(10/16/24)

I drove quite a bit today promoting my book, only to see way too many precious now-downed trees… As you might image, it was my first trip east since the latest storm, and even today, after Herculean effort, the damage is still clearly evident. A lot of oaks continue to shed limbs in Madison and Taylor Counties. They’re working very hard despite the fact that the limbs just keep on falling.

As you might have guessed from my header, the State Library of Florida has added Meet Maybeth to its collection. I cannot be more grateful for this; the staff there helped so much with my research! Historical Fiction is of course just that, but it needs to be very plausible. And man, there, digging into all dem books, I sho learnt me some stuff!

The Wilderness Coast System from Franklin to Jefferson is adding me to their collections as well. Thank you again to Carrabelle who always seems to somehow get there first!

I’m up in Georgia too; thanks also to you! I came from Alabama (without a banjo on my knee), but Cairo was and always will be my literary starter tree.

I’ve gotta go. It’s been a long day. But I will say one thing more: whenever you’re in Perry, GO EAT at Graves Drive-In! Holy Cow, what-a-burger (suck it, Texas!)! I know, I know, I’m new. I should’ve gone there sooner!

(3/27/24)

Let me start by saying thank you very much to the Calhoun County Library in Blountstown who recently adopted my latest novel (in which they might’ve been name checked). One of these days I’ll have to tell you the story of how that came to be…

You may recall that I expected to have a beta manuscript on my third project by now, but that was before the various catastrophes we suffered back in January. One after the other my wife and I lost three essential appliances: first it was our stove that we used pretty much daily, then our dishwasher died, followed closely by our damned garage door opener! Ugh!

I had hoped to spend the end of winter (such as it was) getting things finished up, but now here we are in spring and my manuscript still isn’t ready. I only have one polish left, but it’s an important one. I call it my “historical/descriptive” pass—a fun part, but time consuming. The field trips are fun, if not necessarily the rewrites.

My best guess for being done now is near the end of spring.

It hasn’t been all bad, however; I have met some very wonderful people.

I got myself a state library card and pored through the archives.

I visited a certain museum which was very informative!

A kind passing stranger in Monticello lent me a book!

I had a great lunch at The Social, which I highly recommend!

I got an amazing private tour of the historic Wirick-Simmons House!

And if all that hadn’t been enough, I’m now a bona fide member of the Jefferson County Historical Association!

Anyway, I’m done runnin’ around for now; it’s time to get back to work—to see if I can’t get this thing wrapped up so I can move on to the next.

(5/7/22)

Have you ever been to the Orlando area? No matter where you’re from, shy of Ulaanbaatar, I’m betting you probably have.

The reason I ask, is we just recently returned from another trip there as well. No, we weren’t there to visit Disney (yuck) but to see a beautiful garden and to put on the dog.

You see, Orlando is where my wife and I met twenty-six years ago. It was, no kidding, in the month of October on the weekend of Friday the 13^th.^.Told ya I was witchy!

At the time, for our first big date, I wanted to make an impression. Boy, did I… Searching for the best restaurant in town, I found it in Christini’s—Christini’s Ristorante Italiano!

Yep, twenty-six years ago, a year before we were married, we had our first date there and it was wonderful. And, just this week, we went back again to experience another miracle for our twenty-fifth anniversary.

Christini’s is still such an amazing place, and the staff there if anything have gotten even nicer.

Thank you again, guys, for another wonderful meal!

For those who’ve never been, let me tell you, they’ll treat you there like royalty. The place exudes old world elegance. With top notch ingredients and a voluminous wine list, you’ll think you died and went to heaven. They even have an accordion player there whom I’m convinced is a savant. If you throw him a song, tune, or classical piece, he’ll play it from memory impeccably on the most gorgeous instrument I’ve ever seen (I think the keys on the thing are inlaid with mother of pearl).

OK, that’s it. I’m starting to sound like a shill. I swear I’m not related to anyone there! I just love it is all, so much.

If you haven’t been to Christini’s, you simply HAVE TO GO and see and taste it for yourself. And remember to have some class—please dress for the occasion.