Ann Weisgarber at Books on Main

On Tuesday, I had the privilege of meeting Ann Weisgarber at Books on Main in Davidson, North Carolina. She primarily talked about her second novel, The Promise, which takes place in Galveston during the 1900 hurricane. Happening long before the advent of weather radar, the people of Galveston had no advance warning that the hurricane was heading their way. At least 6,000 people were killed on the barrier island that day.

Although I had not yet read the book, I thoroughly enjoyed hearing about it, about Ms. Weisgarber’s first novel, and some of her writing experiences. I purchased a copy of The Promise that day and Ms. Weisgarber was kind enough to autograph it and write a note. When I told her that I am an aspiring novelist, she asked me some questions about my manuscript for The Spanish Coin and said, “It’s never too late!”

I’ve checked out her first novel, The Personal History of Rachel DuPree, from the public library. Since our kitchen and bathroom remodeling are scheduled to begin tomorrow morning, I haven’t had any time to read lately. I hope I’ll be able to shut out enough of the construction noise in the coming weeks to concentrate on reading.

McDowell County Historical Society

Last night I had the privilege of speaking at the May meeting of the McDowell County Historical Society in Marion, North Carolina. It was my first opportunity to talk about my vintage postcard book, The Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina to a county historical society. The audience seemed very interested in my presentation, asked great questions, and their comments added much to the presentation. After the program, I invited everyone to look at my book and enjoy some of the actual postcards from the book.

People looking at my display of postcards
People looking at my display of postcards

Several people in attendance were postcard collectors. I enjoyed “comparing notes” with them. The Mayor of Marion, Steve Little, was there. He brought some of his postcards to show me. He had many that I had not seen before, so I enjoyed looking at his cards.

Last week I created my first PowerPoint presentation and used it for the first time last night. I think it was an improvement over my earlier programs. I took a free class about PowerPoint at the Harrisburg Branch of the Cabarrus County Public Library. With what I learned in that class of just an hour or so, I was able to put together a 40-minute program for last night.

Last page of Janet's PowerPoint presentation
Last page of Janet’s PowerPoint presentation

I don’t have any more speaking engagements scheduled. I will continue to contact public libraries and civic organizations to get some programs on my calendar for late summer and next fall.

What I’ve been reading

Occasionally, I like to post a blog about the books I’ve been reading. It’s been a while since I’ve given an update about my reading.

Since my last blog about my reading, I’ve read the following books:

God Bless the Child, by Toni Morrison
Home, by Toni Morrison
American Nations, by Colin Woodword
A Land More Kind Than Home, by Wiley Cash
Risky Undertaking, by Mark de Castrique
At the Water’s Edge, by Sara Gruen
Hot Pursuit, by Stuart Woods
You Can Begin Again, by Joyce Meyer
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying, by Marie Kondo
Every Fifteen Minutes, by Lisa Scottoline

I’m currently reading Truth Be Told, by Hank Phillippi Ryan and Cover of Snow, by Jenny Milchman.

What are you reading?

Sometimes life interrupts

Sometimes life interrupts our plans. Some days (or weeks) there are so many distractions that I can’t write, edit, or revise. Sometimes several such weeks happen in consecutive order. Welcome to my world!

We’re getting ready to remodel our kitchen and bathroom. This project has been nothing more than a dream for many years. We’re taking the plunge! It’s going to happen! For what seems like weeks, we’ve been making decisions and packing up material possessions. Trips were made to Goodwill and other charities. Dishes were taken to Replacements Unlimited in Greensboro, North Carolina, and sold. It feels good to declutter once in a while. Our new mantra is, “If it doesn’t bring you joy, get rid of it!” That isn’t easy for a card-carrying pack rat, but I have made tremendous progress.

Over the last couple of weeks, we have prepared for the remodel, lost a first cousin to COPD and pneumonia, and had family come from out-of-state for a week. Last weekend was our chance to take a deep breath, relax a little, and reorganize ourselves for the coming construction.

Saturday night the clothes dryer broke, but Sunday went without a hitch. Late last night the washing machine sprung a leak, the freezer completely defrosted and we spent a couple of hours throwing away thawed food, and then we realized that the air-conditioner wasn’t cooling the house. It has been my experience that calamities often come in threes. I believe this sudden rash of four unexpected breakdowns within 48 hours is my new personal best. It is a record that I hope will stand forever.

Today I got up early after three hours of sleep to call two repair people and to wait for their return calls. It is now late morning. I have transitioned into waiting for them to arrive. It would be nice if they did not arrive at the same time as the kitchen planner, but that might be asking too much.

The day will come when I will look back on May of 2015 and laugh. Today is not that day.

Author Event in Kannapolis

Earlier this month I had the pleasure of holding an author event in Kannapolis, North Carolina’s branch of the Cabarrus County Public Library system to talk about my vintage postcard book, The Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.

Part of the audience in Kannapolis on May 7, 2015
Part of the audience in Kannapolis on May 7, 2015

Those in attendance were very supportive and interested. They seemed to enjoy the “audience participation” portion of my presentation. There was lots of discussion and give and take between me and audience members, which I enjoyed. Everyone was engaged in the presentation, which made for an enjoyable evening for all.

Blue Ridge Mountains word find puzzles and a few of the postcards displayed at the event
Blue Ridge Mountains word find puzzles and a few of the postcards displayed at the event

The library staff had an attractive display of other library books about or which were set in the Blue Ridge Mountains along with a pamphlet listing all those books. Someone put a lot of work into researching the collection and putting the display and brochure together.

Display of other Blue Ridge Mountains books in library meeting room
Display of other Blue Ridge Mountains books in library meeting room

After my presentation and the Q&A portion of the program, I sold and autographed copies of my book. It’s always rewarding when someone is moved to pay $20 for a copy of my book.

Janet, autographing a copy of The Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina
Janet, autographing a copy of The Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina

I appreciate the Friends of the Kannapolis Library’s willingness to host this event. It is only through the generosity of people who voluntarily give of their time and resources to support public libraries on the local level that authors can hold events like this. In today’s climate of budget cuts, decreased library operating hours, and skeletal staff in public libraries, it is not easy to schedule programs like the one I offer. I am indebted to the Friends of the Kannapolis Library and the entire staff there for making this event possible.

Writing Contests

I continue to enter writing contests. They are an excellent opportunity to hone my writing skills and they force me to meet deadlines. Sooner or later, I will win or place in another contest; however, that has not been the case so far this year.

My entry, “Secrets of a Foster Child,” did not win the Doris Betts Literary Competition and my short story titled “Slip Sliding Away” did not win the Northern Colorado Writers Short Fiction Contest. There are other contests whose winners have not been announced. I’ll keep you posted as I hear from them.

Undaunted, I will keep at it. That’s what a writer does.

Scuppernong Books in Greensboro

I finally had the opportunity to visit Scuppernong Books in Greensboro, North Carolina. Scuppernong Books is an independent bookstore that has only been in business for a little more than 16 months. It is located in historic downtown Greensboro and includes a cafe.

Outdoor sign at Scuppernong Books in Greensboro
Outdoor sign at Scuppernong Books in Greensboro

Brian welcomed me to his establishment, and we sat down at a cafe table so he could leaf through my vintage postcard book, The Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. He was surprised that Arcadia Publishing had not made him aware the book and said he will order the book right away. Thank you, Brian!

For those of you not from The South, scuppernong is a variety of muscadines that are native to the southern region of the United States. In fact, the scuppernong is the state fruit of North Carolina, and my mother loved to eat them. Muscadines are a species of grapes; hence, the bunch of green grapes hanging over the fox’s head in the logo for Scuppernong Books. Early explorers wrote about the abundance of scuppernongs along coastal North Carolina as early as the 1500s.

I would be remiss if I failed to mention another marvelous independent bookstore in Shelby, North Carolina. I am distressed to report that Fireside Books in downtown Shelby is closing its doors on May 9 because it cannot compete with the internet and the “big box” stores.

Fireside Books and Gifts in Shelby, NC
Fireside Books and Gifts in Shelby, NC

Support every independent bookstore you find. They struggle to stay in business. Once a town loses its independent bookstore, it loses a bit of charm, warmth, and local flavor that no other type of store can replace.

Local Author Fair in Kannapolis

Last Saturday I had the privilege of participating in a Local Author Fair in Kannapolis, North Carolina, along with 15 to 20 other Cabarrus County authors. This was the first of what we hope will be an annual event, rotating among the branches of the Cabarrus County Public Library system. I was there to sell copies of my book, The Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.

Janet at her table at the Local Author Fair in Kannapolis on April 25, 2015.
Janet at her table at the Local Author Fair in Kannapolis on April 25, 2015.

Joyce and Jim Lavene, a husband and wife author team from Midland, North Carolina, also participated in the fair. It was good to see them again. They have spoken two or three times at Rocky River Readers Book Club and they have been supportive of me as a beginning writer. Joyce and Jim have written several series of mysteries.

Joyce and Jim Lavene, authors from Midland, NC, at the Local Author Fair in Kannapolis.
Joyce and Jim Lavene, authors from Midland, NC, at the Local Author Fair in Kannapolis.

I enjoyed chatting with the Lavenes, Michael and Rose Eury of Concord, and Linda Leigh Hargrove of Kannapolis. Michael Eury has written several books for Arcadia Publishing and is currently writing a book of “legendary locals” of Cabarrus County. Linda Leigh Hargrove has written several novels, including The Making of Isaac Hunt: A Novel and Loving Cee Cee Johnson.

Perhaps at a future Local Author Fair I will have a novel to sell in addition to my vintage postcard book, The Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina!

A Tribute to Harper Lee

My blog post today is a tribute to Harper Lee on the occasion of her 89th birthday. Born in Monroeville, Alabama on April 28, 1926, she finished writing To Kill a Mockingbird in 1959 at the age of 33. It was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1961 and has been translated into approximately 40 languages.

What an iconic book of 20th century American literature! The book makes an indelible impression on just about everyone who reads it. The story shines a light on racism in a powerful way and, in so doing, reminds us that racism still exists today in every part of the United States. It is my hope that To Kill a Mockingbird will prompt everyone who reads it to strive to stamp out racism in his or her own life and community.

In honor of Harper Lee’s birthday today, I challenge you to read To Kill a Mockingbird again. Take it to heart. Put yourself in the place of each of the main characters. Get inside their skin and their hearts.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the racial unrest happening today in Baltimore, Maryland. Our country has come a long way, but there is much work to do. There are lessons for each of us to learn. I am reminded of one of my favorite quotes from Maya Angelou:

“I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better.”
― Maya Angelou

William Shakespeare’s Birthday

Yesterday would have been William Shakespeare’s 451st birthday. He died when he was only 52 years old. Imagine how many more plays he could have written if he had lived to a ripe old age. He could not imagine that people would still be reading and performing his plays in 2015.

Will people still be reading my writing 400 years from now? What form will books take in 2415? We can’t imagine that any more than William Shakespeare could imagine his plays being on the TV or movie screens or being read on an e-reader.