I'm going to kick back, leave reading and writing blogs in the dust until after the gift opening, until hanging out with family and friends winds down, and until I get bored with the plethora of bowl games. Meanwhile, my wish for those who've been suffering the winter's storms will be a return to warmth and electricity and a hard-to-put-down read at bedtime.
For the writers out there, I wish you a bucket full of story-line epiphanies, many well turned phrases, and agents and editors who believe in you and your work.
For the publishing industry, I wish you the boldness to tell the bean-counters to take a hike, so you can concentrate on developing deserving writers.
And for those who persist in reading my posts here, I wish you a few drops of Visine, a well-developed sense of humor, and the moxie to put your own thoughts out there - whether in comments to me, or in or your own posts.
Feliz Navidad, Joyeux Noël, Frohe Weihnachten, Gleðileg jól, Buon Natale, Nollaig Shona, Happy Hannukah and, well, all good wishes of every persuasion.
Bob
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Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Saturday, December 12, 2009
New Selected Poems
New Selected Poems
available @ Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1440192685
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B002BRDGLA
*Cover Photo by Ron Hay
http://www.flickr.com/people/rjhayphotography/
available @ Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1440192685
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B002BRDGLA
*Cover Photo by Ron Hay
http://www.flickr.com/people/rjhayphotography/
Friday, December 11, 2009
Murder in Pleasant Grove
Murder in Pleasant Grove
By
J. Russell Rose
A Review
Pleasant Grove is a soulless community with nothing pleasant about it unless the reader loves being a cardboard character living in a cardboard community. Yet in such a community nothing is expected to happen; especially not a gruesome murder. Although, Bob and Mary Jo Bradley are introduced in the first short chapter this is not their story. Bob Bradley, the husband of the murdered woman is not a likeable character even though he eventually tries to redeem himself.
The story really starts with the second chapter where the author begins the riveting story of Ryder Haynes, a homeless drifter. Mr. Rose’s skillful character development immediately gains the reader’s love and sympathy for Ryder Haynes and then it is difficult but imperative that the reader turn the page; albeit with trepidation. “What if some new evidence turns up or what if the police miss some clue?” is the reader’s dread since this is a tale of murder.
Whether by design or not Rose has skillfully maneuvered his story in such a way as to create a loveable main character who is also suspect in the murder of a young mother in Pleasant Grove. As the tale unfolds the mother becomes secondary or an added attraction; she could have been ninety and without a name and the tale would still have been riveting. The true mystery is the circumstances that link Ryder Haynes to the murder. The bungling of the local police and the unstressed but evident political machinations make the tale more believable and interesting.
A less talented writer could not have sustained the tension and the puzzlement in the manner portrayed by J. Russell Rose. If you haven’t read Murder in Pleasant Grove it would be worth your time to pick up a copy especially if you like a good mystery. Also if you like loose ends tied up the conclusion in this book more than justifies the adage that “good prevails over evil.”
Murder in Pleasant Grove is available by contacting the author direct - jrussellrose@ymail.com, or at Lulu Press - http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/murder-in-pleasant-grove/1661950
Review By: Adda Leah Davis, Author of Lucinda’s Mountain, Jason’s Journey, and soon to be released third book of the trilogy – The Beckoning Hills. Davis’ website: www.goldenharvestcreations.com.
By
J. Russell Rose
A Review
Pleasant Grove is a soulless community with nothing pleasant about it unless the reader loves being a cardboard character living in a cardboard community. Yet in such a community nothing is expected to happen; especially not a gruesome murder. Although, Bob and Mary Jo Bradley are introduced in the first short chapter this is not their story. Bob Bradley, the husband of the murdered woman is not a likeable character even though he eventually tries to redeem himself.
The story really starts with the second chapter where the author begins the riveting story of Ryder Haynes, a homeless drifter. Mr. Rose’s skillful character development immediately gains the reader’s love and sympathy for Ryder Haynes and then it is difficult but imperative that the reader turn the page; albeit with trepidation. “What if some new evidence turns up or what if the police miss some clue?” is the reader’s dread since this is a tale of murder.
Whether by design or not Rose has skillfully maneuvered his story in such a way as to create a loveable main character who is also suspect in the murder of a young mother in Pleasant Grove. As the tale unfolds the mother becomes secondary or an added attraction; she could have been ninety and without a name and the tale would still have been riveting. The true mystery is the circumstances that link Ryder Haynes to the murder. The bungling of the local police and the unstressed but evident political machinations make the tale more believable and interesting.
A less talented writer could not have sustained the tension and the puzzlement in the manner portrayed by J. Russell Rose. If you haven’t read Murder in Pleasant Grove it would be worth your time to pick up a copy especially if you like a good mystery. Also if you like loose ends tied up the conclusion in this book more than justifies the adage that “good prevails over evil.”
Murder in Pleasant Grove is available by contacting the author direct - jrussellrose@ymail.com, or at Lulu Press - http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/murder-in-pleasant-grove/1661950
Review By: Adda Leah Davis, Author of Lucinda’s Mountain, Jason’s Journey, and soon to be released third book of the trilogy – The Beckoning Hills. Davis’ website: www.goldenharvestcreations.com.
Friday, October 30, 2009
23 Mistakes First Time Authors Make (And How to Avoid Them) By Barbara Joe-Williams
Hi folks,
I've copied below an excerpt from a publishing e-mail I receive regularly, hitchnews, this one focused on every writer's Achilles heel, marketing. Some of the points made here may raise questions; that's why I've included some links to the author of the article. Of course, this blog is an excellent forum for discussing such things, too.
Good writing (and marketing) to all,
Bob Mustin
As a first time self-published author, you want to avoid making as many costly mistakes as possible. Based on research and over two years of publishing experience, I’d like to share some of the mistakes that I’ve made and show you how to avoid making them. Please proceed with caution.
1) Publishing books with unattractive covers and spending too much money on them. Hire someone to design an attractive front book cover. Or you can save money by developing the book cover drafts yourself. Simply download royalty-free pictures and add your own text.
2) They print their book in large quantities because it’s the most economical value. With print-on-demand (POD) printers, you no longer have to print large quantities of books to receive a good return on your investment. You can print as few or as many as you need at one time.
3) They pay large amounts for website development and maintenance. Find a web hosting company, download a template, upload your book information, and maintain the site yourself for a low monthly or yearly fee. Most of these companies provide 24/7 customer support.
4) They work without an action plan or any means of accountability. Writing may be your passion, but publishing is a business. Therefore, you have to develop a business plan to follow and show accountability for your funds.
5) Not testing their cover design or the titles before publishing. The key to avoiding this mistake is developing more than one book cover draft and testing them on potential buyers. You can also develop more than one title and test them too.
6) They wait until the book is published before they start marketing it. Start marketing your book the first day that you start writing it. Tell everyone that you know and/or meet about your new project.
7) Pricing the book too high or too low based on the market. Be sure to research the price of other books on the market that are similar to yours and price your book accordingly.
8) Not identifying their target market for the publication. The first rule of publishing is to know your target market and how to reach them. Where do they live and shop? How will they learn about your book?
9) Not pre-selling copies of their book or taking pre-orders. You can set-up your website to take credit cards and start taking pre-orders months before the book is ever printed.
10) They rely solely on one marketing model to sell their book. Develop several marketing strategies before your book is published. Communicate with other authors to find out what has and hasn’t worked for them.
11) Writing books they think people should read instead of what the market demands. The publishing business is also a matter of supply and demand. You may enjoy writing fiction, but a non-fiction project that serves a desire or need, will be more profitable.
12) Paying for expensive advertising, marketing/promotional ideas. Marketing doesn’t have to be an expensive venture. Look for strategies that will provide you with free publicity such as library workshops and radio interviews.
13) They write the book without developing a timeline for completion. Once you start writing your book, set some realistic goals for completing it and stick to it. Don’t let down your target market after you’ve announced the book to them.
14) Not having a reader’s or audience database. You can start developing a reader’s database as soon as you start working on your book by contacting local book club members and attending library events.
15) Not being open to the editing or revising process. Find an editor that you feel comfortable with and trust. This will make it easier to accept criticism and make recommended revisions.
16) They miss deadlines for writing and publishing. It’s very important to the success of your writing career that you meet the realistic deadlines that you’ve already set. Once you set a book release date, readers will be expecting the book at that time.
17) They don’t read enough from the competition. Make sure you know what the competition has to offer and be able to explain how your book is different. You want your project to stand out from every other book on your chosen subject.
18) They waste time trying to make the copy perfect the first time. Focus on completing the manuscript and getting it to the editor instead of trying to make sure that it’s perfect. You’ll have plenty of time to go back and make revisions later.
19) Not being able to verbalize the content of your book in a concise manner. You should be able to summarize you entire manuscript in a few sentences upon request. Most readers want to know what the heart of the book is about in one-minute or less.
20) They don’t join writer’s group or read writer’s magazines, or attend conferences. Joining a writer’s group is a way to learn from other authors or aspiring authors. Reading Writer’s Digest each month will provide you with valuable information and attending conferences will give you an opportunity to meet major publishers and agents. 21) They rely solely on bookstores to sell their books to make a profit. According to the Publisher’s Marketing Association, approximately 52 percent of published books are not sold in bookstores. This means that you must find more creative ways of selling your product.
22) They concentrate too much on sales and not enough on publicity. Of course, your publishing goal is to make money, but some events should just be about publicity and then the money will follow.
23) They don’t reinvest money back into their book business. This is a valuable lesson to learn. If you spend all your profits on personal expenses, it’s impossible to keep producing books to keep your business growing.
About the Author:
Barbara Joe-Williams is a freelance author and an independent publisher living in Tallahassee, Florida. She has written three romance novels and a non-fiction e-book titled “A Writer’s Guide to Self-Publishing & Marketing.” As the sole owner of Amani Publishing, she has published non-fiction books for other aspiring authors. In addition, she has composed an anthology featuring eighteen multicultural authors to be released in February 2007 titled “How I Met My Sweetheart.” For more information about this author/publisher, please visit her website.
Website: www.AmaniPublishing.net or www.Barbarajoewilliams.com
E-mail: AmaniPublishing@aol.com
Blog: www.Barbarajoe.blogspot.com
I've copied below an excerpt from a publishing e-mail I receive regularly, hitchnews, this one focused on every writer's Achilles heel, marketing. Some of the points made here may raise questions; that's why I've included some links to the author of the article. Of course, this blog is an excellent forum for discussing such things, too.
Good writing (and marketing) to all,
Bob Mustin
As a first time self-published author, you want to avoid making as many costly mistakes as possible. Based on research and over two years of publishing experience, I’d like to share some of the mistakes that I’ve made and show you how to avoid making them. Please proceed with caution.
1) Publishing books with unattractive covers and spending too much money on them. Hire someone to design an attractive front book cover. Or you can save money by developing the book cover drafts yourself. Simply download royalty-free pictures and add your own text.
2) They print their book in large quantities because it’s the most economical value. With print-on-demand (POD) printers, you no longer have to print large quantities of books to receive a good return on your investment. You can print as few or as many as you need at one time.
3) They pay large amounts for website development and maintenance. Find a web hosting company, download a template, upload your book information, and maintain the site yourself for a low monthly or yearly fee. Most of these companies provide 24/7 customer support.
4) They work without an action plan or any means of accountability. Writing may be your passion, but publishing is a business. Therefore, you have to develop a business plan to follow and show accountability for your funds.
5) Not testing their cover design or the titles before publishing. The key to avoiding this mistake is developing more than one book cover draft and testing them on potential buyers. You can also develop more than one title and test them too.
6) They wait until the book is published before they start marketing it. Start marketing your book the first day that you start writing it. Tell everyone that you know and/or meet about your new project.
7) Pricing the book too high or too low based on the market. Be sure to research the price of other books on the market that are similar to yours and price your book accordingly.
8) Not identifying their target market for the publication. The first rule of publishing is to know your target market and how to reach them. Where do they live and shop? How will they learn about your book?
9) Not pre-selling copies of their book or taking pre-orders. You can set-up your website to take credit cards and start taking pre-orders months before the book is ever printed.
10) They rely solely on one marketing model to sell their book. Develop several marketing strategies before your book is published. Communicate with other authors to find out what has and hasn’t worked for them.
11) Writing books they think people should read instead of what the market demands. The publishing business is also a matter of supply and demand. You may enjoy writing fiction, but a non-fiction project that serves a desire or need, will be more profitable.
12) Paying for expensive advertising, marketing/promotional ideas. Marketing doesn’t have to be an expensive venture. Look for strategies that will provide you with free publicity such as library workshops and radio interviews.
13) They write the book without developing a timeline for completion. Once you start writing your book, set some realistic goals for completing it and stick to it. Don’t let down your target market after you’ve announced the book to them.
14) Not having a reader’s or audience database. You can start developing a reader’s database as soon as you start working on your book by contacting local book club members and attending library events.
15) Not being open to the editing or revising process. Find an editor that you feel comfortable with and trust. This will make it easier to accept criticism and make recommended revisions.
16) They miss deadlines for writing and publishing. It’s very important to the success of your writing career that you meet the realistic deadlines that you’ve already set. Once you set a book release date, readers will be expecting the book at that time.
17) They don’t read enough from the competition. Make sure you know what the competition has to offer and be able to explain how your book is different. You want your project to stand out from every other book on your chosen subject.
18) They waste time trying to make the copy perfect the first time. Focus on completing the manuscript and getting it to the editor instead of trying to make sure that it’s perfect. You’ll have plenty of time to go back and make revisions later.
19) Not being able to verbalize the content of your book in a concise manner. You should be able to summarize you entire manuscript in a few sentences upon request. Most readers want to know what the heart of the book is about in one-minute or less.
20) They don’t join writer’s group or read writer’s magazines, or attend conferences. Joining a writer’s group is a way to learn from other authors or aspiring authors. Reading Writer’s Digest each month will provide you with valuable information and attending conferences will give you an opportunity to meet major publishers and agents. 21) They rely solely on bookstores to sell their books to make a profit. According to the Publisher’s Marketing Association, approximately 52 percent of published books are not sold in bookstores. This means that you must find more creative ways of selling your product.
22) They concentrate too much on sales and not enough on publicity. Of course, your publishing goal is to make money, but some events should just be about publicity and then the money will follow.
23) They don’t reinvest money back into their book business. This is a valuable lesson to learn. If you spend all your profits on personal expenses, it’s impossible to keep producing books to keep your business growing.
About the Author:
Barbara Joe-Williams is a freelance author and an independent publisher living in Tallahassee, Florida. She has written three romance novels and a non-fiction e-book titled “A Writer’s Guide to Self-Publishing & Marketing.” As the sole owner of Amani Publishing, she has published non-fiction books for other aspiring authors. In addition, she has composed an anthology featuring eighteen multicultural authors to be released in February 2007 titled “How I Met My Sweetheart.” For more information about this author/publisher, please visit her website.
Website: www.AmaniPublishing.net or www.Barbarajoewilliams.com
E-mail: AmaniPublishing@aol.com
Blog: www.Barbarajoe.blogspot.com
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Sunday Message
The Appalachian Authors Guild will be issuing a call for original writings in an effort to encourage writing among young people. The writing contest will be in conjunction with the annual Heritage Writers Symposium and cash prizes in the form of scholarships will be awarded. Check back for more details.
Guild Members will have opportunities to showcase their works at upcoming events throughout the region. If you haven't signed up for one or more event, contact me.
We need new members in the Guild. I look forward to a time when our ranks will swell to the thousands across this great Southern Appalachian Region. There is such a wealth of talent from which to draw. Everyone has a chance to bring in new members, to encourage and assist new writers, to further the Guild's state purpose of promoting the written art form in Appalachia.
Jack (J Russell) Rose, President
Appalachian Authors Guild & Associates
Guild Members will have opportunities to showcase their works at upcoming events throughout the region. If you haven't signed up for one or more event, contact me.
We need new members in the Guild. I look forward to a time when our ranks will swell to the thousands across this great Southern Appalachian Region. There is such a wealth of talent from which to draw. Everyone has a chance to bring in new members, to encourage and assist new writers, to further the Guild's state purpose of promoting the written art form in Appalachia.
Jack (J Russell) Rose, President
Appalachian Authors Guild & Associates
A Place of Belonging
A Place of Belonging
A Review
Some people pick up stray dogs or cats – Steven Banks brings home a stray girl, who has suffered a memory loss.
Ex-Atlanta cop Banks, the principal character in Bob Mustin’s A Place of Belonging, (I Universe), has a lot more on his plate than just a poor unfortunate lost soul. Banks is complicated, it’s obvious, but moreover, he is confused and conflicted.
North Carolina Real Estate tycoon Terrence Gaines has lost something – something of much greater value than all his fortune, and he wants his possession returned, whatever the cost.
Ginger Begay, the amnesiac, is a waif-like Native American woman who, quite by accident, ends up on the streets of Clarksville, GA, and walks into the lives of Banks and those around him.
Mattie Hollister, the woman who loves Steven Banks and tolerates his non-committal behavior in their relationship, accepts Ginger into her home with some reservation, if not fear of what this young mysterious woman’s presence portends for her family and her life with Banks.
Unfortunately for and unknown to the folks in Georgia, Ginger has led a troubled past which has culminated in her being accused of a murder she witnessed. Banks seems drawn to this woman for more than a purely altruistic desire to help her uncover her buried past.
After a good amount of detective work as well as bits of returning memory, it seems that Ginger’s most recent past and the primary cause of her memory loss may lie in the mountains of northern New Mexico. Hopeful that returning to the locale combined with concern for their personal safety – after a break in at Banks’ home and subsequent attempted bodily injury – Banks and Ginger set out for the west in his old pickup truck accompanied by his loyal canine companion Warwoman.
As a traveler, I have never been one for side trips along the way – I always tend to focus on getting to my destination as quickly as possible. Therefore, I was somewhat bothered by the erratic if not circuitous route they take from Georgia to New Mexico, passing through many of America’s prime and oft visited vacation spots. Banks doesn’t seem particularly eager, for reasons we can only assume, to reach their destination.
Is his motivation simply for more personal time alone with Ginger? It seems unlikely he would be afraid of what they will find in New Mexico. We don’t get a good answer as to why all the meandering.
But, while in San Antonio – yes, as in Texas, they finally tire of being on the road and with a certain degree of urgency they take the most direct path west then northward to New Mexico. As Ginger’s memory returns, spurred by revisiting Taos and the surrounding area, the pieces of this mystery/puzzle fall into place, and they are prompted to return East quickly.
Mustin has constructed a first-class work of mystery and suspense in A Place of Belonging, giving us a view, primarily through the use of narrative, into the lives and thoughts of credible and well developed characters. His picture-story is painted against a backdrop of real beauty – some of the best America has to offer, including: the Southern Appalachian foothills of Georgia and Alabama; the Ozark regions of Arkansas and Missouri; eastern Oklahoma’s Indian Territory; San Antonio – home of the Alamo; and finally the Western Mountains of New Mexico.
Interwoven in the journey portion of this story, Mustin touches on some of the great tragedies of American history – slavery in the south, the infamous Civil War Battle of Vicksburg, and the Cherokee’s “Trail of Tears.” In doing so, we are reminded of some of the darker aspects of American development.
Mustin is an excellent storyteller, quite possibly with the potential of becoming a great Southern writer in the vein of Faulkner or Thomas Wolfe – both of whom were masters in the presentation of the literary anti-hero. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Banks, Mattie and Ginger. I eagerly anticipate Mustin’s future works.
J Russell Rose, Author
www.jrussellrose.com
President, Appalachian Authors Guild & Associates
www.appalachianaga.com
Monday, October 5, 2009
A Long Run Of Luck
I'd like to mention a recent publication of mine - it's on an e-zine, one I'm proud to be associated with: languageandculture.net. If you go to the "prose backdrop," you'll find some stories listed, mine among them. It's as southern a story, and a fun piece to write. It was one I wrote in a creative writing class at UNC-A a couple of years ago. Received an A- on it. The instructor, who has published some six or seven books with the larger publishers, told me, "That little mark behind the letter is there, well, just because I wanna."
She knows I get lazy with my writing sometimes, and need to be goaded a bit to make things better.
Hope you enjoy it,
Bob Mustin
She knows I get lazy with my writing sometimes, and need to be goaded a bit to make things better.
Hope you enjoy it,
Bob Mustin
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Honey Child
In Honey Child, a soon to be released novella, Tim Rouse speaks with the voice of a mountain poet. His description of Appalachian people and mountain existence rings true and clear. His mamaw and papaw could well have been my own.
He transports the reader back to a time of country kitchens heated to a Hades-like temperature by wood-fired “cookstoves.” He recounts how his mamaw felt obligated to cook nearly everything in site – “…not one day would pass when every pot, plate, coffee cup and dish wouldn’t be filled, emptied, washed and re-used at least twice…”
Rouse talks of people who were god fearing church goers with fondness and reverence. He also tells, with unflinching honesty and without apology, of those who are not drawn to the churches or guided by the Bible. His papaw, Gene and Uncle J. C. (Ooze) displayed a passion for strong drink, sharp knives and strong language.
The people of Honey Child are real – at least to me, because I grew up in these mountains. I knew Gene, Ooze and others like them when I was a child. However, I’m certain that had I grown up in a city, the words of Tim Rouse would make me feel as if I were right there at his mamaw’s table, watching young Timmy try bravely to eat a bite of her rice pudding, or perhaps sitting on her front porch enjoying a cooling evening breeze as it wafted down from the mountain tops.
Honey Child is a true delight – a fair and adequate tribute to a generation who are gone, but not forgotten.
By J Russell Rose, Author (www.jrussellrose.com)
He transports the reader back to a time of country kitchens heated to a Hades-like temperature by wood-fired “cookstoves.” He recounts how his mamaw felt obligated to cook nearly everything in site – “…not one day would pass when every pot, plate, coffee cup and dish wouldn’t be filled, emptied, washed and re-used at least twice…”
Rouse talks of people who were god fearing church goers with fondness and reverence. He also tells, with unflinching honesty and without apology, of those who are not drawn to the churches or guided by the Bible. His papaw, Gene and Uncle J. C. (Ooze) displayed a passion for strong drink, sharp knives and strong language.
The people of Honey Child are real – at least to me, because I grew up in these mountains. I knew Gene, Ooze and others like them when I was a child. However, I’m certain that had I grown up in a city, the words of Tim Rouse would make me feel as if I were right there at his mamaw’s table, watching young Timmy try bravely to eat a bite of her rice pudding, or perhaps sitting on her front porch enjoying a cooling evening breeze as it wafted down from the mountain tops.
Honey Child is a true delight – a fair and adequate tribute to a generation who are gone, but not forgotten.
By J Russell Rose, Author (www.jrussellrose.com)
Monday, September 21, 2009
Rhythm & Roots '09
Bristol's Rhythm & Roots Reunion '09, is now history. From all accounts this event will go down in the record books for all-time high attendance - and the music was good, too.
The Appalachian Authors Booth was well visited - if somewhat under represented by author members.
Carol Jackson of Lost State Writers was there yesterday with me. We had many wonderful conversations, met some very nice people, and hopefully made some worthwhile contacts.
On Saturday, I fielded questions of interest from people who are now, or want to be published writers. Hopefully, the Guild will see several new members as a result.
I did reasonably well, in spite of the rain - deja vu, Virginia Highlands Festival - fortunately, there was no mud.
November promises to be a busy month with many opportunities for book signings. Stay tuned.
Jack (J Russell) Rose, Pres.
AAG&A
The Appalachian Authors Booth was well visited - if somewhat under represented by author members.
Carol Jackson of Lost State Writers was there yesterday with me. We had many wonderful conversations, met some very nice people, and hopefully made some worthwhile contacts.
On Saturday, I fielded questions of interest from people who are now, or want to be published writers. Hopefully, the Guild will see several new members as a result.
I did reasonably well, in spite of the rain - deja vu, Virginia Highlands Festival - fortunately, there was no mud.
November promises to be a busy month with many opportunities for book signings. Stay tuned.
Jack (J Russell) Rose, Pres.
AAG&A
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Sunday Summary
These past few weeks have seen a bit of activity. In politics, the country is divided over health care/health insurance. The space shuttle couldn't land because of bad weather. Kids are all back in school. And, finally, it seems Michael Jackson will be allowed to Rest in Peace.
Rhythm & Roots Reunion is upcoming - September 18, 19 and 20. Donna Akers, Lightnin' Charlie, Carol Jackson (at various times) and yours truly, will occupy the tent in front of William King Clothier on State Street. Frank Kerr was supposed to be there with me for the entire event, but due to a back injury he had to cancel. Get well Frank. Come by if you can.
October 3rd, Neva Bryant has arranged a Literary Reading and Food Drive in St. Paul, to benefit people in Russell and Wise counties. Spread the word. October 18th and 19th, Darrell Fleming and I will join several other Guild members (Addie Davis is scheduled) in Big Stone Gap - Mountain Empire Community College.
November is shaping up to be a busy month for authors: In addition to the event (still in planning) at the Bristol Public Library, there are: Mistletoe Market and Coomes Center craft show in Abingdon, and Viking Hall Craft Show (Thanksgiving Weekend) - and no, I still don't have the application for that.
As the new president of the Appalachian Authors Guild, I hope to see the Guild achieve new prominence during the coming year. This can only happen through the combined efforts of everyone involved. So get involved, stay involved, and encourage others.
There are many talented writers out there who are not active members of the Guild. Please contact at least one or two and encourage them to join and support the Guild.
Regards to everyone. Good Writing. Good Reading. Good Blogging.
Jack (J Russell) Rose
Appalachian Authors Guild & Associates
www.appalachianaga.com
Rhythm & Roots Reunion is upcoming - September 18, 19 and 20. Donna Akers, Lightnin' Charlie, Carol Jackson (at various times) and yours truly, will occupy the tent in front of William King Clothier on State Street. Frank Kerr was supposed to be there with me for the entire event, but due to a back injury he had to cancel. Get well Frank. Come by if you can.
October 3rd, Neva Bryant has arranged a Literary Reading and Food Drive in St. Paul, to benefit people in Russell and Wise counties. Spread the word. October 18th and 19th, Darrell Fleming and I will join several other Guild members (Addie Davis is scheduled) in Big Stone Gap - Mountain Empire Community College.
November is shaping up to be a busy month for authors: In addition to the event (still in planning) at the Bristol Public Library, there are: Mistletoe Market and Coomes Center craft show in Abingdon, and Viking Hall Craft Show (Thanksgiving Weekend) - and no, I still don't have the application for that.
As the new president of the Appalachian Authors Guild, I hope to see the Guild achieve new prominence during the coming year. This can only happen through the combined efforts of everyone involved. So get involved, stay involved, and encourage others.
There are many talented writers out there who are not active members of the Guild. Please contact at least one or two and encourage them to join and support the Guild.
Regards to everyone. Good Writing. Good Reading. Good Blogging.
Jack (J Russell) Rose
Appalachian Authors Guild & Associates
www.appalachianaga.com
Thursday, September 10, 2009
William Zinsser's "On Writing Well" as Social History
For those interested in the craft of non-fiction, one would do well to have this book on a nearby shelf:
One of the most trusted resources in the craft of non-fiction writing has been William Zinsser’s On Writing Well. Having sold well over a million copies now, the book has recently celebrated its thirtieth anniversary. Which led The American Scholar magazine (Spring 2009) to offer up an essay by Zinsser on the book’s evolution.
During my reading of the essay, two thing about Zinsser’s book– and the craft of writing in general – came to mind. First, writing, like language itself, is never static. Writing, one might say – in the vein of a glass half empty – is always held captive by the society it reflects. And in this day of ongoing future shock, writing and language will change with every social twist and turn (something all writers should heed).
The second thing Zinsser’s essay brought to mind: Writing a how-to book on non-fiction writing, a book constantly amended to reflect social change becomes an historical roadmap of such changes. Zinsser gives us such a roadmap through the evolution of non-fiction writing over the past thirty years of his book. He does this by offering the reader rhyme and reason for his regularly recurring amendments to On Writing Well. His chronology goes something like this:
1974-1976 – Writing for the first edition
Zinsser began with another writer’s chestnut, The Elements of Style, by Strunk & White, which gives a compendium of principles on writing that seem somewhat abstract, arbitrary, and binding. What's missing here is how to apply such principles. To supply this missing element, Zinsser turned, oddly enough, to a book on writing popular songs by composer Alec Wilder. If there’s ever been a social phenomenon that maps contemporary changes through the decades, it’s pop music. Still, his explanations on how to apply non-fiction writing principles remained in "freeze-frame" in one respect: most of his exemplars were male.
1980 – The second edition
By the eighties, technology had become king of social change. Zinsser added a chapter on jargon, something that had been giving composition teachers fits. In this edition, he tried to make such technical items seem more human. In league with this no-nonsense time, he also advised more terse writing, paring adjectives and adverbs. Interestingly (yes, I’m aware of the adverb I've just used), he also cautioned writers to higher ethical standards, to defend their work to editors, publishers, and agents. This, in an age of business and financial upset that still haunts us today.
1990s – Yet more editions
By the 'nineties, America might have been unrecognizable to someone from the 'seventies. Women, who had come to dominate fiction in the late twentieth century, were making serious inroads into non-fiction, particularly in the memoir genre. The nation had seen a new wave of immigrants – from Africa, Asia, the Middle East - and they were now beginning to shape these United States. Zinsser flushed a good number of male graybeards from his exemplars to make room for up and coming women. He even showcased technical journals, in the form of a magazine of electrical and electronics engineers, which lent its technical expertise to the field of political writing. To reflect this more clinical mindset in society, Zinsser began advising, where possible, life without pronouns.
1998-2001 – A sixth edition
In this edition, On Writing Well turned personal. It reflected Zinsser’s own interests, more so than the collective interests of the society about him. He wrote chapters on jazz and baseball. In this new turn, memoir became a literary obsession. He began to lead writers into understanding the process of writing such non-fiction, that it’s an organic phenomenon, impossible to map out ahead of the day-to-day process of writing.
When you think about it, writing must be captive to its time (the glass half-full now), not only in language usage and style, but in the ways it reflects people, their unique responses to both internal and external social conditions.
Surely Zinsser will eventually stop editing his book, but I certainly hope someone picks up his banner and continues it, if only to extend his mapping of our language and times.
Bob Mustin
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
How Fiction Works, by James Wood
It’s breathtakingly inspiring, within today’s coterie of less-than-well-informed book reviewers, to find one as well versed in what brings the best fiction robustly to life as James Wood. But then he’s also a novelist, essayist, and Harvard lecturer in literature. His book, How Fiction Works, has been widely reviewed in the print press, but it’s apparent to me after reading the book that reviewers either see it as academic and abstract, or as one colleague of mine said, “It left me with the notion that reading his book would be like sticking pins in my eyes.” I want to rectify that view of his book.I will say that the casual fiction reader, who limits his/her self to the over-popular genre pulp on the best seller lists, may fall asleep reading this book, muttering, “So what?” On the other hand, one doesn’t need to know literary theory or hold an MFA in creative writing to gain insight from Wood’s book. All one needs is an openness—as either reader or writer—to why fiction is an enjoyable and instructive experience.
Wood begins with a simple explanation of Point of View (POV), that stories are best told in the first person (“I fell asleep, but then the butler…”) or third person (“The butler gently shook him awake…”), that such narration may be reliable or unreliable, and quite a bit about the history of modern narrative in fiction. Throughout this section, as in all others, his view of prose teems with examples any reader will find easy to follow and understand.
His view of character development isn’t a common one; he believes either “flat” or “vivid” character development is valid, depending on the writer’s intent in telling the story. Once again, his insights regarding character in fiction are vivid to the point of being liberating.
He talks about the rhythm of writing, something rarely discussed regarding prose, but always a vital part of spoken poetry and oratory.
One area that particularly enlightened me is his depiction of how humor is made to work in fiction, even subtle humor. Here, Wood claims that humor erupts from changing “registers,” in narrative, i.e. unexpected changes of tone, for instance, can bring a reader to laughter.
His view of well-wrought dialogue is one of subtlety and ambiguity, leaving readers with multiple possibilities regarding the characters’ intents in engaging in conversation.
His perception of the many erudite schools of fictional technique resolves to this: “What seems real?” He’s clearly not a fan of the notion that postmodernism in fiction is a necessary step; instead it's simply one more way of depicting what seems real. His main precept in fiction, then, is one of “live-ness.” He does seem to want to return to Plato’s and Aristotle’s views of fiction as mimesis, or a description or depiction of what is actually real. But once again his views should liberate both readers and writers of fiction in limiting the “what works” of fiction to how a writer successfully uses words and language to make the page come alive.
Clearly, Wood knows his stuff. This is a book I’ll read constantly as I write on future projects, and it’s one both the curious reader and the grappling writer will find invaluable.
Bob Mustin
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
In Search Of Himself, by J. Russell Rose
[caption id="attachment_68" align="alignleft" width="98" caption="Russell Rose"]
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Let’s suppose you were to wake up one morning unable to remember your name or your past. What would this cause you to do? What changes in your life would this set in motion? This is the rather interesting premise of Russell Rose’s novel, In Search Of Himself.
Rose’s Phil Martin finds himself in just such a state, and it sets off an uproar within Phil’s closest circle of friends and family. The first stage of recovering his sense of identity involves a hospital stay. But this only sets the stage for an urge to reach a deeper sense of self. As Phil sorts things, his estrangement from his wife grows, despite an apparent willingness by both to heal their marriage. And Phil comes to realize that his profession as a writer suffers as well from some vague sense of loss he’s only beginning to come to terms with.
He retreats to West Virginia to visit members of his family, and this begins a reconnection to his roots. There’s a whiff of new romance in these woods for Phil, but that too is only part of his process of reconnection. Eventually, Phil finds his emotional equilibrium. The new Phil takes a different tack on his writing, and we’re left with the promise of a better, more successful life for him.
Russell Rose has chosen an ambitious ploy for his novel. Phil’s ongoing problems and their ultimate resolution are of a deeply personal nature, and the changes that occur in Phil’s reconnection to self are difficult for him to describe to another (as they would be for anyone else). As a result, external events, the concerns and ensuing drama of family and friends, rarely if ever touch the part of Phil that must change. Even the initial loss of memory in his story seems a metaphor for some vague yearning Phil is hard pressed to express to family and friends – or to the reader.
So. How does one speak successfully of personal metamorphosis in a novel such as this? How does an author draw in the reader, allow him/her to empathize with such a character’s take on reality? We readers must begin to be Phil, to understand deeply what’s going on within him, as divorced from events in his external environment. This, if well carried out, is the meat of Modernist literature.
What could have been done technique-wise to make this identity transfer from character to reader more vibrant? First, more narrative. The author decided to cast his lot with dialogue here, and while dialogue can be a vital part of any story, there seems too much dependence on it. A reader must be able to read Phil’s thoughts – behind his words - to feel his conflicts in both an inward sense and in the ways his inner conflicts seem to be projected onto his outer world. This could be accomplished through a stream-of-consciousness approach, in which we constantly follow Phil’s thoughts, rational or irrational, as he scrambles toward personal peace. Or an external narrator could be used to lead the reader through such conflicts and resolutions.
Since the Southern chestnut of a sense of place seems at the root of Phil’s psychological salvation, more descriptive narrative - of city environs, then of the bucolic West Virginia outback - would help create contrast for Phil’s inner journey.
Second, the story aches for subplots. A novel of this length doesn’t have to have much in the way of action, but strong emotional currents and sub-currents via other characters, can add texture to Phil’s personal evolution. It’s also possible that the story could be shortened a good bit, to a novella, sharply focused on Phil’s concerns, without such subplots.
A writer’s challenge is to find an interesting take on life, and an intriguing set of literary devices to showcase that snapshot of life. In Search Of Himself has the first of these. The second still lies fallow, but that’s something easily fixed through the sweat of literary strategy and judicious editing.
Bob Mustin
[/caption]Let’s suppose you were to wake up one morning unable to remember your name or your past. What would this cause you to do? What changes in your life would this set in motion? This is the rather interesting premise of Russell Rose’s novel, In Search Of Himself.
Rose’s Phil Martin finds himself in just such a state, and it sets off an uproar within Phil’s closest circle of friends and family. The first stage of recovering his sense of identity involves a hospital stay. But this only sets the stage for an urge to reach a deeper sense of self. As Phil sorts things, his estrangement from his wife grows, despite an apparent willingness by both to heal their marriage. And Phil comes to realize that his profession as a writer suffers as well from some vague sense of loss he’s only beginning to come to terms with.
He retreats to West Virginia to visit members of his family, and this begins a reconnection to his roots. There’s a whiff of new romance in these woods for Phil, but that too is only part of his process of reconnection. Eventually, Phil finds his emotional equilibrium. The new Phil takes a different tack on his writing, and we’re left with the promise of a better, more successful life for him.
Russell Rose has chosen an ambitious ploy for his novel. Phil’s ongoing problems and their ultimate resolution are of a deeply personal nature, and the changes that occur in Phil’s reconnection to self are difficult for him to describe to another (as they would be for anyone else). As a result, external events, the concerns and ensuing drama of family and friends, rarely if ever touch the part of Phil that must change. Even the initial loss of memory in his story seems a metaphor for some vague yearning Phil is hard pressed to express to family and friends – or to the reader.
So. How does one speak successfully of personal metamorphosis in a novel such as this? How does an author draw in the reader, allow him/her to empathize with such a character’s take on reality? We readers must begin to be Phil, to understand deeply what’s going on within him, as divorced from events in his external environment. This, if well carried out, is the meat of Modernist literature.
What could have been done technique-wise to make this identity transfer from character to reader more vibrant? First, more narrative. The author decided to cast his lot with dialogue here, and while dialogue can be a vital part of any story, there seems too much dependence on it. A reader must be able to read Phil’s thoughts – behind his words - to feel his conflicts in both an inward sense and in the ways his inner conflicts seem to be projected onto his outer world. This could be accomplished through a stream-of-consciousness approach, in which we constantly follow Phil’s thoughts, rational or irrational, as he scrambles toward personal peace. Or an external narrator could be used to lead the reader through such conflicts and resolutions.
Since the Southern chestnut of a sense of place seems at the root of Phil’s psychological salvation, more descriptive narrative - of city environs, then of the bucolic West Virginia outback - would help create contrast for Phil’s inner journey.
Second, the story aches for subplots. A novel of this length doesn’t have to have much in the way of action, but strong emotional currents and sub-currents via other characters, can add texture to Phil’s personal evolution. It’s also possible that the story could be shortened a good bit, to a novella, sharply focused on Phil’s concerns, without such subplots.
A writer’s challenge is to find an interesting take on life, and an intriguing set of literary devices to showcase that snapshot of life. In Search Of Himself has the first of these. The second still lies fallow, but that’s something easily fixed through the sweat of literary strategy and judicious editing.
Bob Mustin
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Saturday - Raceday at BMS
With the onslaught of fans for the races, Bristol is not a place to be if you're not (a fan) and have other options. For those of us who live here, you just have to cope, by picking a time when influx is not at its peak and traveling in the opposite direction is best. Also, don't ever try crossing Volunteer Parkway without aid of a traffic signal. Preplan - that's the key.
The August race is called the Fall race, though I would quibble with that designation. 80+ degrees and high humidity is not my idea of Fall. The very idea of being out today was not that appealing to me. I guess it takes a particular type of person to sit in the muggy atmosphere and watch cars traveling in a circle below.
Anyway, here's to the brave and hardy souls who make the semi-annual pilgrimage to this NASCAR Mecca and grace our fair city with their presence - and their expenditures. The citizens of Bristol and the great State of Tennessee say thanks and salute you.
NEWS From Appalachian Authors' Guild - results from the Virginia Highlands Festival are as follows: Over the two weeks plus one extra weekend, 20 authors participated in the Guild's Meet the Author program, a grand total of more than 300 books were signed and sold. Not bad considering the weather and the other issues.
Upcoming author events include - September: Rhythm & Roots - Bristol, Tazewell County Fair, Burkes Garden; October - Crafts festival in Big Stone; November - Mistletoe Market and Coomes Center Craft show, Abingdon; Bristol Public Library - Book Fair; Viking Hall (Bristol) Christmas Craft Show. (If you have other dates or events, please post...)
The August race is called the Fall race, though I would quibble with that designation. 80+ degrees and high humidity is not my idea of Fall. The very idea of being out today was not that appealing to me. I guess it takes a particular type of person to sit in the muggy atmosphere and watch cars traveling in a circle below.
Anyway, here's to the brave and hardy souls who make the semi-annual pilgrimage to this NASCAR Mecca and grace our fair city with their presence - and their expenditures. The citizens of Bristol and the great State of Tennessee say thanks and salute you.
NEWS From Appalachian Authors' Guild - results from the Virginia Highlands Festival are as follows: Over the two weeks plus one extra weekend, 20 authors participated in the Guild's Meet the Author program, a grand total of more than 300 books were signed and sold. Not bad considering the weather and the other issues.
Upcoming author events include - September: Rhythm & Roots - Bristol, Tazewell County Fair, Burkes Garden; October - Crafts festival in Big Stone; November - Mistletoe Market and Coomes Center Craft show, Abingdon; Bristol Public Library - Book Fair; Viking Hall (Bristol) Christmas Craft Show. (If you have other dates or events, please post...)
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Sylvia Nickels’ Eight Miles Of Muddy Road
Memoirs of the kind Sylvia has written aren’t the stuff of great literature, nor are they meant to be. But such memoirs do serve a pair of significant and valuable literary purposes:
• If a historian were to write a piece on, for instance, sharecropping in the U.S.’s southeast, he or she would not be very likely to dig to the deep level of detail Sylvia has depicted in her fine book. In Eight Miles of Muddy Road, she writes of her family’s many moves, their never owning a home, the many schools the Maner children attended, their food, what they ate and what the food was served on. She writes poignantly of Maner children dying, the family unable to provide adequate medical care.
These are the details underlying the broader sweep of Southern poverty, the resilience of the people who lived it, further implying the base causes of the Great Depression of the 1920s and 30s.
The Maner family’s story provides a case in point regarding this era of U.S. history and of rural Georgia and Alabama. Were historians to write falsely of such times, such memoirs would soon set things right. And because such memoirs continue to be written, historians dare not trifle with the broader truths of American history.
• That such memoirs depict uniquely personal experiences of the broader scope of Southern history means no one will be able to relate completely to stories such as Sylvia’s. But those of us who read this memoir and who have grown up in or around such circumstances will be able to recognize threads of Sylvia’s story common to our own. Such writing, then, allows us to transcend the harshness our own families might have lived and to grasp the broader strengths of the human condition.
How has Sylvia accomplished this? She writes here, as with most memoirs of this kind, in a voice very nearly that of a Southern elder relating oral history to children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. It’s a casual, conversational voice that wanders in and out of tales, repeats itself occasionally for emphasis, and views her history from the distance of both age and elapsed time. This is the stuff of lore, of family and cultural wisdom, now reduced to the page instead of being told under a cooling oak tree or before a winter fire.
Still, she manages to turn a fine phrase here and there, phrases elevated above mere conversation. For instance, while speaking of the South’s ever-present cotton plants in our turn-of-the-century Southland, she writes:
“They drooped with open, needle-tipped bolls…filled with marshmallow-white fluff…Crimson spots on the snowy cotton sometimes marked where the boll tips had pricked our fingers.”
Other gems:”
…memories, like persimmons, grow sweeter with the frost of years.”
and,
while relating something she’d done and wasn’t proud of, she wrote, “It had lain like a rock on my conscience for so long…”
My favorite vignette? An episode in which Sylvia had received a pretty pink dress for Easter. She was so proud on the dress that she didn’t wait until Easter to wear it in public. She wore it to school the next day, only to discover it had been a cast-off of one of the school’s well-off girls. As the girls made fun and snickered, Sylvia replied: “Frannie! Missy just told me that this was your dress. Thank you so much for giving it to me. I promise to take good care of it.”
This, then, is the best of the poor Southern story in a nutshell. Instead of succumbing to hate and shame, Sylvia found a way to show pride in her new dress and to forge a connection with the girl who had previously owned it.
What could she have done differently in this memoir? I would've loved to have read scenes and dialogue more sharply drawn, more detailed depictions of place, especially of Mamaw and Papaw’s home, to which the Maners continually returned. Having depicted these aspects in sharper focus would've afforded the reader a more vivid view of Sylvia’s early life experience.
Titles are always problematic for me, and while hers implies much about the poor Southern experience, I would've also toyed with words near the end of her “Clay Pigs Can’t Squeal” chapter, possibly considering Wandering In The Wilderness as an alternative.
There’s much more in Sylvia’s deceptively simple story that I haven’t alluded to. It would be well worth the time spent with this brief read to find pieces of your own story in hers.
Bob Mustin
Virginia Highlands Festival
VA Highlands festival '09 is history - not a minute too soon for some. With all the rain, the mud and the muck - not to mention the space limitations, the results overall were rather bleak.
However, some of our fellow authors did acceptably well. I guess readers are a hardy lot - what's a little rain and mud when you're looking for a good read.
Speaking of good reads - if you haven't read Mary Ann Artrip's Remember me with Love, you're in for a treat. From the first chapter I was hooked.
Check it out - or any of the great writers in the Guild. There's something there for everyone.
www.appalachianaga.com
However, some of our fellow authors did acceptably well. I guess readers are a hardy lot - what's a little rain and mud when you're looking for a good read.
Speaking of good reads - if you haven't read Mary Ann Artrip's Remember me with Love, you're in for a treat. From the first chapter I was hooked.
Check it out - or any of the great writers in the Guild. There's something there for everyone.
www.appalachianaga.com
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Blogging - its Joys and Discontents, and Other Grabs at the Brass Ring
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I'm new to AAGA, but Jack has suggested we blog here, so this....
A couple of pals and I had a mini conversation recently via our own blogs, and our roundabout subject had to do with the merits of and success with….well....blogs.
Blogging, of course take time. One has to divine a subject, possibly perform research, write, edit, then orchestrate Q&As. Those of us who are also other-than-blog writers must have time for that, too, along with day jobs, maintaining home and health, managing relationships and marriages (this last one is often a sore point to partners and spouses, who must contend with their semi-hermit writers). But back to the subject at hand.
Writers often let their talent spill over into blogs for a couple of reasons:
• It seems to be a form of instant gratification for the urge to publish.
• Writers want to share what they know and perceive, their insights, their views of the world around them.
• We’ve often been told blogs are a good way to market ourselves and our writing.
The trouble with that:
• Blogging rarely pays, unless one posts every day or every other day and seeks advertising. Otherwise, readers will lose interest in our blog sites.
• Editors in a recent Poets & Writers interview say they never reach new writers through blogs.
But…
Blogs are an outlet, a way to change pace, style, and substance from the marathon of those drawn-out novels, memoirs, or historical pieces we spend years researching and writing. And it’s always gratifying to see hit counts mount up, to receive comments or questions and provide replies.
hitchnews’ most recent post confirms virtually all of the above. hitch also encourages collaboration – a sterling idea, but hard to accomplish when it comes to prying other writers’ hands from their keyboards long enough to set up such a collaborative effort.
Also, hitch encourages soliciting comments. Most readers are what I call (and I don’t mean this as a pejorative) lurkers. They’re shy about making their presence known. So let ‘em know you want ‘em to comment.
But if you really want to generate readers, try Facebook and/or My Space and direct them to your blog. Of course, those take time, too.
A totally beside-the-point aside regarding marketing your stuff: that recent Poets & Writers interview reveals something that surprised me:
Editors and agents do read litmags, and they do try to find new writers through those publications. But most of the writers they might be interested in are already signed to agents or publication houses. Agents submit pieces FOR writers to litmags, it seems. But don’t try to find an agent to do this work for you. I suspect agents do this to beat the drums for already-signed writers.
All this being said: we gotta do more than just write. One of the challenges to groups such as AAGA is to experiment, find what new wrinkle will work in getting our writing out there. Who knows? Someone might say they knew us when.
Bob Mustin
[/caption]I'm new to AAGA, but Jack has suggested we blog here, so this....
A couple of pals and I had a mini conversation recently via our own blogs, and our roundabout subject had to do with the merits of and success with….well....blogs.
Blogging, of course take time. One has to divine a subject, possibly perform research, write, edit, then orchestrate Q&As. Those of us who are also other-than-blog writers must have time for that, too, along with day jobs, maintaining home and health, managing relationships and marriages (this last one is often a sore point to partners and spouses, who must contend with their semi-hermit writers). But back to the subject at hand.
Writers often let their talent spill over into blogs for a couple of reasons:
• It seems to be a form of instant gratification for the urge to publish.
• Writers want to share what they know and perceive, their insights, their views of the world around them.
• We’ve often been told blogs are a good way to market ourselves and our writing.
The trouble with that:
• Blogging rarely pays, unless one posts every day or every other day and seeks advertising. Otherwise, readers will lose interest in our blog sites.
• Editors in a recent Poets & Writers interview say they never reach new writers through blogs.
But…
Blogs are an outlet, a way to change pace, style, and substance from the marathon of those drawn-out novels, memoirs, or historical pieces we spend years researching and writing. And it’s always gratifying to see hit counts mount up, to receive comments or questions and provide replies.
hitchnews’ most recent post confirms virtually all of the above. hitch also encourages collaboration – a sterling idea, but hard to accomplish when it comes to prying other writers’ hands from their keyboards long enough to set up such a collaborative effort.
Also, hitch encourages soliciting comments. Most readers are what I call (and I don’t mean this as a pejorative) lurkers. They’re shy about making their presence known. So let ‘em know you want ‘em to comment.
But if you really want to generate readers, try Facebook and/or My Space and direct them to your blog. Of course, those take time, too.
A totally beside-the-point aside regarding marketing your stuff: that recent Poets & Writers interview reveals something that surprised me:
Editors and agents do read litmags, and they do try to find new writers through those publications. But most of the writers they might be interested in are already signed to agents or publication houses. Agents submit pieces FOR writers to litmags, it seems. But don’t try to find an agent to do this work for you. I suspect agents do this to beat the drums for already-signed writers.
All this being said: we gotta do more than just write. One of the challenges to groups such as AAGA is to experiment, find what new wrinkle will work in getting our writing out there. Who knows? Someone might say they knew us when.
Bob Mustin
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Secrets can destroy families and individuals
Looking Down on the Moon - By J Russell Rose
Secrets can destroy families and individuals. Hidden in the past of Dolores, the main character of Looking Down on the Moon, is a deep dark secret which has affected her life and been responsible for her unhappiness since the day she was born.
Looking Down has been called a love story by some readers. However, that’s an over simplification, if not dismissal of this multi-generational family saga. True there are elements of love interwoven in the story – romantic love, yes. But also there is love of family, and love for fellow man. Dolores makes her life’s passion and ambition to lessen the suffering of the unfortunate ones, particularly the children (Los pobrecitos) of the migrant workers.
This story takes the reader on a journey beginning prior to World War II in the wealthy upper class neighborhoods of Houston and ending years later in the mountains of Northern New Mexico. Along the way, you will see the rugged terrain of the stark landscape and smell the ever present peppers and onions used in the delicious foods of the Southwest.
Looking Down on the Moon, a work of some length is one of five completed novels which I have self published (Lulu.com) and have marketed via local book fairs and festivals where the buying public eagerly seek out and snatch up written work by area authors. I have received high praise from those who have purchased and read Looking Down, as well as my other titles.
Contact info: www.jrussellrose.com
Friday, July 31, 2009
A SOGGY EVENT
Rain during the Highlands Festival is usually a given, but this is ridiculous. The Barter Green is now the Barter Bog. Fortunately, the staff has scattered straw which helps some.
All in all this has been a rather dismal event, overall. Vendors have been unhappy since the beginning - first thanks to the quixotic decision by The Martha Washington not to allow any use of their space this year. So, less space meant cramped conditions and scarce parking - unless you like a good hike, uphill. Then the rains came.
I feel sorry for the people from out of town who have committed their time and resources to this event. I think I'd be pulling up stakes right about now and heading home.
It actually reminds me of the old Charlie Brown cartoon when the "Big" Game gets rained out. Poor Charles is standing alone in the downpour - ever optimistic saying, "it's gonna quit..."
Think positive. It's gotta quit raining sometime. Doesn't it?
All in all this has been a rather dismal event, overall. Vendors have been unhappy since the beginning - first thanks to the quixotic decision by The Martha Washington not to allow any use of their space this year. So, less space meant cramped conditions and scarce parking - unless you like a good hike, uphill. Then the rains came.
I feel sorry for the people from out of town who have committed their time and resources to this event. I think I'd be pulling up stakes right about now and heading home.
It actually reminds me of the old Charlie Brown cartoon when the "Big" Game gets rained out. Poor Charles is standing alone in the downpour - ever optimistic saying, "it's gonna quit..."
Think positive. It's gotta quit raining sometime. Doesn't it?
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
VA Highlands Festival
Only three more days till the start of the Highlands Festival. The Appalachian Authors Guild will have space # 9 in one of the large tents upon the hill, above the Barter Green. Various authors will have books for sale (autographed, of course) and will happily discuss the writing and publishing process with visitors.
So come one, come all the Virginia Highlands Festival in Abingdon, July 25 through August 9. See you there.
So come one, come all the Virginia Highlands Festival in Abingdon, July 25 through August 9. See you there.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Sunday morning
There are several ways in which we know we're getting old. One is when you look in the mirror and see only a vague reminder of the person you once were. Another way is when you see your own children aging. But, undeniably, one of the best indicators of age is when you meet with a group of people you knew from childhood or teenage years.
Last night I attended the 45th year reunion of the Class of 1964 from Richlands (VA) High School. Thirty members of the graduating class were in attendance. A memorable evening was had. The conversation was wonderful. There were lots of smiles and laughter at "remember whens." And of course there was a considerable amount of "What have you been doing?"
The usual awards were presented - traveled fartherest: Carolyn Peery from D.C.; Married longest: Eddie and Elaine Ratliff; Most children or grandchildren: (Fellow Guild Member) Charles D Whitt. Dearly departed members were remembered. VietNam era Veterans were honored.
My favorite story from the evening, however, has to be about a close encounter with an armadillo by one friend. While on military training maneuvers in West Texas, where it can get awfully cold at night - especially if you're sleeping in a tent, as he was, this fellow recounts being curled up in a near fetal position in an effort to conserve body heat. Well into the night, he wakes up to the feeling of something curled up against his stomach - obviously also seeking protection from the cold night. He finds a light, switches it on, only to discover his new bed partner to be none other than the infamous armored West Texas rodent. "Well," he says, "I screamed like a girl." Other lights came running to further illuminate the cause of alarm. Obviously expecting to find a Texas Rattler, the others had a good laugh of relief - at his expense, as the poor critter shuffled away in digust at the whole thing.
I like reunions - what can I say. I think every good story deserves a sequel. So, this was a sequel to graduating in 1964 and going our separate ways. It's nice to fill in the blanks. Here's to the class of '64. See you again in 2014.
Last night I attended the 45th year reunion of the Class of 1964 from Richlands (VA) High School. Thirty members of the graduating class were in attendance. A memorable evening was had. The conversation was wonderful. There were lots of smiles and laughter at "remember whens." And of course there was a considerable amount of "What have you been doing?"
The usual awards were presented - traveled fartherest: Carolyn Peery from D.C.; Married longest: Eddie and Elaine Ratliff; Most children or grandchildren: (Fellow Guild Member) Charles D Whitt. Dearly departed members were remembered. VietNam era Veterans were honored.
My favorite story from the evening, however, has to be about a close encounter with an armadillo by one friend. While on military training maneuvers in West Texas, where it can get awfully cold at night - especially if you're sleeping in a tent, as he was, this fellow recounts being curled up in a near fetal position in an effort to conserve body heat. Well into the night, he wakes up to the feeling of something curled up against his stomach - obviously also seeking protection from the cold night. He finds a light, switches it on, only to discover his new bed partner to be none other than the infamous armored West Texas rodent. "Well," he says, "I screamed like a girl." Other lights came running to further illuminate the cause of alarm. Obviously expecting to find a Texas Rattler, the others had a good laugh of relief - at his expense, as the poor critter shuffled away in digust at the whole thing.
I like reunions - what can I say. I think every good story deserves a sequel. So, this was a sequel to graduating in 1964 and going our separate ways. It's nice to fill in the blanks. Here's to the class of '64. See you again in 2014.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Friday Friendlies
Greetings fellow authors. It's a rainy Friday in Southwest Virginia. The Highlands Festival (Barter Green) is one week away - July 25th to August 9th. The Appalacian Authors' Booth schedule is in pretty good shape. We were hoping to have three authors each day. As of right now, there is room for one more on the 27th, 29th, 30th and 31st of July. With the exception of the 6th, all August days have only 2 writers. So, if you find, at the last minute, you can participate or add a day, let me know. We will have a fan, so it will be a bit cooler than last year. Hoping to see everyone there.
Jack (J Russell) Rose
www.jrussellrose.com
Jack (J Russell) Rose
www.jrussellrose.com
Rosemary's Dream - by Rosalie Davis Null
Author Rosalie Davis Null will be signing and selling her books , July 26, at the Barter Green. The new book, ROSEMARY'S DREAM, will be available, as well as A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE.
Rosalie hopes to see you at the Virginia Highlands Festival in Abingdon. If you can't make the festival, her books are available on the Appalachian Authors' Guild website - www.appalachianaga.com.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Hello Appalachian Authors Blog
* * I am a Poet, Painter and Musician (born in Washington D.C.) living in the Blue Ridge Mountains with my Wife and three Dogs. My family comes from a diverse background of Appalachian, Native American and Celtic ancestry.
I find connectedness through various forms (poetry, painting, music) by insisting on spontaneity. An image that I paint could very well become a chorus in a song. Paying close attention to my dreams and the soft voices inside my imagination, and allowing these to shape within my being's center (an emanation of my heart), this is the affirmation of the symbolic through faith. An invisible loving which manifests itself through patience and is never controlled. The hidden becoming known. My work will always seek an affirmation or communion while creating a liberation of the ordinary. A visionary poetic journey of almost twenty years, Project End Of Days is a celebration of "heartsongs" that will inspire.
T. Byron Kelly (born in Washington D.C. in 1966) is a poet, painter and musician. He holds both a Bachelors degree from Virginia Tech and a Masters degree from Radford University in English. Byron has also taught English on the college level (Virginia Tech, Radford University, New River College). Byron lives in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia with his wife, and three dogs.
http://tbyronk.livejournal.com http://www.artwanted.com/angelspeak http://www.spectralarts.net http://www.myspace.com/spectralarts http://www.myspace.com/blueridgestudio/
http://www.iuniverse.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-000033492
[caption id="attachment_28" align="alignnone" width="158" caption="Project End of Days-Selected Poems"]
[/caption]
I find connectedness through various forms (poetry, painting, music) by insisting on spontaneity. An image that I paint could very well become a chorus in a song. Paying close attention to my dreams and the soft voices inside my imagination, and allowing these to shape within my being's center (an emanation of my heart), this is the affirmation of the symbolic through faith. An invisible loving which manifests itself through patience and is never controlled. The hidden becoming known. My work will always seek an affirmation or communion while creating a liberation of the ordinary. A visionary poetic journey of almost twenty years, Project End Of Days is a celebration of "heartsongs" that will inspire.
T. Byron Kelly (born in Washington D.C. in 1966) is a poet, painter and musician. He holds both a Bachelors degree from Virginia Tech and a Masters degree from Radford University in English. Byron has also taught English on the college level (Virginia Tech, Radford University, New River College). Byron lives in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia with his wife, and three dogs.
http://tbyronk.livejournal.com http://www.artwanted.com/angelspeak http://www.spectralarts.net http://www.myspace.com/spectralarts http://www.myspace.com/blueridgestudio/
http://www.iuniverse.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-000033492
[caption id="attachment_28" align="alignnone" width="158" caption="Project End of Days-Selected Poems"]
[/caption]
"Pathfinders, Pioneers, and Patriots"
The story of our history is a fascinating one that grows ever more so as one learns more and more about the people and events that shaped it. Although much has been well documented, much more has been lost and may never be recovered. That is particularly true of the remarkable people
who lived on the Appalachian Frontier during our country’s formative years.
“Pathfinders, Pioneers, & Patriots” is an attempt to gather together some of the fragmented details and stories that have survived and to place them in context with better known historical events – so they can be better understood and appreciated.
The format of this book is different from most in that it presents a general overview of the historical eras, a chronological timeline, and specific stories about many of the fascinating people and events in the timeline. By using
this approach, the reader can better understand what happened and why. They can more easily see how one event influenced and perhaps led to another. And most importantly, because of its focus, they can learn about many of the people that history has largely forgotten; who lived and died on America’s First Frontier during the most precarious time in our nation’s history.
The Author, Danny Dixon, has lived in the Appalachian Mountains of Southwestern Virginia all of his life and is a descendant of several of the historical characters he writes about. He is an educator with over 35 years of experience and presently serves as the Director of the Holton
Governor's School for Gifted & Talented High School Students. He is an adjunct professor at several area colleges and a frequent presenter at state and regional conferences on historical, educational, and leadership topics.
A personalized copy of the book can be obtained by contacting Danny at 276-479-2325 or echo@mounet.com . Books are also available through Lulu or Amazon and several outlets including: The William King Museum in Abingdon, The Family Drug Store in Lebanon, The Greendale Merchantile, The June Tolliver House in Big Stone Gap, The Crab Orchard Museum and Pioneer Park in Tazewell County, and several other outlets around the region.
who lived on the Appalachian Frontier during our country’s formative years.
“Pathfinders, Pioneers, & Patriots” is an attempt to gather together some of the fragmented details and stories that have survived and to place them in context with better known historical events – so they can be better understood and appreciated.
The format of this book is different from most in that it presents a general overview of the historical eras, a chronological timeline, and specific stories about many of the fascinating people and events in the timeline. By using
this approach, the reader can better understand what happened and why. They can more easily see how one event influenced and perhaps led to another. And most importantly, because of its focus, they can learn about many of the people that history has largely forgotten; who lived and died on America’s First Frontier during the most precarious time in our nation’s history.
The Author, Danny Dixon, has lived in the Appalachian Mountains of Southwestern Virginia all of his life and is a descendant of several of the historical characters he writes about. He is an educator with over 35 years of experience and presently serves as the Director of the Holton
Governor's School for Gifted & Talented High School Students. He is an adjunct professor at several area colleges and a frequent presenter at state and regional conferences on historical, educational, and leadership topics.
A personalized copy of the book can be obtained by contacting Danny at 276-479-2325 or echo@mounet.com . Books are also available through Lulu or Amazon and several outlets including: The William King Museum in Abingdon, The Family Drug Store in Lebanon, The Greendale Merchantile, The June Tolliver House in Big Stone Gap, The Crab Orchard Museum and Pioneer Park in Tazewell County, and several other outlets around the region.
Jerry Haynes' Post
Let me introduce myself.
I’m probably the newest member of the association. My name is Jerry L. Haynes. I received a Civil Engineering Degree from VA Tech in 1977. My favorite activities are traveling, especially cruises, VA Tech sports, the Barter Theater, and writing. I’m a late bloomer, only finishing my first novel in 2006 at the age of 55. I’m really excited to be a part of this group because one of the greatest accomplishments I could ever aspire to would be to recognized as “an Appalachian writer.” My first two books (A Cotton Mill Town Christmas and The Cotton Mill) were stories of growing up in a cotton mill town. My third book (The Saga of Caty Sage) has just been released and is a historical novel based upon the true event of a 5-year old girl who disappeared from her Elk Creek, Virginia farm in 1792. It is shown and reviewed on Amazon at
http://www.amazon.com/Saga-Caty-Sage-Jerry-Haynes/dp/1595714006/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1247579911&sr=1-1.
My website is www.acottonmilltown.com and my email is jlhaynes@acottonmilltown.com
I look forward to meeting all of you.
I’m probably the newest member of the association. My name is Jerry L. Haynes. I received a Civil Engineering Degree from VA Tech in 1977. My favorite activities are traveling, especially cruises, VA Tech sports, the Barter Theater, and writing. I’m a late bloomer, only finishing my first novel in 2006 at the age of 55. I’m really excited to be a part of this group because one of the greatest accomplishments I could ever aspire to would be to recognized as “an Appalachian writer.” My first two books (A Cotton Mill Town Christmas and The Cotton Mill) were stories of growing up in a cotton mill town. My third book (The Saga of Caty Sage) has just been released and is a historical novel based upon the true event of a 5-year old girl who disappeared from her Elk Creek, Virginia farm in 1792. It is shown and reviewed on Amazon at
http://www.amazon.com/Saga-Caty-Sage-Jerry-Haynes/dp/1595714006/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1247579911&sr=1-1.
My website is www.acottonmilltown.com and my email is jlhaynes@acottonmilltown.com
I look forward to meeting all of you.
Jerry Haynes' Post
Let me introduce myself.
I’m probably the newest member of the association. My name is Jerry L. Haynes. I received a Civil Engineering Degree from VA Tech in 1977. My favorite activities are traveling, especially cruises, VA Tech sports, the Barter Theater, and writing. I’m a late bloomer, only finishing my first novel in 2006 at the age of 55. I’m really excited to be a part of this group because one of the greatest accomplishments I could ever aspire to would be to recognized as “an Appalachian writer.” My first two books (A Cotton Mill Town Christmas and The Cotton Mill) were stories of growing up in a cotton mill town. My third book (The Saga of Caty Sage) has just been released and is a historical novel based upon the true event of a 5-year old girl who disappeared from her Elk Creek, Virginia farm in 1792. It is shown and reviewed on Amazon at
http://www.amazon.com/Saga-Caty-Sage-Jerry-Haynes/dp/1595714006/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1247579911&sr=1-1.
My website is www.acottonmilltown.com and my email is jlhaynes@acottonmilltown.com
I look forward to meeting all of you.
I’m probably the newest member of the association. My name is Jerry L. Haynes. I received a Civil Engineering Degree from VA Tech in 1977. My favorite activities are traveling, especially cruises, VA Tech sports, the Barter Theater, and writing. I’m a late bloomer, only finishing my first novel in 2006 at the age of 55. I’m really excited to be a part of this group because one of the greatest accomplishments I could ever aspire to would be to recognized as “an Appalachian writer.” My first two books (A Cotton Mill Town Christmas and The Cotton Mill) were stories of growing up in a cotton mill town. My third book (The Saga of Caty Sage) has just been released and is a historical novel based upon the true event of a 5-year old girl who disappeared from her Elk Creek, Virginia farm in 1792. It is shown and reviewed on Amazon at
http://www.amazon.com/Saga-Caty-Sage-Jerry-Haynes/dp/1595714006/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1247579911&sr=1-1.
My website is www.acottonmilltown.com and my email is jlhaynes@acottonmilltown.com
I look forward to meeting all of you.
Tuesday
Thank goodness it's no longer Monday. Yesterday will go down as one of the worst Mondays in recent memory. Today is promising - one of my co-workers turns 60 today, so the office is
Sunday, July 12, 2009
lightnin' charlie
Although I am a freshman author, and new to book signings, I am an old soul at self-promotion and a black belt in the art of bloated and boring by-lines, introductions, and press releases. So here's a little bit about myself and my new book. My name is Lightnin' Charlie and I have been a full-time musician and entertainer for 25 years. What? You haven't heard of me? Well that's your fault, Walt - not mine. Gee whiz...Lightnin' Charlie has been a regular on regional network and cable television for years and his music is in regular rotation on radio staions worldwide as well as Sirius and XM radio. Lightnin' Charlie is voted "Favorite Musician or Group In The Mountain Empire" and "Favorite Artist" for 2 years in a row by the readers of Marquee Magazine 2007 & 2008 (They ha. Lightnin' Charlie's sensational new book, OFF THE RECORD, is a collection of unbelievably funny short stories, telling the wild and crazy saga of LC's life as a musician and entertainer, and revealing its many dangers, toils, and snares.
These tall tales, originally featured in LC's monthly online blog "Lightnin' Lowdown", are guaranteed to make you laugh so hard, your liver will quiver and your bladder will splatter! This is an absolute laugh-out-loud funny read. How many books do you know of that can offer that? Will Rogers said, "Everything's funny - as long as it's happening to someone else!". Well, Lightnin's tall tales, some rough and risqué, some sweet and poignant, are all simply hilarious. OFF THE RECORD is LC's madcap memoir of a lifetime of misadventures out on that long and winding road.
But OFF THE RECORD is also the true life testimony of a born again Christian. Lightnin' Charlie boldly tells how a Living, Almighty God has delivered him, kicking and screaming, from the desert and into the Promised Land. It's a wild and wonderful, unique and personal, 21st century version of the Greatest Story Ever Told.
OFF THE RECORD is distributed by Ingram Books and is now in over 17,000 bookstores worldwide, including Amazon.com, Target.com, and Barnes & Noble.
Sunday summary
It's the first week of our blog. So far, only two authors have posted. Come on group, we can do better than that.
Congratulations to Addie Davis for a successful showing at the Breaks Interstate Park. Now save some of that salesmanship (or should that be saleswomanship) for the Barter Green. You know I need a challenge to do my best. See you on the 27th.
Thanks to Mary Ann for posting and for accepting me as a friend on Facebook. Hope your day at Johnson City Public Library went well. By the way I just read the intro to Remember me with Love. I'm not sure why I hadn't checked out your writing before. But, you're good. I want a copy.
Random thoughts: Next Saturday is the occasion of the 45 th year reunion of my graduating class from Richlands High School. I'm still not sure how I feel about the event. Some of these folks I haven't seen in that 45 year interval - will we even recognize each other, perhaps we'll look like our parents... Tomorrow is the anniversary of my mother's passing - 15 years... The 23rd is my daughters 40th birthday... Too many things, too many emotions. I'm old, that's it. Isn't it? And if all this isn't enough my muse seems to have left me - I can't come up with a good ending for a half dozen things I'm working on. My wonderful wife tells me, "...you can't just say 'THE END', and stop writing..." I guess that makes sense.
Ok writers. Now that we have a blog, Blog!!!
Jack (J Russell) Rose
Congratulations to Addie Davis for a successful showing at the Breaks Interstate Park. Now save some of that salesmanship (or should that be saleswomanship) for the Barter Green. You know I need a challenge to do my best. See you on the 27th.
Thanks to Mary Ann for posting and for accepting me as a friend on Facebook. Hope your day at Johnson City Public Library went well. By the way I just read the intro to Remember me with Love. I'm not sure why I hadn't checked out your writing before. But, you're good. I want a copy.
Random thoughts: Next Saturday is the occasion of the 45 th year reunion of my graduating class from Richlands High School. I'm still not sure how I feel about the event. Some of these folks I haven't seen in that 45 year interval - will we even recognize each other, perhaps we'll look like our parents... Tomorrow is the anniversary of my mother's passing - 15 years... The 23rd is my daughters 40th birthday... Too many things, too many emotions. I'm old, that's it. Isn't it? And if all this isn't enough my muse seems to have left me - I can't come up with a good ending for a half dozen things I'm working on. My wonderful wife tells me, "...you can't just say 'THE END', and stop writing..." I guess that makes sense.
Ok writers. Now that we have a blog, Blog!!!
Jack (J Russell) Rose
Adda Leah Davis has almost finished the third book in a trilogy. The title is "The Beckoning Hills" and it will go to the publisher by the last of the month. The first book "Lucinda's Mountain" was followed by "Jason's Journey" and this last book ties everything together and finishes the story. I hope all the people who have become fans of my writing will contact me or go to Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, West Virginia Book Company, Mountain State Press, and Tamarack to purchase their copy.
Friday, July 10, 2009
In Search of Himself
Imagine waking up one morning and not knowing where you are. Unfortunately for Phil Martin the main character of In Search of Himself, by J Russell Rose, he not only doesn't know where he is, he also has no idea who he is. "He wakes up in another man's world..."
Phil Martin has not been a particularly likeable person, the reader soon discovers. However, as you follow his struggle to find his identity - indeed his life, you notice a change, and slowly begin to feel empathy for him and his condition.
In Search of Himself is available for preview at Lulu.com (http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/in-search-of-himself/1476071). This book and others are available at significantly discounted cost by contacting the author directly - jrussellrose@ymail.com.
Phil Martin has not been a particularly likeable person, the reader soon discovers. However, as you follow his struggle to find his identity - indeed his life, you notice a change, and slowly begin to feel empathy for him and his condition.
In Search of Himself is available for preview at Lulu.com (http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/in-search-of-himself/1476071). This book and others are available at significantly discounted cost by contacting the author directly - jrussellrose@ymail.com.
Breaks Interstate Park is a good venue
Today, July 10, 2009 Linda Hoagland and I set up on Potters Knoll at Breaks Interstate Park. The sun was hot and it rained but several other authors were there. We did not sell many books but the Gift Shop took several of our books. this made the trip very worthwhile. We will go back tomorrow since we were told that a car show brings in lots of people.
Addie Davis (http://www.goldenharvestcreations.com/)
Addie Davis (http://www.goldenharvestcreations.com/)
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Virginia Highlands festival is coming up, July 25th through August 9, in scenic and historic Abingdon, VA. More than 20 local writers will be on hand in the Appalachian Authors Guild booth (Space #9) to sign books and talk with the public about writing and publishing. Come meet the authors or check us out at www.appalachianaga.com. My website is www.jrussellrose.com.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
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