Hi.

I used to blog here. Until this week, apparently. Because sometime early Monday morning, the weight of every single responsibility that I’ve sort of brushed to the side while I’ve been traveling hither and yon for book stuff pretty much crashed down on my shoulders and made me wonder OH SWEET AGNES, HOW WILL I EVER GET ALL OF THIS STUFF DONE?

So, you see, I really couldn’t blog because I was too busy assuming the fetal position and trying to block out my mental to-do list. Plus, the Bulldogs were playing in the College World Series championship, and I could’ve had a complete come-apart over that little fact alone. However, somehow I’ve managed to spend the last three days wearing the biggest blinders I could find – all the while trying to plan and supervise Meaningful Summer Activites for a certain ten year-old – and I’m just now starting to see a little light at the end of the tunnel.

This is a huge development, really, because at the beginning of the week all I could see was the front end of a train barreling in my direction. And, understandably, that was not my most favorite feeling.

Anyway, for the last couple of weeks I’ve been wanting to write a post that answers some of the questions that have come up several times at book signings, and now that I’m sitting at Starbucks and there’s a beautiful sunset outside and I only have one thing left on that massive MUST BE WRITTEN list, I thought that tonight would be a fine and wonderful time to address those pressing issues.

Except that they’re not really pressing.

Or even, you know, important.

But still. Upwards of four people have asked these questions, so clearly this information is going to change the course of your life forever.

All righty. Here are the questions. And all of them pertain to my book. You’ve probably figured that out already since I mentioned that people had asked these questions at book signings. But you can always count on me to over-explain!

1) Why did you change the name of your hometown to Myrtlewood?

Well, there were several reasons. I originally started writing the book with the real name of my hometown, but I found myself struggling to balance the history of the town with stories about my people. And since the book was supposed to be about my family, the history part became a bigger and bigger distraction. So one day I tried changing the name, and HEY, MAGIC, I suddenly didn’t feel like I needed to explain who set up a shop on the corner of This Street and That Street back in 1847.

Another reason I changed the name was because I didn’t want to presume to speak for my hometown. I haven’t lived there in almost twenty years, and it’s changed a lot since then. I wanted to be safe to describe certain things the way I remembered them, but I didn’t want people to get frustrated with me if that’s not how those things are anymore.

Finally, one of my Tyndale friends and I talked a lot about this, and at the end of the day, we felt like it was a good idea to put a little bit of a buffer between Google and my family. I know good and well that anyone who’s determined to figure out everybody’s full names and where they live could probably do that – but I also didn’t want to give away too much because I am confident that if a book-reading stranger turned up at Martha’s house and knocked on her door, she would ask said stranger to please come inside so she could make them a fresh pot of coffee and serve them a brownie. She just made them! They’re delicious!

2) Where’d you get the name “Myrtlewood”?

One afternoon last summer Sister and I spent about an hour on the phone trying to come up with alternate names for towns and for people. It was way more difficult than I anticipated, and it made me more certain than ever that I will never, ever write fiction because I wouldn’t be able to name all the characters. Anyway, I had tried using “Dogwood” for my hometown, but it didn’t feel right. I’d also tried using “Tulip Creek” for my grandparents’ little town, and for some reason it made me feel like I was writing a script for a soap opera.

So.

There’s a little town called Myrtle, Mississippi that’s north of Tupelo, and every single time we pass the sign on our way to Memphis, I say something along the lines of, “That is THE BEST name for a Southern town.” So Myrtlewood is my little wink at Myrtle, Mississippi – and I just added the “wood” part from “Dogwood.”

(I “feel” like I’m “using” a “lot” of “quotation marks.”)

(“Help” me.)

After we settled on Myrtlewood, Sister said, “Well, you HAVE to change that Tulip Creek business.” She came up with Moss Rose. I thought it sounded delicate and Southern. So it was perfect.

3) How have the people in your family reacted to the book? Have they been okay with everything?

I will probably cry the whole time I type this answer. Just so you know.

If there was any part of the whole book thing that weighed heavily on me when I was writing, it was wondering how my family would respond. Naturally I was hoping that my affection for them would be evident, but you just never know what might rub somebody the wrong way – or what memory might be funny for a few people but painful for somebody else. So last summer, after I’d turned in my first draft, I gave all the chapters about Martha to Martha, all the chapters about Mama and Daddy to Mama and Daddy, etc. They were so great about every bit of it; the only change I made, I think, was to say that they don’t ALWAYS put enough peaches in the cobbler at Western Sizzlin’ – because Martha didn’t want anyone from Western Sizzlin’ to read and think that she doesn’t like their cobbler! Because she does! She just happens to like a lot of peaches!

Anyway, once I’d finished all the edits for Tyndale and the book was totally finished, I started to feel panicked that I had written something that was going to upset somebody, or maybe so-and-so didn’t see one particular part and what if they didn’t like it, or what if the edited version was too different from the original, or what if or what if or what if.

But now that the book is out and everybody has read all the chapters, here’s what I can tell you without hesitation: my family has been so great – just big, wide-open grace on all sides of the family tree. They have been unbelievably supportive and encouraging and patient and wonderful. I don’t think that I’ll ever get over it.

4) Did Martha really have a friend named Rubena?

Oh, yes ma’am. She most certainly did. I tried changing Rubena’s name, too, but as you can imagine, no other name would do. So Martha asked Rubena’s daughters if they were okay with me telling a story about their mama, and they were so sweet to say yes.

Which reminds me: look at this photographic treasure that a family friend of ours found a couple of weeks ago (thanks, Bruce!).

That’s Beth (another lifelong friend of Martha’s), Rubena, Martha, and Ann, who I’m guessing was engaged at the time. I think this picture was taken sometime in the mid- to late 80s, and it makes me so happy. Daddy actually took one of my books to Beth when I was home a few weeks ago, and since Beth can’t see very well anymore, Martha was planning to go sit with her a couple of times a week and read a chapter out loud when she visits.

(Seriously. This is too much. It makes me so emotional. I may require a sedative.)

So. Those are all the questions I can remember right now, but hopefully I’ve cleared up a few things. And if there’s anything you’ve been wanting to ask, just let me know in the comments. I’ll do my best to answer. Because let’s be honest: we’re sitting smack-dab in the middle of the no-man’s land between baseball season and football season. What else am I gonna write about? CAMPING TIPS? I THINK NOT.

Have a great weekend, y’all!

Edited to add: the very kind folks at ParentLife are giving away five copies of my book. Here’s the link. And there’s another giveaway for three books over at 5 Minutes for Mom, so here’s the link for that one. Just FYI and in case you’re interested. :-)

I am giving myself 30 minutes to write this blog post – and then THE END – because it is almost midnight and I have to drive back to Birmingham early tomorrow morning and it would probably be wise for me to get some sleep.

So.

This morning I drove from Birmingham to Tupelo for a book signing. It took me a little longer than I was planning to get out of town, but I blame my tardiness – at least in part – on the fact that I am somewhat fascinated by one of the cashiers who works at a drugstore by our house. I ran in the drugstore to get some IceBreakers and some hair clips before I got on the road (too many details? sometimes I don’t know when information is essential or just annoying.), and I got held up in a line because the cashier was talking to the woman at the front of the line about jewelry. The cashier’s determination to find a subject to discuss with each customer makes every trip into the drugstore is a little bit of an adventure, and I am increasingly obsessed with what the topic of the day might be. Today it was her love for amethysts. Sometimes it’s a book she’s recently enjoyed or her favorite kind of lettuce. Oh, I could check out with the cashier in health and beauty aids and maybe wrap up the drugstore experience a few minutes sooner, but I choose this woman’s register EVERY SINGLE TIME because, well, I might learn something about the gross national product of Aruba or maybe even the most effective way to cook beets. It is always a lesson.

Once I finally got on the road, I made mighty good time to Tupelo and was turning into Emma Kate’s driveway before I knew it. One thing I don’t think I’ve mentioned is that while my publisher set up my book signing in Birmingham, all the other book signings have been set up by family friends or college friends who decided of their own free will that they wanted to take the book signing bull by the horns, so to speak. I have not done one thing except respond to their texts that say, “I am setting up a book signing for you. You are not allowed to say ‘no.’ Here’s where it will be.” And then once we work out the logistics, I just try to show up on time. It’s a system that seems to be working pretty well since my friends are very thoughtful and organized; they’re also aware of the limitations of my personal book marketing strategy, which primarily consists of looking at Amazon a couple of times a day and then devoting untold energy to reading Mississippi State message boards about the College World Series.

All that to say: Emma Kate planned the book signing in Tupelo. And while she would never tell me this, I know that she worked like crazy to pull the whole thing together. I am so grateful for that because listen – it was so fun. My friend Bubba was at EK’s house when I pulled in the driveway (he lives in Memphis, so seeing him thrilled me to no end), and once we got to the signing, I got to see Bubba’s mama and sister, along with EK’s mama and two of her dearest friends, and just hearing all of them talk to each other brought me so much joy. At one point I actually heard someone refer to Melanie’s book as “the Sparkly Green Earrings,” and it made me so happy. Plus, I loved getting to visit with some of EK’s friends I haven’t seen in awhile, meeting a few new people, and basically just soaking up the sounds of one of my favorite Mississippi towns. I could’ve stayed there all day.

EK planned a little sweet/salty get-together after the book signing, and we spent about 45 minutes just talking and alternating cheese straws with M&Ms while we wound down from our time at the bookstore. About 6:45, though, we started loading up the car to head back to EK’s because we didn’t want to miss a second of the Bulldogs’ College World Series game, and somehow, in the process of putting everything in the car and making sure we weren’t leaving anything behind, I ended up driving EK’s SUV.

The fact that I was driving a vehicle that was relatively unfamiliar to me is a critical plot point in our story.

Well.

We started the trek to EK’s house, and as we were talking and trying to figure out what we wanted for supper, I realized that the green light in front of me had just turned yellow, so I hit the brakes – brakes that responded very differently than the brakes on my car – and since I hit the brakes a little bit harder than what was necessary, a very valuable box fell off the backseat and into the floorboard.

I would like to warn you that what you’re about to see is not for the faint of heart. Consider yourself warned.

That right there is some cupcake heartache, my friends.

And you should know that we got so tickled. SO. TICKLED. Fortunately most of the cupcakes were resting on other cupcakes or on part of the box, so once we got back to EK’s house and really surveyed the damage, we realized that, for the most part, they might not be much to look at, but they were still totally edible. So all’s well that ends well.

Plus, you know, THIS.

photo via AP

There is no way to adequately convey to you just how loudly we yelled during our game. But we yelled, and we high-fived, and we clapped, and there may have even been some rally caps at the bottom of the 7th when we were feeling a little nervous. But the ‘Dogs prevailed – 5-4 over Indiana. Which means the Bulldogs are now one win away from playing for a National Championship. And I can’t talk about it anymore because quite honestly I can’t even wrap my brain around it.

But it was the best day. And night.

Hope yours was, too.

Well, a couple of hours ago Martha called to tell me that she was thrilled! perfectly thrilled! when she heard that my book was ranked #3 on Facebook. She was so thrilled!

Listen. I did not have the heart to tell her that 1) the book hasn’t been #3 in any rankings whatsoever and 2) Facebook doesn’t actually have a bestseller list. So instead I just thanked her for being so excited. Because, well, she has been so supportive and enthusiastic about everything that correcting her wasn’t even remotely worth it. It’s like when my mama talks about how I have “a blog on Google.” GOOD ENOUGH.

Anyway, I am here mainly to relay three bits-o-information. These things are certain to change your life forever. Except that they won’t. But perhaps they will serve as a light diversion.

– My friend Anne is hosting a book giveaway over at her blog.

– My friend Robin is also hosting a giveaway over at her blog.

– I have a book signing here in Birmingham tomorrow (Saturday, June 15th). It’s at the Brookwood Village Books A Million, and it starts at 3pm. They didn’t set an ending time, but my guess is that we’ll get to the end of the book signing line at approximately 3:08. I’ll stick around longer than that, though, just in case there are some weary Father’s Day shoppers who might like to sit down for a few minutes and visit.

That’s it for now. Hope y’all have a great weekend – and Go ‘Dogs!

Love,
Me

For as long as I can remember, I have had trouble keeping dates straight. I’ll get the day right and the date wrong, or the day wrong and the date right, or sometimes I’ll miss completely on both the day and the date. I’m also a person who frequently sends emails that say “I’ve attached so-and-so” when I’ve failed to attach anything at all. And you know those supply lists that teachers and coaches send home so that your child(ren) can make sure to have everything that’s needed at a certain after-school activity / camp / practice / game? I usually forget at least one thing on the list. Sometimes two. And I’ve been known to forget that there was even a list at all.

Given all of that, it didn’t really surprise me today when a friend of mine at Tyndale emailed me and said, “Um, there’s a little bit of confusion about your Tupelo book signing.” I put the wrong date on my book signing page, then put the right date in a blog post, and as you might imagine that left the correct date somewhat up in the air.

So here is the correct information, and I know it’s correct because I’m going to proof it about sixteen times after I type it out:

Tupelo, MS – Monday, June 17th – Reed’s Downtown – 3:30-5:00

And here’s a link to a (very correct and accurate) list of the other book-y gatherings.

I also have one more annoying thing to ask you, and then I’m going to put on my pajamas and crawl under the covers and watch one or fifty episodes of something-or-other on the TV. I should have mentioned this the day that the book came out, but I didn’t because it made (and continues to make) me uncomfortable, but I’ve decided that I’m being a little bit of a baby about it and I need to just go ahead and ASK IT, ALREADY.

So.

If you’ve read my book, would you please consider leaving a review for the book on whatever retailer you prefer? Amazon, BN.com, christianbook.com – doesn’t matter. Or Goodreads. Goodreads is good. But apparently reviews help with all sorts of fancy book-related metrics, so it’s good to have them. Unless they’re all 1-star reviews, I reckon, though a 1-star review is certainly a book buyer’s inalienable right and privilege and whathaveyou.

OH MY WORD I WANT TO HIDE FOREVER.

I also think it’s abundantly clear why I did not pursue a career in marketing or PR or anything of the sort. Because here would be my strategy for all first-time authors: 1) Write a book. 2) Hope for the best!

So now that I’ve said everything I need to say, I’m going to reward myself with some TV. And next week I am not mentioning That Thing They Call My Book even one time. Because for the rest of this week I am going to establish some television goals, and I am going to work hard to achieve those goals, and then I am going to write posts about what I have discovered and learned from the television.

This is what you might call A RETURN TO THE COMFORT ZONE.

Hallelujah and amen.

Well, it has been a jam-packed few days around here, so I’m going to resort to the list format. Honestly, between book stuff and college baseball (the ‘Dogs are in a rain delay right now), I’m not sure that I possess the ability to compose paragraphs. Unrelated sentences it is!

– The winner of last week’s giveaway for the cast iron skillet, a book, and All The Bacon is comment #487.

Congratulations, Lori M. – I’ll send you an email later tonight!

– I had a book signing in my hometown late last week, and when I wasn’t fighting back tears at the sight of a teacher from junior high or a friend from grad school or a buddy of Papaw Davis’, I had such a good time. I was especially happy to see my cousin Benji’s sweet girls – they are growing up so fast.

– It was my last post, I think, when I mentioned how much I’d been sleeping lately, and I apparently I spoke way too soon because the sleep, it has been oh-so-elusive the last four or five nights. FINGERS CROSSED that I turn a corner with the insomnia over the next couple of days because, well, I’M PUNCHY.

– There was another book signing in Jackson, MS this past Friday, and I got so tickled when I saw the sign outside of the bookstore.

I just never dreamed that I’d see my name and “$1 Domestic Beers!” on the same sign. It sort of made me feel like I should end my time at the bookstore by sitting on top of a piano and singing a medley of love songs from the 80’s. Anita Baker, anyone?

– State’s baseball game has now been postponed until tomorrow at 3. Quite frankly I don’t know if my nerves can take much more on the Road to Omaha.

– I’m pretty sure I’ve blogged about this before, but this bag by Scout is the very best road trip / beach bag I have ever used. Mine was a gift from Emma Kate, and it is one of my favorite things. The outside pockets are genius.

I realize that the bag has nothing to do with anything that I’ve mentioned today, but I love it a little more with every trip I take. It’s a keeper.

– This week is going to be like finals week for me; I have four articles to finish, and I’m going to try to stay away from the Internet until I am all done…otherwise I’ll wind up in some sort of YouTube vortex where I watch the opening numbers from old Miss America pageants over and over again. Then I’ll move on to the theme songs from 70’s sitcoms. And then it’ll be 4 in the afternoon and I’ll be wondering why I’m not finished with anything.

– I have a book signing here in Birmingham this Saturday, June 15th at the Brookwood Mall Books A Million. It’s at 3pm, and I’d love to see some of y’all there (she says, awkwardly). :-)

– Finally, thanks so much for your very kind emails and comments and tweets and etc. over the last week or so. There’s just no way to express how much your sweet words of encouragement have meant to me. I am oh-so-grateful.

Happy Monday, y’all!