Words of Wisdom

"Sometimes the glittering lights is nothing but show. The real things in life aren't always fancy, and the true path just might be that winding country road."

Super Chikan, Delta bluesman,         
as quoted in DELTA MAGAZINE.

Listen to him play here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cug4jSz0Xgw

More from Mississippi

Who says you can't go home again?
NOBODY who ever lived in Mississippi.
Maybe no true southerner.

(Oh, wait. There's that whole Thomas Wolfe thing.)






But I did go home. And I spent some terrific days visiting bookstores, schools, and friends and family. Here it it, in large living color!

After a great time at the Kaigler Book Festival, I headed north to family, a morning gathering at Square Arts in Batesville, and a whole lot of good food. I'll leave that to your imagination since I didn't take pictures of the fried green tomatoes and shrimp and grits, etc.

Then off to Square Books Jr., on the square in Oxford. 

 We loved the sign!

COME AND FIND YOUR DESTINY

I signed a lot of books.
If you'd like a signed copy, I'm sure
SQUARE BOOKS can accommodate.

(Wow. Just noticed the great pictures on your Facebook page, Jill and others at Square Books- Thanks!)







Books. Lots and lots of books. All signed.

There was a lot going on in Oxford, MS, that Saturday. But when I arrived at Square Books, Jr., this smiling face was waiting by my table. Her mom said she'd read Glory Be and couldn't wait to meet me. I was thrilled to hear her enthusiasm.
(That's what it's all about, right? That's why we write books!)

After that amazing weekend, I took off driving through the Delta on a drizzly morning.

I promise I was the only one on Highway 61 when I took this picture.

A quick stop in Cleveland always includes a walk along the railroad trail.
When I grew up there, the Illinois Central came through town on a regular basis.
Right through the center of town. We'd have to stop at the tracks and wait for trains to pass.

Now there's a neat Train Museum.

I arrived in Greenwood in time for pie.


(I did not eat them both. My sister, always agreeable to coming along for a road trip, had the chocolate. Hers was better than mine, we agreed.)

Next stop: TURNROW Books.
What a beautiful spot!

Of course, I had to snap this shot of cute, young Elvis.

A favorite moment at TurnRow. These smart girls had come with their creative writing/ storytelling teacher from the DELTA ARTS ALLIANCE. 

(For those of us who grew up in Cleveland, that would be the Ellis Theater. folks.)

They told me all about what THEY are writing. I loved talking to them and signing their books.)

This picture of my brother, sister and me was taken by the sister of a childhood friend, one inspiration for Miss Sister.

My friend's name was Sandra. She added a lot of fun to growing up.

Next stop- LEMURIA in Jackson!

Two school visits, one fabulous party, lots of family. Does it get any better than Jackson?

We visited Mannsdale Elementary School where it happened to be Famous Mississippians Day.

Check out Oprah.
(Elvis was there, too.)

These kids were reading my new book! They'd chosen it for a book club selection!

Here I am at Lemuria, just before the skies opened up and a storm blew through Jackson. I'm reading from THE WAY TO STAY IN DESTINY.  After I read, we all gathered at my friend Ivy's house to talk about books, old times and memories, and new friends.

I returned to Lemuria the next day to sign a lot of books. I'm sure if you give Clara Martin, book buyer extraordinaire a call, she'll save a book for you!

Research.

Although I left Mississippi for college a few years ago (hahaha), it's where my family is, where my heart is. Home.

Spending a week here for a reason I'll call research is pretty special.

Even if <research> means sitting on the porch listening and talking.
Riding around places I remember but thought I'd forgotten.
Not writing a single thing down.

This weekend I'll spend time listening to authorities speak about things I'm interested in, and I'll take plenty of notes. 
I'll hang out with a friend of my mama's. 
I'll sit in libraries. 
I may even sit under a tree or two.

Last weekend I took a few pictures. 
I'll share so you can enjoy, too.

Sunset over the Mississippi River. That's Arkansas over there.

 Artifacts unearthed and on display. 

From some deep dark filing cabinet, I assume.

Historic marker unveiled on the campus of Delta State University, the site of my first school. My  memories of nursery school include taking a field trip across campus to see the "Science Museum," which consisted of a two-headed lamb and a tapeworm that had been removed during surgery. A very long tapeworm. I'm sure there was more. That's all I remember.

 

 

I have no idea what I'll do with this thought, but it's percolating. 

Historic Jackson.

 

 

 

Not often that I see this much cotton ready to be picked.

I remember when the fields were full of it though.

Quite beautiful. Even if the stories may not be so beautiful.

 

 

 

 

Know what I mean?

Seen on a Bumper Sticker

(Can you tell I'm in the South?)

(Thanks, Mere!)

Como Mississippi Library Friday, Feb 7, at 4:30

How Writers Choose Their Characters or More Precisely How Characters Choose Their Writers, Author’s talk and booksigning with Augusta Scattergood

I'm totally excited about this event. These are the great kids and their equally great librarian who jumped into action when the NPR BackSeat Book Club people called.

Here's a little from librarian Alice Pierotti's press release about Como Reads:


EMILY J. POINTER PUBLIC LIBRARY ANNOUNCES 2014 COMO READS
Inspiring our community to pick up a good book . . . attend a program, talk about the book with a
neighbor, create a community of readers! 


Como, Miss., Jan. 24, 2014- Emily J. Pointer Public Library, a branch of the 5 county, 13-branch First Regional Library, announces its second annual community read! This year’s book selection is Glory Be, by Mississippi native Augusta Scattergood. 2014 Como Reads will culminate in a week’s worth (Feb 1-7, 2014) of programming exploring the book and a main theme of the book – civil rights in smalltown Mississippi, circa 1964. 

Road Tripping

Thank you, Mr. Schu, for taking time from your busy schedule (American Library Association! Chicago! Envious.) to blog about GLORY BE.

You can read his blogpost right here:
http://mrschureads.blogspot.com/2013/06/glory-be-is-backseat-book-club-selection.html

Fellow writers, teachers, librarians: If you don't follow him on Twitter, Facebook, his blog, etc, and you want to know the latest, greatest kids' books or ways to engage young readers, you are missing out.

Plus he takes some fun, book-related trips.

Last year Mr. Schu's annual road trip itinerary included Mississippi, and other points south. 

He read GLORY BE in some of my favorite places. Lemuria Books, the Eudora Welty Library, the old Capitol, the University of Southern Mississippi.

Here he is, hanging out at the Welty Library in Jackson. 

I'll be following along to see where he ends up this summer. Maybe someplace cooler than his Southern Swing last summer. 

Have a fun trip, Mr. Schu!

Going home again, a quick visual tour

Is there anything better than hearing what kids, enthusiastic teachers, and super librarians  have to say about your book?

I can't think of a single thing!

I arrived at Pelahatchie Elementary School, Rankin County, Mississippi, in a rainstorm, with the radio blasting alerts every ten minutes. Flooding! Hail!

Inside, all was calm and bright.


The halls were decorated with quotes and pictures. 

 Magnetic letters on the circulation desk!

 

Pelahatchie librarian Mrs. Black and me.

 Highland Bluff Elementary School librarian, Mrs. McWhorter.

 
A very impressive reader.

WOW! Lunch in the library for a select group. The kids had brought their treasure boxes from home. Some made their own, from all the fun things Mrs. Black supplied. Beads, cracker jack prizes, candy--the old-fashioned kind!

Pimento cheese and root beer, in bottles. Emma's Lemon Cookies for dessert. Yum.

Lunch with the librarian, a few special kids, and ELVIS!

(Yes, that's a Juke Box, made by Mr. Black. Impressive, no? 

He also made the pimento cheese and the lemon cookies!)

 The kids at Pelahatchie Elementary love the car! What a cozy place to read.

Great questions, yummy food, books to sign--Such enthusiasm for Glory Be.

 

 The fourth graders at each school were reading the book 

for their literature circles. 

We could have talked all day!

 

Thank you, Mississippi friends and family. I hope I'll be back soon.

Mississippi, Here I Come (back)!

Excited to be going back to the place I call home. 
Or close to it.

Though truthfully, I've never been to Pelahatchie, Mississippi, I can't wait to meet the librarians and talk to the kids next week. 

My "small world" state story? One of the librarians is a granddaughter of my daddy's colleague. 
She and I both worked, at different times, as interns for the State Library Commission. 

Southerners are so connected to each other!

Y'all can't really come though. Sorry.
I won't be hanging out at Lemuria to sign books this time.  
This is a trip to talk to students, teachers, share the story of my book.
(But I bet if you call Emily at the bookstore, she could arrange for me to leave a copy there for you.) 

 I'm thrilled to be headed home!
Home truly is where your story begins...

Note to self: Mississippi travels, Ten Things To Remember

1. In the six Mississippi schools I visited, the kids mostly said Yes, ma'am. No, ma'am.
I know some people don't get that, but I loved it.

2. Pimento cheese and sweet little peach pies. Food from the book at my friend Ivy's house. Surrounded by old friends and lots of family. Does it get better than this?

3. Four of my teachers showing up to say hello at the very same library I pictured every time I set a Glory Be scene in a library. And a whole bunch of librarians were there. I lost count.

4. The view of the river. Yes, that river. From my friend Nan's house.

5. The charm bracelet with the little guitar and "sisters" charms. From my own sweet sister.
(And she packed the audience at Square Books, Jr. in Oxford.)

6. Good old southern cooking, cafeteria style, with my sweet brother. (Reason enough to return.)

7. Meeting Ellen Ruffin of the amazing DeGrummond Collection at the University of Southern Mississippi. (Another big reason to return. I must see this!)

8. College friends I hadn't seen since college and high school friends I hadn't seen since forever. All celebrating and buying my very first book. 

9. Signing a ton of books at both Square Books and Lemuria, in Jackson. ☺
I suspect there are still a few available, for anybody who's looking for an autographed copy:

Square Books Jr.: (662) 236-2207  

Lemuria: (601) 366-7619

10. Learning how true it is: You can go home again.

 

http://www.etsy.com/listing/91943725/wall-quote-home-is-where-your-story

Crooked Letter Crooked Letter

I was all set to review this book. I finished it last night, closed it with a big old sigh, remarked to myself-- it was very late at night-- how much I really loved the book. Then this morning, I saw this review:
Tom Franklin: Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter Review :: Books :: Reviews ::


It's really all you need to know about the novel, literary fiction, additional reading choices.
But of course, I'll add my two-cents worth in case you don't feel like doing a lot of clicking and reading.

Most school children should know exactly what the derivation of the title of this book is. That rhyme we all learned: M-i-crooked letter crooked letter- i- crooked letter crooked letter- i- hump back hump back - i.
Right?


So Tom Franklin sets the story in south Mississippi, with such amazingly appropriate characters.
Larry Ott, a sorry character if I ever saw one. Mechanically disinclined.
Larry's automotive-shop owning father, irked by his seat-belt wearing brother-in-law, with his "low sighs, how he'd shut his eyes and shake his head at the idiocy of something. Or someone." Just an all-around unpleasant fellow, in my book.
And of course Silas, the high school jock back in town all these years later. Now a constable with plenty of police work for him to stick his nose in.

Oh, how differently Silas and Larry's story could have turned out. If a mother had made a different choice. If Silas had spoken up. If Larry didn't need a friend, and make all the wrong ones. If I'm making this book sound like a downer, that's wrong. It's a mystery. Detective story. Family saga (though a short one). Southern literary fiction at its best.
Not one unnecessary word in that entire book.
And did I say it's a mystery? Highly recommended.

Now I guess I'll return my copy to the library. But I'll keep my eyes open for something else by Tom Franklin. Great Mississippi writer. Great writer!