I hardly ever watch television, but I love movies. However, my schedule is now so incredibly busy and packed with college and writing business that I don’t often get to watch a movie or read a book. However, a couple of weeks ago, I managed to do both. I had a small window of time and on one of the movie channels caught Love Song for Bobby Long with John Travolta and Scarlett Johansson. I found the film moving, and I checked to see if it were based on a book. It was–the novel by Ronald E. Capps entitled, Off Magazine Street.  I ordered it right away.  Then I ordered the CD with the theme song of the movie.

Off Magazine Street Capps’ first novel. Good Reads says he has two more. He is a graduate of Auburn and an Alabama resident. In addition to being what I consider a fine writer, he is also a visual artist, painting and sculpting.  He has the attitude of a writer. I found a quote of his that I really liked. He said:

You can find the plot of Off Magazine Street in many places, so I won’t repeat that here, but I would like to make some observations of this novel. I found the movie good, the book better, the song by Grayson Capps (not sure if he is related to the author) a fair capsule of the novel.  The story is a moving one, so full of sadness, the characters so realistically portrayed, the dialogue so natural, that I knew it had to be true (not in the literal sense, but as in “truth”–reflecting life accurately). I understood the characters–Bobby Long, the fallen from grace professor; Byron Burns, the struggling writer and friend, and Hanna, the girl from the wrong side of the tracks, indeed the wrong side of life, whom they help get into college.  I learned about drunks, about writing, about seeing life, about New Orleans. The many allusions are rich and instructive, the narrative effective. This was a novel I could not put down until I finished it.

However, the novel is still not finished with me.

“Bobby got an overdose of some things and an underdose of others. His mind ran too fast. He could not slow it down. He was like a gazelle in a toy store at times, and a moth to a flame at others” (192).

“Bobby knew nothing about occasions, timing, he only knew what he lived. That was the way he had lived his whole life. To him things were simple. You reached out and took, and if you felt like it, you gave, with intensity you wanted to give with” (237).

“Byran wished he could have blamed it all on a war; a broken home during childhood, some terrible handicap, and make the reader of the book he would probably never finish believe that there was some good in Bobby. But the truth was more likely that, his friend, with all his sins and faults, with his unusual mind–enhyanced or diluted with years of alcohol and too many thoughts–was neither good or bad, just a conglomeration called Bobby Long” (238).

There are many other quotes, but you need to find them yourself.

Here are some quotations I liked:

This weekend will be busy. Tonight, I have a presentation for the Sherman, Texas, SCV. Then tomorrow, a signing at Waldenbooks at the mall in Sherman, and an Americana music show at the Java Stop Coffee House beginning at 7:00 p.m. Saturday, I’ll have signings at the Sherman Sam’s Club and the Books A Million. Monday, I’m presenting a program at Region VIII Media & Library Services in Mt. Pleasant, Texas. I’ll then return home Monday night and get ready for the next cycle of author events. Here is a flyer for my weekend. If you’re in the area, come and see me.

Sherman Author & Music Events

Seamus the Leprechaun took a few days off from his cobbler business to attend the Jackson, Mississippi Celtic Fest. A full report of his adventures there will be forthcoming. On his return he stopped at the sign welcoming visitors to Monroe, Louisiana. After wading through water up to the soft mound of dirt the sign is built on, he posed for this photo. When asked why this sign was important to him, he said:

“I’m looking for a pot of gold! I heard that  Monroe’s Mayor Mayo constructed this sign for $75,000.00. Look at it. It’s a pile of dirt and a bunch of bricks. There’s no way it could have cost that much. So I decided he must have buried some of that money here, and I’ve come to find it.  With a name like Mayo, do you think the mayor is Irish?”

Seamus the Leprechaun can be seen in the bottom left corner of the photo.

Seamus Searches for Mayo Gold

Here are the lyrics to a song I wrote based on the myths and legends regarding the Red River. I wrote a novel based on the fever legend. You can check it out on the sidebar. I’m working on the song structure. I’m sure it will be in a minor key.

Red River Fever by Rickey E. Pittman

On the edge of the Indian nations,

Once a violent no man’s land,

Spirits move along the river’s banks,

Ghosts of lost and desperate men.

Whores and Comancheros

Wanted men and half-breeds,

Jayhawkers, scalpers, and outlaws,

They once made this valley bleed.

Hidden by the thickets,

Logjams, quicksand, and flood,

They killed and thieved and raged,

Until the river flowed with blood.

And the river whispered secrets

Into their souls each night,

Dark and cruel and blood things,

And they listened with delight.

Infected with a fever that

Boiled their blood and brains

The demons of the valley

Made men violent and insane.

The demons only set them free,

When the river’s work was done,

The fever’s only cure was death,

By rope or knife or gun.

The fever’s gone they say,

But still the blood-red waters flow

And whispers yet its secrets,

To the dark and lost in soul.

Here are the song lyrics to two songs by Jeff Talmadge. If you don’t have his CD True, you should get it! I’ll do a review on the whole CD soon. These are songs I’m going to add to my own Americana show.

Train from Amsterdam by Jeff Talmadge

Verse 1:

We used to talk about tomorrow

like we had all kinds of time

And sometimes this life is like

Some shirt I borrowed

but tonight it fits me like it’s mine

CHORUS:

And I’m near some border

on this train from Amsterdam

knowing what’s been left along the way

And it’s hard giving up a thing you never had

And my heart’s a million miles away

Verse 2:

I took this train across the lowlands

The stars were setting in the sea

And I’ll take these lowlands as a sign tonight

While the rails are whispering to me

CHORUS:

Verse 3:

Did you ever stop and wonder

What it took to put you in this place

Every careful plan you made got torn asunder

Then every broken piece fell into place.

White Crosses by Jeff Talmadge

Verse 1:

White crosses by the side of the road

Plastic flowers and sunburnt bows,

All lit up like a desert rose

As I drive away from you

Memories float in the twilight air

And it feels like sadness everywhere,

I wish I could say I didn’t care,

But that just isn’t true,

CHORUS:

Some things last forever,

That’s what you used to say,

Stars can burn white hot or fade away,

You’re in the stars tonight

And every breath I breathe,

I guess it’s true nobody gets to stay

Verse 2:

There’s a faded name on that cross

Somebody, somebody lost,

A reminder of what’s the cost

And how nothing stays the same

It’s like the faded name on your heart

And the road out of town takes us apart

Is it the end or just the start,

When there’s no one left to blame.

CHORUS:

Verse 3:

And in the faded desert light

There’s no clear picture of who’s wrong or right,

I could turn around and I think I might,

But I hit the gas and go,

For every cross and city limit’s sign

There’s one who goes and one who stays behind,

I don’t know which I am this time,

Or if I’ll ever know

CHORUS:

I guess it’s true nobody gets away . . .w

Jack Hinson’s One-Man War: A Civil War Sniper
by Tom C. McKenney
Pelican Publishing
ISBN 9781589806405

A Review by Rickey E. Pittman

Revenge is a strong emotion, one often attached to or possessed by individual soldiers or civilians in times of war. Jack Hinson’s One-Man War: A Civil War Sniper  (Pelican Publishing) is a story of Jack Hinson, a man living along the Kentucky-Tennessee border who attempted to be neutral in the Civil War. Two of his sons were captured by a Union (Yankee) patrol, executed on the roadside, decapitated, and their heads placed on the gateposts of their farm.
Such a sad story, but what’s worse–it’s a true one.
Now, the war became very personal, intensely personal. Hinson had a gunsmith specially design and make a .50 caliber rifle, designed for long-range accuracy. Hinson said goodbye to his family, and set out to obtain revenge. And the Federal Army learned the high cost of vengeance. With that rifle, Hinson killed over 100 Federal soldiers, marking each kill on the barrel of his rifle.  Confederate sniper, scout for General Nathan Forrest, Hinson was hunted by the Federal Army. Alone, he captured an armed Union transport, and he also warred against the guerrillas terrorizing the border states. Hinson did not record their deaths.
Hinson’s recorded kills probably makes him the most successful Confederate sniper of the Civil War.  If you enjoy reading about the Civil War, you will enjoy Jack Hinson’s One Man War.  McKenney’s well-written and detail-packed account is carefully researched and this is a story that is sure to touch your heart.

When I present my Texas History program in schools, I often teach them about Governor J.S. Hogg and of course make reference to his daughter, Ima. I just finished a funny song about Ima and wanted to share the words. It’s to a boogie-woogie pattern. I can’t wait to try it out on the kids. I’ll have to add it to my CD I’m working on as well.  If you don’t know anything about Governor Hogg or Ima, you should read about them. Below the lyrics is a photo of Hogg and his family.

“Ima Hogg Boogie”

VERSE 1

There’s a lot of strange names,
A man might give his kids,
But none could ever hope to match
The one my father did.

J.S. Hogg was governor,
Of the Lone Star State,
And though he did  folks much good,
He made a huge mistake.

VERSE 2

My Uncle wrote a poem
About the Civil War
The hero’s name was Ima,
A name my father did adore,

Without thinking of my future,
He did something quite insane,
J.S. Hogg the governor,
Gave me Ima’s name.

VERSE 3

On the day when I was christened,
I’m sure the parson laughed,
The way my teachers always did
When they called my name in class.

The students all would snicker
When someone asked my name,
And when I had to tell them,
My face turned red with shame.

VERSE 4

So, I’ll always be Ima Hogg
For all the years ahead
And though it made me famous,
I’d like another name instead

My imaginary sister,
I call her Ura just for fun,
So Ima Hogg, Ura Hogg too,
There’s two Hoggs instead of one.

J.S. Hogg & his family. Ima is the girl to the left.

Pelican Publishing has accepted my children’s book, The Faerie Flag of the Clan McLeod and they are seriously looking for an illustrator for it. If you are an illustrator of children’s books and are interested in doing the artwork for a HARD working author who knows how to promote a book, you need to apply. Here’s what you need to do if you are interested:

1. Don’t submit a request to me, or leave a comment about it on my blog as it won’t be responded to. I’m not the one who will make a decision. Pelican, the publisher, will decide. You must follow their submission guidelines which you can find here: Don’t waste your and the publisher’s time by not following those guidelines.

2. You need to have not only good English, writing and research skills, but you need a good grasp of the nuances of the English language, especially in regards to the Scottish culture. Loving Scotland, its culture and history would certainly be a plus.

3. You’ll need to know the legend and details (some historical) associated with the Faerie Flag of the McLeod’s.There’s tons of info about it on the Web.

4. You should be willing to utilize your present network and develop a larger one to help market the book.

In other words, being a children’s illustrator requires more than just being able to draw.  Go to the Pelican site and apply. I need a good artist on this one.

It’s All About a Story: A Review of the Music CD of Hanna Rector

When I was in Hot Springs in July, I encountered a beautiful young folk singer by the name of Hannah Rector.  I purchased her CD for the purpose of reviewing it and finally got around to it. With the exception of two tracks,  Hannah wrote the music of the CD. I felt the CD reveals real talent, and she certainly has good things ahead for her. Her music was certainly enjoyed at the Sons of Confederate Veterans 2009 National Convention in Arlington Hotel in Hot Springs.  Her music touches loss and learning in live, as well as her faith.  The lyrics are mature, solid, moving at times, and generally well-crafted and the music varies in tempo and style.  If you like blues, you’ll like her “Guitar Station.”  I think my personal favorite of hers is “Mirror, Mirror.” I’ll post some of her lyrics in another post. Her voice is excellent. If you’re interested in hearing some of her music, and learning more about her, you can and should explore her MySpace page here: http://www.myspace.com/hannahmaerector

For a first CD of it is really a decent effort. If you like acoustic guitar joined with the beautiful female voice, you’ll enjoy her CD. If you’re a Confederate, her version of “Dixie” will bring you to tears. Here are the song titles for It’s All About the Story:

1. “It Was You”
2. The Next Thing They will See
3. With a Leaf in Her Mouth
4. Down in the Valley
5. Don’t Give Up
6. Guitar Station
7. Mirror, Mirror
8. Cheat
9. Angel in Disguise
10. Save Me
11. Don’t Leave
12. Grains of Sand
13. My Children
14. Dixie

Hannah Rector

Hannah Rector

Hannah Rector at Hot Springs, Arkansas 2009

I discovered Adrienne Young some time ago. Here website is here: You can find photos and Young’s bio on her site.  She performs with a group called Old Faithful.  Here are the lyrics to a song from her CD, Plow to the End of the Row. It’s called “Lonesome Road Blues” and I liked it so much that I added it to my Americana show.  If you need to know the chords she uses, I’ll be happy to send them to you. Just email me or post a comment.

Lonesome Road Blues (Traditional, performed by Adrienne Young)

I walked on down that lonesome line
hung my head and I cried
I wept and I cried under a willow tree
out by the deep blue sea.
my mama, my dear papa can be found,
And my brother on a county road
Now I been down that long plank walk,
I’m on my way back home.

You cause me to weep, you do cause me to moan,
You cause me to leave my home,
I cried last night and the night before
I swear I won’t cry anymore.

Your fast mail train comin’ round that track
killed my brown-eyed boy
they took him down that smokey track
brought him back on a cooling board.
Now I’m looking down that lonesome line
just as far as care to see.
I have no money lost my brown-eyed boy
these blues won’t set me free.

you do cause me to weep, you do cause me to moan
you cause me to leave my home
I cried last night and the night before
I swear I won’t cry anymore.

Adrienne Young plays guitar and banjo and has one of the finest and most stirring voices you’ll ever hear. I encourage you to check out her music. Here is a photo of her and her banjo. I found that photo here:

Adrienne Young