Dear Sunday Letter friends,
Tomorrow is the official three-year anniversary of the launch of my first book. I say first book like I have a second book. LOL. This is the power of positive thinking and possibly how fake news starts.
No seriously, I WILL have a second book come hell or high water. If you stick around, you’ll be the first to hear about it. (And be sure to subscribe to my quarterly-ish newsletter.)
As I said last week, I’ve been obsessed with editing said second book. In fact, the entire month of January has disappeared within the words of my manuscript. Words I’ve dissected, deleted, added, moved, debated, stared at until they don’t look like words at all.
The truth is I’ve found little time to blog lately. And I need to find better balance. I sure could use a Time-Turner, like the one Hermione Granger had. If anyone could loan me one for a month or so, I’d be ever so grateful. Don’t know what I’m talking about? Well, that’s just ?.
3 Years Later
I can’t believe my book is three years old! I feel like Gracie Lee is just now spreading her wings, riding her bicycle further down the turnrow and into the wider world. I still get a thrill every time I open a new case of books.
Keep spreading the word, y’all. Word of mouth marketing is my most powerful tool. Because of you, I continue to be invited to book clubs, literary events, and library gigs.
Sometimes life itself is interspersed with magical moments.
Storytelling Magic
The power of storytelling is alive and well, at least that’s the case in North Little Rock. I saw it first-hand on Thursday night at The Joint Theater and Coffeehouse in Argenta. I’m still absorbing my evening at Potluck & Poison Ivy, a southern storytelling event that includes live music and, in my case, readings from The Accidental Salvation of Gracie Lee. As soon as my feet touch the ground again, I plan to do an entire post on my experience.
But as a reminder to us all… Write down your stories. Record them. When your family members begin telling tales at family reunions or during Thanksgiving dinner, press the video button on your phone. Do whatever you have to do to save those precious family narratives.
Once they’re gone. They’re gone.
Who Would You Invite To Dinner?
(Photo: unsplash)
We often talk about who we would invite to dinner if we could invite anyone, dead or alive. I would invite my grandparents and uncles and aunts long gone. To hear them talk about the good old days, their growing up days. It’s a no brainer for me.
(See? This is another excellent reason to have a Time-Turner.)
I would also invite Reese Witherspoon, Mary Steenburgen, and Geena Davis. This would be a separate dinner from the family reunion one, but yes, I would cook all my best recipes and offer an excellent southern smorgasbord of desserts. I have my reasons for hosting these three powerhouse women, and I bet you can guess what they are.
Master Gardening
I’m excited about my week ahead. Tomorrow, I start my Arkansas Master Gardener training. This time last year, I began my Arkansas Master Naturalist training. I doubt I’ll ever really be master of anything, but I do enjoy trying. Plus, being a student and meeting new friends with similar interests is a fun thing.
I hope I learn an easy way to remember the Latin names for plants.
It goes without saying that I won’t be doing much editing next week. Unless someone gifts me that Time-Turner I’ve been harping about. Any wizards out there?
Things Momma Says
Re: the winter weather we’ve had recently…
I told you we would have more snow. I’m like a walking weatherman.
***
Before I go…
If you could invite anyone to dinner, who would be on your guest list?
Bye for now Sunday Letter friends,
Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.
Can’t wait to read about your storytelling night in Little Rock. It sounds fascinating. I need to pick your brain on gardening! Your mom deserves a nice view from her porch! Never sure who that elusive dinner guest would be, but I would bet my dad would be first.
Thanks for always being here on Sunday.
Thanks for always joining me on Sunday!
My dad and my grandmother were both what we Sutheners call “Pistols” I inherited my dad’s gift for gab. I remember watching him interact with strangers all through my childlhood. Because my mom is such an introvert, she is choosy about her conversations. My grandmother had the best parties with her farm wife friends. Those ladies knew how to have fun.
We rescued a dog last November and my time is now spent trying to remember how to train her. 2 years ago a very nice man was going through a divorce. He was the custodial parent when his daughter told him that she wanted a particular breed of dog that she saw on a televised dog show. He did not know how hyper some of these dogs can be.She told dad that she would train her.Well, the average 8 year old has a very limited attention span and the little girl soon lost interest. New mom was desperately allergic to the pup. Even with the twice weekly allergy shots and all of the other meds, it simply gave her no relief The family decided to rehome Chloe.This wild child became ours at the age of 2 years old. Our friend Kelly is a dog trainer and owner of Happy TailZ so she is training me to train our precious little girl. We are having such a good time doing so. She is getting so much better on leash. I think my word for this year should be endurance.
Endurance is a great word. Maybe I need that one too! Dogs are so worth the effort so hang in there. We had lots of pistols in our family too LOL.
Who would I invite to dinner? My mother, my daddy, my Grandma Creecy, my Great-Grandma Kilburn, and my Uncle Rex. i lived with these five people from the time I was eight years old until I married at twenty-one. (I would call it supper though.)
I would invite my Mama, Daddy, Morris and John. Most of my life, before getting married, we all had supper together every night. Precious memories!
Like you, I’d invite family members who are gone. I have wonderful memories of family dinners, especially with my mother’s side. I’d like to have another dinner and invite my daddy’s people. So many stories, I wish I could hear first hand. Loved seeing you read last week.