthesecondtier,whotendtobeturf-protectors.

Thehalf-hourthatIspentalonewithCarlRogerswas upliftingforme:herewasamanclearlycongruentwith whathepreached.ItoldhimthatIwasonsomewhatofa journey,havingescapedFredSkinnerandthebehaviorists –IrecountedthestoriesaboutBillMills,andtheinfantin theSkinnerbox,andthemixing-upofratgonads--andof mybecominganadmirerandembraceroftheRogers approach.Inourdiscussion,hereaffirmedformethathis treatmenttheorywasasmuchaphilosophicpathanda

wayoflifeasitwasatherapyprogram.

Thatmadeimmensesensetomethen,andstilldoes.It helpedmeunderstand,atacriticaljunctureinmylife,that Ihadn’tentirelyleftbehavioralpsychologybehind–behavioralpsychologyhadleftmebehind.

AndIwas‘okay’withthat.

TomShachtman istheauthoroftheforthcomingECHOES,OR THEINSISTENCEOFMEMORY(Madville)andhaswritten fortyotherbooks,includinghistoriessuchasTHEDAY AMERICACRASHED,SKYSCRAPERDREAMS,ABSOLUTE ZEROANDTHECONQUESTOFCOLD,andTHE FOUNDINGFORTUNES;socialanalysessuchas

RUMSPRINGAandTHEINARTICULATESOCIETY;children’s bookssuchasGROWINGUPMASAI;andnovelssuchasTHE MEMOIROFTHEMINOTAURandatrilogyaboutsea-lions, BEACHMASTER,WAVEBENDER,andDRIFTWHISTLER, publishedinfourlanguages.Hisaward-winningdocumentaries haveairedonABC,CBS,NBC,PBS,andBBC.Hehastaught writingatNYUandatHarvardExtensionSchool,andlecturedat GeorgiaTech,theLibraryofCongress,Stanford,theNewberry Library,andotherinstitutions.

MyPassagetoIndia

SuzanneKamata

Afewyearsago,IgotanemailaskingifI’dbe interestedintakingpartintheTataSteelKolkataLiterary Meet,aliteraryfestivalinIndia.“Yourairfarewillbe takencareof,”themessagesaid,“andonceyouarrive, you’llbehostedbythefestival.”

Ididabitofinvestigating.I’dneverheardoftheevent, buttheyearbefore,PaulBeatty,winneroftheBooker Prize,andChitraBanerjeeDivakaruni,oneofmyfavorite authors,hadmadeappearances.Iclickedonthelinktothe hotelmentionedintheemail,thefive-starTajBengal. FromwhatIcouldtell,itwastheheightofluxury.

“Sure,”Ireplied.“Iwouldlovetoparticipate!”

Myhusbandwasnotsokeen.WhenIaskedifhewould beinfavorofmygoing,hesaid,“No.Whydon’tyouwait tillnextyearwhenthekidsareoutofthehouse?”

Hedidn’tseemtounderstandthattherewouldbeno “nextyear.”Thiswasaone-timeoffer.Ihadbeeninvited tohelplaunchthefirsteditionofTheBestAsianShort StoriesanthologypublishedbyKitaabInternationalin

Singapore.Iwouldbeappearingalongwiththepublisher, ZafarAnjum;theeditor,MonideepaSahu,wholivesin India;andWanPhingLim,ayoungwriterfromMalaysia whohadcontributed“SnakeBridgeTemple,”alively, humorousstoryaboutatoughmotorcycleracerwhose bikeseatisdecoratedwithHelloKitty.Oneofmystories, “Mon-chan,”aboutaJapanesewomandealingwithher mother’ssenility,wasselectedforthisanthologyaswell.

AlthoughI’mnotentirelysurewhythefestival organizersinvitedme,Ibelieveitwasbecausethey wantedwritersfromdifferentAsiancountrieswhocould speakEnglish.SeveralofthecontributorswerefromIndia andSingapore,andseveralofthestoriesweretranslations, whichleftonlyafewEnglish-speakingcontributors.Iwas theonlyonefromJapan–andtheonlywriterlivingin Japanwho’dsubmitted,Ilaterfoundout.

Inanycase,Iwasn’tabouttodeclinetheirinvitation. Althoughmanypeoplethinkthatwithallmypublications, Imustberollinginthedough,thatisnotthecase.When theperkscomealong–likeanall-expenses-paidtripto Kolkata,withthreenightsinafive-starhotel--Imake sureItakeadvantageofthem.

Beforethefestival,Ireadeverystoryintheanthology. Someofmyfavoriteswere“JellyBeans”bySoniah

Kamal,aboutaPakistanimaninAtlantawhoseparentsare shockedwhenhemarriesawhitewoman(whoturnsoutto

beadivorceewithachild!);“Girls’House”byClara Chow,whichconcernsthemarriagebetweenarich pamperedHongKonggirlandherdevoted,yetpoorand proudhusband–withabigsurpriseattheendofthestory; andGeetaKothari’s“TheSpacesBetweenStars,” featuringanIndianexpatinAmerica.Itwasalso interestingtoreadstoriesconcerningJapanfromanonWesternperspective,suchas“March,MaandSakura”by GeetanjaliShree,whoisfromIndiaandwritesinHindi.I enjoyedmanyothersaswell.(Fortherecord,thisbook andtherestoftheseriesisavailablefromAmazon.)

BeforeIdepartedforIndia,Igotlotsofadvice:“You shouldgetshotsfortyphoidanddenguefever!”“Brush yourteethwithbottledwater!”“Don’teatthestreetfood!”

“Wearamask!”Ipackedsomemasks,butIhadnoidea whatIshouldwear.WhenIcheckedoutthewebsite,most ofthefemalepresenterswereresplendentincolorfulsaris andsalwarkameezsuits.Apparently,womenwerenot supposedtoshowanyskinabovetheankle.

Inanycase,Ipackedsomeclothesandbooksandset outfortheairport.Thefestivalorganizershadbookedme onaCathayPacificflight,withalayoverinHongKong.I arrivedinKolkataataboutelevenp.m.Afestival volunteerwaswaitingformeattheairport.Hehustledme intoacar,andIhadmyfirsttasteofIndiantraffic–a symphonyofhorns,carsandtrucksveeringwithininches

ofeachother.Iwasamazedthatthestreetsweresolively atnearlymidnight.Isawawomaninbrightclothesanda veilsmoothingasphaltwitharake,SantaClaus decorations(thoughitwaslateJanuary),light-striped poles,andtheTestTubeBabyCenter.

Oncewearrivedatthehotel,armedguardscheckedthe hoodandtrunkofthecar.Iwasalsomildlysurprisedthat Ihadtogothroughametaldetectortogetintothehotel. Later,mybrother(who’dbeentoIndia)remindedmethat therewasaterroristattackattheTajhotelinBombaya fewyearsago,thusthehighsecurity.Icheckedintomy gorgeousroom,overlookingthepool.Acanvasbagof swagwaswaitingforme,withanotebook,aprogram,a bluescarf,andmyveryownTataSteelKolkataLiterary Meetmug.Itookashower,thenhappilytuckedmyself intothecrisp,whitesheets.

Thenextmorning,Iwentdowntothelavishbreakfast buffet.GeekthatIam,Iwasthrilledtorecognizefamous writersatthenearbytables.Thehandsome,slim,whitehairedguydiningofftomyleftwasManuJoseph,whose novelSeriousMenhadbeenpublishedwithalotof fanfareafewyearsbackintheUnitedStates.(Ilater bought,read,andenjoyedhisnewestbook,MissLaila, ArmedandDangerous,whichIthoughtwouldbeafun, mad-capthriller,butturnedouttobeamoreseriousnovel withpoliticalundertones;thetitlereferstoacertain

tendencytoassumethatMuslimsareterrorists.)Having studiedtheprogram.Ialsorecognizedshiny-patedBooker Prizeshort-listedauthorJeetThayilandaddedhisnew novelTheBookofChocolateSaintstomyTBRlist,and RuskinBond,anelderlyBritishIndian,oneofIndia’s mostbelovedwriters,whodrewhugecrowdseverytime hepresentedonstage.Bondpublishedhisfirstbookatthe ageof17,andhaswrittenover500shortstories,essays, andnovellas,andmorethan50booksforchildren.

AlthoughIhadyettoreadhiswork,Ilaterpickedupa copyofhisnovelAFlightofPigeons,whichwasthebasis forafilm.

Afterbreakfast,Imetupwithmyfellowpresenters,and SriLankan-basedauthorChhimiTenduf-La,whoishalfTibetan,halfEnglish.IwasgoingtoaskChhimiifhe happenedtoknowtheTokyo-basedhalf-Tibetan,halfAmericanwriterAnnTashiSlater,withwhomIhad presentedatthelastJapanWritersConferenceinTokyo, butChhimipre-emptedme.“Annismycousin,”hesaid. Smallworld.Chhimiwascharmingandfunny,andImade itapointtopickupacopyofhisnovel-in-stories,Loyal Stalkers.

Thefestivalorganizershadsetupadeskinthehotel lobby.Weaskedthemtoarrangeacarforus,andwewent tothevenue,infrontofthehistoricVictoriaMemorial Hall.Throughoutthesixdaysofthefestival,sessions

wereheldattwolocationsoutdoors.Onewasunderatent, andanotherinalittlecourtyardadjacenttothemuseum.

Thefestivalitselfwasexcitingandsmoothlyrun.Iwas humbledtobeontheprogramalongwithaNobelPrize winner,Bollywoodstars,cricketheroes,andwell-known writers.Ourpanel,onthesixthdaywentwell,andwas mentionedthenextdayin TheTelegraph,Kolkata’s largestEnglish-languagenewspaper:

ShortfictionwritersSuzanneKamata,WanPhingand MonideepaSahuwerejoinedbyauthor-publisherZafar Anjumastheyspokeabouttheirloveforwriting.

Bothauthorsexplainedwhytheywriteaboutwhatthey do."MostofmyworkismeanttobepartsofnovelsthatI wasworkingonbutthatIabandoned.Itendtoput everythingthatI'mpreoccupiedwithintomyfiction.Iput myJapanesemother-in-lawintomystory,aswellasmy intrigueastowhyMarilynMonroespentherhoneymoon withJoeDiMaggioinJapan,"Kamatatoldtheaudienceat theTataSteelKolkataLiteraryMeet,co-organisedby VictoriaMemorialHallinassociationwithTheTelegraph.

Kamata'sapproachtoherherworkisto"writescenes, thengoforawalktoputthemalltogether,tocomeback tothemaweekormonthlater".WanPhingcalledher works"prettyorganic",adding:"I'mquiteanintuitive writer".

Everyevening,wewriterswereinvitedtoareception. ThefirstoneIwenttowasattheCalcuttaTurfClub, whichwasanoldcolonialspotforhorse-racing.That evening,Ihadthepleasureofmeetingnovelistand hematologistVikramParalkarwhowasborninMumbai, butisnowanAmericancitizenlivinginPhiladelphia.His latestbook,TheWoundsoftheDead,isaneerie, unclassifiablenovelaboutadoctoratanill-equippedclinic inruralIndiataskedwithstitchingupslaughteredghosts. Inthisbook,heprovesthatthatonedoesn'tneedanMFA inordertocraftbeautifulsentences,butithelpstohavean M.D.togetmedicaldetailscorrect.

Thesecondday,TBASSeditorMonideepa,who’dspent sometimeinKolkata,showedWanPhingandIarounda bit.Wewalkedalongariversidepromenadeandchecked outanopen-airmarket.Iboughtsomesouvenirsformy family.ThenIcaughtacoupleofsessionsatthefestival, includingonewithesteemedwriterPerumalMurugan, whoselatestbookwasfromthepointofviewofagoat. Hehadjustreturnedtowritingandpublishingaftera controversysurroundinghislastbook,whichhadledto deaththreats.

Thatevening,weattendedareceptionintheformer Russianconsulate,whichisnowaprivateresidence.We weregreetedatthedoorbytherich,younghost.Itwas veryposh,withastringquartet,andachefpreparingfood

onthepationexttotheswimmingpool.Imettwomore BookerPrizeshort-listers–Canadian-bornDavidSzalay, whowasoneofGranta’s“BestTwentyBritishNovelists UnderForty,”andsupportedhimselffromhiswriting whilelivinginBudapest,andtheeruditeandelegantIrwin AllanSealy,whosebooksincludeamemoir,TheSmall WildGoosePagoda,andanovel-in-poems,Zelaldinus:A Masque.

Needlesstosay,withawalletfullofrupees,andno otherexpenses(well,exceptforsouvenirsforthefolks backhome),Iwoundupbuyingalotofbooks.Inaddition tothosementionedalready,Isnappedupcopiesof Murugan’sshortstorycollection,TheGoatThief;Never Gone,ayoungadultnovelaboutagroupofhighschool friendsbyliterarywunderkindAnushaSubramanian,who publishedherfirstnovelattheageoftwelve;MrsC RemembersbyHimanjaliSankar,whichbeginswiththe memorableline“ItisnotthatIhaveneverimaginedmy mother-in-law’sdeath,”;andMilkandHoney,the bestsellingdebutpoetrycollectionbyheadlinerRupi

Kaur,who’dflownoverwithherentouragefromToronto foraspoken-wordtourofIndia.

IwashappytobeabletocatchKaur’sperformance beforesettingoutfortheairportformyflighthome.The audiencewasfilledwithteenagedgirls,manyin headscarves,manyclutchingcopiesofKaur’sbooks.

Whenshereadaparticularlyresonantline,thegirlsraised theirhandsandsnappedtheirfingers.Betweenrecitations, Inoticedthatafewoldermengotupandleft,perhaps confusedbyhermentionof“boobs.”Theseguyswerenot hertargetaudience.AlthoughI’dalwaysfoundherpoems quitesimple,whenshereadthemaloud,Iunderstoodthe allure.Shehadincrediblepresenceandsheconnectedwith mostofherlisteners,includingme.Herasidesabouther IndianmotherinCanadamademereflectuponmyown experiencesasanAmericanmominJapan.Myfinal impressionofIndiawasthatofacountryfullofsmart, literate,empoweredyoungwomen.Itwasamagical endingtoastorybookweek.

SuzanneKamata’s shortstory“WhatLurksBeneath|”appearsin TheBestAsianShortStories2022editedbyDarrylWhetter.She isalsotheauthorofseveralnovelsincludingTheBaseball Widow,winnerofagoldIPPYaward.

edlacquertomendthebrokenbitsbacktogether.Indoing so,thistechniqueeschewstheever-elusivenotionof perfectioninfavorofhonoringthehistoryoftheobject despiteitsperceivedflaws.Themarksofwearareseenas asignofstrength,valuedasarecordofeventsthattook placeduringitslifespantobehonoredaccordinglyas piecesthatmakeupthewhole.Whatwasoncebrokenis notlost.Oh,ifwecouldonlytranslatethisbeautiful philosophytoourwriting!

Recently,oneofmyshortstorieswaspickedupfor publication(yayme!),towhichIwasobviouslyand deliciouslyexcited.Therewasabitofbackandforth betweentheeditorandIworkingonthes

WritingasKintsugi: CelebratingtheBeautyofImperfection AshleyHolloway

KintsugiistheancientJapaneseartofrepairingbroken potteryusinggold-infusedlacquertomendthebrokenbits backtogether.Indoingso,thistechniqueeschewsthe ever-elusivenotionofperfectioninfavorofhonoringthe historyoftheobjectdespiteitsperceivedflaws.Themarks ofwearareseenasasignofstrength,valuedasarecordof eventsthattookplaceduringitslifespantobehonored accordinglyaspiecesthatmakeupthewhole.Whatwas oncebrokenisnotlost.Oh,ifwecouldonlytranslatethis beautifulphilosophytoourwriting!

Recently,oneofmyshortstorieswaspickedupfor publication(yayme!),towhichIwasobviouslyand deliciouslyexcited.Therewasabitofbackandforth betweentheeditorandIworkingonthesharedGoogle doc,completewiththeannoying(buthelpful)comment boxes,highlightedareas,coloredtext,click,click,click, accept,accept,accept.Youknowhowitgoes.Justtakemy work!Right?!

So,inmyunbridledgiddiness,myresponsetotheeditor

afterreceivingthefinalemailstating“Isthisyourfinal version?Onceyougivetheword,yourpiecewillbe lockedfromediting.”(youcanseewherethisisheaded, right?)wasaresoluteYES!Send.

*sigh*

So,itwasn’tuntildayslater(ofcourse)thatIthoughtI mightperusemysoon-to-be-indeliblestorywhenInoticed *GASP*…spellingerrors.TWOOFTHEM!

Ohmigodohmigod.Youknowthatfeelingyougetwhereit feelslikeyourstomachdropsintoyourtoes,flippingitself overandoverasittumblesitswaydown?Yeah.Thatwas me.

Myfirstreactionwastoimmediatelypanic(clearly)and bemoanthesheeridiocyofnotreviewingmypieceone lasttime.Imayhaveevenshedatear(ortwo).Iimagined mystorybeingcastintorecyclingbinsfarandwide,the smirksandhushedconversationsbehindmyback,how readersmightthinkdifferentlyofme,ormaybeeven choosenottoreadmyworkanymore…Needlesstosay,I wasmortified.Crestfallen.

AndthenIcalmeddown.

Inreality,ofcoursenoneofthatworst-case-scenario-shit didhappen.Inreality,weareallhuman.Wemake mistakes,andthat’sok.Infact,thatverysamenightIwas readingabookfromanauthorIholdinhighesteem…and foundspellingerrors!HA!

Thisbringsmebacktotheancientartofkintsugi,where

beautyiscelebratedwhateveritsform,broken,whole,or piecedtogetherwithgoldenseams.Istheartofwritingnot thesame?Creativityinitstruestformishonest.It’smessy. Itcontainspunctuationwhereitshouldn’tbe,orextra lettershereandthere.Nothinginlifeisperfect,norshould itbe.Andthat’sokay.Letthatsh*tgo.

Intheend,Iheldacontestforallmyfamily,friends,and readerstoseewhocouldpickoutthemistakesfirst, completewithprizes(chocolate,ofcourse).Afterall, wasn’titLeonardCohenwhosaid“Thereisacrackin everything;that’showthelightgetsin”?

ResidinginMohkinstsis,AshleyHollowayteacheshealthcare leadershipatBowValleyCollegeinCalgary,AB.Sheisanurse withaMasterofPublicHealth,agraduatediplomainGlobal Leadership,withfurtherstudiesininterculturalcommunication andinternationaldevelopment.Ashley’sworkhasappearedin theCalgaryPublicLibraryShortStoryDispenser,The NashwaakReview,TheGlobeandMail,MagnaPublications, ThePrairieJournal,Alberta'sCAREMagazine,withregular contributionstoLeadReadToday;forthcomingpublications includeFlashFictionMagazine(Jan2023;TBD).Ashleyhascoauthoredtwobooks(Create&Curate:500IdeasforArtists& Writers,2023;andHow(Not)toLead,2023)andreads manuscriptsandprovideseditorialsupportforUnleashPress. HerworkhasbeennominatedforthePushcartPrize.

ThePeople

MacySpevacek

Thestreetswerebuzzing,andthechildrenstillrushed homefromschool.Everythingseemednormal.Ifyou werepayingcloseenoughattention,youcouldseethefine brushstrokesandthelittlespecklesofwhitepaint.Itall startedwithanidea,whichstemmedintoamultitudeof otherideas.ThePainterwouldgetbored,orfrustrated withhercurrentidea,andpaintsomethingdifferent.To her,thesepaintingswerenothingbutobscurepictures alongamuralaboveherbed.ToThePeople,thiswastheir everything.Everywheretheylooked,theycouldseeit. Theirgalaxywassobeautiful,itlookedlikesomethingout ofastorybook.

Thewallwasblank;Oneday,shehadrunoutofspace onherlastcanvas.So,shedidtherationalthing,and paintedonherwall.Shekeptpaintingwithdifferent shadesofbluesandpurples,untilshegotasparkof inspiration,andmovedtoanothersectionofthewall.This

becameaminorfaultasThePainterhadtoomanyideas. ButwhatThePainterdidn’trealize,wasthatthelittleblob onherwallwassomethingmuchlarger.Astimewenton, ThePainterkeptpaintingonherwall;shewouldwakeup, dipherbrush,andpaintamasterpiece-notwowerethe same.WhatThePainterfailedtorealizewasthatshehad createdgalaxieswithinthemuralonthewall.

Ifyoulookedcloseenough,youcouldseethedots orbitingeachotherandtheportraitsdistortingintowhat lookedlikemist.FromThePeople’sperspective,thiswas nothingoutoftheordinary.Oneday,theystartedtonotice theodditiesoftheskyandthestars,andthenthefirst incidenthappened.ThePainterhadreturnedtoheroriginal paintingonthemuralanddippedherbrushintotheyellow paint.Shestartedtoaddmoredetailtothecircles,asin littledotsandextratexture.ThePeoplelookedup,and suddenlytheskyhadvibrantcolorsandthestarsstartedto glow.ThePeoplewereamazed;whatelsewasoutthere?

ThePeoplewereovertakenwithinquisitiveness;they bandedtogetherandclimbedallthewaytothestars.What theyfoundwasn’tanatmosphereoraneverlastingvoid, butratherwherethepaintmetthewall.Theywerecurious aboutthepaint;whatwasbehindit?Theypulledand pulleduntiltheyfinallypeeledthepaintback.Yet,it wasn’tthepaintthatshockedthem,butwaswhatwas behindit.Theykepttearingthepaintawayuntiltheywere

metwithaneyestaringbackatthem.

ThePainterwassurprisedtoseeherpainthadbeen chippingaway.Sheglancedatthewallandnoticedthe entirewallwascoveredwithherdoodles,coloredwith differentbluesandpurples.Nomatterwhereshelooked, shecouldn’tfindanyemptyspacethatdidn’tcontainher artwork.Sheknewitwastimetorestart,soshepulledout thatoldcanofblackpaintanddippedherbrushin.

MacySpevacekisafirst-yearstudentfromMichiganwhois currentlystudyingengineering.Spevacekhasbeenwriting storiesonherownforyears,herfavoritegenresarefantasyand fiction.Spevacekworkstocapturestoriesthatshefeelsareworth writingdown.

Choices

RobinPrinceMonroe

Nolalivedinthepartofthecitythatfeltgreasy,andall blackandwhite.Itwassummer,July,andtheheatseeped upfromtheasphaltandintoheronewindow.Shekeptit crackedopen,tryingtoeasethestuffinessthatblanketed herapartmentbuilding.

Thestreetoutsidehertinystudiowasloud,acacophony ofcarsandtrucksswishingby,thestaccatoofimpatient horns,themorethanoccasionalsiren,andvoices…voices withvarietyofpitches,dynamics,andtempos.Different languagesfloatingupmeltingintothestale,humid, summerair.

Mostmorningsshecouldhardlywaittogetbackto painting.Ifshestartedearly,shecouldfinishapainting beforeduskdissolvedintonight.Thegrayoftheworld outsideherwindowdisappearedwhenshefilledher canvaswithunmutedcolor.Skies,sometimescerulean,but oftencolorsmoreuniquetoherwork…pinks,violets,soft blue-greenswouldshineinherimaginedskies.Bright

cadmiums:yellows,reds,andorangespunctuatedthecool colorslikegigglesinahushedcathedral.

Todayshewaspaintingabeachsiderestaurantwithan outdoorpatiothatshehadsketchedbeforebreakfast.A circleoffriends,amanandtwowomen,dressedin summerwhiteandprimarycolors,sataroundawooden tablehavingseafood,andsharingabottleofwine.The peopleshewaspaintingwereimpressionsofherfriends, andhersweetFreddy.Shewasplanningtovisitthemall soon…assoonasshecouldfinishherworkandgetaway.

Sheheardsomething.Asoftknockatthedoor?

“Wakeup,Ms.Adler,it’stimeforlunchandyour meds.”Sallywasasweet,younggirlfromGeorgiawhose liltingaccentmightbesoothing,orannoying,ifit interruptedNola’sflow.

SallydidalittlecookingandcleaningforNolasoshe couldfocusonherart.Thegalleryexpectedhertofinish severalnewpiecesfortheopening.Shehadtomaximize distractions,butshealsoneededalittletimeaway.The graynessofthisplacewasbeginningtosuffocateher.

Justafewmoretouches.Shemovedbackandtooka lookattherestaurantsceneanddeclareditfinished.She neverfeltanythingwastrulyfinished,butsheknewifshe didn’tstopthepaintwouldmuddyupandlosethe freshnessthatshewasaimingfor.

Finally,ontheroad,windowsdown,windblowingher short,whitehair,Nolacouldn’twaittobreatheinthesalt airandherfriend’slaughter.Thesebreaksweregoodfor her,andgoodforherart.

NolahadmetFreddyatRockawayBeachoverthree decadesago.Theywerejustkidsthen,fullofdreamsand mischief.Freddywouldbewaitingforher.He’dkissher goodandhard,wrapherinahug,thenthey’dwalkonthe shoreandcatchuponhisgardening,andherwork.

MorethanonceNolahadtriedtogetFreddytocome backtothecitytolivewithher.Hesaidhecouldn’t.They hadbothacceptedthat,andhadsettledintoenjoyingthe timetheycouldshareonhervisits.Butsheneverleft Freddywithoutcrying,andheneverwavedgood-bye withouthiseyesfillingup.Thiswastobeherlastbig show.TheirplanwasforhertomovetoRockawayafter theopening,whenthedusthadsettled.Shehadlivedin NewYorkCityherwholelife.Eveninitsgraynessitwas agoodplaceforher.Infact,thegraynesswastheperfect contrasttothebrightcolorsshelovedsomuch.After Freddyhadmovedawayshehadheldontighttohercity homebutaseachnewdaycameandwentshecouldfeel hergrasploosening.Shewasalmostreadytoletgo.

Shesketchedafewnewstudieswhileatthebeach.

CammieandIndia,Nola’sbestfriendsweretalkers.They couldjabberonforhours,halflisteningtooneanother,but stillenjoyingbeingtogether.AndNolacouldlistento themforever,sketchingthetiltofCammie’sheador India’sdimpledsmile.Hertimeawayfromhereaseland palettewasneverwasted.Hercolorfulfriends,andthe beautifulplacetheylivedgavehermaterialtoworkonfor weeks.

Beinganartistmadeheranobserver,andthistripshe observedaclosenessbetweenFreddyandIndiathatmade heruncomfortable.Becauseofthatshehadstayedlonger thansheintended.Itwastimetogobackhomeandgetto work.

“Grammy?Grammy?Wakeup.”Nola’sgranddaughter, Carrie,waspattingherhand.

“Carrie,forgiveyourGrammy,Imusthavedozed.How intheworldareyou?”

Carrie’scurly,redhairframedherfair,freckledfacelike ahalo.Herlightblueeyesglowedlikefireflieswhenshe smiled.

“Youaresobeautiful,sweetgirl.”

“Grammy,Ibroughtlunch.Let’seatandhaveavisit.”

Nolacouldn’teat,soshejustsatquietlylisteningto

Carrie.Beingakindergartenteacherwashard.Eversince highschoolCarriehadfoughtanxietyanddepression,so teachingwasprobablynotthebestchoiceforacareer,but shebraveditoutbecauseshelovedthekids.Sheloved seeingthemlearnandgrow.

Nolalistened.SheknewthatwhatCarrieneededmost wassomeonetoreallyhearher.ButNolacouldn’thelp occasionallyglancingoverathereasel.Sheneededtoget backtoworkifshewasgoingtofinishapaintingby evening.

Freddywalkedheruptotheperiwinklecoloredhouse. Thiswastobethelastvisitbeforehermove.Theyhad dinneratalittledinernearby.Nolawastiredfromthetrip anddidn’twanttogotoofar.ShenoticedIndiachosethe seatrightnexttoFreddy.Nolahadsatoppositehimsoshe couldhearhimbetterandseehissmile.Everysooften IndialeanedovertotalktoFreddy.She’dsaysomething Nolawasunabletohear,thenlaugh.ThethirdtimeIndia leanedinNolahadhadit.

“What’sgoingonwithyoutwo!?”

“Nothing’sgoingon,Nola.Wearejustexcitedabout youfinallycomingtostay.We’remakingplans,that’sall.”

“Cammie?”

“Nola,IndiaandIareyourbestfriends.Welove Freddy.Buthe’safriend.That’sall.Youknowthat. What’sgoingonwithyou?”

“Well,thetwoofthemhavebeenprettycozy lately…It’sgoingtobeharderthanIthought…thismove. Carriecametovisitlastweek.Ithinkshestillneedsmeto bearound.”

“Ineedyoutoo,Nola.”Freddyreachedacrossthetable andtookherhandinhis.

“It’stime,don’tyouthink.”

Carrieburstintotheroom.WakeupGrammy!Look! Sheheldoutherlefthand,atinydiamondsetingold filigreewasthereannouncingthatCarriewasgetting marriedtotheyoungmanshehadbeentalkingsomuch about.Nolawasgenuinelyhappyforher.Shehadmet PeterandheseemedtobeeverythingCarriehadhoped for.AndeverythingNolahadhopedfortoo,asafeplace forCarrietolandattheendofherharrieddays.

Itwasallgoingwell.Nolahadfinishedherwork.Carrie washappilyplanningherwedding.Shehadoverheard SallyandCarrietalking,andbothhadagreedtohelpher getreadyforthemove.

Nolasleptdeeplyandpeacefullythatnight.Shewassad

asshethoughtaboutleavingherhome.ButFreddywas right.Itwastime.

Theshowwasaroaringsuccess.Inspiteofthefactthat herartwaspricedhigherthanithadeverbeenbefore, Nola’spaintingsflewoffthewalls. #

“ShewantedtobeinRockawaynearFreddy,”said Carrie.“I’msuregoingtomissher.”Thesunreflectedoff Carrie’sgolden-redhairasshelaidabouquetofdaisiesby thegranitestone.

RobinPrinceMonroe livesinthebeautifulandmysterious LowcountryofSouthCarolina.Sheisafree-lancewriter,artist, andbeachcrazy,childatheart.Shehasbeenwritingsinceshe wasnine,whenshereceivedherfirstrejectionforpublication fromakindeditorwhotoldherto,“Keepwriting”,andshehas. Shedelightsinwritingforchildren;andhasauthoredfour picturebooks,amiddlegradenovelandachapeterbook.Her workhasalsoappearedinGuideposts,MoneyMatters,and SpecialEducationToday.

Currentlyworkingonsomepiecesfor“big”people,Robinis havingfunwritingashortstory,anovella,andhermemoir.

OrnateBeast

ClaireHamnerMatturro

Thebreakofadeertrail cutsthroughpine,oakandash intothickblackwoods

wherenothingdiesbutturns

tohumusandgreenshadow

intheforestedfieldbehindhospice.

Mymother’sthinhandstwist

myown.Herneedsareasteeltether, herdyingabondIcan’ttear.

ButwhileshesleepsIcanrun thedeertrailforafleetingbreak thatteststhestrengthofsteel.

Atangofmintandmoldlifts

likemistfromcrushedbrownleaves

asIracethetrail,thetethers

astranglingropetrippingmetillIfall intomintandpoisonivy,barelyseeing thebeastthatrestsinfrontofme.

Griefrearsupfromhumus

intheblackwoodswhereitloiters, anornatebeast,neithercatnorwolf

butabitofboth.Grief’sscentisbear, itsblackeyespanther, butitsfuristhick,stiflingwool.

Lollingbackontawnyhaunches, Griefcrushesmintandpoisonivy

beneathitsweightandrips

mysteeltethers

intoshardsofshinyfoil

whichswirlandfallinflurries.

Igathertheshardsandtatters intoabouquetofmintandsteel, andleavethewoodstositagain withthedyingwoman,ourgrief nowasharedspecter,neithercatnorwolf, butanornatebeastofstiflingweight.

ClaireHamnerMatturro hasbeenajournalist,lawyer,organic blueberryfarmer,andcollegeinstructor.Sheisalsotheauthorof eightnovels,includingaseriespublishedbyHarperCollins.Her poetryappearsinSlant,KissingDynamite,NewVerseNews, OneArt,MuddyRiverPoetryReview,TopicalPoetry,TigerMoth Review,LascauxReview,andisforthcominginGlassworksand EunoiaReview.AnassociateeditoratSouthernLiteraryReview, shelivesinFloridawithherhusbandandthierrescuedcrossedeyedcat.

OrnateBeastbyClaireHamnerMatturro

“ModernMaiden”

“UltraVixen”

“SmilingNeighbors”

“SnakePlant”

SarahArace isanartistofassortedexpressionsincluding drawing,painting,chalkartandmixedmedia.Herpassionstems frompersonalexperiencesofovercomingadversityandlearning toembraceandappreciateherownimperfections.Hercreative inspirationwasbornfromherexperiencesofayounggirlraised inHuntington,WestVirginia,andbecomingasinglemotherata youngage.Sheappreciatestheopportunitytouseherpassionto inspireandempowerothersthroughherartwork.

SarahresidesinNashville,TNwithherhusbandandtwodogs. Sherecentlyhadherfirstsoloexhibition“UnwaveringPisitls” inthewinterof2022.Thistwenty-sevenpieceshowincluded plantsthathavecaughtherattentionthroughoutthesouth,and expressionisticstyleoffavoritebodypartsfromagroupof womenwhohavepositivelyinfluencedSarahthroughouther journey.

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ANNIE’SANTICS

“It’sfunny,whereonepivotinalifecantakeyou.”

ANNIEMCDONNELL INTRODUCESJEFFARCH

Annieintroducesatrulyhumbleweaverofwordsand friendtoallhemeets, JeffArch.

TheauthorIchooseeachmonthisanauthorthatIbelieve wasborntoshine.JeffArchreceivedanOscarnomination forhisscreenplay, SleeplessinSeattle,andhisdebut novel, Attachments,quicklybecameabestseller.

ImusttellyouthatfromthemomentImetJeff,Ifelta specialconnection.That’sbecausehissoulisveryopen andkind.Wedon'toftenmeetpeoplelikeJeff.Everytime you’rewithhim,youwalkawayfeelinglikeabetter person,asmarterperson,andasmileonyourface.

TheentiretrajectoryofJeff’slifepivotedwhen,in1976, hemadeaphonecalltoConradHall,awellknownand successfulAmericanCinematographer.

Manyforgetthatweusedtohavetodial411orusethe phonebooktolookupphonenumbers,sowhenhefound Conrad‘sphonenumberinthephonebook,hethoughtofit asaninvitationtocall.Conradansweredthephoneand twomonthslaterJeffwasonaflightouttoLAtomeet him.

DuringthevisitConradtoldhim,"You'rerightontrackas acinematographer.Butthewaytheunionswork,it'llbe fifteenyearsbeforeyoucandowhatyou'realreadydoing, andIknowyouwellenoughtoknowyouwon'thavethe patienceforthat.Ifyoucanwrite,I'dsaythat'swhattodo,

you'llbemuchhappierandinmuchmorecontrolofyour workproduct."Jeffknewwisdomwhenheheardit,and hiswritingcareerbeganthatday;itwasthebeginningof thespecscriptera,andJefffellrightintoit.Fourunsold screenplayslater,hehitontheideaforaquirkyromantic comedywherethecharactersdon'tevenmeetuntilthe verylastscene.“IwantedtoshareaValentinewiththe wholeworld,"hesaid.

Themovie SleeplessinSeattle wasreleasedin1993,and sofar,it'sbeenhisgreatestfilmachievement.Hebelieves thatallgoodmovieshavetohaveoutstandingendingsand that’swherehestartedhisscript.Themainideaforthe characterswas“twopeoplewhowereunawareofeach other,butperfectforeachother.”Ilovethismovie, especiallythecharacter,Annie!

Sleepless waslaterdevelopedasastagemusicalthat almostdidn'tmakeittoBroadway.

Jefflaughsalittleasheremembershowwritingmusicals wasalongprocess."Sharingtherealestateonthepage withacomposerandlyricistwasarealtrial,"Jeffsays. "Butitwasgreattraining,infindingthethingsineach scenethatwerereallyessential."

Still,hesays,he'smoreofthelonewolftypeofwriterand wouldprefertodevelophisownmaterial,untilit’stimeto bringothercreativepartnersin."Forascreenwriter,the firstdraftistheonlythingyoureallyown,"hesays,"andI wantedtoownallofit,beforealltheothernecessary voicesjoinedin."

Ifeelit’sveryserendipitousthatImetJeffwhenI interviewedhimforhisdebutnovel TheAttachments.

Attachments waspublishedbySparkPress,May11,2021. Itwasoneofmyfavoritesfromlastyear.Ihighly recommendit.Hereismy5 review:

Attachments isunlikeanybookIhaveeverread.Ithink it’sbecauseofitsrhythm.

Asyoulearnedwatching SleeplessinSeattle,hiswritingis veryconsiderate,sympathetic,andfullofcompassionand love.It’strulybeautifulhowforgivenessweavesthrough thestory.Jeffmakesyoubelieveintheessenceoftrue love.Youwilldefinitelybekeptonyourtoes.Youwillbe grabbingfortissues.Don’tmissthisbook,itisawinner!I hopethisreviewandarticleabouthimmakeyouwantto knowmoreaboutJeffandgrabhisbookatyourlocal bookstore.

SomeonewrotethefollowingregardingJeff:

"InanindustryfullofbigegosJeffArchisararefind,a bigtalentwhohasneverlosthishumanity.Whetherheis penninggenrechangingscreenplays,(Sleeplessin Seattle),orspeakingtonovicescreenwritersabouttheart, craftandbusinessofscreenwritingataHollywoodbythe Bayevent,Jeff'sabilitytoconnecttoEverymanalways shinesthrough."

I’dliketoaddthatJeffhasnotchanged,hehasbeenable tosuccessfullyputhisegotothesideatalltimes.Jeff

definitelyshinesbright.

IusetheProustInterviewmodeltolearnmoreabout authors.TheProustmodelisawayoflearningmoreabout apersonbeyondthetypicalinterviewquestions,andwhat welearnisalwaysfascinatingorsomethingyouwould nevereventhinktoask.Thisishowwelearnmoreabout somebody’scharacter.

Whatisyourideaofperfecthappiness?

Hisfirstthoughttookhimtoaplacethathaduslaughing outloud-you’llhavetocheckoutWELLREAD Magazine’s,BetweenThePages,tofindoutwhy.Hethen addsthatbeinghappyiswhereyouare.Whereyou're going.Allthoselittlegiftsyougiveyourselfalongtheway withoutrealizingit.HappinessisabaselineforJoy,even inthedarkesttimes.

Whichlivingpersondoyoumostadmire?

Hisfirstanswerwasthemusician,KeithRichards;Jeff readhisautobiography,andloveditthatforKeith,the entirefocuswasonbeingamusicianandnotstardom. ButthenhethoughtaboutitandpickedBruceSpringsteen andPaulMcCartney,becauseoftheirdedicationtothe audience,andtheirrespectfortheirmoneyandtime-and theirinsistencethateverypersoninthatarenagoeshome fullyentertained,tothepointofexhaustion."That'swhat it'sabout,"Jeffsays."WhenIgotthatpiece-thatit'snot

aboutme,it'sabouttheaudience-that'swheneverything turnedforme.ThenightIgottheideaforSleepless,the questionchangedfromHowdoIgetallthethingsIwant andberichandfamouslikethecultureteachesusthat we'resupposedtowant,toHowdoIgettwopeopleto walkoutofamovietheaterinFinlandholdinghands?

Thatsinglequestionchangedhistoryforme.Andthirty yearslater,peoplearestillholdinghands.Thatmeansthe worldtome."

Whatisaqualityyoufindmostendearing?

Jeff’squickanswerwas“kindness.”Helovespeoplewith azestforlife,loveforthefamily,andsomeonehecan instantlysenseafeelingofbrotherhood.

Whatisyourmosttreasuredpossession?

Ajournalhebeganin1990andmaintainedreligiouslyfor tenyears.It’swherehewrotethebeginningsof Sleepless andhecontinuedtotrackhisgrowingcareer,hisgrowing family,andhisemotionalandspiritualchallengesand progress.“Everyoneclosetomegrewupinthisbook.It wasquiteanexperience,”saysJeff.

Whoaretheheroesinyourreallife?

Peoplewhocareforsomeoneotherthanthemselves.

Whoareyourheroesinfiction?

Jeff’sbiggestheroinfictionasacharacterisYossarian from Catch-22.Theauthorthatinfluencedhimthemostas awriterisJohnSteinbeck."EastofEden diditforme,"he says."ThewaySteinbeckwrotethatbookisstillahuge influence."

Whatisyourlowestdepthofmisery?

Havingnopurpose.

Whatdoyouvaluemostinyourfriends?

Theirfriendship.

Whatisyourmostmarkedcharacteristic?

Icareaboutpeople.

WhatawonderfulplacetoendJeff’sinterview.

IthankJeffforsharingallofthistimewithmeandI'dlike toadd,“ThankyouforsendingusallaValentinefromthe topoftheEmpireStatebuilding-andthankyoufor makingusbelievemagicisreal.”

It’sfunny,whereonepivotinalifecantakeyou.

ANNIE’SANTICSWITHANNIEMCDONNELL

Authorof Annie’sSong:Dandelions,Dreams&Dogs,Book

Reviewer,AuthorInterviewer,Teacher,Speaker,Writer,Author Consultant,Co-Admin.AtWorldoftheWriteReviewBook Club,Blogger,Authoronlineeventplanner.

AnnieMcDonnell

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JeanneeSacken

Mygoodfriend,musicianandmixologistextraordinaire, KathrynDowBorghesanidesigned“BourbonKisses”for thelaunchof DoubleExposure becausemymaincharacter AnnieHawkinslovesbourbon.

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Keepinrefrigeratorforuptooneweek.

Thesecondbookintheaward-winningAnnieHawkins series, DoubleExposure.

In DoubleExposure,seasonedwarphotojournalistAnnie Hawkinsreturnshomeafteranassignmenttofindherlife fallingapart.She’sunderinvestigationforanincidentthat happenedsixmonthsearlierinAfghanistan.Herbest friend’sdaughter,Seema,isstillmissing,apparentlywith herTalibanboyfriend.HerdaughterMelandfriendsare busyfundraisingtorebuildtheWadQolSecondarySchool forGirlsandexpectAnnietodeliverthemoney.Tomake mattersworse,shehasamajorargumentwiththeloveof herlife,FinnCerelli,andthey’renolongerspeaking.

WhenAnniereturnstoAfghanistantocoverpeacetalks betweenthegovernmentandtheTaliban,shetakesaside triptoWadQol,whereshediscoversthatnoteveryone wantsthenewschool.Sabotagedelaysconstruction,and whenaworkerendsupdead,it’sclearthemilitantsareto blame.It’salsoobviousthattheyknowexactlywhere Annieis.

editedbyJulieE.BloemekeandDustinBrookshire

ReviewedbyClaireHamnerMatturro

LET’SREVIEW…

ClaireHamnerMatturro

LetMeSayThis:ADollyPartonPoetryAnthology (MadvillePublishing2023)isawonderfulcollectionof well-written,powerfulpoemsby54differentwriterswith aunifyingthemeofDollyParton.Theverseswithinthis sparkling,deliciousbookarealternatelybold,splashy, wise,personal,revealing,poignant,funny,thoughtfuland thought-provoking,ormore—justliketheiconiccultural figuretheanthologypayshomagetoinverse. Encompassingawidevarietyofvoices,partsofthe anthologyareakintoaPartonbiographyinverse,while othersreflecttheimpacttheforceofnaturewhoisDolly Partonhashaduponthewriter.Amostenjoyablebookand onenottobemissed, LetMeSayThis isashowcaseof talentofestablishedandemergingpoets.

DoyouneedtobeaDollyPartonfantoenjoythisbook? Maybe/maybenot.Butitwouldsurelybehardtofinda readerwhois not anadmirerofDollyPartonatsome level,eitherofherlifeofgraceandcharity,hermusic,her style,orhumor(oralltheabove).Doyouneedtobea devotedreaderofpoetry?Probablynotastheseare accessiblepoems,manywithplotarcsandcharacter

developmentsthatcomparetoshortstories.

Abiographicalpoementitled“Seventy-FiveLinesfor Dolly’sSeventy-fifth”startstheanthologyoffrightand setsthestageformoretocome.Withrhymedtercets writtenbyDeniseDuhamel,MaureenSeaton,andJulie MarieWade,thisopeningpoemcapturesthemystiqueand contrastsofDollyPartonwithlineslike:“Istillcarrya pistolinmypurse,/butmygrin’ssincere,myheart’s peaceful/asBabyJesusinthatBibleverse.”

Theeditors—JulieE.BloemekeandDustinBrookshire— arethemselvesaccomplishedpoetsandcertifiedDolly fans,whocontributetheirownpoemstothecollection.In “DollyWould,”BloemekeblendsPartonbiographical details(“asshesnuck/outbacktopresspokeberriesto herlips,/linehereyeswithblackenedmatchtips”),with linesabouttheimpactPartonhaduponBloemeke’sown life.Forexample,theseexcerptedlinesstartcommenting aboutDollybutcarryovertothepoet’spersonallife:

Awomanmarrieddecadeswhowrites

heartbreaklikeshe’slosteverylasttime,

thiscountrybloodinallofhercolors,shakes

herselftofireinrhinestonefringe,opens

thebutterflydowninme,holdsthemic

tothevoiceIneverallowed,says, ownyourtrash,says makeajoyful noise,…

DustinBrookshire’s“DollyattheFoxTheater(2008)” tellsthestoryoftakinghismothertoaDollyconcertonly tofindshe“lookedawaylike/somethingelsecaughther eye”whentheyseeDollystepdownfromthebus.Atthe concert,themother“fidgeted/inherseat”whenDolly askediftherewereanydragqueensintheaudience.But whenDollyasksifthereareanymothersintheaudience, Brookshirecapturesaunifyingmoment: Seatedwithanautoharp, Dollytoldusabouthercoatofmanycolors, andloveforhermother.Sheaskedifthereweremothers intheaudience,afewyelled, severalhandsshotup, includingmymother’s.

Well,Idedicatethissong toallthegoodmommasoutthere.I placedmyarmaroundmymother,squeezedhertight, leanedmyheadagainsthers,gaveherthatmoment. Asreflectedbythosequotes,thepoemsinthisvolumeare personal,honest,andheartfelt,andoftenreflectthe

comfortDollyParton’slifeandlyricshaveofferedthe poets.Forexample,RobertGwaltneyin“Butterflies” writestouchinglyandeloquently: Fly,fly,butterfly.

Boyslikemehavesecretwings.

Dolly’svoicecomesthrough thescreen,streaming

fromyoursister’swindow,ascratchedLP, allofthis arareandgentlething.

Allinall,thisanthologyisrichwithwell-crafted,moving poetry,memorablelanguage,sharpinsights,anda generosityofheartfeltsharing.Therearepoemswitha gut-punchquality,otherswithatendernessthatcould makeabully’seyestearup,andallwithdeftlywrittenand evocativelines.

EachanthologypurchasedthroughMadvillePublishing willraisemoneyforDollyParton’sImaginationLibrary.

Bloemekedescribesthecontributorsas“54poetswho holdthediamonduptothelight,shiningfacetsofDolly oftenoverlookedorpreviouslyunconsidered.”These contributorsinclude:KelliRussellAgodon•NinAndrews

•LanaK.W.Austin•David-MatthewBarnes•Nicky

Beer•JulieE.Bloemeke•EmmaBolden•Dustin

Brookshire•PhillipWattsBrown•MarinaCarreira•

DeniseDuhamel•terielam•RupertFike•DiamondForde

•ChadFrame•MakaylaGay•TylerGillespie•Kari

Gunter-Seymour•RobertGwaltney•BethGylys•Karen Head•RayeHendrix•CollinKelley•DorianneLaux• Chin•SunLee•ArdenLevine•KatieManning•Kelly

McQuain•LynnMelnick•JennyMolberg•Rachel

Morgan•CaridadMoro-Gronlier•CarolynOliver•Dion

O’Reilly•JeffreyPerkins•StephenRogerPowers•

StevenReigns•LindaNealReising•BenjaminAnthony Rhodes•MicahRuelle•AnnaSandy-Elrod•Roberta

Schultz•MaureenSeaton•GreggShapiro•L.J.Sysko• NicoleTallman•KerryTrautman•RosemerryWahtola

Trommer•DanVera•IsaiahVianese•DonnaVorreyer• JulieMarieWade•JenniferWheelock•YvonneZipter.

JulieE.Bloemekeisa2021GeorgiaAuthoroftheYear

FinalistforPoetry,andherworkhasbeenrecognizedby severalawards.Herdebutfull-lengthcollectionSlideto Unlock(SiblingRivalryPress,2020)wasalsochosenasa 2021BookAllGeorgiansShouldRead.Shehasbeen publishedinnumerousanthologiesandpublications includingWriter'sChronicle,PrairieSchooner,Cortland Review,GulfCoast,EcoTheoReview,andothers.

BloemekeisanassociateeditorforSouthCarolinaReview andaVirginiaCenterfortheCreativeArtsfellow,aswell asafreelancewriterandeditor.Visitheronlineathttps:// www.jebloemeke.com/

DustinBrookshirewasafinalistforthe2021Scotti MerrillAwardandisthecuratoroftheWild&Precious LifeSeries,editorofLimpWrist,andprogramdirectorfor ReadingQueer.HisworkhasearnedhimbothaPushcart andBestoftheNetnomination.PoetrybyBrookshirehas beenanthologizedandpublishedinnumerousjournals. Visithimonlineatdustinbrookshire.com.

ClaireHamnerMatturro isaformerlawyerandformerlegal writinginstructoratFloridaStateUniversityCollegeofLawand authorofeightnovels,includingaseriesofcomediclegal thrillerspublishedbyHarperCollinsandTheSmuggler's Daughter.SheisaDollyPartonfan.

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ThePerfectWriter’s Getaway

Doc'sHideawayisjustthatit'swhereDoctorHolley wouldhideoutwhenhe didn'twanttoseepatients oranyoneelse.Offtheside ofthehousewithadoor headingouttotheMagnolia Stage,Doc'sHideawayisa perfectroomforsomeone whowantstositoutsidein themorningandenjoythe startoftheday.Thereisa privateentrancefor travelersandaluxurious queenbed.

Ifyou'reintownforan eventatHolleyHouse, Doc'sHideawayisonedoor awayfromalloftheaction. Thiscoastalthemedqueen

suitehasaspaciousbathroomandaflip-downantique desk-youwillfeellikeyouareonatropicalvacation.The heartpinefloorsareoriginaltothehousefrom1903.It'sa shortwalktobreakfast-downthecorridorfromthedining room.

Hemingwaywouldhavelovedthisroomandsowillyou!

OFFTHEPAGE

Amonthlycolumnthattakesusoff

thepageandintothelifeof RiverJordan

River Jordan isThePowerofStory….

ThePoweroftheSilverScreen

Myloveforthebigscreenwasbornfrommyloveof thelittlescreen.ForallpracticalpurposesIwasanonly childuntiltheageofsevenwhenmy babysisterwasborn.Inthoseyoung andformativeyearsmydaddywas awayintheArmyandmymother workedeverydayatadoctor’soffice. So,Ihadawomanwho‘sat’withme althoughmostofthatsittingwasme beingparkedinmylittlerockingchair watchingthetinyscreen.No,my brainsdidn’tturntomushandInever feltlikesomeonewasn’tpaying attentiontome.Ihadalltheattention IwantedbecauseIwantedtobeleftalonetowatchTV. Butthatwasn’tmyentireworld.Ihadanactive imaginationandwasquitecontentplayingaloneinmy roomorthebackyard.Although,Idoremember

entertainingmyselfonemorningwhenIwasabouttwoby watchingouryellowcatsittinginthesun.Histailwas twitchingbackandforthincessantlyandforsomereasonI thoughtthismustbeaconstantbotherforhimlikeanitch hecouldn’tscratch.Beinggiftedwithcriticalthinking skillsIwentintothehouse,foundthewirepliers,andwas justabouttosnipthattailoffatthetipwhenIwascaught red-handed.Someonecaughtmeandsnappedaphotoof thiscatastropheinthemakingbeforetheytookthepliers away.Thereisproofofthisincidentburiedinaboxofold photos.

BacktothatTVandmebeingmyhappiest.Iknewthat thepowerofstoriescomingtolifeinsuchawaywaspure magic.Mybrainsprobablydidn’tturntomushbecause mymotherreadtome,playedclassicalmusiconthe stereo,boughtmeapaintset,aneasel,andasmock. EnrichedIwas.Butaftermymorningroutineofshows, again,beforemybedtimewewouldbebackinthatlittle denwatchingsomethingamazing.Anditwasatthisearly stageofmylifethatonetelevisionshowhadanincredible impactonme.

HaveGun-WillTravel hadall theelementsIneededto completemylife.Therewasa mandressedallinblackwitha blackhat,(theshowwasblack

andwhite–researchlaterproveshewaswearingmidnight blue),agunholsteredandslunglowonhishipwiththe perfectlycastRichardBooneinthelead.Here’stheskinny onthatshow.

“ProfessionalgunfighterPaladin wasaWestPointgraduatewho, aftertheCivilWar,settledintoSan Francisco'sHotelCarlton,where heawaitedresponsestohis businesscard:overthepictureofa chessknightiswritten"HaveGun, WillTravel...WirePaladin,San Francisco."—EdStephan

<stephan@cc.wwu.edu>

HaveGun-WillTravel

(FromtheIMDBpage)

Besideshisphysicalstrengthand weaponsofperfection,he possessedanextremeintelligence.

MuchlikethePaladin,whichisthehorseofthechess board,hewasabletocircumventobstaclesandachieve victorywhereitwasseeminglybeyondthereachofamere mortal.Therewasnohintofbiasorbigotryinhis character;heevaluatedeachmaninstantlyandtreated immigrantswithrespectanddignity.

Thedashing,daringcharacterof HaveGun-WillTravel hadtherefinedtasteofJamesBondandthewardrobeof JohnnyCash.

BasedoutoftheluxuriousHotelCarltoninSan Francisco,Paladinofferedhisservicesforsteepfees, typically$1,000.Hecarriedbusinesscardsembossedwith hischessknightlogoandhispromise,"HaveGun–Will Travel."Paladinwaseverythingfromguardian,tutor, rescuer,bountyhunter,treasurehunter,detective… whatevertheclientneeded.”

Hewassmart.Hereadthings.Heappreciatedfineart, music,wine–andmostlikely–women.Asalittlegirl whowouldgrowuptobeawomanknewbyinstinctthere weresomehighlydesiredcharacteristicsinaman.But thenmendressedallinblackweremyweakness.Think Elvis,JohnnyCash,theoldestbrotheronBonanza,that sexygingerhairedpriestonthePBSshow, Grantchester. ButIdigress.

So,mytimespentinfrontofthatlittletelevisiononly bringsgoodmemoriesandinfluencesthatIthink contributedtowhoIamasawritertoday.Mycofferwas fullandbywhatIdeemasoneoftheluckieststrikesof mylife,whenIwaseightyearsoldandwehadreturned fromGermanywheremydaddywasstationedwemoved intotheSt.AndrewsneighborhoodofPanamaCity, Florida.AndrightdownthestreetwasTheFloridaMovie

Theaterinallitslargeonescreenglory.Freshpopcorn always.Asin–always.Apayphoneinthelobby.Why, youmightask,wouldanyoneneedapayphoneinthe lobbyofthetheater.I’lltellyouwhy.Forkidsbeingable todropadime(blessmyGenerationJonesheart)inthe payphoneandcallMomtosayitthemoviewasoverand itwastimetobepickedup.Onlythat’snotwhatweused thatphonefor.Wecalledtosimplysay,“Weloveditsowe arestayingtowatchitagain!”Thesamemovieoveragain withoutevenapause.Andtheotheramazingthingabout thegoldenoldiedays-youdidn’thavetobuyanother ticket.Youjustwentbackinthetheaterandwaitedforthe lightstogodownandthemagictostartagain.

InthisoldneighborhoodmysisterandIhadfourplaces wewereallowedtowalktoonourown.SomethingI wouldn’tletachilddonowwhichissuchashame,most likelyoverlyprotectivethesedaysbutthesedaysaren’t thosedays.WewereallowedtowalktoSt.John’sChurch toaskifSisterRosemarycouldcomeoutandsayhello.To theduckpondtofeedtheducks.TotheOaklandTerrace BaseballParkand–totheFloridaTheater.Ifthattheater hadbeenontheothersideofthebusyintersectionit wouldhavebeenofflimitsbutbyourgoodfortuneitwas on‘our’sideofthestreet.

Ihaveaperpetualmemoryonaloopfromyearsofme holdingmysister’shand,walkingourwayoutofthehot

summersunshineandstraightinto thecooldarkofthetheaterwhere wecaughtthelikesoftheoriginal JungleBook andcamehome(after seeingittwice)singingallthesongs inthemoviebyheart.Likewise, when LadyandtheTramp hitthe screenwedidthesame.And,yes, wesangthatSiamesecatsonguntil wedroveMomhalfcrazy.

YearsuponyearslaterIstoodin lineonadoubledatewithCousin Debtosee Jaws onthebigscreenandtheperfectionof thatmoviehasneverbeenlostonme.Orthefactthat whenthegreatwhiteshark’sheadcomesupoutofthe waterforthefirsttimeasBrodythrowsoutchum-I screamedandthrewpopcornstraightupintheair.Likea wholebagofit.ThatwasthesummerwhereIdidn’tsee anyoneintheGulfovertheirknees.IswearIdon’t rememberseeinganyoneoutthereinthedeepunlessit wasalonesurferandIwouldhavejustsaid–yourhistory man.It’slightsoutforyou.Iamstillnotafanofthe black-eyedcreaturesfromthedeepandnoamountof educationchangesthatforme.No.Amount.Nevermind thatjustthesummerbeforeIwasswimmingafterworkat nightintheGulfinthedarkwayouttherewithother

youngidiotsjustlikemewhohad gottenoffworkfromalongshift andarefreshingswiminthedark wavesseemedjustlikethethingto do.That’swhenyouareyoung enoughtothinkyouareimmortal. Ihadsmartfriendswhowouldnot havedonesuchathing.Theydid notworkthenightshift.But, again,Idigress.

Thesedaysitseemsthe excellenceofstoriesonthelittle screens(whicharen’tsolittle anymore)andthebigscreenhavedisappeared.Iamaslost inthecreationoftheshow Andor,TheRingsofPower, OneforAllMankind -orshorterofferingslike TedLasso, Severance,or AbbotElementary -thelistgoesonandon alongwiththemoviesthatareanever-endingstreamof deliciousstorygoodness.It’sAwardsseasonandI’m checkingoffmylistofallthenomineeswhichI’llbe writingaboutindepthoveronmyblog–Notesfromthe Coast–indaystocome.NotinanAcademicway(well, notmostly)butwiththepurejoyofamovieloverwho values,desires,andevenneedsthatspecialmagicthat onlythebigscreenoffers.

Ihopewithallthewonderfulreadingthatyouaredoing betweenthepagesyoufindtimetoincludeabigscreen. It’sanofferingthatgivesyouthatlittletwohourpauseof escape,adventure,andwonder.It’sgoodmedicineright now.Andwhen IndianaJones andthe DialofDestiny hits thebigscreen,well,myphonewillbesilentbutyou’ll knowwheretofindme.

RiverJordan isanauthor,speaker,teacherandradiohost.

Asasouthernerwithaglobalperspectivesheisa passionateadvocateforthepowerofstory.

River'swritingcareerbeganasaplaywrightandshespent overtenyearswritinganddirecting.Sheisthebest-selling authoroffournovelsandathreespiritualmemoirs.Asa critically-acclaimedauthorherworkhasbeenmost frequentlycastinthecompanyofsuchwritersasFlannery O'Conner,WilliamFaulkner,andHarperLee.

ANNIE’SSONG:DANDELIONS,DREAMSAND DOGS

byAnnieMcDonnell

Annieisoneofthoserarepeople,whoalwayslooksforthe rainbowinthestorm'swakeandusesherbrokennesstohelp othersbygivingherhearttoinnumerablecausesandbeing candidaboutwhatshe'sgoingthroughinthehopethather honestywillgivesolacetokindredspirits.Thirstyforlove,Annie breaksherselfopenatpointsonlytolearnthehardlessonthat sometimesthelovesheseekswon'tevercome.Yourheartwill warmwhenyouseehertakeonlife.Youwilllaugh,cry,andbe moved.Inthiscross-genrememoir,Annierevealshergiftfor storytellinginthissoaringblendofessaysandpoemsthattraces tragediesandjoysthatmarkherlifeandherdeterminationtofind thatjoydespitegreatsufferingandinnumerablelosses.Thisisher lovesongtotraumasurvivors,doglovers,andloveseekers.In theendstagesofStiffPersonSyndrome,sheliveseachdayand nightknowingthathernextbreathcouldbeherlastandkeepsher heartfocusedonheaven.

“Ifyouwanttoseewhataheartlookslike,brokenintowords, readthisbook.Ifyouwanttoseewhatcouragelookslike,brick bybrickallthewaytoheaven...readthisbook.”

—JeffArch, authorofaward-winningnovel“Attachments”andOscar nomineefor“SleeplessinSeattle”

“Annie’sSong’isanopen-heartedmemoiraboutalifespent lovingthemostvulnerableamongus.Thesearestoriesfullofjoy andlifethatkeeplovedonesclose,evenafterthey’vepassedfrom thisworld.Thispoeticwritingofuntiringadvocacy, compassionatewitness,anddeeploveisagifttotheenormous communityofwriters—yes,thosewhohavefeltseenanduplifted byAnnieMcDonnellovertheyears,butalsothosewhomightbe hearinghervoicesaying‘youmatter’forthefirsttime.Thisbook

Zinna,authorof“TheAll-NightSun”

“Whilesomeconfrontedwithchallenginglifecircumstances wouldbegrounddown,McDonnellhasusedherexperienceswith miscarriage,grief,andillnesstohoneherselfintoafine diamond.Thisbookisataleofloss,butitalsoshimmerswiththe joyofdiscoveringone’strueselfamidstthechaos.” —Tonya Mitchell,authorof“AFeignedMadness”

Alifelongreaderandadvocateforwritersandbooks,AnnieMcDonnell isanalumnusofHighPointUniversity,NorthCarolina,Classof1991.

In2006,sheenteredacontestwith Elle andbecameabookreviewerfor themagazine.When Elle stoppedrunningbookreviewsinprint,Annie movedtobloggingandeventuallybegan TheWriteReview. Anentire communitywasborn. Annie’sSong:Dandelions,DreamsandDogs,her debutmixed-genrememoir/poetry/autofictionbook,isslatedtobe publishedonMarch14,2022.Inadvanceofpublication,herbookhas alreadygarneredmorethan50endorsementsfromauthorsandindustry luminaries.Anniepublishedapoemandessayinananthologycalled OnceUponAnotherTime.

InDecember2020,shewastherecipientoftheDougMarletteAwardfor lifetimeachievementinBookPromotion.InFebruary2021,theAnnie McDonnellBookAwardwasannounced,honoringherdedicationtothe literarycommunityandhercourageandstrengthinbattlingarareillness calledStiffPersonSyndrome.Anniewritesbookreviews,articles, endorsementsforauthors;conductsauthor interviews;andconsultswithauthorsonpromotions andevents.Inaddition,sheadministerstheWorldof theWriteReview.Proceedsfrom Annie’sSong will gotoOneLoveDogRescue,TheMuseWriting Center,andthePatConroyLiteraryCenter.Annie livesinMastic,NewYork,withherhusbandTom, threebeautifuldogsandfivelovelycats.Shealso volunteersforOneLoveDogRescueandsupports bothadultandchildren’sliteracy.