As I traveled home from New Orleans Saturday night, on the Mississippi Public Radio I listened to Jill Conner Brown of Sweet Potato fame give a short speech in Oxford. This was the first time I had heard her speak, and I’ve never read anything she’s written. I was surprised to find that she is a skillful and motivating speaker, and one with a wonderful sense of humor. It may be a little unmanly for me to say, but the speech was so well delivered that it made me want to read some of her books. It really changed my perspective of her. I died laughing in the truck when I heard what she said was the Sweet Potato Queens motto: “Never wear Panties to a party.” There were many other lines that I would have written down if only I had not been driving on the Interstate in the rain.

She ended her program with a saying that truly stirred my heart: “Life is too short and too long to spend it doing anything that does not make your heart sing…” As I grow older, I’m feeling the ephemeral nature of life and my own mortality more and more. I also realized that I did the right thing in deciding to promote my writing on a full-time basis, as my writing is what really makes my heart sing.

A few years ago, I played bass guitar for a whole year with Johnny O’Neal. We performed mostly in Monroe, but we also made it to New Orleans and Shreveport. Once, we were the first act in Pontchachoula’s in New Orleans before Dr. John performed. Johnny is one of the finest musicians I’ve ever known, as well as a genuine person. We had quite a few adventures together that year, and I learned so much. Anyway, I decided to post today the lyrics of one of his original songs. This was always one of my favorites. It’s from the CD we made that was recorded live at the Barron Olive bar here in Monroe.

It’s True

Music and Lyrics by Johnny O’Neal

You think,
That just because I called you,
I need you,
You think,
Because I say I miss you,
I’m lonely too,
You think,

My whole world revolves around you,
Don’t you?

Yeah, you think,
That I’m no good without you,
Don’t you?
You think,

That everything’s about you,
I know you do,
You may not want to hear it now,
But I’m going to say it anyhow,

CHORUS:
It’s true,
Every breath I ever take I take for you,
Every move I ever make I make for you,
Now and forever,
The love we shared together,
It’s true,
It’s true,
You know that it’s true.

Yeah, you think,
That I won’t ever doubt you,
Don’t you?
You think,
That I just can’t live without you,
I know you do.
Well, it won’t change you anyway,
But I’ve got these two words to say,

CHORUS:
It’s true,
Every breath I ever take I take for you,
Every move I ever make I make for you,
Now and forever,
The love we shared together,
It’s true,
It’s true,
You know that it’s true.

It’s nearly 10:00 pm, and I just returned home from my book signing at the Houma Books-A-Million. Thankfully, it was another sell-out. I signed and sold every book the store had ordered. Once again the manager was very pleased. I think I’ve got something good going on with BAM stores.

In addition to earning some royalties, I made numerous contacts and some future appointments for me to go to places to present my various programs. I was fascinated  with the strong economy in South Louisiana. The people were friendly, and the many who talked to me were genuinely interested in my book, Jim Limber Davis: A Black Orphan in the Confederate White House.  I met some more true Cajuns, and was delighted with their unique accents. I met the second Islenos woman I’ve ever met in my life, and like the first I met, she too was very beautiful and full of life.  I’ve been invited back to the store when my Stories of the Confederate South comes out, so I’ll have another signing there in October or November. Much more to tell, but I’ll save it for a time when I’m not so tired.

Tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 1, I’ll have a book signing at the Books-A-Million in Houma, Louisiana. My Jim Limber Davis: A Black Orphan in the Confederate White House sells well at the BAM stores. (They’ve all been sell-outs so far) I had thought Houma was thrashed severely by the hurricanes a couple of years ago, but word is that the economy has rebounded well and is actually booming.  I’m always amazed at the good economies once I get out of Monroe (though I know there are places where the economy is worse). After lunch today with my daughter and grandson, I plan on hitting the road to visit libraries and school districts along the way. Timing is difficult, as I must go through Baton Rouge, and traffic there can be very difficult in rush hour. Again, I’ll leave my beloved iBook at home. I’ll return late Saturday night, and if I’m not too tired, I’ll make a post then.

I just returned from the university, and things are as I feared. Though school begins in August, I won’t get my first university check until the end of September.  The administrators at both schools are already asking me about classes I can teach in the spring semester.  I have not fully made up my mind yet on that.  It depends on how the fall goes. Hopefully, I’ll be so busy promoting my book and will have enough funds that I won’t have to teach much, if any. My Website is up and has a new look. Check it out if you get a chance. http://rickeypittman.com/ I just had a counter put on it, and though I know for the past year or so that I’ve had 300-400 hits a month in the past couple of years, I’m hoping it will increase. The counter will make it easier for me to know that. There’s still no word on the exact release day of Stories of the Confederate South, though I know it is already being pre-sold on Amazon. I do know it will be in print sometime in October.

Today, I signed the contract with Pelican for my next children’s book: A Scottish ABC Book.  Teachers and librarians have told me that many people collect ABC books. I’m also at work with the one I hope will follow it: The Little Confederate’s ABC Book.

I’ve had great response to the fact that my Jim Limber Davis: A Black Orphan in the Confederate White House will be part of the Accelerated Reader Program. I feel this is a major coup.  I’m drowning in work, and feel somewhat overwhelmed, but somehow I’ll get it all done. A big part of yesterday was spent fooling with the rental car we needed to replace the Camry until we hear how my insurance company will settle on it.  A big hunk of today has already been eaten up with other chores.  My grandson, daughter and son-in-law will be with us this weekend, so some preparations MUST be made for that. I guess sometimes there’s no way out of doing some of those, but I know my writing suffers because they really eat into my time.

This Saturday, I have a signing at the Books-A-Million in Houma, Louisiana. I think Friday I’ll hit the road and work some libraries and school districts on my way there.  My excitement at finally being in the writing business is still high, and my determination still just as strong. Fall is the busy season for marketing books. Many people purchase books as presents too.  Well, just got a call from one of the universities I work with. Seems I have some paperwork I must turn in–like today! Time for Sisyphus to get back to work.

William Wordsworth said, “Nature never did betray the heart that loved her.” If I could see him now, I’d punch him in the mouth.  Last night we had a brief storm in my part of Monroe and Mother Nature spanked me.  We have an empty lot next to our house. In the empty lot is a dead pecan tree, not far from my driveway. It used to be larger than it is today. Last night, a demon-wind broke part of the tree and it fell on our 2000 Toyota Camry. Flattened the roof. One limb rises from the shattered windshield like it was a stake driven in the Camry’s heart.  Only moments before this catastrophe, I was sitting in my back patio experiencing and watching the approaching storm. (Like King Lear, I tend to find myself in many storms) Then I heard the distinctive sound of wood thudding into something. I looked at the roof first, thinking a branch had fallen on it. Then I glanced at my car, spiked like some victim of Vlad the Impaler.

I am sure my Camry is totalled. I know it cannot be driven. I just watched as it was towed to Parker’s Auto shop for its postmortem.  Our beloved (and paid for) car has seen its last days.  Soon it will be stripped of all usable parts like a recently deceased organ donor, and someone will make more money than I’ll certainly get with the insurance payoff. So today, in addition to teaching two college classes (that I’m very behind in), I must attend to the details related to my car’s demise: stop by the body shop and sign papers, meet with the adjustor and sign more papers, call the insurance company back and get a claim number, and then get a rental car. I have signings I must prepare for. Must move rocks (paper work) for the university. I also must now think of how I am to replace the vehicle. Grrrr.

So, today, I’m a Naturalist (like Stephen Crane, Dreiser, etc.) in my philosophy. They believed that men were victims of their environment, living in an indifferent universe, and victims of forces they could neither understand nor control. And that was when things were going well.

After a really enjoyable and fruitful weekend of book signings in the French Quarter in New Orleans, I received great news: My children’s book, Jim Limber Davis: A Black Orphan in the Confederate White House will be part of the Accelerated Reader Program used by many schools.  This is a major coup.

I enjoyed my tour of duty this weekend, meeting some really cool (and some really strange) people. The weather cooperated this time, and though it was quite warm, there was no rain, so I was able to man a table outside the two locations: Tisket-A-Tasket on Friday and the 1850’s House on Saturday.  Best of all, I was able to sell a ton of books and set up some appointments to present my program in some schools in Mobile and other places.

This morning, I’m preparing classes and handling some other details related to my writing business. Today is my long day at the university: I won’t get home until late.

This weekend I’ll have two book signings in the French Quarter in New Orleans. Tomorrow (Friday) I’ll be at Tisket-A-Tasket and then Saturday at the Friends of the Cabildo Bookstore. Both are repeat locations for me. I sold a ton of books at both locations last visit. Other than putting up with the traffic (which admittedly is not as bad as Dallas), I always enjoy my trips to New Orleans.  I’ve learned from experience that I won’t have time for any real computer work on these trips, so this will likely be my last post until Sunday. I do always take a notebook and manage to get a few scribblings in during slow moments.  Read well and often.

Well, my university classes begin today. I’ve been running around again, doing the paperwork required. I’ve got a 102 class at Delta, 2:15 pm Mondays and Wednesdays; a 206 class at the University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM) at 1:00 pm same days; and a 102 class at ULM starting at 5:30. Some gaps in time, but still a decent schedule. As I was handling business, I made two personal sales, and the ULM bookstore agreed to carry my books as well.  I like college teaching, certainly better than secondary school teaching, but it is still HARD work. Yet, I know I’ll meet a lot of cool people, and opportunities will come my way to promote my writing. I have an office: Room # 380 in Admin. that I’m sharing with another instructor.

As I thought about the work of teaching adjunct English, I remembered a poem I wrote about the task in a Christmas past. Here it is:

Adjunct Poem:

I am an adjunct
Mr. Staff in the catalogue
An amoebae on academia’s phylogenetic tree,
No GA to help with grading,
The lowest in pay, given the most work.
It’s not easy teaching freshman composition.

It’s the holidays . . .  So
I required my students to memorize a Merle Haggard song,
“If We Make It through December,” and we write a new carol,
“I heard the bills on Christmas Day.”
After opening the university’s Christmas bonus envelope,
(Confession: I wrote it myself and stuffed it with monopoly money)
I am inspired and gather enough cans to buy a box of stovetop dressing.
Filled with holiday cheer, I told my 102 class,
“In the spirit of Christmas, I’m giving all of you D’s.”
They thought I was kidding.
One applauded.
It’s not easy teaching freshman composition.

It’s exam time,
Like Milton, I’m going blind reading final essays,
In the room, the students come and go,
Talking of Michaelangelo,
Though they think him a Ninja turtle and hold odd positions,
I must not linger, I must read their compositions.
Cave man turned his paper in today.
I wish you could have read it.  He’s
A Neanderthal straight from Golding’s Inheritors.
“Story good. Me Likum story.”
Others think and write like model citizens in a dystopian society.
If I read one more cliché-filled paper about a high school graduation,
The winning game, having a baby, or getting saved,
You’ll read of me in the Monroe Daily Disappointment, (our local newspaper)
The naked drunken man arrested while biting trees in his yard.
My New Year’s celebrations are clouded by worry of my tax return, so
In class I launch into bombast and diatribe about excessive taxation.
A student informs me he works for the IRS.
He smiles wickedly when he asks me about his grade.
Happy New Year.
It’s not easy teaching freshman composition.

This morning, I attended the adjunct instructor orientation at Delta Community College. Great people. I left that meeting at 11:00 am to drive (two hours) to go to my signing at the Books-A-Million in Alexandria, Louisiana. I had another sell-out. I think we’re going to get the attention of the national accounts at BAM if I can keep this up. The BAM managers were VERY pleased and said that I could definitely return to their store for future signings. No negative responses to the book today, and I did sell some to school teachers who said they were interested in my coming to their school so I could present my Jim Limber/Civil War Program. All of today’s activities translates into future money. I also met Jimmy, a member of the local SCV, and he wants to schedule me for a camp meeting as well. A friend of mine met me at the store and we got reacquainted (our families had been close friends for that two years I lived in the Alexandria/Pineville area). After I had sold all my books (I was scheduled from 1-5 pm), at 5:20 we went to eat a supper at Sammie’s. I’m tired, but very happy with how the day went. People who stopped to listen to me tell the synopsis of the Jim Limber story were surprised at the rich ironies of the story: 1) The fact that the President of the Confederacy legally adopted a free orphan of color and 2) That it was Yankee troops who kidnapped little Jim. I do believe this is a story that must be told.

Deo Vindici.