Today will be spent in chores and general rat killing–work on university classes, catching up on business emails, setting up more signings. Tomorrow, I plan on driving to the Minden library for research on a play I’m writing, and depending on that goes, may try to contact some libraries. Rather than drive back to Monroe, I’m going to find a hotel at or near Longview, Texas. I have a signing at the Books-A-Million there Saturday morning. As soon as all the books are sold (yes, selling-out the books at my signings has become a pride issue), I must drive from there to my parents’ house in Kemp, Oklahoma to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary. I’ll drive back to Louisiana late Sunday night. As there’s a chance I won’t be able to post anything or much on Saturday or Sunday until I return, I thought I’d post my favorite poem by John Keats. I have it memorized and I quote it to each 102 class when I begin the poetry unit. It’s a sonnet and was written in January 1818. As a writer, it touches something inside me.

WHEN I have fears that I may cease to be
Before my pen has glean’d my teeming brain,
Before high piled books, in charact’ry,
Hold like rich garners the full-ripen’d grain;
When I behold, upon the night’s starr’d face,
Huge cloudy symbols of a high romance,
And think that I may never live to trace
Their shadows, with the magic hand of chance;
And when I feel, fair creature of an hour!
That I shall never look upon thee more,
Never have relish in the faery power
Of unreflecting love!—then on the shore
Of the wide world I stand alone, and think
Till Love and Fame to nothingness do sink.

I just returned home from teaching my university classes. Well, I had another successful signing, another sell-out. I was at the Barnes and Noble in Mobile, Alabama last night. The manager, Ken Turner, is a fireball of energy and excited about my new children’s book. In him I’ve found a partner to work with in many future projects. We sold all of my books in the store and he had to send a worker to borrow more copies from the B & N at Spanish Fort, across the bay. At his request, I wore my Confederate uniform and did 4 short sets of songs for the many teachers who had come. After the event, I drove back to Monroe and arrived home about 1:00 a.m. Once again, I made many new friends and booked some schools to present my program at in the future. God, I love this gypsy writer’s life!

Before the event, my good SCV Confederate friend, Art Green, drove me around Mobile. We spent a good bit of time in Magnolia Cemetery. I saw the graves of Kate Cumming, Confederate nurse and of Augusta Jane Evans, a great novelist of the Confederacy. I’ll have some photos from that part of my journey to post soon on this blog. My journey to Mobile ended too soon. I love that city. Below is a photo of me and of Dusty, one of the store workers who wanted to take a photo with me. Art and the store manager took some more of my signing and of my performance, which I’ll post later also.  They have better cameras than I do. (I must get a better one soon myself)

Today will be spent mostly at ULM and Delta colleges and by 4:00 I’ll on my way to Mobile! Today, I decided to post a little description of my programs that I do for schools. This is a one-page version of a tri-folded brochure I’m working on.

Rickey E. Pittman

Writer/Guitarist

318-547-2906
rickeyp@bayou.com
Author of Jim Limber Davis: A Black Orphan in the Confederate White House and Stories of the Confederate South, both by Pelican Publishing.

Go to http://www.rickeypittman.com/ for more information.

Offering Interactive School & Library Programs for All Grades and Ages

“The Jim Limber Story”
A study and program of the Civil War. I tell the Jim Limber Story in period dress, have a Civil War show and tell table, and play period music. It’s been a hit everywhere.

“The Scots and Irish in America”
Students experience Scottish and Irish culture through activities and Celtic music.

“Creative Writing Workshops”
Students create their own children’s book. The author can also teach special sessions on writing poetry and short stories for upper level students.

Rates:
I charge a flat fee only, directly related to the distance from my location in Monroe, Louisiana, and my schedule. You will find me very affordable in comparison with other programs.

Teachers’ and Librarians’ Comments

“It was that special program librarians want their students to experience!”—Beverly Harriage, Librarian, Honey Grove ISD, Texas.

“Thank you again for your contribution to our kids, our world.”—Darlene Welch Brown, Monroe City Schools.

“What a great story with depth and historical details. What a way to inculcate a bit of history into the lives of this pop generation of kids!”—Judy Bennet, Freshman English Director, University of Louisiana at Monroe.

“Mr. Pittman’s enthusiasm for his subject was contagious! The students at both the middle school and the high school levels found his presentation entertaining and informational. I have had students from both age groups ask when he will be back again.”—Michele Aucoin, Gifted English Instructor, Assumption Parish ISD.

“Rickey Pittman is an informative, entertaining, delight for young, old, and everyone in-between! His blend of Civil War era stories, music, poems and books will keep audiences’ toes tapping while at the same time shedding new light on seldom-heard facts and trivia surrounding the war between the states. Pittman’s knowledgeable Southern perspective and talent are sure crowd pleasers!”—Pamela Tackett, Delta Kappa Gamma member and Gifted instructor, Union Parish ISD, Louisiana.

My signing at the Books-A-Million in Jackson, MS was another sell-out. Once again, I signed and sold every book of mine in the store. The manager extended an invitation for me to return for signings in the future. While Vicksburg was a tough crowd (probably because they have the store in a dying mall), the Jackson residents who came through the BAM in Jackson seemed more open and sharp. I arrived at 10:30 am and buzzing from caffeine, I left at 4:00 pm. Today is a day of chores, planning, and preparation for my university classes Monday and for my very important Mobile, Alabama trip.  I’ll spend the night in the Mobile area Monday, and then Tuesday sign books, perhaps sight-see, maybe visit some schools to encourage teachers to come to my presentation at Barnes and Noble that night from 4-7:00 p.m. I know this is a brief entry, but perhaps I’ll put something else up later. On to my chores.

Thursday night, I was at the public library in Greenville, Texas to present my Jim Limber/Civil War program. It was sponsored by the Friends of the Library there. What a wonderful and friendly group of people. A large group of children were also in attendance. Interest in the Civil War and the Jim Limber story was high. After the program, I drove to my parents’ house in Kemp, Oklahoma, visited with them a few minutes, then retired. The next morning, I was on my way to Vicksburg, Mississippi, for my signing at the Bookland there. It was another sell-out. This morning, I’m on my way to the Books-A-Million in Jackson. I love this fast-paced schedule and enjoy the people I’m meeting. However, I find myself craving alone time, to write more and think. I’ll post a more reflective blog entry tonight when I have more time to do that. Below is a photo of my performance at the Greenville Library.

This morning, I’m packing to go to the W. Walworth Harrison Public Library in Greenville, Texas to present my Jim Limber story and my Civil War program.

So many of my Texas contacts are a result of the Region VIII Librarian Conference I attended. Below are a couple of photos from that event. In the first, you’ll see Bonnie Barnes, a high-powered achiever who works with Educational Technology
Library and Instructional Media Services. The 2nd photo is of Dan Gibson, storyteller and a firstclass banjoplayer. As you can see, we serenaded the librarians a little bit.

I’m indebted to the very talented Michael Harrison for his encouragement with my writing and my music. Michael is a regular on the Celtic circuit. You can’t miss him: His guitar case looks like a cow skin and his capo (or cheater bar as my father calls them) like  a little pig. Though adults enjoy his music, Michael has a talent for teaching music to children, and at the festivals, Michael is often if not usually given the children’s stage. I really respect his work for I know from doing my own programs that kids can be a tough audience! You can read more about Michael Harrison and look at some of his CD’s here: http://cdbaby.com/cd/mwhlk
One of the songs I’ve learned from Michael and use in my own program now is the “Garden Song.” (On his For Kids of All Ages CD) I decided to post the lyrics here. There’s several different versions out, but I generally followed Michael’s.

The Garden Song

Inch by inch, row by row
Gonna make this garden grow
All it takes is a rake and a hoe
And a piece of fertile ground

Inch by inch, row by row
Someone bless these seeds I sow
Someone warm them from below
‘Till the rain comes tumbling down.

Pulling weeds and pickin’ stones;
Man is made of dreams and bones
Feel the need to grow my own,
‘Cause the time is close at hand.

Grain for grain, sun and rain,
Find my way in nature’s chain
Tune my body and my brain,
To the music from the land.

Plant your rows straight and long,
Temper them with a prayer and song.
Mother Earth will make you strong
If you give her love and care.

An old crow watching hungrily
From his perch in yonder tree.
And in my garden I’m as free
As that feathered thief up there.

I really do try to keep my blog from becoming a to-do list. I want to focus on my new career (writing and promoting my writing). However, on days like today, when I have an impossible list and very small windows of time to climb through, the pressure of getting it all done is almost overwhelming.

Our Northeast Louisiana Celtic Festival was a success, with an attendance of easily over 5,000. The performers were fantastic. Here is a photo of Beth Patterson, one of my favorites. I’ve included her song lyrics on my blog a few times. I’ve also interviewed her for an article in a Celtic magazine. I’ll post that once it’s printed.

I arose tired from my weekend of signing and selling books. This morning, I must prepare for my university classes, make sure I get books for my program Thursday night  in Greenville, Texas, and call some managers about signings and a score of other tasks. I thought the best entry this morning would be the article I wrote for the Celtic Festival booklet. Here it is:

Celtic Louisiana

Celtic émigrés came to America for many reasons. Many were transported from Scotland to America after the Cromwellian Civil War, the Jacobite Rebellion, and the Highland Clearances.  One noted exodus occurred in 1732 when Scots, mostly from Argyll, came to Cape Fear, North Carolina, on the Thistle, a ship now known as the “Scottish Mayflower.”

From Northern Ireland came the Scots-Irish, who had themselves been transported earlier from Scotland to Ireland by the English. Between 1715 and 1726 some 250,000 Scots-Irish, weary of being England’s pawns, left Ulster to come to America.  And in the south of Ireland, huge numbers joined the exodus. Huge numbers of the Irish fled or were displaced from the Emerald Isle by both famine and the tyranny of the English.  They were forced to face the difficult journey across the sea to the New World on the infamous crowded and disease-ridden “coffin ships,” such as the Agnes, Virginius, and the Naomi. Nearly two million Irish came to America between 1830-1840. More than 2.6 million Irish came to America after 1860.  Now, over 12% of Americans claim to be of Irish descent, and an equally large percentage, Scots-Irish.

The story of the Celtic Diaspora is in a significant way, the story of America.

After the Louisiana Purchase, Celtic people migrated to Northeast Louisiana like swarms of roving bees.  They came here—the Irish, the Scottish, the Scots-Irish, the Welsh, and the other Celtic Nations—so many that it’s been said that early maps marked the region as Celtic Louisiana.

The impact of the Irish and Scottish newcomers was felt immediately in Louisiana.  New Orleans celebrated its first St. Patrick’s Day in 1809.  Andrew Jackson, one of Ulster’s sons, led his army to victory against the British here in Louisiana in one of history’s most famous battles during the War of 1812. By 1860, there were over 24,000 Irish in New Orleans.  When the War Between the States began in 1861, the famous 6th Louisiana was formed, led by Irish-born leaders such as Billy Monaghan.  These fierce Irish boys were known as the “Fighting Tigers.”

Families drifted into Northeast Louisiana from the east, and boatloads entered the Southern ports of New Orleans and Mobile and made their way north. Finally, a great number of them came here, pinning themselves to the earth, declaring the farmlands, the piney woods, and the cities of Northeast Louisiana to be their home. Regional phonebooks reveal the extent of their immigration.  Search those listings and you will see page after page of Celtic surnames such as you might find in a Dublin or Edinburgh phonebook. Northeast Louisiana is truly a new Celtic Nation.

People of the Celtic nations settled Northeast Louisiana, and with them came their heritage. Wherever Celtic people go, they bring a sense of history and community.  The blood of their ancestors stirs their own veins.  They came with a strong work ethic, a love for family and for the land, a rich inner spirituality, and a fierce fighting spirit.  These are the personal qualities that have always made the Celtic people unique—qualities that have always been a source of their strength. Perhaps even more significant in relation to this festival, the Celtic people have always possessed a strong devotion to aesthetics, to the arts. Loving music, art, dance, and story telling, they gathered to celebrate on every possible occasion.

At the Festival, you will once again experience and reconnect to your own Celtic Heritage. Our nation is experiencing a Celtic Renaissance.  Declare yourself to be a part of that Renaissance. Use your time here to teach your children about their ancestors and their homeland. May the music you hear stir your blood like it once did your ancestors. Learn their forgotten crafts. Open your eyes to the beauty of Celtic art and costumes.

Yes, the Celts came to Northeast Louisiana.  And once again in 2007, Celtic families and clans have congregated to celebrate and honor their heritage.  We’re glad you’ve attended our festival.

Today, I arrived at the Celtic Festival about 11:00 a.m. I took thirty books and signed and sold 28 of them. As is typical of signings, I met so many really cool people. Thanks to my friend Stuart, I also have some peat I can show kids when I do my Scots-Irish programs. He has to be one of the strongest (and generous) men I’ve ever met. He’s huge in size, and capable of throwing cabers (weighing 125 pounds or more), stones (twenty pound plus for men), hammers (16-22 pounds for men), or trees even, for great distances. Go to this site if you want to know about the Scottish games: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highland_games

In all, it was a great day. I’ve got a small problem though: I’ve sold all my books I had in stock and so if Pelican can’t get them to me quick enough, I’ll have to drive to New Orleans and pick some more up Tuesday. I guess that’s a good problem to have. More later.