Spiffing up the blog/changing the name . . . Then Going to Work

I updated the photo above with the view from my porch as I (pretend to) relax. The previous photo of my feetsies was taken at Caesar's Palace in Vegas, when my brother and I went there last summer. Boy, was that a strange and loud and colorful and exciting and "it's too too much of everything" trip--that's where some man mistook me for a . . . um . . . Call Girl! er . . . huhn, teehee. Lawd!

Wow. The evidence is shown in the pictures: I am a novelist. Definition of a novelist is "a person who writes novels" or "a writer of novels." Come to think of it, the definition doesn't read: "a person who writes novels and they are then published," so those of you who have written or are writing novels and haven't yet been published - what do you call yourself? And if you call yourself nothing, then why aren't you calling yourself something? Writing takes discipline and work - the publishing part is a separate issue - so give yourself a break and call it like you work it.

Its too late to change the blog URL (as far as I know), however I did change the "Name" of my blog to Writing from my Mountain  . . . that's certainly generic enough to encompass the whatevers of my writing and editing life.

Now, my friends, I have to glue my arse to the chair and become completely immersed in Virginia Kate. I have to have more time with this third Graces book than I did for the second Graces (Secret Graces) novel, for while writing SG there were family emergencies, illnesses of dear-ones, traveling to and fro, and my writing time was cut near-abouts in half! I made my deadline, but there are always worries the book suffers when you have to write your arse off in a smaller amount of time. This is how it is. This is what being a "novelist" means--sometimes stuff and life happens, but deadlines are deadlines. I understand this now, and, I am more inclined to give authors/novelists a break when I read their work.

I think there's also a weird thing that happens with a trilogy, or a series. The first book is exciting and wonderful and full of golden; the third book in a trilogy takes things to some fruition, a silvery ending that wraps the new with the old and there is the poignancy of coming full circle. Alas and alack, that middle book in a "series" is somehow sort of wedged in there - feeling like a stepping stone between the two. I've seen this phenom with books and movies-the middle child is sometimes outshined or outshouted by the oldest and the youngest . . . oh dear.

So, my friends, social networking will slow, my connection to reality will be even more tenuous (laugh) and my poor GMR will surely feel neglected as I listen to Virginia Kate storytell through me as she storytells through Grandma Faith and all the rest.

misty view on Kat's porch at Killian Knob

This writing of a new book, the creating of a new work large or small, is the most wonderful, exciting, fabulous, terrifying, hardest, beautiful thing I do . . . the only thing more important and more beautiful and wonderful that I've ever "created" is my son and from that comes his family -Sarah and my "Lil Boop" Norah Kathryn.

Now you all tell me: What are you up to with this winding down of summer? What projects or activities will fall bring?

Lil Norah Kathryn in the dress Granny Kat bought her

Guest Today & Books Give Away

Today my guest is Adnan Mahmutovic. He is on blog tour for his new release "Thinner than a Hair."

I first met Adnan years back when I worked as a senior editor at the Rose & Thorn, before Angie and I became co-publishing editors. He wrote, and I edited, a beautiful story, "Integration Under the Midnight Sun," that captured my imagination as well as my respect for his literary gifts in writing and poetry (and he now has made a short film). Adnan lives in Sweden, so we have never met face-to-face, but I consider him to be one of my most trusted and valued friends and colleagues. It's only a matter of time before he is discovered for the talented author/poet/filmmaker he is.


I should now call him Dr. Mahmutovic! I will have to get used to that!


A little more about Dr. Adnan Mahmutovic: Adnan Mahmutović (1974-) is a Bosnian Swede, a homely exile who teaches immigrant literature at Stockholm University in daytime, and works with people with mental disorders at night.

Adnan left Bosnia and settled in Sweden in 1993. He has worked with people with different kinds of disabilities for thirteen years. In May 2010, he took his PhD in English literature at Stockholm University where he teaches a course on Love and its discontents.

I invite you to get to know Adnan. Look around his website. Read his book: be forwarned--they are intense and pull no punches!

Today I'm giving away three books as a package: Adnan's new release Thinner than a Hair, and a bonus copy of his first collection "Refuge," and as well, I am giving away a copy of my book Secret Graces ---all three books together as one give away.

To win all three books, here is what you must be the First Person to do in the comments section -- in one comment tell me:

Go to Adnan's website and tell me what is the name of his other book of fiction (hint: there is a tab called "books" on his homepage) AND go to my website and tell me what "old mountain song" lyrics I have included as part of the excerpt from the SWEETIE novel (hint: there is a SWEETIE tab on my home page)

Good Luck! First person to give me the correct answers in one comment wins all three books!

UPDATE: Hi y'all - Marisa Birns is the winner of the books so CONGRATS Marisa!

Youngest Reader of TG, Forehead Butt Society, Signings & Plays . . .

The youngest reader of TG! *laugh* this is Terry Rollins's grandson - Terry was one of the authors at the signing yesterday (author of Married to the Military - and she has told me that anyone who wants a copy of her book, please be the first to leave a note in the comments telling me you want a copy and Terry will get it in the mail). So, he reads, gets a little treat, has an angel come by and touch her light, then puts down the book with a contented sigh of happiness, teeheehee.

Today my respectful Forehead Butt Society shout out goes to Frank McCourt, who recently left behind this old world, at least in body. He is a double forehead butter, and just look at that face . . . look at those eyes, tell me they don't speak of warmth. I like that face. Welcome, Mr. McCourt into my down with Botox society of Forehead Butters.


I was gone all day yesterday to Greenville, South Carolina for the group author book signing and a fun time was had by all. There was a two-page spread about the event in the Greenville Journal that we appreciated. The booksellers of As The Page Turns and The Book Gallery were wonderful - very nice accommodating women who made our stay in their stores quite lovely. I met some fabulous readers, and laughed, grinned, talked about Tender Graces and life and family, and I know that TG is in the hands of beautiful readers - It's a special feeling imagining people holding my words and reading...I hope they enjoy!


I have much to catch up on today, including coming 'round to visit you all, so you should see me later today knocking at your blog doors.

I've had my mountain walk, ate biscuits with coffee, watched Sunday Morning, and read the paper GMR fetched from down the valley.

By the way, speaking of GMR, I so enjoyed the Hallelujah Girls at Asheville Community Theater on Friday night, opening night -- what a halarious play! GMR played a momma's boy who was a bit of a goofball -*laugh* - Brava to the cast!

I am hoping to have my Community Coffee talk tomorrow.

So, biscuits eaten, coffee drank, paper read, Sunday Morning watched. Ahhhhh. What are your Sunday rituals?

It's Monday: What are you Reading?

From J. Kaye's Book Blog: If you decide to participate in It's Monday! What are you reading?, be sure to post a link to [J. Kaye's blog] on your blog. That way others can find their way [t]here and join in the fun.

So, What am I reading? I just completed "Long Story Short,"
Flash Fiction by Sixty-five of North Carolina’s Finest Writers. This was a wonderful collection of short shorts that I read in just a few gulps and thoroughly enjoyed -and it felt great supporting my North Carolina writers! The book was edited By Marianne Gingher . . .

. . . And now I am reading Blogger Patience Coale Renzulli's fun book "Mama Pajama Tells a Story ." I ordered this from her link provided from our "shop and support our Blogging Community" links that I'll be putting up again soon (or you can visit by clicking the above link). I want to do more shopping, but my first purchase had to be a book.

About "Mama Pajama . . . " How about a book FULL of short stories all about how much we love our dogs. Funny stories and a few that may bring a tear. SIGNED and PERSONALIZED! OH what a PERFECT GIFT!!!






Now, it's Monday . . . WHAT ARE YOU READING? . . .

I'm over at Author Culture today! & City Lights on Saturday!

Hello everyone! I'm a guest over at Author Culture today, where I talk about what we have to do to be writers. Hope you'll stop by.

Also, this Saturday at 7PM I will be reading/signing Tender Graces at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva, NC. Hope you can come; would love to meet you. We authors need you at our signings: not because we want to sell books (although that's always cool, too *grin*) but for support; we need your love.

I noticed a question or two in the comments below about punctuation; I will address those tomorrow when I return to "cleaning up our manuscripts." And, as always, I invite anyone who is an expert to weigh in, tell me I'm wrong, or even better, to tell me I'm a genious (laughing!, okay, kidding -sort of).

See you at Author Culture, and hope to see you at City Lights this Saturday!

Who are you? who who who who..who are you who who who who?

This is a tree - this is a ? ....


I was thinking about Naming Things or Naming Situations or Naming People - labels, whatever. In Tender Graces, Virginia Kate says she likes to give things names, that's what she does. It centers her world, makes it feel more concrete. The mountain Is. The mimosa Is. The owl Is. It is because it is named, noticed, made real by its telling, by they fact that she is a part of it and calls it forth in the naming. By the fact that perception gives its due.



I've been noticing many things since TG has been published...noticed things before that too, but, coming from this side of it, some other things become clear.

I thought about the days when I didn't know if I could call myself a writer. I thought, well, I write. But that wasn't enough. I said, let me publish something first. I did. Not enough. Let me publish something else somewhere else. I did. Not enough. Let me get paid something for that work. I did. Not quite. Let me publish here, there, this that. I did. I guess I can call myself a writer, finally, I thought. When Tender Graces was published, I thought. Now. Now I am for sure sure sure a writer. I have written novels, one is now published. Someone asked of someone, "When do you call yourself an author?" Sigh. There's another word. Okay, I'm a writer and an editor. I am the author of Tender Graces. Another voice says: publish more books, then you will really for sure be considered an Author! Geez. Whatever. Labels. Names. What makes a writer, though? I visit blogs or talk to people and I hear this over and over and over--and I remember it, the days I was afraid to call myself a writer. I hear so often: "Can I call myself a writer even if I haven't >>>>>fill in blank here>>>>?" Oh the angst!



Made me think how if a hair stylist had one client whose hair she cut in her house and that client was her mom, would she still be a stylist? Well, I think so. If a doctor had one patient that she saw once a year, is she still a doctor? Well, yes she is. If a fireman never put out a fire, is he still a fireman? Yes he is. I could go on, but you see how there are some professions that are concrete, that bear their names no matter the circumstance. There are no gray areas.



I think out of all the "labels/names" out there, the arts are the most difficult to clearly stamp upon a person. When is a writer a "WRITER," when is an author an "AUTHOR," when is an artist an artist, when is an actor an ACTOR, etc. And who puts these restrictions upon the others? Ourselves most times; however, others put these restrictions upon us as well. I've heard authors pull their noses in the air and sniff at those who call themselves writers: "When you have accomplished what I have, then you can join my club, otherwise *sniff*..." To be judged by your peers is the harshest of judgements, isn't it? I have no idea how I will be judged by my peers - time will tell.



When I attended the author reception, I was sitting with another published author and two unpublished writers. When someone stopped by our group and asked a question and wanted a photo, the two unpublished writers quickly said, "Oh, we're unpublished writers, these two are the authors...." and they said it near-apologetically. I remembered feeling that. I remembered wanting with a Want of WANTs to be a member of "The Club." Now I feel as if I am, right? Well, guess what? There are still all these other clubs, all these other stairs one must climb to get to the rooms where the Others are. Have no books published - go to that room. Have one book published with a small press: go to this room. Have a book published with The Big Guys, go to the room over there. Have more than one book published? Go here. Are on the NYT best seller list: here you go -go on in that room. Are a million-dollar author? Oh, well, you are up in the ivory tower - we'll take you there on a golden chariot. Self-Published - get down in the basement.

I have so much more on these thoughts, but, when blog posts are too long, they look scary, and this one is Long Enough.



What are your thoughts on this subject? Do you ask yourself--Am I Worthy of THIS TITLE....whatever that title is? What do you Name yourself? Do you feel you want to attach a label to show others who you are and what you do? When someone asks, "What do you do?" how do you answer that?