Today, I’m doing the grandfather thing and keeping my grandson.  He and I are going to the zoo. It will be my last day to be with him for a while, as he and my daughter and son-in-law are moving to Ocean Springs, MS. next weekend. So, I put my many projects on hold to spend this day with him.  He’ll be with me from 8:00 am – about 2:00 pm when my daughter will pick up when she’s through with work for the day.  I’ll miss them terribly. They already have jobs (there are few really good jobs in the Monroe area for some reason) and a house.  The only good thing about their leaving is that I’ll have a place to stay when I work Mobile and Biloxi and other nearby cities when I do signings.

I rose at 5:00 a.m. today, did a couple of writing exercises, and finished reading a short story in the New Orleans Noir collection.   This afternoon after Mason Alexander Shelby has left me, I’ll make phone calls and set up some more appointments for signings and programs. I must also contact those I work with at Pelican. They are so overworked (and I know they have MANY books to worry about and I only two) and I hope to set up as many appointments as I can without interfering with their assigned work.

I had a good day yesterday: I went to Minden to research the historical play I’m writing, set up a signing at the Bossier City Books- -A-Million for Saturday, Sept. 22, and I also set up programs for two of the Bienville Parish libraries on Tuesday, Sept. 4.  If I can set up a couple of appointments every day, then I’ll have a very full year.

If you’re interested in a no-nonsense book that will help you improve your health, here’s one you need to read. It will soon be available from Booklocker Publishers, http://booklocker.com/

Maintaining Your Health and Vitality: A Health Guide
for Seniors and Their Families
By
John T. Fodor, Ed.D.

Fodor’s book provides a wide-range of well-documented health information and practices with easy to follow health guidelines designed to help you to maintain your health and vitality and improve the quality of your life. Each chapter includes reliable references and additional sources of health information and services.

I’ve also tried to include a pic here of Tom and me. We are in a Scots-Irish band.

It looks like I’m back to my early morning writing and writing work schedule. I was most fruitful when I did that, and I’m going to try to hold to it. I rose at 4:00 a.m. and was at KTVE, Channel 10 by 5:30 for my TV interview with Angela Cruz.  Betty Neatherly, the librarian of the Ouachita Valley Library was also with me. She is hosting the Book Talks for the library. The interview went very well. The library is located at 581 McMillan Road, West Monroe, LA 71294 and their phone is (318) 327-1471.  The program is schedule to begin at 6:00.

Last night, I finished editing Angelic Upstarts, a novel by Eric Chapman. In genre, it is a Utopian novel, with a unique African-American focus. I’ve honestly never seen anything like it. Chapman is a skilled writer, and he provides sharp insights into both Black and White American culture, asking and addressing many of the questions related to race that many are afraid to ask.  In the tradition of the Dystopian and Utopian novelists, he  looks into the future and asks  relevant “What if . . .” questions.  I think his novel has the potential  of stirring thought and  motivating individuals, especially African-American readers.  Chapman’s novel is a philosophical, rich in historical allusions, and generally a  heady read. At 600 plus pages, it is not one for the faint of heart, but if you like to think, this uniquely structured novel will open your mind.

The life of a writer is full of little ironies and juxtapositions. We must be magnets that draw those coincidental events and experiences. Anyway, I was editing a new writer’s manuscript, and listening to Zipless by Vanessa Daou, when I heard this song, which I recognized as a poem of Erica Jong.  Here it is. Appropriately, it is called, “Sunday Afternoons.” Though written from a female point of view, I still can identify with some of the lines.
Sunday Afternoons

I sit at home
at my desk alone
as I used to do
on many sunday afternoons
when you came back to me,
your arms ached for me,
and your arms would close me in
though they smelled of other women.

I think of you
on Sunday afternoons.

Your sweet head would bow,
like a child somehow,
down to me –
and your hair and your eyes were wild.

We would embrace on the floor-
You see my back´s still sore.
You knew how easily I bruised,
It´s a soreness I would never lose.

I think of you
on Sunday afternoons.

My signing at the Monroe, Louisiana Books-A-Million was a success. I signed and sold all but three of the books the store had ordered.  The managers were very pleased and I’ve already been invited back for another signing when Stories of the Confederate South comes out in October.  This collection of short fiction did well with Booklocker, and I’m hoping it will do even better with Pelican and that publisher’s larger distribution network.  The collection of short historical fiction will also be a natural to sell alongside my children’s book, Jim Limber Davis: A Black Orphan in the Confederate White House.

I was delighted to see   that you can already pre-order Stories of the Confederate South on Amazon.com.

Tomorrow, I’ll have to be up early to be on Channel 10’s (KTVE) morning show with Angela Cruz to tell viewers about the program at the library that evening.   Today, I’m deeply buried in editing work.

I’m trying to keep up on my self-imposed reading pace and finish one book a week. I’m a little behind schedule.  New books on my shelf include New Orleans Noir (a collection of short fiction in that noir series), Room to Write (writing exercises) and Write Away (a novelist’s approach to writing fiction).

School is beginning soon, and while family and friends are gearing up for another year of fighting the powers of ignorance and darkness, I’m preparing for what looks like the busiest fall of my life. My book tour is taking shape and my calendar is filling up rapidly. Though I’ll be traveling a good bit, there are two important parts of my day I want to keep up with: reading and my own personal writing. I’m getting a good bit of editing work, and those jobs always have deadlines, so there’s some pressure there to finish them up.  I also must devote my self to promoting and marketing my books. An ideal day (a day without crucial life-chores, etc.) would be constructed like this:

1. Reading (at least one chapter of current book)

2. Writing (at least one poem, one scene of a play, one chapter of a novel, or one creative nonfiction piece)

3. Promotion of books (I do five things every day to promote them in some way)

This Saturday, August 4, I have a signing at the Books-A-Million in Monroe, Monday, August 6th a presentation at the Ouachita Library in W. Monroe. The next weekend I go to the Ft. Worth area for some Barnes and Nobles. I started to list the cities in the South that I’ve targeted, and then I realized that every major city is on the list. I’m determined to get the book out to bigger markets where there is more money and more people. Here’s a Latin quotation that is my inspiration today:

Fortes fortuna adiuvat – Fortune favors the brave.  (I’ve read that this now famous proverb is a line from Terence, a 2nd century BC Roman playwright.)

Sometimes, I wonder what on earth I’m doing  in the writing business. Perhaps I’m a little (or a lot) crazy. I’ve chosen a difficult life. But then, we crazies belong with the arts, and I’m learning as I go. Imagery describing the madness associated with the arts and artist is a frequently used one. For example, I read that Kafka said, “To want to write and not write is to invite madness.” I read Techniques of Fiction Writing: Measure and Madness by Leon Surmelian and was fascinated by the manner he tied in the work of the Muses (and the incumbent madness it brought the author) with the need of structure and method in writing. This book is out of print, so I’m glad I have my copy. I think I found it at a library sale in Texas.

One quotation of Henry James has always helped me. I was reminded of it when I read an article recently by Jeffrey Eugenides, author of Middlesex and The Virgin Suicides.  He uses Henry James’ quotation in his short article about writing. James said:

“We work in the dark–we do what we can–we give what we have. Our doubt is our passion and our passion is our task. The rest is the madness of art.”

I’ve once again memorized this quotation. So, as I grope in the darkness, looking for the handle of the doors that will lead me to successfully write and market my books, I’ll just do what I can with what I’ve got. As long as I write every day and keep my passion, I’ll remain a committed writer–and also, likely a mad one.

I returned from Mobile about9:45 pm last night. It was a short night as I had to prepare and pack for Saturday. I arose early, went to Farmerville and marched with the Sons of Confederate Veterans. The crowds who came for the parade loved us. After our mile march, I set up to sell books and did sell some at the SCV booth. I also was interviewed live by K-104 about my new book on the radio. I met some really cool people too.

I made many good contacts this week in Mobile. Sold a good many books and must have booked scores of engagements next year (some of them in Mobile) to tell the story of Jim Limber. I learned much about Mobile. I’m sure many adventures await me there this next year. I’ll have more posts about some of the people I met there.

Tonight I’m in a Super 8 motel in Mobile, Alabama. Thankfully they have wireless that works. I left Monroe around 10 am, stopped at six different libraries promoting my book and arranging for future signings. I did get some sales out of it, but in some of the libraries the decision makers or directors weren’t there. I had hoped to visit ten, but after 5:00 pm there’s no need of stopping in usually. I’m tired, with more work to do tonight before I go to sleep. I’d also like to read some, and of course I need to write–work on a short story or my novel.

Tomorrow begins the National Convention of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. I’m expecting tons of sales and many future speaking/presentation appointments. If I can keep my expenses to a minimum–and I can–I expect to come out ahead. I’m flipping through one of the Mobile Bay tourist books in my hotel room. It says that Mobile Bay is the culinary capital of the Gulf Coast. There’s many homes and museums that look interesting. However, I know I’ll be working too hard to get to any. I guess I can come back and play another time. Tomorrow night and Thursday, I’ll be in the Radison Admiral Semmes Hotel downtown. According to their advertisement, this landmark hotel has 170 luxurious rooms and suites designed with Queen Anne and Chippendale-style furnishings. It’s within walking distance of the Battlefield Hotel where my vendor’s booth will be. Though it’s a little fancy for a struggling author like myself, I got a good price because of the conference, so the rooms cost only a little more than my Super 8 hotel tonight. I’m sure I’ll have another post describing my trip and Mobile as the Radison Admiral has wireless Internet also.

As I drove here, I finished listening to the twelve audio CD’s of Stephen King’s The Cell. I found it a haunting and engaging read. (I do count listening to a book as a read. Often, I pick up on things I would not have if I had just read it with my eyes). It made me think about the whole cell phone phenomenon. I recall watching a group of a dozen or so female students walking across the university one afternoon. All were talking on cell phones.  The Cell did remind me somewhat of the Stand and of McCarthy’s The Road. Tonight, after I do some meaningful work, (I have much editing business to attend to) I’ll read myself to sleep with a short story collection called, New Orleans Noir.

Here is a review I wrote of a great Confederate CD.

In January of 2000, Jed Marum began his year by leaving a lucrative career so he could devote himself to his music. His first year as a fulltime musician earned exactly one tenth of what he had earned the year before. To his credit, he hasn’t looked back, and has built a solid career and reputation as one of America’s premier Celtic musicians and is often a headliner at festivals. His schedule is a busy one—with over 150 shows a year—and the number of shows seems to be steadily growing.

In addition to his intense love for and commitment to Celtic music, Marum has another passion—The Civil War. In our interview, I asked Marum how his interest in the War Between the States began. He said, “Once, I was being interviewed by Sunny Meriwether and she introduced me to her audience as an Irish singer who specializes in writing Civil War songs. I started to object saying that the Civil War was just a passing interest, when I realized that it had been passing for 10 years! That’s when I realized I really wasn’t just dabbling at the Civil War stuff, anymore. It had moved to a higher level.”

The fruit of Marum’s passion for this period of American history is his newest CD, Cross Over the River, a twelve-song collection of Irish and Confederate songs released August 4 of this year. This CD presents some of Marum’s finest guitar picking and original lyrics. His songs have a depth of historical detail and emotion that lovers of Confederate music will love.

I believe Jed Marum is on his way to becoming our foremost Confederate balladeer. There’s something in this CD that stirs the spirit, and just as I was about to suggest the collection would be great music for movies of this period, I found out that Marum has agreed to license two new songs to Lone Chimney Productions for use in their upcoming film, Bloody Dawn. The film is being made for the PBS and History Channel markets and is planned for a 2006 release. The movie focuses on the border wars between Kansas and Missouri surrounding the days of the US Civil War.
The music is acoustic, with Marum on guitar, banjo, and banjola. Musicians performing with him are Jaime Marum on mandolin, Kathleen Jackson on upright bass, Mimi Rogers on fiddle and Ken Fleming on button accordion. Travis Ener and Kathleen Jackson are also featured in background vocals.

The collection’s songs are rich lyrically and musically, and several especially deserve comment. “Monaghan’s Lament,” is a song of an Irish born New Orleans resident, Col. William Monaghan of the 6th Louisiana. The song expresses a soldier’s emotions as he regards a fallen admired leader of one of the South’s most famous fighting units, “The Fighting Tigers.” “One Bloody Friday” is a haunting song, so effectively constructed that it makes the listener feel as if he were riding with Quantrell. “Cross Over the River,” is based on the last words of Stonewall Jackson. With this song, Marum takes us into the soul of a dying hero of the South. In other songs, Marum takes traditional melodies and masterfully creates moving interpretations. For example, I believe Marum’s rendition of the well-known “Shenandoah” to be unique and the best version I’ve heard. “Stonewall of the West” is a wonderful tribute to Patrick Cleburne.

I predict this CD will have strong appeal with Civil War aficionados, reenactors, performers, and anyone who loves good ballads. Just reading the CD’s insert and the background of the songs is an education and it reveals the extent of Marum’s research. Cross Over the River has a large targeted audience and has all the potential for becoming a cult classic. For the musician, Marum has also generously published a songbook containing lyrics and chords for both Cross Over the River and his earlier Civil War CD, Fighting Tigers of Ireland.

Cross Over the River is a collection of original and period music with lyrics that capture the heart of the many Irish and Scots who fought for the South. The CD is a reminder that there are many stories buried in history we have not yet heard, and there are emotions connected to that war that we haven’t yet considered. As a writer, Marum is not only skilled—he is honest. He knows that one’s culture and heritage can be lost, and he is determined to give life to long-silent voices. When those of the past fade from our memory and art, then they are truly dead to us. As long as there are writers like Marum who aren’t afraid to tell the stories, the dead will live on and our heritage will not be lost. The Scots-Irish majority who comprised the Confederate Army deserve the tribute of this CD.

You can purchase Cross Over the River here: http://cdbaby.com/cd/jedmarum6. Read Marum’s bio, hear samples of his music, and keep up with news about him by checking out his website http://www.jedmarum.com/ or from his blog http://www.myspace.com/jedmarumband.

Author information:
Rickey E. Pittman, Grand Prize Winner of the 1998 Ernest Hemingway Short Story Competition, is originally from Dallas, Texas.  He earned a BA in New Testament Greek and an MA in English from Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas. After moving to Monroe, Louisiana, Pittman was added to the Louisiana Roster of Artists in 1998. Working closely with regional art councils, he was commissioned to write historical plays for Franklin (1997), Madison (1998), and Webster (2007 parishes.  In addition to freelance journalism, editing, and nonfiction writing, he has published short stories, poetry, and a novel, Red River Fever, a short story collection, Stories of the Confederate South (Pelican Publishing) and  a children’s book, Jim Limber Davis: A Black Orphan in the Confederate White House also by Pelican. Pittman is of Welsh ancestry, a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, and a Civil War reenactor.  Contact him at rickeyp@bayou.com.