Friday Shoot Outs: Power, where do you get your power? (and our discussions continued)

Power from a mountain sunrise, power from my friends, power from this cove at Killian Knob, power from my writing, power from the ancient quality of these smoky mountains: my town--Maggie Valley in Haywood County, western North Carolina...that's were I feel my power enter my marrow and settle deep into my bones. There comes power from art, too - like "Spring Fever" from Lorelle Bacon--I stared at this painting for many a day thinking of Virginia Kate coming alive.
I feel my power from nature, from friends, from art, from all of you . . . I could lie upon the north carolina earth and feel the vibration of the mountain and all who are buried beneath....the bones call out to me, "We are real....we are here . . ."

I have two discussions going on this blog that I want to re-visit: The "Labels" or "Names" we place on ourselves or others - and how "the arts" is harder to define, how maybe we must we define ourselves, how our peers or colleagues define us, etc... Very interesting answers! And, further down was the discussion on "Mothers giving up their children . . . " - I saw where that was labeled a "new trend" - "new trend," huh? well . . . hmmm. Anyway -that's another discussion I want to re-visit. As well as some other themes in Tender Graces that interest me that I'll get to soon! My deadline for VK2 is approaching.....

What defines you? Who defines you? Join in the discussion below. Or, tell me: Do you think mothers are more harshly judged for "giving up their children" than men are? And if so, why?

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?

Delayed Friday Shoot out & Critters comin' and goin' in Haywood County

I missed last Friday's Shoot out (Outdoor food) - I'd planned to get creative with food in the outdoors, but time ran away from me. So, instead, I snapped some photos of "critter food" or the chain of food, etc. Spider food, squirrel and bird food, people catching their own food, bee and butterfly food, etc.

We have wild critters here on the mountain: some wilder than others; some dangerous, some not so. We have squirrel feeders and bird feeders hanging round or tacked to the tree. We're perched here, so it's as if we live in a tree house in a way. In the morning, the little red squirrels wait for us to come put sunflower seeds in the feeders. We can hear their feet flappity flap stomp across the roof as they come running and no sooner do we scoop the seeds in than the little squirrels hop on and eat. We don't try to make them pets; we don't try to touch them, but they expect us to feed them now I guess...huhn. At night, the flying squirrels with their high-pitched squeaking come calling. When I went out to take in the bird feeder (we don't want bears coming round to get the seed), those flying squirrels just sit there looking at me with their big ole eyes - I reach out my hand thinking they'll fly away and still they sit! I have to take down the feeder before they go sailing off to a tree branch. I always leave some on the railing for them, and there's the squirrel feeders that stay there, as they're nailed to the tree.

We've heard the bobcat scream (and I saw one run up the back of our place), once I thought I saw a panther and so did my neighbor, but, who knows, there's been some bear sightings, there's coons that come calling at night, too and they fight over the sunflower seeds in the squirrel feeder, there's wild turkey and deer and all manner of critters. I worry about the critters because of development -- I am sorry to say I've grown a big kind of hatred for some of the developers, particularly those who come from out of state, ruin the mountain, and then leave with their pockets lined with cash - out of their site/sight, out of their mind, not in their backyard--but don't get me started there.

Sometimes I see the crippled critters and I feel bad for them, but they make their way the best they can and some of them survive and I suppose some do not as I only see them a season and then they are gone---lessen they found another place to be.

The hummingbirds come calling, too -- and one of them is aggressive and drives off the others.

There's one critter that calls at night and I can't figure out what it is. It's a lonesome sound, but beautiful.

Once I thought I heard a wolf's howl, but am never sure whether it was just me howling out my pleasure at living in these ancient mountains - some of the oldest mountains in the world - the most beautiful place, my Home here in Haywood County.

Vegas ain't in the South! ....How dry I was... no body knew, how dry I was....

Y'all will have to forgive the bad photos; again, getting perspective was difficult with the HUGE of everything, with crowds, etc . . .

While visiting Las Vegas with my brother Tommy, I noticed that in all that excess, surely anyone's heart's (or any other body parts...teehee more on that later) desires could be realized. That there is probably not a thing that cannot be for the having if one wanted it. That one need never leave Las Vegas with a need unfulfilled.

There were two desires of mine that I required that I did have a hard time fulfilling: Coffee and Water. Coffee and Water, you ask? Why, what's so hard about that? Las Vegas has everything! It has Paris, New York, Planet Hollywood, Food from around the world, Egypt, Italy, shows with famous people whose big gigantic faces blob out at you on the sides of buildings, Music spilling out from everywhere, Lights that can be seen from space, people from every nationality and some that have never been discovered, and more more more . . . and your desire was Coffee and Water and you were lacking? Why Kat - what's up with that?

Las Vegas is in the desert. Temperatures were in the hundreds, but, fortunately it was a dry heat - get in the shade and it wasn't bad. Heck, I spent 30+ years in South Louisiana - don't talk to me about heat where the humidity soaks your clothes in two minutes or less even when you are just standing in the shade doing nothing but picking your nose and contemplating whether to move or just stand there with yer brains boiling yer thoughts to mush.

I was thirsty the entire time I was in Vegas. And every morning was a trek over hill and dale where I at last found coffee that wasn't $5 a cup (I finally found $2.00 coffee!). FIVE DOLLARS for a plain old small cup of plain old weak black coffee. No coffee makers in the hotel rooms, nope! No drinking water fountains to be found anywhere, nope - water was also $5 and up. My brother and I finally filled our water bottles in the hotel room and plunged them in ice. Still, while walking about the Vegas strip, when thirst gnawed at my tongue and throat, when my little bottle of water emptied (or grew hot in the Vegas sun), that $5.00 water tempted me to no end. We would find something to eat (more on the food there later), and the first thing I'd ask for was "WATER PLEASE>>>>WATER!" gulp gulp gulp glub glob -ahhhhh.

Ironically, there is water everywhere in that desert city. Fountains gush, water shows, treasure island ships in fake "oceans," "volcano" eruptions in on a water-surrounded "island," mists misting tourists upper bodies as they walk by, fountains inside hotels and malls and casinos . . . water water water! And yet, I thirsted. I never quenched my thirst while in Vegas. I left lacking . . . oh dear. Yup, you can get whatever you desire in Vegas, as long as you have a big fat wallet! haw! And that's the thang, my friends: If you visit Vegas, bring lots-o-cash. It's going to cost you. Everything costs you. Nothing is free.

For a Southern Gal, that is weird concept. In the South, even in tourist cities such as I live in, you can find free things. You can say, a "Gosh I am so thirsty, may I have some water?" and someone is going to get you water and it ain't gonna cost your $5.00!(plus tip in some instances)--it's gonna cost you zilch. A cup of black coffee? Ain't gonna cost you much, and there are places it's free (and in your hotel room most of the time you will find a coffee-maker, and free coffee in hotel lobbies, to boot! Not so in Vegas). This southern gal was bug-eyed at the hands out for cash at every turn....lawdy be! My wallet dwindled fast, and I didn't spend much time in the casino (more on that later- good gawd a'mighty!

Granted, if you sit at a gamble table or machine, they'll eventually get around to you and ask what you want and it's free - but how much are you gonna spend gambling before that drink or water or coffee gets round to you? could turn out to be a $50 cup of coffee or small bottle of water with five gulps to it. Huhn.

I want to know about your vacations or trips --- was there something you take "for granted" at home that you were unable to get (or could only get 'at a price')? What surprised you the most about your trip to another place? And did you find cheap coffee and free water! ha! laughing....

With a book book here and a book book there!

teeheeheee: this made me laugh.

I had to go to Asheville today, so I am not posting a regular post today.

I went by Malaprops first, to thank them for sponsoring my signing to be this month (on 8/15), and then I went by Accent on Books, also in Asheville to thank him for stocking Tender Graces on his shelves: little did I know that not only did the Accent on Books owner stock TG - he put TG at the front of the store, on a nice table, with the words: Summer Reading! I was so happy and grateful, and I told him so. My book was nestled beside Joan Medlicott and Ron Rash - what good company I am in!

I will leave you with this:

When you walk into a bookstore, where do you first go? Do you have a plan, or do you just "wing it?" Do you frequent Indie booksellers, or whatever is closer? Or whatever has your favorite latte? Do you have a budget in mind, or just do what feels good at the moment. Tell me: what is your bookstore style! *smiling*Mine is to go in and just look around, browse. I may have something in particular in mind, but, more often than not, I just want to be around books and to hold them and look at them.

Over (blog)hill, over (blog)dell, time to hit the (blogging)trail...

The Book Fair was a success! At least from my perspective it was. I met many authors and writers and readers. I sold more books than I ever expected too - - when I sat down and saw my pile of books before me, I was so afraid that pile would stay there and I thought, "Just let me sell a couple of books, that's all, please!" For there were over 40 other authors there, some with more than one book published, some who were well-known in this community (and beyond), and with the economy as it is, well, I was just hoping to have a modest amount of books sold. However, my book pile began disappearing! And, at the end of the day I was very happy and surprised with how many Tender Graces made it into the arms of readers....thank you all!

Just as wonderful were the people who came by my table to tell me they'd already read the book and loved it. Made me smile.

The panel, "Women on Writing," went quite well. That was an aspect I didn't know what to expect, but it turns out I enjoyed being a member of the panel, despite my initial nervousness (okay, I probably was a bit jittery the entire time!). One person came to me afterwards and said I helped her just by something I said, that it made her feel better about her writing - - what a compliment!

Today I catch up - I'll be dropping by to say hi on a blogwalk, and I want to get my late 'friday shoot outs' of 'outdoor food' done; not to mention I still have book club stories and Vegas stories. Lawd!

See you all soon in blogland . . .

Hello book-lovers my old friends, I hope to see you at the fair....

I will be at Haywood County Book Mania today - signing books and on a panel called, "Women Writing Fiction."

I'll be back later and I hope to still have my Friday Shoot Outs, even if they are "Almost on Friday Shoot outs" - teehee - but that's the beauty of it: it's fun and carefree and no one beats you up if you interpret things your way or miss one or do it on another day.

I had a strange dream before arising of a woman in a terrible accident - I won't recall the details here, but I can picture her face so clearly. When her husband walked up, he cried out, for the details of the accident were gruesome to him, of course. She saw him and began struggling, crying out to him - she wanted to say goodbye. She had on a print dress. There was a truck. A part of me thinks the woman in the dream is someone else and not in an accident, but struggling in some other way to get a message to someone because I immediately woke up and thought of a woman's name. Strange. I still see her face.

Well, on that note *laughing* -- erk.... have a great Saturday. I will be back later, or tomorrow, to visit and to post my Friday Shootouts, and etc.

Wish me luck on the Panel! My first ever panel discussion. I'll be at a table signing books, too - oh the terror! I hope I don't sit there and no one comes by...eek!

By the way, the author's reception was fun. I want to talk about that - there is something that struck me as I sat with a published poet, a published author, and two as yet unplublished writers . . . and the subject of another author came up as well when "a reader" joined us. I want to talk about this, so this note will remind me.

Now, go do the day, and if you are in the Waynesville, NC area, please come by and support all us authors at the Book Mania!

And, I hope you will join in on the discussions below about "Mother's Giving Up Their Children, etc"....