WELL READ Magazine June 2023

TheBystanders by

DawnMajor

TheBystanders,weavestogethersmall-towneccentricitiesand charactersbeginningwiththeinvasionoftheSamplesfamily toLawrenceton,Missouri.Townie,EddyBauman,and newcomer,ShannonLamb-Samples,comeofageinthe1980s whenbighairisbigandMadonna’s“LikeaVirgin”blasts overtheairwaves,buttheycouldn’tbemoredifferent.The realtownofLawrencetonandthesurroundingareawerepart oftheLouisianaPurchase,andcenturieslater,theold-timers stillspeakPawPawFrenchandtime-honoredtraditionsrun deep.

Thoughsomesaysmalltownsarebigfamilies,Lawrenceton doesn’twantanythingtodowiththeblacksheepofthefamily. Shannonwithher“GirlsJustWanttoFun”attitudeand fashion,herfortune-telling,Paganmother,WendySamples, alongwithherhard-partyingandabusivestepfather,Dale Samples,areoutliersfromLosAngeles.Shannonmightas wellhavelandedonMarswhenWendyandDaledecidethey needado-overinthecountryside.ThoughShannonisnone toopleased,EddyisenthralledbyherValleyGirlways.Ina townofannualchurchpicnicsandbeautifullandscapes,the Samples’strailerontheoutsideofL-Townisaneyesoretothe townsfolkandthefamilyisquicklysnubbed.Shannonand Wendy,whocouldreallyusesomefriends,mustlearntorely uponthemselvestoclawtheirwayoutofpoverty,abuse,and especiallyDale.

“InTheBystanders,debutwriterDawnMajorwriteswith subtlety,compassion,andunderstandingaboutatimeandplace intheworldthatmanyauthorshavetackledbutfewhave mastered.Thisinterconnectedcollectionofshortstoriesfrom theheartlandisoneofthoserareworksthatisabletocapture remembrances,andtoremindusallwhythosemomentsare worthremembering.” RaymondL.Atkins—SetList,Sweetwater Blues Asachild,DawnMajormovedfromCalifornianear Lawrenceton,Missouri—thetownthatinspired TheBystanders.

DawnMajorisanassociateeditorat SouthernLiteraryReview andhasagraduatedegreefromtheEtowahValleyCreative WritingProgram.ShewasarecipientoftheJamesDickey ReviewLiteraryEditorFellowship,theDr.RobertDriscoll ExcellenceinWritingAwardonRegionalThemes,and ReinhardtUniversity’sFacultyChoiceExcellenceinWriting Award.

Herwritingmaybefoundat: WellRead Magazine,HeavyFeatherReview,Southern LiteraryReview,GeorgiaGothicAnthology, SpringerMountainPressSummerSlasher HorrorAnthology,ElderMountain:A

JournalofOzarkStudies,FivePoints:A

JournalofLiteratureandArt,JamesDickey Review,Sanctuary,SedimentsLiterary-Arts Journal, and FamilyLifePublications.

TheSouthernizationofAmerica: AStoryofDemocracyintheBalance

byCynthiaTuckerand FryeGaillard

PulitzerPrize-winnerCynthiaTuckerandaward-winningauthor FryeGaillardreflectinapowerfulseriesofessaysontheroleof theSouthinAmerica'slongdescentintoTrumpism.In1974the greatSouthernauthorJohnEgertonpublishedhisseminalwork, TheAmericanizationofDixie:TheSouthernizationofAmerica, reflectingonthedouble-edgedrealityoftheSouthbecoming moreliketherestofthecountryandviceversa.Tuckerand Gaillarddiveevendeeperintothatrealityfromthetimethat Egertonpublishedhisbookuntilthepresent.Theyseethedark side--themorphingoftheSouthernstrategyofRichardNixon andRonaldReaganintotheRepublicanPartyoftodaywithits thinlydisguised(ifindeeditisdisguisedallall)embraceof whitesupremacyandthesubversionofdemocraticideals.They explorethe"birtherism"ofDonaldTrumpandtherootsofthe racialbacklashagainstPresidentObama;thespecteroffamily separationonoursouthernborder,withitsechoesofsimilar separationsintheeraofslavery;aswellastheriseofthe Christianright,thedemonstrationsinCharlottesville,thedeath ofGeorgeFloyd,andtheattackonournation'scapital--allof which,theyargue,haverootsthattracetheirwaytotheSouth. ButTuckerandGaillardseeanothersidetoo,alegacyrootedin thecivilrightsyearsthathasgivenuspoliticalleaderslikeJohn Lewis,JimmyCarter,RaphaelWarnock,andStacyAbrams.The authorsraisetheironicpossibilitythattheSouth,regardedby someastheheartofthecountry'ssystemicracism,mightlead thewayonthepathtoredemption.TuckerandGaillard, colleaguesandfrequentcollaboratorsattheUniversityofSouth AlabamainMobile,bringamulti-racialperspectiveandyears

ofpoliticalreportingtobearonacriticalmomentinAmerican history,atimeofracialreckoningandofdemocracyundersiege.

AnNPRBestBookof2022

FryeGaillardisthewriter-in-residenceintheEnglishand historydepartmentsattheUniversityofSouthAlabama.Heis theauthorofthirtybooks,includingWithMusicandJusticefor All:SomeSouthernersandTheirPassions;CradleofFreedom: AlabamaandtheMovementThatChangedAmerica,winnerof theLillianSmithBookAward;TheDreamLongDeferred:The LandmarkStruggleforDesegregationinCharlotte,North Carolina,winneroftheGustavusMyersAward;andIfIWerea Carpenter,thefirstindependent,book-lengthstudyofHabitatfor Humanity.HelivesinMobile,Alabama.

CynthiaTucker(Author)CYNTHIATUCKERisaPulitzer

Prize-winningsyndicatedcolumnistwhohasspentmostofher careerinjournalism,havingpreviouslyworkedfortheAtlanta Journal-ConstitutionasaWashington-basedpolitical correspondent.Herworkasajournalisthasbeencelebratedby theNationalAssociationofBlackJournalists,whoinductedher intoitshalloffame,HarvardUniversity,andtheAlabama HumanitiesFoundation.Tuckerspentthree yearsasavisitingprofessoratthe

UniversityofGeorgia'sGradyCollegeof Journalismandiscurrentlythejournalistin-residenceattheUniversityofSouth Alabama.Herweeklycolumnfocuseson politicalandculturalissues,including incomeinequality,socialjustice,and publiceducationreform.

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“…TherejectionfactorthatIlearnedtocopewithactingdidnot applytowriting.AtfirstIdidn'tunderstandwhy,andthenI realizeditwasbecausemyheartwasinthepagesofthenovel.”

KEEPINGITREALWITHLESLEYKAGEN

InterviewbyMandyHaynes

Y’all,afewyearsbackIpickedupacopyofLesley Kagen’s WhistlingintheDark atalocalbookstore.After readingthefirstandmiddlepagesofallthebooksIcarried aroundthestore(whatIdoifIfindseveralinteresting booksbutcan’tdecidewhichone/onestopick),Iputthe otherbooksbackwithoutasecondthought.Iwasso excitedtostartreadingIstoppedatarestaurantontheway homefordinnerinsteadofcookingthemealIhad planned,andstayedupwaytoolateonceIgothome reading.Icouldn’tputitdown.Thestory,characters,and thegreatwritinghadmereadinglinesoutloudtomythree dogsandwishingthatonedayIcouldmeettheauthorjust soIcouldtellherhowmuchIenjoyedit.Igottomeet

Lesleyacoupleofyearsagoandletmetellyou,she’snot onlyoneofmyfavoriteauthors–butoneofthecoolest ladiesI’veevermet.

It'smyhonortofeature Lesley Kagen thismonthin

WELLREADsolet’sgetstarted!

LesleyKagenisanactress,sought-afterspeaker,and award-winning,NewYorkTimesbestsellingauthorof ninenovels. WhistlingintheDark (2007), Landofa

HundredWonders (2008), TomorrowRiver (2010), Good Graces (2011), Mare'sNest (2012), TheResurrectionof TessBlessing (2014), TheUndertakingofTessla (2014), TheMutualAdmirationSociety (2017),and EveryNow andThen (2020).

Shewaiteduntilraisingherchildrentowriteherfirst novel,WhistlingintheDark—whichwasontheNew YorkTime’sBestsellerList,receivedtheHonorBook AwardfromtheMidwestBooksellersAssociation,and wasselectedasaBookSensePickforthemonthofMay, aswellasaFeaturedAlternatebyDoubleDayBookClub, TheMysteryGuild,andTheLiterary.Sheisthemotherof two,grandmotheroftwo,andlivesinahundred-year-old farmhouseinasmalltowninWisconsin.

BeforewestarttalkingaboutLesley’sbooks,Iwanted toknowmoreabouthertimebeforeshebecamea publishedauthor.

“So,isittrueincollegeyoumajoredinradioand television?”

Lesley,“Well,IactuallythinkIhavetherecordatthe UniversityofWisconsin,Milwaukee,forthemostamount ofchangesintermsofdeclaringamajor.Ididn'tknow whatthehellIwantedtodo.IknewthatIcouldn'tdo anythingthatinvolvedmath,becauseIliterallyhaveno leftsidetomybrain,apparentlysothatwasout.Iwentto schoolthinking,Well,Idon'tknow,I'lljustgoandsee whathappens.”

Lesleywantedtobeachildpsychologistbutshedidn’t thinkshecouldpassthestatisticstest.Soshethought she’dbeateacher,untilherfirststudentteachinggig.She

couldn'ttakeit.Itwasinareallytoughneighborhoodin Milwaukeeandthekidsweresopoor.

“Ijustgottoosad.SoIthought,I’lldoart.Ilikeart! ButIcan'tdrawalick,soIdon'tknowwhatpossessedme thereandthenoutoftheblue—Imetthisguy.Youknow howthatgoes.”

Welaughed,becauseyesIdo.

“Hewastheprogramdirectorofthefirstunderground rockandrollradiostationinthecountrywhichwasin Milwaukee.WefellinloveandallthatandthenImoved in.HewasaDJandinordertobeonair,hehadtohave anFCClicense.Well,hefailed.Ifhewasgoingtomake anymoneyandstayatthegigIhadtogetmylicenseand staywiththemwhilehewasdoinghisshow.”

Soshedid.Forawhilesheansweredthephonesanddid someotherbehindthesceneswork,butwhenthewoman whowasgoingtodothemorningshowdefectedandwent tothecompetingradiostation,Lesleywastoldshe’dhave totakeherplace.

“Iwaslike,what?”Lesleylaughs.“ButI'lltellyou, Mandy,thesecondIopenedupthatmicrophoneIknew exactlywhatIwantedtodo.Fromthereitjustwentkind ofnuts.WhenImovedouttoLosAngelesIgothiredbya hugeretailrecordstorecalledLicoricePizza,whichis whatthemoviewasnamedafter.Ibecamethevoiceof LicoricePizzaandeverycommercialstartedoutwith,‘Hi.

It'sLesliefromLicoricePizza’andIbecameoneofthose peopleyouhate.YoucouldnotturnonyourradioinLos Angelesduringthosedayswithouthearingmyvoice.

“Iwroteallthespots,produced,andwasthevoicefor abouttwentycommercialsperweek,andIdidthatfor abouttenyears.ButinthemeantimeIwasalsoacting.I didlotsofoncameracommercialsandvoiceoversfor moviesandcartoons,regularTV,andradio.”

I’dreadthatshewasinanepisodeof Laverneand Shirley soIaskedheraboutthat.

“Oh,yeah,Iwas,”shelaughed.“Iwasveryexcited whenIgotcast.Theepisodeiscalled TakeTwo,They're Small.Alotofactressesweren'tthatexcitedbecausethey calleditLaverneandSurly.PennyMarshallwasfantastic butCindyWilliamsnotsomuch.Ididsomemoviesofthe week,little,tinyparts.MostlyImademylivingdoing voiceoversandcommercials.Ihavethatkindofface whereI'mnotsogorgeousthathousewiveswon'tbuythe product,butnot,youknow,sounattractivethatpeoplego -Don'tlook,Marvin!

ButIwasthatkidwhoeverybodythoughtwasgoingto growuptobeawriter.Aseasyasmathcomestosome kids,writingcameeasyforme.Iwasnotevenconscious ofit,totellyouthetruth.Istartedoutprettyyoung.”

Infourthgrade,Lesleyenteredthispoemintoher Catholicschool’spoetrycontest:

I'mthesun,Iaminthesky, andverysoonI'lltellyouwhy Godmademeandputmethere forallofyou,mylifetoshare.

Iglowlikeemeraldsinthesky, andmaybeRuby'sdippedanddye.

I'mveryhot,asyouwellknow.

Godmademejust….

“Okay.Sothethingis,Iwasaprettycageykid.I figuredoutthemoretimeyoumentionedGodyou're gonnadogoodataCatholicschool.Iwonasilverdollar. AndI'mtellingyou,in1959thatwastonofdough.”

Lesleywashookedandthefollowingyearshewrotea scriptforapopularTVshow, 77SunsetStrip.

“Iwroteaboutthiscatthatsmuggledjewelsinitscat collar,”Lesleycoversherfacewithherhands.

“Clever,”Ilaugh.

“Right?So,Iwroteitalldown,putinanenvelope,took ittomymother,andaskedifshecouldpleasesenditto Hollywoodforme.Blessher!Shesentit.Ispentevery FridayinfrontoftheTVwaitingtoseethecatwitha jewelnecklace.Ofcourse,thatneverhappened,butIdid getan8X10glossypictureofEdCookieBurns.”

Lesleycontinuedtowritethroughhighschooland college,mostlyskits,andthencommercialsfortheradio

station.

OnceLesley’schildrenleftthenest,shedecidedto writeanovel.Whenitwasreadytosendoutsherealized thereweresomemajordifferencesbetweenthe entertainmentbusinessandpublishingbusiness.

“Backthenyouhadtogothroughatraditionalhouseto getpublished,whichmeantyouhadtohaveanagent.I hadagentsmyentirelife.SoIwaslike,Oh,okay,nobig deal.Ithought-Oh,whatabreeze!I'llgetone immediately.Neverhadaproblemgettinganagent before,”Lesleylaughs.

“Whistling wasrejectedonehundredandfifty-onetimes beforeIlandedanagent.Iwasusedtogettingrejectedfor commercialsoranactingjob.Itwasn'tthatbigadealto me,becausesomuchofitisbasedonspecificlooksandI knowI'mtalented.IalsoknowI'mareallyfantasticwriter -IknowthestuffI'mnotgoodateither-butwhenmy bookgotrejectedforrepresentation,Iwasdevastated.The rejectionfactorthatIlearnedtocopewithactingdidnot applytowriting.AtfirstIdidn'tunderstandwhy,andthen Irealizeditwasbecausemy heart wasinthepagesofthe novel.

TherejectiondevastatedmeuntilIjustreachedacertain point,andthenyouknowwhat?Wecanonlyabsorbso muchpain.ButIdidhavethatpointwhereIthought, okay,whenshouldIstoptorturingmyself?Iguessatagent

151.”

Wewentontotalkabouttheflipsideofwhatit’slike beinganauthor.Thebusinesspartthatnoonereallytalks about.

“Itisverydifficulttobeanindependentcontractor.You know,wearesmallbusinessowners.Imean,yes,there's lotsoffreedom,andit'swonderful,butthereisnota guaranteedpaycheck.It'salwaysahustleandalotof work.Yes,thereareelementsofitthatarewonderful.I mean,Igottobecreativemyentirelife.That'sprettycool, butalsoit'sscaryashell.

Iwanteverybodytowrite.Itrulydo,butIdon'twant everybodytopublish.Idon't.It'snotforthefaintofheart. IcanrememberwaybackwhenIreadAnnLamott’s, Bird byBird,whichisoneofmyfavoritewritingbooks.She hasasentenceinthebookthatsays,‘Listen,don'tbetoo excitedaboutgettingpublished.It'sreallynotwhatit's crackeduptobe.’

Ithoughtthatjustcan'tbetrue.Itcan'tpossiblybe–but itis.It'sreally,reallytrue.

Quitehonestly,Mandy,nobodyinthisentirebusiness knowsexactlywhat'sgoingon.Publishingisoneofthe worstbusinessmodelsI'veeverbeenexposedtoinmy life.

Theygivesomepeoplehugeadvances–butwhatabout alltheotherwriters?Ihadafriendwhoreceivedan

obsceneadvanceandthentheydidn'tbotheratalltoreally advertiseormarketthebook.Howdoeswork?Howdoes thatmakesense?

Thatwouldbelikeopeningarestaurantandthennot tellinganybodyaboutit–notgivingthemtheaddress.

Thatisnotagoodbusinessmodel,it'shorrendous.”

Lesleyhassomegreatadviceforwriterswhodecideto self-publish,“Behappythatyoucreatedsomething.Tobe areallysuccessfulself-publisher,youhavetoknowan awfullotaboutmarketing.Itcostsahugeamountof money,andontopofthatyou’vegottounderstandhow manybooksareouttherenow.It'sreallyimpossible,I think,inmanyways,forpeopletodowellfinancially.Just knowthatgoingin.”

Lesleysaysthemisconceivedideasthatpeoplehaveare heartbreaking.

“I’vepublishedeverypossibleway.I'veevenselfpublished,andI'vealsogonewithaboutiquepublisher. I'vegottentothepointnowwhereifsomebodycomesto meandasksaboutapublisher,I'mnotgonnalietothem. Myallegianceismoretoasisterwriterthanitistoa publisher.”

“Weneedmorepeoplelikeyou,”ItoldLesley.

“Well,wemightneedmorehonestyamongstwriters,” wasLesley’sreply.“It'sahard,cold,cruelworld,yetI wanteverybodytowritebecausethat'swherethepayoffis,

andthat'swhatpeopledon'trealize.It’sthewritingthat meanssomething.Notbeingrichandfamous.

I’llwritecommercialstomakemoneybutwriting fiction…that’sforme.”

Lesleyalsokeepsithonestinherwritingevenwhenshe hastofightforit.

In Whistling thereisaperipheralcharacterwhoisgay. Thenovelissetin1959andthetwomaincharacters,two younggirls,repeatwhatthey’veheardandrefertothe characterasahomo.Theyhavenoideawhattheword meansthey’rejustrepeatingwhattheyheard.Lesley’s editortoldhershecouldn’tusethewordbecauseitwasn’t politicallycorrect.

“Iaskedher,whatwouldyoulikethegirlstocallBob?

Shesaidtheyshouldrefertohimasgay.Well,that’s absurdandit'shistoricallyinaccurate.That'ssomethingI feelverystronglyabout,thelet'srewritehistorybullshit. AmIrealpleasedwiththestuff,RobertE.Lee,did?No, butguesswhat–ithappened.Youcan'tpretendhedidn't doit.Youcan'tpretendthatdidn'thappen.Imean,that's absurd.Ifinallyworetheeditordownandshechangedit back.

So,Igetanothercopyofthestoryback.Well,there's anotherpointinthebookwherethegirlsareswingingona tireswing,andthecharactersaid,Oh,wewerehavinga gayoldtimenow.Whentheeditorwentback,shepressed

replaceall.Sointhenewscriptitsaysthegirlswere havingahomooldtime.Istartedlaughingsohard, Mandy.IthoughtIcan'tevenbemadaboutthis,Ijust laughedandthought,well,thatputsadifferentslantonthe story.”

WhatisLesleyreading?

“YellowFace byR.FKuang.Everywriterontheplanet shouldreadit.Itsaysit'sasatireofthepublishing business,butIdon'tfindthatit'ssatirical.Ifinditpretty spoton.”

Shegoesontosay,“IknowthatI'mnotdiverse; diversityisthethingnow,andI'mveryhappyfordiverse people,andI'mveryhappyforeverybodygettingthat shot.Butthethingyou’vegottounderstandisthatyou couldwritethenext ToKillaMockingbird,anditwould beprettytoughtogetabookdeal.

I'mwritingsomethingnewthatIknowisnotpopular rightnow.Romanceispopular.Iwanttheoppositeend, bookswrittenforpeoplewhodon'tcareaboutromance anymore,youknow,whodon'tlookatpeoplegetting marriedandgoawwwwbutlookatpeoplegettingmarried andshout-run!”anothergreatLesleylaugh.

“Iwanttowritebooksforthosepeople.Thekindof booksthatmeansomethingtome,booksaboutwhat peoplearefeeling,notsomuchwhatpeoplearedoing.”

TohearmoreofLesley’sinterviewcheckoutWELL READ’s BetweenThePages podcast.

1984LicoricePizzaradiocommercial

MURDERCREEKWRITINGRETREAT WORKING ITINERARY

FRIDAY,SEPTEMBER1st

Check-inbeginsat12:00p.m.forparticipants.

6:00p.m. BBQontheporchoftheMagnoliaRoom.

Dinnerwillincludepulledpork,tomatocoleslaw,Miss Deborah’sfamousbakedbeans,andCocaColacake.

7:00-?? HollyShirley Host:OpeningCeremony. Pickingandgrinningandstorytelling.Participantsare encouragedtohaveastoryreadytotellsowecangetto knowyoubetter.Thetownisinvitedtocomeoutand welcomeeveryoneandjoininthejamsession.BYOB

SATURDAY,SEPTEMBER2nd

8:30-9:30 Breakfastinthediningroom.

OntheMenu:BreakfastCasserole,Goudagrits,Biscuits, andFreshFruit.

10:00-11:00 LaineLawsonCraft-MagnifyandMaster

YourMarketingPlan

11:30-12:30 JoeFormichella and SuzanneHudson -The PitfallsofPublishingandHowtoAvoidThem

1:00 Lunchinthediningroom.

OntheMenu:ChickenFantasticSalad,Soups,andFruit, TeaandWater.

2:00-3:00 FryeGaillard and BobZellner -WritingHard TruthsandWhyIt’sImportant

3:30-4:30 JoeTaylor -BenefitsofPublishingwitha UniversityPress

5:00-6:00 Writing/FreeTime-Timetodownload everythingwe'vetakenintoday.

6:00 DinnerontheMagnoliaRoomPorch.

OntheMenu:LowCountryBoil,Saladwithroasted pecans,feta,redonions,chickpeas,tomatoes,and balsamicdressing.BananaPuddingfordessert.

7:00 Livemusicacrossthestreetatalocalvenue.You maycarryyourownadultbeverages.

SUNDAY,SEPTEMBER3rd

8:30-9:30 Breakfastinthediningroom.

OntheMenu:BananaPancakes,ScrambledEggs,Bacon orSausage,andFreshFruit.

10:00-11:30 LisaKastner -AskanIndependent Publisherand AimeeHardy -HowtogettheMostoutof WorkingwithYourEditor

12:00

Lunch“TraditionalSundayDinner”inthedining room.

OntheMenu:ChickenandDressing,SweetPotato Casserole,SteamedBroccoli,Rolls,andPeachCobblerfor dessert.

1:00-2:00 CarolynHaines-WhyHavingAnAgentis ImportantandHowToFindOne

2:30-3:30

JodiCainSmith and StaceySheehan-WilsonWorkingwithBooksellersatIndependentBookstoresHowtoBookEventsandWhatToExpect

4:00-5:00

ChipMacGregor -AskanAgent

Writing/FreeTime-Timetodownload everythingwe'vetakenintoday.

5:30-6:00

6:00 Dinnerinthediningroom.

OntheMenu:HomemadeVegetableSoupandCornbread

MONDAY,SEPTEMBER4th

8:30-9:30Breakfastinthediningroom. OntheMenu:-Tomatogravyandbiscuits,scrambled eggs,sausageorbacon,fruit.

10:00-10:30 MandyHaynes -DifferentAdvertising OptionsandPublishingOpportunitiesin WELLREAD Magazine.

10:30-11:00Opendiscussionwithhostsabouttheevent. Let’sexchangeideas!Whatdidyoufindmostinteresting, howwillyouusetheinformationyoureceived,whatwas themostbeneficialtoyouandyourWIP?

Participantscangetlunchtogoorstayandmeetsomeof Brewton’slocalyoungwriters.

12:00LunchwithLocalYoungWriters-MiddleSchool andHighSchoolWritingContestEntrantsandWinnersof theprizeswillbeannounced.5-6thgrades,7-8thgrades, 9-12thgrades.TheCityofBrewtonissponsoring$500in prizemoneyforouryoungauthorsandlocalmerchants willbesponsoringprizesforthemaswell.

1:00-4:00WritingWorkshopforYoungWriters

All-Inclusive RetreatRates willrangefrom

$995to$1495perparticipantbasedupon accommodations.

ClickhereformoreinformationaboutTheHolleyHouse RegisterfortheMurderCreekWritingRetreatHere

Spaceislimitedandtheretreatisopentowriterswho haveaworkinprogress.Thisretreat,organizedbyHolly HartShirleyandsponsoredinpartbyWELLREAD MagazineandthecityofBrewton,isgearedtoward writersofallbackgroundswhohaveaworkinprogress.

Nomatteryourwritingexperience,you’llleavethe MurderCreekWritingRetreatwithimportantinformation includingthecraftofwritingdifferentgenres,what publishersandagentsarelookingfor,howtosubmityour work,theprosandconsofself-publishingandindie publishingv.traditionalpublishing,howandwheretofind audiobooknarrators,andlotsoftechniquesandtipsabout theartofstorytellingthatarebeneficialtoauthorsofall genresandwillhelpstrengthenourvoiceonthepage.

IttookusfiveyearstoremodelHolleyHousefromtop tobottom-downtothestuds.Atonepoint,thecharredroof fellin,Motherhadanervousbreakdownonwhatisthe chapelfloor,andInearlywhippedthemeanestHonduran inNorthAmericaonthefrontporch.Thatwasthedaythat sheknewImightbemeanerthantherestoftheentire familyputtogetherbecauseIchasedhimaroundametal benderuntilIhadhimbackedintoacorner,andwhenI wasalmostdonegivinghimhellforscreamingat everyoneinthebuilding,Iwentinsideonlytocomeback outandgivehimsomemorehell.Ihavebeentoldyou couldhearmescreamingonEvergreenAvenue,thenext streetoverfromourhouse.Itwasnotmyproudest moment,butweestablishedapeckingorderand sometimesthatisnecessaryintheconstructionprocess.

Theremodelwasalaborofloveofblood,sweat,and lotsoftears,andeverydollarMothercouldgetherhands ontomakeitwhatwealwaysdreameditcouldbe,and everydollarIcouldgetmyhandsontocommutebackand forth,feedus,andbuyaccessoriesthatshesaidwecould skip,butIthoughtwerenecessary.Ihaveneverbeenmore broke,moreexhausted,orinmorepainthanIwasduring thoseremodelingyears.Iput60,000milesonmycar commutingtothejobsite.

WhenIwasinBrewtonworking,Isleptinthesamebed asmymotherinamakeupstore,becauseshewasstill

operatingaMerleNormanCosmeticsstorethathadan apartmentintheback.Itwasalotoftogetherness,more togethernessthanmyonlychildmakeupandherparticular personalitycouldmuster,butwepushedthrough.Unless somethingapocalypticoccurs,wedon’teverneedtolive togetheragain.Iwasgladtogethomeandshewasvery gladtoseemytaillights.WhenIvisit,whenwe’vehad enoughofeachother,Iknowitandhittheroad-she swearstheonetraitIinheritedfrommyfatherismy abilitytopackandleavewithintenminutes-Idisappear likeHoudini.

TheentiretimethatIwassonastythatdirtwascaked onmyface,orIwassosorefrommovingfurnitureor unloadingtractortrailerloadsofmattresses,Motherwas saying,“Whilewe’reatit,justonemorething.”IfMother wasaradiostation,“OneMoreThing”wouldbethe phrasethatpays.SheshouldhavebeenanOlympictrainer insteadofahotelierbecauseshecangetthat“onemore thing”outofyoubetterthananyoneIknow.

Thereareprobablynottwomorediametricallyopposed peoplethatexistintheuniversethanMotherandIare,yet somehow,wecangetthingsdoneaslongasoneofusisin chargeandoneofusisdoingwhattheyaretold.Youcan’t havetwochiefsandnoIndians,andourfamilyhasalotof chiefs.Lead,follow,orgetthehelloutofthewayisthe mottoinourfamily.Ifyoutakethelead,youneedtobe

runningstrongoryouwillbetrampledbymy5’2” septuagenarianmamawhowilltaketheleadandmake youherunpaiddayworker.

Butthethingswedoagreeon?Webelieveinwork, hardwork,anddoingajobright.Wedon’tbringstore boughtfoodtofuneralsordinnersontheground,andwe alwayscookwaytoomuch.Webelieveinhavingclean baseboardsandorganizedpantrieseventhougheverything aroundusmightlooklikeit’sbeentossedintoGoodwill piles.Andwebelievethatavehicleisn’tproperlybroken inuntilithasatleast200,000milesonit.

Whatelsedoweagreeon?Weagreedwhilewewere remodelingHolleyHousethatitwouldbecomearefuge forwriters,artists,musicians,andpeoplelivingouttheir callinginlife,whateverthatmightbe.Weagreedthat thereshouldbeaplaceforreflectioninthehousewhere travelerscouldpray,meditate,andcollecttheirthoughts becauseyouneverknowwhatapersonisgoingthrough whentheyaretravelingandso,webuiltachapel.

WhenIfirstbroughtuptheideaofawritingretreatin 2018,Iwantedittobeaworkshop—verymuchlikethe onesIexperiencedatYaleinthesummers—aplacewhere peoplecouldcomeandrelax,buildacommunitywith otherwriters,killofftheirinnercritic,andfindtheir uniquevoices.WhenMandyandIspokeaboutme wantingtohostawritingretreat,shejumpedonboardand

wecametogethertogivewriterstheverybestexperience wecouldimagine.

IcannotsayenoughaboutMandyHaynesandWELL READMagazineforhelpingbringthisretreattogether andforbeingasponsor.Shejokeswithmeaboutknowing everyoneinAlabama,andIthinkshemustknoweveryone everywhereelsethatIdon’t.

MandyhasgivenMotherandIfreespacetoadvertise theeventandTheHolleyHouse,putherwritingasideto createcontentfortheads,designgraphics,correspond withthefacilitators,andhelpwiththeschedule-allona volunteerbasis.Sheevenencouragedmetowriteabout thehistoryofourB&Bandthepeoplebehindit,adding measacontributingwritertoWELLREADtohelpspread theword.Howshe’sfoundtimeinherhecticscheduleisa mystery,butsheisatruechampionoftheliteraryworld.

Betweenthetwoofus,wehaveworkedhardtobring someofAlabama’sfinestwriters,teachersandhistorians, editors,booksellers,agents,andpublisherstogetherfora one-of-a-kindlongweekend.

TheHolleyhouseisrelaxing,andyouwillimmediately feellikeyouareathome.Thefoodisgreat,theretreatis allinclusive,thefacilitatorslinedupforthisyear’sretreat areveryspecial,andwearesogratefultheyarecomingto bewithus.

Youareinvitedtocomekickoffyourshoes,watchme

fightwithmyMotheroverwhetherornottoputthe barbequesauceonthemeatorontheside,youcanplan howyouaregoingtofeatureyourbookinWELLREAD withMandy,meetsomesouthAlabamalegends,andbe preparedtolaughandhavethetimeofyourlifelistening tostoriesaboutfunerals,robberies,andmurderson MurderCreekgonewrong.

Whenwesay“Y'allcome!”wetrulymeany’allcome joinus—it’sgoingtobearip-roaringgoodtime.

WHATAREYOUREADING?

WHATAREYOUREADING?

AlwaysAgnes by Mickey Dubrow

Somethingsyoucanneverchange. ThedaybeforeAgnesCookis goingtorevealhertimemachineto theworld,hermotherClaudiadies fromanapparentsuicide.Agnesis convincedthatifClaudiahadn't gottenpregnantasateenager,she wouldhavehadabetterlifeandwouldn'thavekilled herself.Agnes'loveforClaudiaissostrongshe'swilling tojeopardizeherexistencetosavehermother.Shegoes backintimetothenightherparentscreatedherandto stopthemfromhavingsex.Hermissionisasuccessbut notinthewaysheanticipated.

“Thebook’smostpowerfulcreation,theonethatinspired metokeepturningthepagescompulsively,turnedoutnot tobeatimemachine,buttherelationshipbetweena daughterandhermother,andthelengthstheywillgotoin ordertosaveeachother.”

byHoneybird

PeterMcDade,authorof Songs

MurderUnderaWestern Moon byAbigailKeam

MonaMoonandhernewhusband, RobertFarley,DukeofBrynellethare abouttoboardanoceanlinertoMerry OldEnglandfortheirhoneymoon whenMonareceivesanurgent telegramfromRupertHunt,hereyes andearsintheMooncoppermines.

POTENTIALRIOTATMONTANA MINESTOPDEADMINERSTOP POSSIBLEMURDERSTOPCOME ATONCESTOPRUPERTHUNT

SincethecopperminesarethefinancialbackboneofMoon Enterprises,Monahasnochoicebuttodropherplansandtravel toMontanaonthenexttrain.SheandRobertdescendintoa worldofseethingresentments,bitteraccusationsagainstMoon Enterprises,andbaddecisionsthatposeathreattoMona’s world.ShetravelsincognitotosearchoutthetruthofRupert’s allegationsagainsttheminingmanagement.Shemustdecideif Rupertistryingtopreventaninnocentmanfrombeinghungfor murderorifheispartofagrandioseplotagainsther.Afterall, MonahadbeenkidnappedbyRupertwhilesearchingforthe Swiftsilvermineayearago.Rupertisascoundrel,butMona hiredhimtobeherscoundrel.IsthisanotherofRupert’sgames?

Regardlessofthethreat,Monamustgettothebottomofit.

ThankgoodnessRobertisbyherside...orcouldRoberthave hisownagenda?

"Thisbookisespeciallytimelyinthis volatileerawherelivingahealthy, meaningful,andupliftinglifeby understandingmoredeeplyone'sself andthusone'sabilitytodosomakes thisbookamust-read.Iwastouchedby thespecific,actionableinsightsand examplesAyeletBaronprovidestoput usonthatpath." -KareAnderson, Emmy-winningjournalist,authorand TEDspeaker.Kare'sTEDtalk(over2.5 millionviews)onOpportunityMakers TEDxtalkonmutuality,alsobooks: MutualityMatters and Opportunity Makers.

Throughalloftheknowingand unknowing,thevisibleandinvisible, factsandmystery,lossandgain,sanity, andinsanityofitall-youarehere.

Trekkingintotheunknowntakes couragebecauseitforcesyoutorealize howmuchyoudon'treallyknow.F*ck theBucketListinspiresyoutoask questions,digdeep,andcreateyourown meaning.Thestorystartsandendsat yourownpace.Thisisn'tjustanother self-helpbook,spiritualbook,or memoir-it'sanexperience,beyond categoriesandlabels,thataskseachof ustotapintotheuniversalwisdomthatsayswecanliveour livesourownway.servesyou.

"AyeletBaronisfiercewithfaiththatto buckthesystemandtrustourheartsis anactofradicalself-care.Forgetfear, frustration,formulasandfalsebeliefs. Findfortitudewithinthesepagesto followyourhearttoamorefulfilling, healthfuture.Fullofprovocative questionsandexpeditions,F*ckthe BucketListfortheHealthConscious willreframeyoursenseofwhat's possibleforyourselfandourcollective courageousfuture."

-ShellyL.Francis, authorof TheCourageWay and Founder,CreativeCouragePress

AyeletBaron isavisionaryauthor,healer,andglobal futurist.ShewasrecentlyrecognizedonForbesas oneoftheworld'stopfemalefuturists.Inthemidst ofaverysuccessfulcareerasaglobalstrategy executiveatCiscoSystems,shewentthroughher owntransformation.Shewrotethisbooktrilogy becauseshewishedshehadthisuniversalguidance whenshestartedonherownjourney.Herdreamisto helpunleashmillionsandmillionsofpeople,whoare readytodoourinnerwork,andbecomethe architectsofhumanity.

PopFlies,Robo-Pets,and OtherDisasters by Suzanne

Kamata

Thirteen-year-oldSatoshi

Matsumotospentthelastthree yearslivinginAtlantawherehe wasthestarofhismiddle-school baseballteam--asluggerwithpro potential,accordingtohiscoach. Nowthathisfather'sworkinthe UShascometoanend,he'smoved

backtohishometowninruralJapan.Livingabroadhas changedhim,andnowhisoldfriendsinJapanare suspiciousofhisnewforeignways.Evenworse,his childhoodfoeShintaro,whosedadhastiestogangsters,is inhishomeroom.Afterhejoinshisnewschool'sbaseball team,Satoshihasachancetobeaherountilhemakesa major-leagueerror.

"Aheart-warmingstoryaboutabaseballplayerwho learnsthatteamworkismuchmoreimportantthanbeing thestaroftheteam.Ilovedthefamilydynamicsand depictionoflife,andespeciallybaseball,inJapan."--

ShaunaHolyoak,authorof KazuJonesandtheDenver Dognappers (Hyperion,2019)

ThereareNo AnswersHere, OnlyQuestions:A Memoir

by

CharlesBruce McIntyre

"Thisbookisawarm andneighborly invitationtojoin BruceMcIntyreonthe weatheredteakbench underthegiantoakin hisyardandbe spellboundbythedual storieshespins-how hesoldhissuccessful businessatthesame

timehewasenduringdebilitatingcancertreatments.

ThereAreNoAnswersHere,OnlyQuestionsisbeautifully crafted,wise,humorous,touching,andinspiring.Perhaps oneofthemosthearteningquestionsinthebook:"Isit strengththatgiveshope,orhopethatgivesstrength?"

McIntyrerewardsthereaderwithageneroushelpingof both.” -JudyGoldman,authorof Child:AMemoir

“RaymondL.Atkinsonceagain re�lectstheSouthandallits belovedcontradictionsinhisnew novelCAMPREDEMPTION. Beautifullycrafted.His storytellingisanartformonly foundinthebestSouthern literature.”

--AnnHite,authorofthe awardwinningGHOSTONBLACK MOUNTAIN

CampRedemption byRaymondL.Atkins

ThecandidpoemsinGiannaRusso’s OneHouseDownaregroundedin experiencesofambivalenceand oneness,notunlikethosewe sometimesfindintruelove.Russo ruminatesonthepastandscrutinizes thepresentinherhometownofTampa withhonestaffection,concern,anger anddelight.Sheasksanessential question:Howcanwetreasureaplace whosehistoryandvalueshave sometimessupportedinjustice?Andif thosewrongsarestillevidenttoday— thenwhat?WithfamilyrootsinTampa thatgobackoveracentury,Russo skillfullypursuesananswerinthese inventive,surprisingpoems.

“….ThepoemsinGerryLafemina’s newbookenchantthesensesand succeedinstoppingtime—oratleast pausingtime—sothatwemight examinethethingsofthisworldwith loveandintelligence,sothatwemight hearthemspeaktousagain.Whois thereamongreadersofpoetrythat doesnotwishforthisgift?”

—JanetLowery,editorof BytheLight ofaNeonMoon

ReadWhatMagickMayNotAlteron aporchswingbyaliveoakifyoucan. ThislayeredSouthernfantasyisunlike anyyou’vereadbefore.Realworld issuesliketheprevalenceoftheKKK, sexualassault,manslaughter, alcoholism,andcomplexfamily dynamicsmovetheplotinto emotionallytreacherousandpainfully realplaces.TwinsistersLulahandVi anchorthisstoryofamagicallygifted familytoldthroughpoetry.Setinearly nineteen-hundredsLouisiana,the choicetotellthisstoryinversesetsit apart,makingitfeellikeaspellbook oramanifestoattimes.

MADVILLEPUBLISHING seeksoutandencouragesliterarywriters withuniquevoices.Welookforwriterswhoexpresscomplexideasin simpleterms.Welookforcriticalthinkerswithatwang,alilt,oraclick intheirvoices.Andpatois!Weloveagoodpatois.Wewanttohearthose regionalismsinourwriters’voices.Wewanttopreservethesoundofour historiesthroughourvoicescompleteandhonest,dialectalfeaturesand all.Wewanttohighlightthosefeaturesthatmakeourculturesspecialin waysthatdonotfocusondivision,butrathershineanappreciativelight onourdiversity.

byAbigailKeam

JordanMayfairMysteryseries

byPhyllisGobbell

“Ms.Gobbellhasdoneawonderfuljobcreatingamystery thatmakesyouwanttoreadmore.Themaincharacters, Jordan&heruncleAlexseemtofallintosituationsthat seemplausible.Thesecondarycharacters&villagersfrom Thurlesarewellcraftedandbelievable.Ilovethewaythe authorusedrealtravelsitesinIrelandtofacilitatethestory. Therewereenough‘redherrings’tokeepmeguessingand secondguessingasto‘whodoneit’.Iamnowgoingtolook forotherbooksinthisseries.”

FiveStarReview

TreacheryinTuscany–WinnerofKillerNashville’sSilver FalchionAwardforBestCozyMystery2019

AllNight,AllDay:life, death&angels by Susan Cushman

ComingJune20,2023from MadvillePublishing

AllNight,AllDayisan inspirationalcollectionof personalessays,stories,and poemsbyoutstandingwomen authorswhowriteaboutthe appearanceofthedivineintheir

lives.Someoftheseangelscometosavealifeorchangea flattire.Someappeartowarnpeople,tellthemwhattodo, suggestmorevegetablesandmaybebettershoes.

Contributors:CassandraKing-SuzanneHenley-River Jordan-SallyPalmerThomason-NatashaTretheweySonjaLivingston-JohnnieBernhard-Frederica

Mathewes-Green-AngelaJackson-Brown-ChristaAllan -ReneaWinchester-JacquelineAllenTrimble-Mandy

Haynes-WendyReed-LisaGornick-JenniferHorneAnnFisher-Wirth-AveryellKessler-LaurenCampCathySmithBowers-NancyDorman-Hickson-Joanna

Siebert-SusanCushman-ClaireFullerton-JulieCantrell

Tell-TaleBones:ASarah BoothDelaneyMystery by CarolynHaines

“Lovethisseries,Sarah Booth,Tinky&thegangwork togethertofindmissingwomen, emptygraves&evilateveryturn.

TheDeltaholdssecretsthatshe doesn'twanttoreveal!Carolyn Hainescontinuestodowhatshe doesbest,fromthefirstchapterto thelastsentencegrabsyoubythe throat&keepsyouthere.”

“CarolynHainesneverfailstodelivermysteryand elementoffunandwit!!Thetwistsandturnskeepyou readingastheendearingcharacterssolvetheirmysteries andunmaskthevillains.”

“Lotsoftwistsandturnsintheplot.Thestorylinealso addressessocialissues,likeyounggirlsdisappearing. Highlyrecommended.”

FIVESTARREADERREVIEWS

TidalFlats:ANovel(Sense ofSelf,Deconstructed Lovers,Choices) by

Inthiselegantandhonestnovel,a youngcouplemustnavigatethat finelinebetweenthethingstheywantforthemselvesand thethethingstheywanttogether,anditappearseachwill havetomakeachoice―thepersontheyloveorthelife theywant.

MaryCassattMiller,thedirectorofanAtlantahomefor olderwomen,andfamousphotojournalistEthanGraham wantalifetogether.DespiteEthan’sworktakinghimto thestreetsofAfghanistan,heagreesthatafterthreeyears, hewillstoptraveling.

But,nineweeksbeforetheirthirdanniversary,Cassis unsurewhetherEthanwillevergiveuptheworkheloves. Astheclockcountsdown,itdoesn’thelpthatSinger,the artist-bartender,isalwaysinAtlanta,andtheenthralling Setara,thesubjectofEthan’smostfamousphotograph,is alsohisbusinesspartner.

AnewdangerinAfghanistanchangeseverything.

Cynthia

NewberryMartin

"I'vebeenwaitingalongtimefor thisbook." ―RebeccaMakkai, authorof TheGreatBelievers and MusicforWartime

WalkingTheWrongWayHome by MandyHaynes

Spanningnearlytwentydecades, thestrugglesandvictoriesthese charactersfacearetimelessasthey allworktowardsthesamegoal.A placetofeelsafe,aplacetocall home.

SharpasaSerpent'sTooth:Evaand otherstories by Mandy Haynes

Eachstoryfeaturesafemale protagonist,rangingfromtento ninety-fiveyearsofage.Setinthe south,you’llfollowtheseyoung womenandgirlsastheylearnthat they’restrongerthantheyever thoughtpossible.

Oliver by MandyHaynes

“DearGod…andJesusandMary…” Eventhougheleven-yearoldOlivia israisedSouthernBaptist,shelikes tocoverherbaseswhenaskingfora favor.UnlikeherbrotherOliver,she struggleswithkeepinghertemperin checkandstayingoutoftrouble.But Oliverisdifferent,andinthesummer of’72heprovestoOliviathere’s magicineverything-it’suptousto seeit.

WorkInProgress editedby Mandy Haynes

Haveyoueverfinishedabookand wondered,"Whatmadetheauthorthink ofthat?"Orwonderediftherewasa chapterintheoriginalmanuscriptthat didn'tmakeitthroughthefinaledits?

WorkInProgressincludesfifty-nine excerptsfromsometalentedauthors' worksinprogressindifferentstagesof thewritingprocess,followedupwith thestorybehindthestoryofthepiece, andthestorybehindtheauthorwho wroteit.

CIDERBERRYSANGRIA

3tspSummerBerrySangria,FruitTea

1cupwater

500ml(1can)hardciderorsparklingapplecider

citrusandappleslices(optional)

2cupsice

DIRECTIONS

SteepSummerBerrySangriain1cupboilingwaterfor2hours andchillinfridge.

Whenreadytoserve,garnishtwoglasseswithfruitandice

Fillglasses1/3withsteepedSummerBerrySangriathenslowly addthecider.

Sipbackandenjoy!

INSIDEVOICES

“Whenwe'rebothwriting,ourhouseisquiet--whichisconducive togettingworkdone.Andsincenovelwritingisaverysolitary endeavor,it'scomfortingtohearsomeoneelseclackingawayin thenextroom…”

RobertGwaltneyandJeffreyDaleLofton interviewStevenRowley,authorof The Celebrants, andByronLane,authorof Big GayWedding

Byron Lane and Steven Rowley

StevenRowleyisthebestsellingauthorof Lilyandthe Octopus, aWashingtonPostNotableBookof2016, The Editor, namedbyNPRandEsquireMagazineasoneofthe BestBooksof2019,and TheGuncle,aGoodreadsChoice Awardsfinalistfor2021NoveloftheYearandwinnerof The22ndThurberPrizeforAmericanHumor.Hisfiction hasbeenpublishedintwentylanguages.Hislatestnovelis TheCelebrants.

ByronLaneisanauthor,playwright,andscreenwriter.His latestnovel, BigGayWedding,isaboutafamilyandsmall townforeverchangedbyagaymarriage.Hisdebutnovel iscalled AStarisBored,aboutanuptightcelebrity assistantstrugglingtomanagehiseccentricmoviestar boss,inspiredinpartbyLane'stimeasassistanttobeloved actressCarrieFisher. TheNewYorkTimesBookReview hails:“Wildlyfunny.”And People magazineraves: “Funny,dishy,deeplyaffectionate...theforceiswithhim.”

InsideVoices(Jeffrey): Okay,guys!AllT,noshade. What'slifelikeinatwo-authorhousehold—especially giventhatyoubothhavenovelscomingoutatthesame time?

Byron: Don'tbelievetherumors!It'sallloveoverhereat ourhouseinPalmSprings!Forme,it'sagreathelpto

haveStevenaroundforadviceaboutwritingandthe business.Andwegettobetogetherforafewbooktour events.

Steven: Ithinkalotofpeopleassumeitwouldbea nightmare,butwe'reactuallynavigatingitreallywell! Whenwe'rebothwriting,ourhouseisquiet--whichis conducivetogettingworkdone.Andsincenovelwriting isaverysolitaryendeavor,it'scomfortingtohear someoneelseclackingawayinthenextroom.(Byroncan rebut--IamaLOUDtypist--especiallywheninspired!) Nowourbiggestfightsareovertheringlight,andwho getstouseitifwehaveZoomeventsatthesametime.

InsideVoices(Robert): Steven,Iamahugefanofyour writing,andIamlookingforwardtoreadingyourlatest book.Tellusaboutthenewnovel, TheCelebrants.

Steven: TheCelebrants isthestoryofagroupofcollege friendswholoseoneoftheirowntosuicideontheeveof theirgraduationin1995.Convincedthattheirfriend wouldhavemadeadifferentchoiceifhehadknownhow muchhewasloved,theymakeapacttoreassembleat eachfriend'slowestpointinlifetothrowtheir"funeral" whiletheyarestillalivetobecelebrated.Overtheyears, theircelebrationsgoabitofftherailsuntilonememberof thegrouphasacrisisthatmightupendtheirpactforgood. It'skindofamodernspinon TheBigChill.

InsideVoices(Jeffrey):AndByron,yournewnovel Big GayWedding. Tellusaboutit.

Byron: BigGayWedding isaboutaconservativesmall townmomwhorunsarescuefarmformisfitanimals, clashingwithhergaysonwhowantstohavehiswedding onthefamilyfarm.It'samodernretellingof Fatherofthe Bride,butinsteadofafather,it'samother,andinsteada brideit'stwogrooms. EntertainmentWeekly callsit "hilarious,"Booklistsaysit's"wild...neverletsup."anda fewreadershavesaidit'salovelytearjerker.

InsideVoices(Robert): Yournovelsaresopoignantand humorous.Howdoesyourwritingreflectyourpersonal worldviewsandframesofreference?

Steven: HumoristhewaytosurviveeverythingandI thinkthat'sverymuchreflectedinmywriting.Buthumor writingisseriousbusiness!Onejoketoomanyanditcan throwoffanentirescene.Conversely,ifyougotoolong withoutallowingthereadertotakeabreaththrough laughter,thatcanweightasceneinaverydifferent direction.Iworkveryhardtofindaprecisebalancethat feelslikelifeitself.AndearlierthisyearIwasveryproud towinthe22ndThurberPrizeforAmericanHumor,which ItakeasvalidationI'mdoingsomethingright.

Byron: Ifindthathumorandheartmirrorreallife.Tough thingshappeninlifeandifwecanfindsomelaughterinit,

trulythat'sgreatmedicine!

InsideVoices(Jeffrey): Writingsooftenmeanshours spentsequesteredbehindcloseddoors,missingfriends' birthdayswhenyou'reondeadlineorcarvingoutalone timesimplytoruminateonthatnextchapter.Howdoyou tapintothelargerwritingcommunityastheperfect antidote?

Steven: Thisiswhereit'sespeciallybeneficialtohavea littlewritingcommunityinourownhome.Byron understandsifIwanttoworkthroughdinner,orcancel movieplans,andvice-versa.Andit'sgreattobefriends withwriterswhohaveafootholdinPalmSpringswhere welive.Andsocialmediaisawindowintotheoutside world,andawaytosupportafriend'sworkevenwhen youonlyhaveaminuteortwotosendcongratulationsor composeaquickposttorecommendotherwritersand bookswelove.

InsideVoices(Robert): Nowthat TheCelebrants and Big GayWedding areoutintheworld,what’snext?

Steven: Booktourandthenworlddomination!Just kidding.JoiningourfriendsintheWGAonthepicketline ifthere'snotaquickresolutiontothestrike.Andthen maybeanap.

Byron: Stevenstolemyanswer!

RobertGwaltney, awardwinningauthorof southernfiction,isa graduateofFloridaStateUniversity.HeresidesinAtlantaGeorgia withhispartner,whereheisanactivememberoftheAtlanta literarycommunity.Robert’sworkhasappearedinsuch publicationsasTheSignalMountainReviewandTheDeadMule SchoolofSouthernLiterature.Hisdebutnovel,TheCicadaTree, wontheSomersetAwardforliteraryfiction.

JeffreyDaleLofton,hailsfromWarmSprings,Ga.Hisyearstelling thestoriesofplaywrightsandscriptwriterstaughthimthepullofa powerfulstoryarc.Today,heisasenioradvisorattheLibraryof Congress,surroundedbybooksandpeoplewholovebooks. Red ClaySuzie ishisfirstworkoffiction,writtenthroughhispersonal lensgrowingupanoutsiderfiguringoutlifeandloveina conservativefamilyandcommunityintheDeepSouth.

Anunashamedlyproud,loud, andhilariousnovelabouta smalltownthat'sforever changedbyabiggay wedding,perfectforfansof Red,White&RoyalBlue and TheGuncle

ABigChillforourtimes, celebratingdecades-long friendshipsandpromises-especiallytoourselves--by thebestsellingandbeloved authorofTheGuncle.

ThePauper’sCemetery MicahWard

Thepauper’scemeterycrownsahillalongsideafenced dogparkandnoonepaysitanyattention.Thesecond headstonefromtheleftinthebackrowtiltsslightlytothe rightandhasnonameengravedonit.Iwishsomeone wouldstraightenthatparticularheadstone.Thecounty comesinafewtimesamonthandmowsthesparse patchesofgrassthatcheckerboardthegrounds.Butnoone straightensthesecondheadstonefromtheleftintheback row.

YouwalkbyalmosteverydayshepherdingFeefeethe lapdogtotheparkwheresherunsaroundsniffingother dog’sbuttsbeforeshesquatsinthegrassofftothesideof thetrail.Youlookaroundandpickitupifyouthink someoneiswatching.Youleaveitlayingthereifthey aren’t.Youneverglanceatthecemeterywhenyouwalk by.Youneverseethedogsthatlifttheirlegsanddesecrate

thefencejusttomarktheirterritory.Feefeestopsand sniffsthough.Everytimeyouwalkby.

There’saquarryaboutfourmilesuptheroadfromthe pauper’scemetery.Therearefourheadstonesontheback rowinthecemetery.Doesonehaveanythingtodowith theother?No,Ijustlikepointingoutthesimilarityofthe numbers.Itgivesmesomethingtodofrommyperch besidethiswindow.Thebigtrucksdrivebygoingtoand fromthequarry.YouandFeefeewaitatthestoplight smellingthedieselexhaustandhearingthegearsgrind. Butdoyouevernoticethetrucks?Dothetruckdrivers noticethepauper’sgraves?Ioftenwonderifanyofyou sittingthereatthestoplight,waitingonittoturngreen, evernoticesthecemetery.Probablynot;youjustsitthere inyourworldtextingandchangingradiostationsand sippingyourlattes.Godforbidthatyouwouldeverlook overatthenamelessheadstonestoacknowledge somethingsofarremovedfromyourworld.

Doyouknowtheladywhocomestothecemeteryevery Sunday?Ibetyounevernoticedher.Ifyoudidyou pretendednottoseeherthesamewayyoupretendtonot seeFeefee’sdepositsinthegrass.I’veseentheladyinthe sunshineandI’veseenherintherain.Itcanbecoldorit canbehotandthewindcanbeblowinglikethebreathof hellbutshecomeseverySunday.Andsheputsfresh flowersatthebaseoftheheadstoneonthefarrightinthe

frontrow.Iwonderifsheknowswhoislyingthereunder thatheadstone.Ifshedoesthenwhyistherejustacross engravedonitinsteadofaname?Andwhyisitinthe pauper’scemetery?Andifshedoesn’tknowthenwhy doesshebringflowerseverySunday?

Inoticeaparadeoflife’sactivitiesthatyoudon’t.You wouldn’thavebeenherethenightthefouryoungmen stoodonthesidewalknexttothecemeteryandexchanged fistfulsofdollarsandlittleplasticbags.YouandFeefee wouldhaveturnedandwalkedquicklyawaywhenthe voicesturnedmeanandtheaccusationsflew.You

wouldn’thaveseentheknifeandheardtheshoutsand curses.Sharpviolentmovementandoneofthoseyoung menbledhislifeoutonthesidewalkbeforethesunrose.

He’sundertheheadstoneontheotherendofthefrontrow fromwheretheladyputstheflowersonSundays.Ibetyou didn’tevennoticethestainsonthesidewalkthenextday whenyoutookFeefeetothepark.

Youprobablydon’tnoticetheerosioninthecornerof thepauper’scemeteryeither.It’sanarrowshallowrendin theearthworkingitswayunderthefenceontherighthandside.Theguywhocutsthegrassdoesn’tseemtopay itanyattentionsoIwonderhowbigitwillgetbeforethey doanythingaboutit.

Whatdoyounoticeinthepartoftheworldyouoccupy?

Doyounoticethehomelessguywhostandsonthecorner

withhisbagsandhanddrawnsignbeggingforscraps?If youdid,wouldyoushowmercy?Doyounoticewhenthat guyatworkseemsdepressed?Doyounoticehiswife’s pictureisn’tonhisdeskanymore?Ifyoudid,wouldyou showconcern?Yeah,whatdoyounotice?

Didyounoticethelittlegirlwhostoodatthefence lookinginatthepauper’sgraves?Sheaskedherdaddy whowasburiedthere.“Nobodyimportant,”hesaid.And thentheywalkedoffwiththeirbigoverfedfatLabradorto thedogparkgate.“Nobodyimportant,”hesaid.Wellto hellwithhimthen.Theoneundertheheadstoneonthe rightsideofthefrontrowmustbeimportant.Aladyputs flowersthereeverySunday.

InoticealotbecauseIdon’thavemuchelsetodo, confinedasIamtomyownlittlepartoftheworld.Isee thedarkspotinthedogparkabouttwentyyardsfromthe backofthecemeteryfence.Youhaven’tnoticeditbecause youdon’tcomeouthereatnight.Youfailedtonoticethat thegatestotheparkdon’thavelocks.Theteenagers noticed.Sotheygointotheparkatnightandsitinthe darkspotdrinkingthegintheystolefromdaddyand smokingthepottheyboughtatschool.Sometimestheir clothescomeoffandsinsoftheflesharecommitted.But nobodynotices.

Thesunrisesandsets.Thewindblowsandtherainfalls andallofyouwalkbywithyourFeefee’sandFido’sto

peeandpoopand“gooddoggy.”Ahawkridesthe thermals.Thequarrytrucksgobackandforthalldaylong droppingrocksanddirtandyoudon’tnoticebecause you’retoobusysittingtherereadingemailsatthe stoplight.Aspeoplegetsickandpeopledieandwarsare foughtandcalamitiesoccur,Iwonderhowmuchyou notice.Youcertainlydon’tnoticetheheadstoneinthe backrowthattiltstotheright.Andyouhavenoideathe impactononeoldsoulifyouwouldstepinandstraighten itup.

IwouldstraightenitifIcouldunleashthechainsofthis wheelchair.ButIcan’t,soIjustsithereatthewindow withablanketovermyuselesslegsandnoticethings.Do youwanttoknowaboutthethingsIhavenoticed?How abouttheonesInoticedbeforethiswheelchairexistence?

Inoticedtheflickerofthecandlelightfilteredthrough herhairasithungdownandshroudedmyfacewhenshe kneltovermeinbed.Inoticedthewayherbreathwould catchasherlipschasedmineinaraceacrosseachother’s bodies.Iwasnotinawheelchairthen.Icouldwalkand wewalkedeveryeveningandwenoticedthemusicfrom openwindowsintheneighborhoodjustsouthofLombard Street.

Doyounoticeanythingoutsideyourworldofportfolios andthenextdeal?Didyoueverwakeearlyandgazeata nakedwomanandnoticethewaythetinyhairsglintinthe

morninglightalongthesmallofherback?Idid.AndI criedhallelujah.Andshegavemeherbenediction.

Iwasnotinawheelchairthen.Iwasyoung.Ipromised herwewouldgrowoldtogetherwhenneitherofuscould comprehendsuchathing.Andshepromisedshewould killusbothbeforethatfatebefellus.Shewasoptimistic likethat.

Inoticedthatthewindowofthisroomlooksoutover thepauper’scemetery.SoIinsistedthatitbemine.Do youevernoticemeatthiswindow?Ifyoudid,wouldyou wave?IfIwavedback,wouldyoucometovisit?Would youaskmeformystory?

Iwouldtellyouabouttravelswithnodestinations.I wouldtellyouaboutoddjobsandthehandoutsthatcame inbetween.Iwouldtellyouofthekindnesscontainedin otherpeople’ssofasandthoselittlehairsonthesmallof herbackintheearlymorningsunlight.Iwouldtellyou aboutlivinginblissfulignorance.Couldyoucomprehend suchhappinessagainstyourworldofmortgagesandstock optionsandgolfclubmemberships?

IwouldtellyouhowInoticedwhenshesleptlongerin themorningsandhowthesleepdidnotleaveherrested. HowInoticedwhenherbreathingstartedtolaboronthe climbfromtheparktothehousewherewesharedrooms withtheothersthatdriftedinandout.Iwouldtellyou howInoticedeverystepshedeclinedaswintergrewgray

andhowshestoppedbreathingonalateafternoonduring thebloomofspring.Wouldyounoticethatthetelling woulddepleteme?

Doyouhaveawife?Haveyouhadseveral?Doyoustill noticeher?Doyouassumecountlessyearsbeforelivinga postponedbliss?

Isitinthiswheelchairandnoticeallthethingsthat happenaroundthepauper’scemetery.Irarelyspeakto anyonebecausenoonecomestovisitandnoonereally listenstowhatIhavetosay.Andnoonestraightensthe secondheadstonefromtheleftonthebackrow.Theone sheliesunder.

MicahWardisaretireewhowrites,runs,andenjoyscraftbeer incentralTennessee.Hisshortstorieshavereceivedthree HonorableMentionsattheLorianHemingwayShortStory competition.Anotheroneofhisstorieswasincludedintheshort fictioncollectionRemnantsandResolutionspublishedbythe ColoradoSpringsFictionWritersGroup.Micahwasnamedthe 2012ClubWriteroftheYearbytheRoadRunnersClubof Americaforhisnon-fiction.Hisarticlesandshortfictioncan alsobefoundontheMediumwebsite.

BeastoftheMoment

LarryF.Sommers

Failinglightfellthroughthefrontwindow,warmeda degreeortwobythebrowndrapes.Highqualitytobegin with,thedrapeshadfadedhardlyatalloverthirtyyears.

Theyhadbeenagoodchoice,andCherylhadseenno needtochangethembecauseRobertwasgone.

Theneighborgirl,Hannah,stoodbythetable—neatly setforfour,thoughonlyCherylatethere—andgazed towardthebrickfireplace,whereAlicelayonthehearth, herinertwhiteformalmostcoveringthebraidedrug.

CherylkneltbesideAlice.Thedoglookedupather, chestnutirisesrimmingpoolsofblacknesswhosedepths Cherylcouldnotplumb.“She’ssuffering.”

“What’swrong?”askedthegirl.

“Oldage,that’sonething.”Cherylreachedforthe wickerseatofaladder-backchair.Sheroseslowly,putting toomuchweightonherarmandshoulder,butshecouldn’t helpthat.Atleastshecouldstillgetup.“Weknewthisday

wouldcome.GreatPyreneesarepronetohipproblems.”

“Prone?”

“NowRobertisgone,”Cherylsaid,pantingfrom exertion.“I’mleftwithahundred-pounddogandnoway toputherinthecar.”

“I’llhelp.”

Cherylfinishedstandingup.ShelookedHannah’s slenderframeupanddown.“Ifearshe’dbetoomuch deadweightforthebothofus.”

“Dead?”

“Idon’tmeanAliceisdead.She’slimp,toowornoutto cooperate.Justalump,really.Alimplump.Butsheneeds thevet.”

“There’sanewone.Iheardhe’snice,”saidHannah.

Cherylhobbledtothetelephonetable.Sheliftedthe phoneandpunchedinthevet’snumber.Afterfourrings andaclick,anartificialvoicesaid,“Thankyouforcalling theWaukepacaPetClinic.Ourstaffarebusyhandling othercalls.”

Staff?Whendidtheyget“staff”?

“Ifthisisanemergency,hangupandcallthe EmergencyVeterinaryPractice.”Thevoicegavea Madisonphonenumber.“Otherwise,stayonthelineand. ..”

Cherylfrowned.

Hannahregardedherwithwideeyes.

“They’veputmeonhold.”

“Oh.”Thegirlglancedatthegreatwhitecreature coveringthebraidedrug.“Ihopeit’snottoolong.”

“Hello,thisisthePetClinic.Howcanwehelpyou?”

Cherylsmiled.“Meghan,isthatyou?”

“Cheryl?Why,whoelsewoulditbe?”

“Therecordingsaysyouhavestaff.”

“Justme.IwashelpingDoctorPatelmanageaproblem cat.”

“Acat?DoctorWoodsonneverneededhelpmanaging.” “Coursehedid.Youjustdidn’tseeit.”

CherylrolledhereyesatHannah.

“Now,whatcanIdoforyou?”thereceptionistasked.

“I’mafraidwe’llneedahousecall,”Cherylsaid.“Alice isdown,andIcan’tcarryhertothecar.”

“Isn’tthereanybodywhocanhelpyou?”

“No,”Cherylsaid,withaglanceatHannah.“Notreally. WhenwegotAlice,thereweretwoofus.Wecouldlifther together.Butnow....”

“Iunderstand.”Meghan’svoicewassoft.“See,Dear, thingis,wedon’tdohousecalls.”

“Whendidthathappen?Dr.Nagelmadehousecalls.”

“Timeschange,that’sallIcansay.”

Shesoundsdefensive.

“Notevenforspecialcases?”

“Icanask,but—”

“Dothat,Meghan.Please.AskDoctorPatel.”

“Holdon.”

CherylcaughtaglimpseofherselfandHannahinthe hallmirror,standingsidebyside,wearingidentical frowns.Thegirl’stakinghercuefromme.WhendidI becomesuchaworrywart?

Alicelayontherug,herpositionunchangedbuteyes closednow,themantelclocktickingoverherhead.Her leftforepawtwitched,signalingsleep.Goodforher.

Meghancameback.“Listen,Cheryl,here’sanumber. We’readvisingpatientswithimmobilepetstocallthe RollingVets.They’vegotafullyequippedvan.”Shegave thenumber.Cherylwroteitonapadofpaperbythe phone’schargingstation.

“Well,”Cherylsaid,“howfardotheyhavetocome?”

“They’reoutofMadison.Buttheyrespondreallyquick. Gotcellphones,youknow.”

“Oh,yes,everybody’sgotcellphones.”

Afewminuteslater,CherylcalledMeghanback.

“Hello,thisisthePetClinic.Howcanwehelpyou?”

“TheRollingVetsain’trolling.”

“Theyain’t—they’renot?”

“Notoutthisfar,”Cherylsaid.“Toolateinthedayto sendthevan.Theyofferedtocometomorrow.”

Therewassilenceontheline.

“Meghan?Youthere?”

“Youdon’tthinkshecanwaittilltomorrow?”

Cheryltookadeepbreath.Sheclosedhereyesand counted.

“Cheryl,canAliceholduntiltomorrow?”

“No.She.Can.Not.”

“Well,there’stheEmergencyClinic—”

“They’reinMadison,too,andtheydon’tevenclaimto roll.”

Anexpelledbreathcamefromtheotherendoftheline. “Well,Idon’tknow—”

“Youlistenhere,Meghan.I’vegotanine-year-oldGreat Pyreneeswho’sunabletostandup.Sheissuffering,and somethingneedstobedone.”

“Whatdoyouwantmetodo?”

“Letmetalktothedoctor.”

Afterafewmoments,asuave,accentedvoicecameon theline.“ThisisDoctorPatel.HowmayIhelpyou?”

Cherylclosedhereyes.Don’tblowthis,he’syouronly hope.

“Doctor,whatmadeyoubecomeavet?”

“Pardon—”

“Whydidyouchoosetobecomeaveterinarian?”

“Well,thatshouldobvious,mydearlady.Iwantedto helpanimals.”

“Good.Rightanswer.I’vegotananimalthatneeds

help.She’snotcomingtoyou,soyou’llhavetocometo her.”

“It’s—”Thedoctor’svoicefadedasheturnedaway fromthephone.“Whattimeisit?Wehave,let’ssee— okay,gotit.”HecamebacktoCheryl.“Ihaveonemore appointmenttodohere.Havepatience,andIwillcometo youinhalfanhour.”

“Thankyou,Doctor.”

Cherylreplacedthephoneinitschargingstand.She turnedhereyesuponHannah.“Thevet’scoming,”she said.

“That’sgood.”ThegirlkneltbyAliceandranher fingersthroughthethickwhitecoat.

“Don’tyouhaveabetterplacetobe?Aren’tyour friendsoutplaying?”

Hannahsighed.“Iguess.Ifyou’resureyoudon’tneed me.”

Cherylmusteredasmile.“It’sallright.Youmaygo.”

HannahgaveAliceatenderpat,gottoherfeet,and walkedoutthedoor.

DoctorPatelkneltbyAlice’shindquartersandmoved herhipswithbothhands.Thedogwhimpered.

“Mm.”PatelleanedforwardandlookedAliceinthe face.Thehipstressended,sheborehisscrutinycalmly.

HelookedupatCheryl.“Whydidyounotcallsooner?”

Hisdarkeyes,almostlikeAlice’s,wereplacid,not accusatory.“She’shadsymptomsofhipdysplasiafora longtime,Ishouldimagine.”

“Wouldithavedoneanygood?Callingsooner?”Cheryl benttorubthedog’shead.“Theoldvetwasawareofher situation.She’sbeenlosinggroundformonths,andnowis whenshecouldn’tstandup.”

Thebrownyoungmangaveathinsmile.“Italways becomesdifficult,doesitnot?”

“Doesn’tgetanyeasierwhenyoureacheighty,either.”

Dr.Patelstood.“Icangiveherpillstoeasethepain. Butprobablynothingwillgetherbackonherfeet.Her hipsareusedup.Youcannotlifther.Itwouldtaketwo strongmen.”Hetippedhisheadtowardthewindow, wheresnowflakesdescended.“Soonerorlater,shewill needtogooutanddoherbusiness,youknow.”

“Yes.”Cherylrubbedherbrow.“Isee.”

Shegazedthroughthepaneatthewhiteflakes,then turnedbacktothevet.“Lookaroundyou,DoctorPatel. Whatdoyousee?”

Heglancedattheantiquesideboardwithachinaserving setdisplayedonitstop,notaspeckofdust;aneatrowof familypictureshungonthewall;acoffeetablewiththe currentissuesofSmithsonianandNationalGeographic.

“Iseeawell-orderedhome,”hesaid.“Evidenceofalife welllived.”

“Yes.Andofenoughincometomaintaintheorder.”

“Ofcourse.”

“MylatehusbandandIbelievedinforesight.Planning. Care.Everythingwedidwas...deliberate.Notonething unplanned,unprovidedfor.

“Exceptthedogs,Doctor.Youwouldnotbelievethe paradeofhoundsandmuttstraipsingtheirinconvenient pawsthroughthisplace,yearinandyearout.Decadein anddecadeout.”

“Yourdogswereanelementofdisorder?”

Shelaughed.“Haveyoueverknownonethatwasnot, Doctor?Yousee,weloveddogssomuchthatwenever managedtogetanappropriatedogthatwouldfitour lifestyle.Wealwaysdoggedourselvesuponimpulse,not byreason.Wetookthebeastofthemoment.”

“Indeed.”HiseyesstrayedtoAlice,whonowsnored lightlyontherug.“Wasshe—?”

“Wewereinourmid-seventies.Humanesocietiesand rescueleaguesbegintolookaskancewhenyougrowold. Theyfeartoplaceananimalwith...short-timers.”

Thedoctornodded.

“Thereweresomepeopleweknew,whohadtogive Aliceup.Shewasonlyapupofaboutseventypounds,but weunderstoodshe’dgrowlarger.Andweknewhowold wewere.Butwewereseizedbythatblindirrationality. Sheneededus,weneededher.Thatwasalltherewastoit.

Onlynow,Robertisgone.”

DoctorPatelbowedhisheadinsympathy.

“Thereisagirl,”Cherylsaid.“Asweetyoungthing, Hannah,wholikestovisit.Let’sdothisbeforeshecomes back.”

Thedoctoropenedhisbagandwithdrewasyringeanda smallbottle.

Therappingonthedoorframewaspersistent.

Cherylgroanedandlimpedtothedoor.Themorning sunshinemadehersquint.“Oh,it’syou.”Shelooked downatherlumpyoldbodywrappedinaclothhousecoat thrownoverhernightgown,hercallusedfeetinfuzzy slippers.“SorryI’minnostatetoinviteyouin.”

“Ofcourseyoucan,”saidHannah.Shemarchedpast Cherylandintotheliving-diningroom.Cherylhadno choicebuttofollow.

“Now,younglady—”Hannahstoodbythetable,staring downatthehearth,wherepoorAlicehad....

“MamasaidIshouldcomeoverandkeepyoucompany. Shesaidyou’dbelonesome.Yourfacelooksfunny.”

“I’msorry,”Cherylwhimpered.“I’mnotmyself.Can’t seemtostopcrying.”Tearswelledfromherswolleneyes andleakeddownherface.ShepulledaKleenexfroma boxandwipedhercheeks.

“Alicewasold.Itwashertimetogo.”

Cherylnodded,unabletospeak,asthetearskept rolling.

“Mamasaysthreedaysisenough.Yougottoget dressedandgoout.”

Cherylstaredatthechild,soseriousandadult.“You’re tenyearsoldandyoudon’tknowwhatyouareasking.”

“YesIdo.I’maskingyoutogetdressedandgoout.”

“Why?Whateverfor?”

“Because,”saidHannah,settinghermouthinahard line.

“Everyonewhowasdeartomeinthisworldisgone.”

Cherylraisedherhandtothesnow-cladwindow,asifher dearoneshadescapedthroughit.“Mostofthemgone longago.Robertheldoutlongerthanmost.Thenitwas onlyAliceandme.Nowshe’sgone,too.”Shesniffledand usedtheKleenextowipehernose,awarethatshewas sellingself-pitytoaninnocentchild.Shesimplydidn’t care.“Soyousee,there’snoreasontogoanywhereordo anything.”

“Doesn’tmatter.Mamasaysyougotta.”

“Beenwonderin’whenyou’dshowup,”saidClarence Bennisonasherangupherpurchases.“Afterall,a person’sgottoeat.YouusuallycomeonMondays.”He slidaboxofchamomileteaacrossthescanner,andit madeacomfortinglittlebeep.

“Hadsometroubleovertheweekend,”Cherylsaid.

“Heardaboutyourdog.Toobad.”

“Thankyou.”

“Wegetsoattachedtothemandall.”Hestuffedherfew itemsintoabrownbag.“Stillandall,it’snicetoseeyou backincirculation.”

“Wellandgood,butwhoknowshowmuchlonger?”

“Aw,now,don’ttalkthatway.Wantsomehelpgettin’ themgroceriestoyourcar?”

“No,thanks.IthinkIcanmanage.”

Atleastshecouldstillwalkandcarryasackoffood.

SheshuffledoutthedoorofBennison’sStoreandacross thesmallparkinglottowardherBuickLaCrosse.She watchedherfur-bootedfeetassheprogressedstepbystep, avoidingicypatchesasbestshecould.

Shereallydidn’tknowwhyshewasbotheringtostock upongroceries.Therewasnoreason,really,togoout.It wasjustthattheneighborgirlhadbeensoinsistent.

Anearbysquealofover-revvedtiresstartledher.A hard-luckFord,itsfendercrumpledandtaillightpatched withredplastictape,bouncedoutofthelot,turnedright, rumbledawaydownthestreet.

Cherylfrowned.Beafinethingifthatnoisehad knockedmeoffmypins!

Shakingherhead,shereachedhercar.Sheopenedthe backdoorandplacedthebrownbagonthefloorbehind

thedriver’sseat.Shewasabouttoopenthedriver’sdoor whenahigh-pitchedsoundmadeherlookupagain.

Onthesnowbankleftbytheparkinglotplowsata brownpaperbagliketheoneshehadjustdeposited;this one,however,rustledonawindlessday.Thesharplittle soundcameagain,awhine.

Gingerly,soasnottoloseherbalance,shestepped forward,tippedthetopedgeofthebag,andlookedinside.

Itwasapuppy.“Ooh,whoareyou?Howdidyoucome here?”Sheglanceddownthestreettowherethebattered Fordwasturningthecorner,headedforthehighway.

Thetinythinginthebagwriggled,itseyesclosed.Its mouthworkedconstantly,automatically.

Sheliftedtheballoffur,tuckeditinhercoatnexttoher warmth,andgotinthecar.

LarryF.Sommerswriteshistoricalfiction,seekingfresh meaningsinourcommonpast.Hisdebutnovel,PriceofPassage, cameoutinAugust2022.HewonHonorableMentioninThe SaturdayEveningPost’s2018GreatAmericanStoryContestfor “TheLion’sDen,”ataleofchildhoodinthe1950s.Heedited TheCongregationalist,anationalquarterlymagazine,from2009 to2016andworked23yearsasawriter,editor,photographer, writingcoach,andpublicaffairsconsultantinafast-paced environmentpunctuatedbycrisiscommunicationevents.He blogsweeklyathttps://LarryFSommers.com.AVietnam-era veteranoftheU.S.AirForce,heisactiveinchurchworkand belongstotheSonsofNorway,theAuthorsGuild,theWisconsin WritersAssociation,andtwolocalwriters’critiquegroups.He livesinMadison,Wisconsin,withhiswifeanddog.

Chaos

RichardStimac

“Chaosissimplyorderwedon’tunderstandyet,” Crystalsaid.Sheloungedontheredcouchthatsheand herhusbandmovedtothemiddleofthelivingrooman hourago.

Shebalancedastemlesswineglassofchardonnayon herrightknee.

“LookwhatIcando,”shesaid.

Mark,herhusband,tapedthebottomofaboxtogether. “It’syourcouch,”hesaid.

“No.It’syours.”

“Wediscussedthisalready.”Marktossedanothertaped boxwithadozenormoreothersscatteredwherethe diningroomtablehadbeen.

Outside,alatedepressionfromthearctictormentedthe heartland.AnafternoonAprilraintappeditsmorsecode againsttheglassofthewindow.Noonedecipheredit. Soon,therainturnedtoice,thentheice,tosnow.Beneath allbeautyisdanger.

“WhatcanIdo?”Crystalliftedherwineglassasifina toast.

“Youcanstartputtingbooksintheboxes.”

“What?”

“Thebooks.Intheboxes.”

Crystalfinishedthewhitewine.

“Imeantthisafternoon,”shesaid.

“Ishouldhaveknown.”

“Don’tbenasty.”

“Trustme.I’mnot.”

Marksettwoboxesinfrontofasmallsetof bookshelves.Heheldtwobooksintheair.

“Anyoftheseyouwant?”hesaid.

“Youwerethereaderbetweenthetwoofus.”

Crystalwasinthekitchenrefillingherwine.

“Istillamareader.”

Thewifeofthiscoupleleanedagainstthekitchendoor frame.

“Whydoyoureadsomuch?”shesaid.

“Iliketoknowthings.”

“I’dliketoknowafewthingsthatmadesensewith eachother.”

“Themorethingsyouknow,themorethingsmake sense.”

“That,”thewifeofthecouplesaid,betweensips,“is

nonsense.”

Bythistime,Markfilledoneboxwithbooksandbegan another.Crystalputthewineglassonthefloorandbegan tapingthefilledboxshut.

“Thishasn’tbeenchaotic,”herhusbandsaid.

“Ithankyouforthat.”

Theoneboxtaped,Crystalagainsippedher chardonnay.

“Whendowesignthepaperwork?”Thewomanbegan tobrushtheman’shairwiththebackofherhand.He

wavedheraway,asifherfingerswerefliesannoyinghim asheworkedinthegarden.

Crystalstoodbeforethenow-barewindows.

“It’sbeginningtofreeze.”

“Thetemperature?”

“Therain.”

Browfurrowed,CrystalspunonherheelstofaceMark.

“Ifyouthinklifehasnopurpose,”shesaid,“then you’reafool.”

“That’showIgetthroughlife.”

“Thinkinglifehasnomeaning,orbeingafool?”

“Both.”

Thesoundofthefreezingrainthuddedadeeperbass thantherain,themessagemadeclearer.Still,noone listened.

“Youshouldn’tdrivehome.”Crystalsatcross-leggedon thefloor.

“Ican’tstayhere,”Marksaidashefoldedtheflapsof anotherboxfilledwithbooks.

Theroadsbegantotakeonaglimmer,beautiful,with streetlightsshimmeringasifaclearnightskyfelltothe ground.

Crystalwatchedherhusbandcontinuetoputonebook aftertheotherintoacardboardbox.Shethoughtofallthe boxeswithallthethingsnowgatheredinthedarkand sealedfrompryinghandsandsnoopingeyes.Eachbox neededunpacking.Theneachthingineachboxneeded exhumingandplacementinanewlocation.Buttonight, shewasstillmarriedwhilenaturebroughtitschaostothe world.Induetime,shewouldputthingsbackinorder.

RichardStimachaspublishedafull-lengthbookofpoetry Bricolage(SpartanPress),overfortypoemsinMichigan QuarterlyReview,Faultline,anddecember,andothers,nearly two-dozenflashfictioninBlueMountain,GoodLife,Typescript, andthreescripts.HeisapoetryreaderforArielPublishingand aprosereaderforTheMaineReview.Richardwillbeattending the2023KenyonReviewWritersWorkshop.

HotChicken

(TheMostly-TrueStoryofHowHotChickenCametoBe) RitaWeltyBourke

ThorntonPrincewasapigfarmerwholivednorthof Nashville.Whenhisdailychoresweredone,heoftensat onhisporchandgazedatthelightsofthecity.Helistened tohispigsgruntingandoinkingastheysettleddownfor thenight,andhewatchedthelightstwinkleonandoff.He yearnedtogothere.

Hisgrandmotherhadbeenaslave,andshewouldhave beenthrilledtoownapieceoflandwhereshecould gardenandraisechickensandpigs.ButThorntonPrince wantedmore.Hewantedtostepawayfromthelifehe had.Hewantedtotastethepleasuresofcitylife.

InNashvilletherewasmusic,anddancing,andwomen. Therewerecityparks,andbars,andfoodhehadnever tasted.Therewereprettygirlswhowouldswingtheirhips andsmooththeirhairandsmilecome-hithersmiles.

Sohesoldhishogsandleftthatplaceandmovedto

town.Lifeinthecitywasallthathe’dhopedfor,and more.

Thorntonwasahandsomeman,byallaccounts,with copperskinandpearlywhites.Soonhehadapartnerwho cookedhismealsandwashedhisclothesandwarmedhis bedatnight.Andhewashappy.

ButThorntonPrincewas,intheverydepthsofhisheart, awomanizer.Onewomanwasneverenough.

Theonewhocleanedhishouseandshinedhisshoes andironedhisshirtswasnotunawareofhisphilandering. ButshelovedherPrince,sosheborehisinfidelitiesin silence.

Untilonenight,justbeforedawn,hecamehomeand rousedherfromthebed.“Cookmeupsomebreakfast, Woman,”hesaid.“CookmeupsomeSouthernFried.”

Shesawthelipstickonhiscollar,smelledliquoronhis breath.Worsethanthat,shesmelledwoman.Shegotout herironskillet,dumpedgreaseinthepan,andturnedon theheat.Sheflouredthreechickenbreasts(Princewasa manwithaprodigiousappetite),addedsaltandpepper, thenlookedaroundherkitchen.Sheopenedhercupboard door.Insideshesawabottleofcayenne.Shetookitfrom theshelfandpoureditoverthechicken.Shesprinkled spicesontop.

Whilethechickencooked,shegotoutaplateforher lover-man,aloafofwhitebread,ajarofpickles.Anapkin,

afork,andaknife.

Thechickenturnedacrispyred.Sheaddedmorespices, andwhenthechickenwasdone,sheplaceditonslicesof bread,toppeditwithpickles,andsetitinfrontof Thornton.Heatethefieryblend.Hislipsbegantoburn. Hiseyestowater.Hisnosetorun.Sweatbeadspopped outonhisforehead.Hekepteating.

Helikedthechicken.Likeditsomuch,whenhehad polishedoffthethreebreasts,hewondered:wouldothers likeittoo?

Hewenttobedandhisstomachburnedandhismind whirled.Whatspiceshadsheadded,hewondered?She wouldn’tsay.

Theverynextmorninghetookthespicesfromthe cabinetandbegantoexperiment.Itwasn’tlongbeforehe hadperfectedthehotchickenrecipe.

ThorntonPrinceopenedhisBar-B-QChickenShackin 1945.SoonpeoplewerewaitinginlineforHotChicken servedonwhitebreadwithasliceofpickleontop.These werethedaysofJimCrow,butthingswerereversedatthe ChickenShack.Blackscameinthefrontdoor,whitesthe back.

Andtherewereplentyofbothcolor:Nashvillemayors, GrandOleOprystars,musicians,singers,ordinarypeople. Onoccasion,therewereevenfamouschefs.In2009

JamesBeardvisited,ateHotChicken,andgaveitoneof

hisAmericanClassicsAwards.

CustomersareoftenrenderedspeechlessbyThornton’s HotChicken.Theycough,theytearup,theytoweloff. Theykeepeating.Theycomebackformore.

TodayyoucanorderThornton’sHotChickenon CharlotteAvenueandonNolensvillePike.There’sevena Prince'sHotChickenFoodTruckon6thAvenueSouth.

RestaurantsacrossAmericanowserveHotChicken,but thereisnosubstitutefortherealthing.

Tryit.You’llloveit.Andyou’llsoonbebackformore.

RitaWeltyBourkeistheauthorofIslomanesofCumberland IslandandKylie’sArk:TheMakingofaVeterinarian,aKirkus’ BestIndieBookoftheYearSelection.Shehaspublishedover fortyworksoffictionandnon-fictioninliterarymagazines includingTheNorthAmericanReview,CimarronReview, LouisianaLiterature,Shenandoah,Witness,andtheBlack WarriorReview.Oneofherstories,GunnisonBeach,hasbeen includedinananthologyentitled“Naked”compiledbySusan Zakin.FivehavebeennominatedforPushcartprizes.Heressay entitled“TheLarryBrownDiscoveryTour,”originallypublished inTheChattahoocheeReview,appearsintheonlinejournalThe SmartSet.

Ms.Bourkewasasemi-finalistintheFaulknerWords&Music LiteraryContestforNovel-in-Progressin2004,2005,and2006. ShewasafinalistinAmerica’sBestShortFictionContestin 1994.

Sour-Cherries forMihaela AnaDoina

Thegatetoyourgardenstillsqueakstheloudsi-do, therestillisawoodenbenchnearthewroughtirontable underthesour-cherrytree,andblossomingroses.I thoughtfifteenyearswouldhavebeenlongenoughtime toforgetallthesmallendearingdetails.

Thesun,anupturnedhoneyjar,glazesthedayasitdid eachJuly.Yourmomcomestothedoorwearingoneof herfestiveaprons,onlythistime,herkindeyesare clouded,herfingersknobby.ShethanksGodforhaving thechancetoseemeoncemore,asifIwereherlong-lost daughter,notyourschoolmatereturninghomefroma longexile.Fifteenyearsisenoughtimetogetold.

Wesitatthetableundertheyoungsour-cherryplanted

afterIlefttoreplacetheoneknockeddowninastorm. Yourmotherbringspastries,myfavorites,andapologizes fornotbeingabletomakethemlikebefore,“Can’tknead asmuch...arthritis,”shesays.Ilookatherandtryto guesswhichageleftwhichmarkonherdiminishing body.

Alone,wescrutinizeeachother.Youhavecutshort yourblondcurls,mywaistlinehasthickenedabit, ourvoiceshaveripened.Yet,wecanstilllaugh—loud likeunbridledadolescents.Theebullienceofshared gossipstilldelightsusasitdidinthepast.“No,no,no,” youshout,“Sandraputtheplateonthebed.Don’tyou remember?WewerealreadyplayingcardswhenTheo showedup.”

“No!”Isay.“Youforgothowclumsyhewas.Wewere playingcardswhenheshowedup,that’swhyhehadto puttheplateonthebed,tomakeroomonthetable.Only afterward,absentmindedly,hesatonthebed,rightontop ofallthesour-cherrypastries.OhGod,howwe screamed!Schnauzy,thepug,leapedupatTheo’sbuttto lickthecustard,andyoucouldn’tstoplaughing forsolong,Iwasafraidyouweregoingtochoke.Theo, poursoul,wasembarrassedtotears!”“Yes,yes,hewas crying!”

Aboveourheads,thesour-cherrytreewhispersablessing ofcoolbreeze.Thepastriesyourmombakedformy returntasteaslushastheonesheryoungerhandsusedto make,andforonceIdon’thavetopretend—itfeelsgood tobehome.

AnaDoina,Romanian-bornAmericanwriterlivinginNew Jersey,leftRomaniaduringtheCeausescuregime.Herpoems appearedinnationalandinternationalprintandonline magazines,andtextbookssuchasWar,Literature,andtheArts, PinyonPoetry,VisionsInternational,Poetica,NorthAmerican Review,Rattle,CaliforniaQuarterly,PatersonReview,Crab OrchardReview,AmericanDiaspora,RedWhiteandBlue, TeachingLiteratureintheTwenty-FirstCenturyShewon HonorableMentionintheAnnaDavidsonRosenbergAwardsfor PoemsontheJewishExperiencecontestin2007,andtwoofher poemswerenominatedfor2002,and2004PushcartPrize.

Welove

Wehate

Ourpain

Weholdontoit

Tryandridourselvesof Pain

Takeitwithus

Runfrom

Pain

Likeanobnoxiouspartyguest

Wewishtheyhadn’tshowedup

Butwecan’timaginethepartywithoutthem

Pain

Someofusfeedit

Andsomeofussmokeit

Serveitupinendlessworksforapproval

Weshootitupandsnortit

Drinkitdowninprettyglasses

Medicate tryand eradicate

Deny Ignore

Andyes,someevenwhorefor

Pain

Wekilltoridourpain.

Butattheendoftheday

Weliedownandsleepwith

Andwaketo it’sendlesscycle Pain.

DeLanePhillipsisasouthernwriter,formerteacher,empty nester,andmomoftwodachshunds,MacandSasha.Muchof herwritingisinspiredbytherurallifefromherchildhoodin Monroe,Georgiaandvariouscharactersofthesmallsouthern townsshehaslivedin.Currently,shehappilyresideswithher dogsinGreenville,SouthCarolina.

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ANNIEASKS…

AghostinhabitsJennifer’sNewEnglandhome,pacing thesecondfloor.HernameisEstherandshedesigned thehouse…

ANNIEASKS

JENNIFERANNE GORDON

“JennifercurrentlyhauntslonelyplacesinNew Hampshire,thoughsheisnotdead.”

TheauthorIchooseeachmonthisonethatIbelievewas borntoshine-thismonth,Iwanttointroduceyoutothe extraordinary,sparkling,radiating,andübercreatively talentedJenniferGordon.Jenniferofferssomuchtothe creativeworld!Itisallbeautifullyhaunting.Shehasworn severalhatsfromactortomagician'sassistant,toauthor andwriter,artist,dancer,andmuse.AsJennifer’sCreative Collaborator,herhusbandRomanisherdancepartner, photographer,andmore.

AghostinhabitstheirNewEnglandhome,pacingthe secondfloor.HernameisEstherandshedesignedthe house.Shewasalsoapoetandphotographer.Jennifer

AnnieMcDonnellintroducesJenniferAnneGordon

doesspeakwithEsther.Iadmireherbeliefinghosts.She agreesthatitishardforenergytofindadifferentplaceto be.

Jenniferhasbeenanactorinvariousattractions,likea hauntedone.Herphotosareexquisite.Sheisveryalluring insideandout.Herwordswillmoveyou.

IusetheProustinterviewmodeltolearnmoreabout authors.Iaskthem10ofthe35questions.TheProust modelisawayoflearningmoreaboutapersonbeyond thetypicalinterviewquestions,andwhatwelearnisoften new,fascinating,orevensomethingyouwouldnever thinktoask.Thisishowwelearnmoreabouttheir character.Authorsareevenknowntoanswerthese questionsaboutthecharacterstheyarecreatingfortheir novels.

Thesequestionsareaskedofsomeonefamouseachmonth intheVanityFairMagazineandIhavealwaysgottensuch ahugekickoutofit.Ihadtodosomethingsimilarsowe couldlearnaboutauthorsinthesameway.

Q:Whatisyourideaofperfecthappiness?

MyhusbandandIaredoingawaltzinanabandoned

lunaticasylum,peelingpaintonthewalls,feelingthe energyaroundus,andsomehowourlittledog,Tubby,is watchingusandnotmisbehaving.LOL. Annieresponds:whenIwatchyoubothdance,Ifeellike I’mdancing.Yourmovementissoincrediblypalpable becauseIcanfeelyourlove.Igetthefeelingofmoving myselfacrossthedancefloor.It’sawonderfulgift Jennifer.

Q:Whichlivingpersondoyoumostadmire?

A:Keepinmindthatthiscanchangeonadaily,even hourlybasis.But,Iwouldhavetosay,mymother(Mic Drop)she’shadalotoftraumainherlife,butshehasthe mostincrediblewilltolive.

Q:Whathasbeenyourgreatestextravagance?

A:Travel!Wealwaysallowourselvesoneextravagant eveningwhenweareonvacation.Oncewewerein BudapestandwewenttotheNewYorkCityPalaceCafé, whichisthemostbeautifulcaféintheworld.Allwehad waslemonadeanddessertandthelemonadeitselfisabout

AnnieMcDonnellintroducesJenniferAnneGordon

$30,butitwasthebestlemonadeIeverhad.

Q:Onwhatoccasionwouldyouactuallytellalie?

A:ToprotectsomeoneIloved!

Q:Whenandwherewereyouhappiest?

A:WhenIlivedintheMidwest–Columbus,Ohio.Imet RomanandhewasintoUrbanExploring.Wewentintoa sewerdrain,whichwasatunnelunderneaththecityandit wasfilledwithwaterandrats.

Q:Whichtalentwouldyouliketohave?

A:Singing–likefunshowtunes.

Q:Whoisyourherooffiction?

A:PeterHeller.Hewrote“TheDogStars”.It’sabout findinghopeintherelationshipwithhisdog.

Q:Whatareyourfavoritenames?

A:Alice,Agnes,Edna,andRuth.Ilikeweird,oldfashionednames.Oh,somemalenames;Andrew,James, Edgar,andSimon.

Q:Whatareyourfavoritemottos?

A:SylviaPlathfrom“LadyLazarus”….”OutoftheashI shallrisewithmyredhairandIeatmenlikeair.”

Also,AnneSextonfrom“Dr.Martin”….”Wearemagic talkingtoitself;noisyandalone”

SurprisingfactIlearned:Jenniferonceownedacomic bookstore.Shestatedthat“SuperheroesareAmerican Mythology”.Ilovedthis!

Jennifer’scontactinfo:

Website:https://www.jenniferannegordon.com

https://www.facebook.com/JenniferAnneGordonAuthor/

AnnieMcDonnellintroducesJenniferAnneGordon

Jenniferwasbornastrange, pale,andquietchild, aghostscaredofghosts....

OriginallyfromnewHampshire, shestudiedactingat

TheNewHampshireInstituteofArt. Shegrewuptobecomeanactress, magician'sassistant,artist,writer, dancer,andmuse.

ShecurrentlyhauntslonelyplacesinNewHampshire, thoughsheisnotdead.

JenniferAnneGordonisanaward-winningauthorandpopular hostofthe VoxVomituspodcast.Hernovel Beautiful, FrighteningandSilent wontheKindleAwardforBestHorror/ Suspensefor2020,BestHorror2020fromAuthorsontheAir, andafinalistforAmericanBookFest’sBestBookAwardHorror,2020.ItalsoreceivedthePlatinum5StarReviewfrom Reader’sChoiceaswellastheGoldSealfromBookView.Her latestnovel Pretty/Ugly wontheHeliconAwardforBestHorror for2022,aswellastheGoldMedalfromLiteraryTitan.Jennifer isamemberofMysteryWritersofAmerica,theHorrorWriters Association(wheresheservedonthejuryfortheStokerAwards), andisaA&EchairoftheNewEnglandCrimeBakeCommittee.

Authorof Annie’sSong:Dandelions,Dreams&Dogs,Book Reviewer,AuthorInterviewer,Teacher,Speaker,Writer,Author Consultant,Co-Admin.AtWorldoftheWriteReviewBookClub, Blogger,Authoronlineeventplanner.

AnnieMcDonnellintroducesJenniferAnneGordon

What’sInaName?

AshleyHolloway

Irecentlyranintoabitofaquandaryasawriter:Ihave runoutofnamestouseformycharacters.AllthestoriesI heldinmyheadforsolong,beforeIwasbraveenoughto putthemtopaper,haveallbeenusedup.Andwiththem, thenamesIhadcarefullyassignedtoeachofthese characters.Thisledmetoaskawriterfriendofminehow shechoosesnamesforhercharacters.Herresponsewas remarkablysimple;sherecycledthesamenames.

Now,Iamsomewhatreluctanttoengageinthis palimpsestprocess,partlyoutofanirrationalsuperstition thatthiswillsomehownegativelyimpactmyrecent publicationstreak(yayme!),andpartlybecausethis somehowfeelsalittletreasonoustomyprevious characters.So,whattodo?Howdoesonenamea character?

InAlbertathemostpopularnamesof2022wereOlivia andNoah.Doeswritingfollowthissametrend?Willwe seeanincreaseincharactersnamedOliviaandNoahin

publicationsthisyear?Ordoesoneusetheactualpeople inourlives,suchasfamilyandfriendsasinspirationfor characternames?Muchofmywritingleansonthe macabreattimes,sothiswouldlikelyleadtosome awkwardconversationsandside-eyeing,hencethe inherentdangerinthispractice.

AsimpleGooglesearchyieldsthousandsofarticles containingadviceforwritersonthispractice,some helpful,manynot.“Makethemmemorable”wasonesuch less-then-helpfulsuggestion.Nothinglikestatingthe obvioushere.“Keepthemreaderfriendly,distinct,and easytopronounce”areothersuchofferings.Some suggestedflippingthroughaphonebookforinspiration (doesanyoneactuallyhaveaphonebookanymore?!).

Namesthataresimilarlyshaped,suchasKaren(which, let’sfaceit,thankstosocialmedia,couldbesomewhatilladvisedthesedays)andDarrenshouldalsobeavoided,or namesthatyoucanassociatewithnotablefigurescould alsobeproblematic.Idon’tthinkthereiseveracase whereIwouldusethenameAdolfforacharacter,but perhapsthat’sjustme.

Ononehand,beingtoocreativewithacharactername canbedistractingtothereader.Especiallywhenitcomes tocreativespelling;myinnerlogophilecringeswhenIsee characterswithcreative-but-grammatically-incorrect names.Likewise,namesthataretoosimilartooneanother

canconfusethereader.AsmuchasIloveagoodBernard Cornwellepicsaga,thereareonlysomanyAEthelprefixedcharactersIcankeeptrackof.

Onthatnote,andonetowhichIsimultaneouslysalute BernardCornwellfor,itisveryimportantforwritersto considerthecontextofthestorywhenchoosingcharacter names;era,geographicallocation,conventionaltrends, andgenreallhelpbuildthestory,sothecharacternames shouldalsofollowsuit.Inconductingresearchforthis article,IstumbledacrosstheUSSocialSecurity Administration,whichactuallyhasadatabasethatletsyou searchforpopularbabynamesbydecade,state,US territories,andchangesinpopularity.Socool,right?! (You’rewelcome).

Therearealsorandomnamegeneratorsthatwriterscan usewhenreallystuck.Orbored.Namegeneratorsletyou choosefromalistofdifferentcategories,includinggender, first/lastnames,aspecificcountry,andevenhasoptions suchas‘whimsical’or‘Arthurian.Forfun,Iselected ambiguous,Estonian,biblical,fairy,rapperwhichyielded “MichaiahAbijah”,whichbasicallyjustfliesinthefaceof everythingIjustwrote.Butitdoeshaveaniceringtoit.

PerhapsIwilljuststickwith‘Ashley’fromnowon…

ALagnaippe…

AshleyHolloway teacheshealthcareleadershipatBowValley CollegeinCalgary,AB.SheisanursewithaMasterofPublic Health,agraduatediplomainGlobalLeadership,withfurther studiesininterculturalcommunicationandinternational development.Ashley’sworkhasappearedintheShortStory Dispenser,TheNashwaakReview,TheGlobeandMail,Magna Publications,ThePrairieJournal,CAREMagazine,Flash FictionMagazine,CanadianDimensions,andLeadReadToday; forthcomingpublicationsincludeWELLREADMagazine (March2023).Ashleyhasco-authoredthreebooks(Create& Curate:500IdeasforArtists&Writers,2023;LivingArt;and How(Not)toLead,2023),readsmanuscripts,writesbook reviews,andisaneditorfor UnleashPress.Herworkhasbeen nominatedforthePushcartPrize.

WELLFED: ALiteraryFeastforYourMind, Body,andSoul

Thebeststoriesaretoldinthe kitchen...

WellFedismorethanacookbookit'sacollectionofrecipesandmemoriesfrom someoftoday'shottestauthors.

Itwillbeavailableasabeautiful12X12hardcoverwith glossycolorpagesmakingittheperfectgiftfortheholidays -settopublishbeforeThanksgiving2023.Everyauthor’s biowillbelistedinalphabeticalordersoreaderscanlearn moreaboutthepersonbehindeachstory.

Keepinmind,thisisn’tanordinarycookbook. It’sa collectionofyourfavoritemealsandmemoriestosharewith readersalongwiththestorybehindthepersonwhoeither taughtyoutomaketherecipeorsomeoneyoushareditwith. Everyentrywillhaveatleastafour-pagespreadtoshare yourmemory.

Ifyouhaveafavoritememoryyou’dliketobeconsidered, pleasesendyourrecipe,thememorybehindit(wordcount forthememoryshouldbebetween250-600words),abrief 3rdpersonbio,andaphotoofthepersonconnectedto yourmemoryto threedogswritepress@gmail.com

Contributorswillreceiveonecontributor’scopyfromthree dogswritepressandlotsoffunopportunitiestoconnectwith readersonWELLREAD’ssocialmediasiteswhenIstart promotingthecookbook.

Formoreinformationclickhere.

WELLSERVED-StoriesandSpirits:a collectionofcocktailrecipesandthebooksthey werecreatedfor…

Didyou-orsomeoneelse-createaspecialcocktailto celebrateyourbook?

Ifso,let'ssharethemwithreaders!

WELLSERVEDisanotherfunwaytogetourbooksseen. Everycocktailrecipewillconsistofafourpagespread.

1stpagewillbeaphotooftheauthorenjoyingtheirdrink, 2ndpagewillbetherecipe,3rdpagewillbeanimageof thebook'scover,andthe4thpagewillbethebook's description.

ThecallforsubmissionswillcloseattheendofJune, 2023.PublicationdateforWELLSERVEDissetfor Novemberof2023andwillbeavailableforpurchase throughallonlineretailersincludingmyfavoritebookshop.org.

Allcontributorswillreceiveonecontributor'scopyfrom threedogswritepressandlotsoffunopportunitiesto promoteeachotheronWELLREADMagazine'ssocial mediapages.

Formoreinformationclickhere.

Authors’ Networking Group

ThePerfectWriter’s Getaway

Doc'sHideawayisjustthatit'swhereDoctorHolley wouldhideoutwhenhe didn'twanttoseepatients oranyoneelse.Offtheside ofthehousewithadoor headingouttotheMagnolia Stage,Doc'sHideawayisa perfectroomforsomeone whowantstositoutsidein themorningandenjoythe startoftheday.Thereisa privateentrancefor travelersandaluxurious queenbed.

Ifyou'reintownforan eventatHolleyHouse, Doc'sHideawayisonedoor awayfromalloftheaction. Thiscoastalthemedqueen

suitehasaspaciousbathroomandaflip-downantique desk-youwillfeellikeyouareonatropicalvacation.The heartpinefloorsareoriginaltothehousefrom1903.It'sa shortwalktobreakfast-downthecorridorfromthedining room.

Hemingwaywouldhavelovedthisroomandsowillyou!

OFFTHEPAGE

Amonthlycolumnthattakesusoff thepageandintothelifeof RaymondAtkins

Thereisafamousquotethatmostwritersknowbyheart thatdealswiththesubjectofwriting.Sometimesitis attributedtoDorothyParker,andsometimestoFrank Norris,anditisquiteoftencreditedtoGeorgeR.R.Martin aswell,butIdon’tknowaboutthat.Toparaphrasethis sentiment,Ihatetowrite,butIlovehavingwritten.The reasonthatmostwritersarefamiliarwiththisperspective isbecause,inmyexperience,mostwritersfeelthisway, includingme.Writingishardwork,buthavingwrittenis verysatisfying.

ThatiswhyIamhereatthekeyboardat4:30a.m.ona Tuesday,whippingthissuckerout.Mandywantstoseeit inherinboxwhenshegetstoworkateight,andshe’snot kiddingaroundthistime.Trustmeonthis;youdon’twant togetonherbadside.She’llcometoyourhouse.Anyway, I’veknownaboutthecolumnforamonthorso,butthere isnothinglikealoomingdeadlinecombinedwiththefear ofaneditortogetthecreativejuicesflowing.

Thisismyfirstcolumnfor WellRead,andhopefullyit won’tbemylast.I’llletyouknowatabout8:30howthat goes.Sinceonlysixoratbesteightofyouarefamiliar withmeorwithmywork,Iwillbeginmytenureat Well Read byintroducingmyselfasIsharesometruthsIhave learnedonmyjourney.Thatwayyouwon’tgettheidea thatMandyjustfoundarandomguydownatthebus stationtotakecareofthismonth’sbusinessinexchange

foramealafterRiver, WellRead’s utterlydelightful previouscolumnist,decidedtogotothebeachtoworkon hertan.

MynameisRaymondL.Atkins,akaRayAtkins,aka RaymondAtkins,akaYoungFaulkner.Okay,Imadethat lastoneup,althoughIdotendtowardslongsentences.I wasoncecomparedtoMarkTwain,however.No,really. AsIrecall,thereviewsaid,“thatboyain’tnoMark Twain.”Itwasahighpointinmycareer,andyoucantake thattothebank,butIhavedigressed.

IliveinNorthGeorgiaonthebanksoftheEtowah RiverwithapatientwifeandaRepublicancat.Welivein a130-year-oldhousethatregularlyhaschunksjustsortof falloff,sonowyouknowwhatIdoinmysparetime.I havesixpublishedbookstomycreditwithtwomoreon thewayifIcanjustfinishthem.Inmydefense,noonehas yetassigneddeadlinesonthosetwo,andtheseadorable catpicturesonFacebookarenotgoingtolookat themselvesinthemeantime.Ofthepublishedones,inmy humbleopinionofcourse,fouraregood,oneborderson great,andthatotherone,well,weallhavebaddaysfrom timetotime.

No,Iwon’ttellyouwhichiswhich.Ifyou’recurious, you’lljusthavetotrackthemdownandreadthem,and nowyouseemystrategy.Findingtheoldertitleshas becomeabitlikeminingbitcoin,bytheway.No,copies

ofthemarenotworth$20,000,atleastnotyet,butyoudo havetodosomelooking.Sometimesalgorithmshelp.

Myfirstnovel, TheFrontPorchProphet, waspublished in2008whenIwas53,soyoucouldsaythatIcameto writingasaprofessionlate.Iwasveryproudofthatbook bothbecauseitwasmyfirstandbecauseitwasawarded theGeorgiaAuthoroftheYearAwardforFirstNovel, whichIadmitmaynotbeabigdealupinNewYorkCity, butaroundhereitisworthamention.ThemainthingI learnedduringtheexperienceofgettingthatoneinto readers’handswasthatitisaloteasiertowriteabook thanitistosellit,atleastforafirst-timeauthor.People oftenaskmewhyIwentwithMedallionPressinChicago, andmymostlyseriousreplyisthatIhadworkedmyway uptotheM’sin Writer’sMarket beforesomeonesaidyes.

PriortothatreleaseIwasanindustrialmaintenance superintendentinalumbermillformanyyears,whichwas everybitasmuchfunasitsoundsandisthereasonIno longerhearverywell,butIwasgoodatitandhadfour childrentofeed,andinthisoldworldyoudowhatyou haveto.

DuringthatcareerIsatisfiedmywriterlyaspirationsby writingarticlesformaintenancemagazinesabouthowto keepfactorymachinesrunning,whichwasironicinthe extreme,becauseI’veneveractuallyreadanyformof instructioninmylife,muchtothechagrinoftheabove-

mentionedpatientwife.BeforethatIwasmanythings includingacontractor,amechanic,atruckdriver,abar bandmusician,andthemanagerofacarrentalcompany. NowIamasemi-retiredEnglishprofessorwhowrites booksontheside.Imentionthesethingsbecauseifyou areawriterwhobelievesyouhavewaitedtoolongto writethatnovelormemoir,well,that’sjustnottrue.As theysay,comeonin,thewater’sfine.Youmaynotgetit published,butyoucertainlywon’tifyoudon’twriteit.

AsmygoodfriendthelateTerryKayonceobservedto meduringtheworstbooksigningeitherofushadever experienced,threehundredwordsadayequalsonenovel peryear.

Whoops.Ihavedigressedagain.Idothatfromtimeto time,soyouhadbettergetusedtoit.Afriendofmine oncetoldmethatIwriteintheSouthernDigressional genre,andIreallycan’targuethepoint.Sometimesthe wordsjustwanderaroundthepage,andIhavefoundthat it’sjustbesttoletthemdowhattheywantto,likechildren orerrantpets,sotheydon’tgettoofussy.

Mysecondnovel, SorrowWood, waspublishedin2009.

ThegreatlessonIlearnedfromthatexperiencewasthatif anauthorandapublisherhaveadifferenceofopinion,the publisherwins,oratleastthatwastrueinmycase.This disagreementhadtodowiththecover,whichfeatureda

dramatic,gothic-stylebarnofallthings.Ihateditthen, andIstillhateit,notbecauseitwasdonepoorly,even thoughitdidlooklikesomebody’sbrother-in-lawor perhapsunemployedgrownchildmighthaveproducedit, ifyougetmymeaning,butbecauseitdidn’treallyhave anythingtodowiththebookthatcameafter.

Ray:Canwetalkaboutthecoverconcept?

Publisher:Welovethatcover!It’salreadyattheprinter!

Ray:Yourealizethereisnotasinglebuildinginthe entirestorythatlookslikethat,right?

Publisher:Wewanttotalktoyouaboutthat…

Ifyou’recuriousabouttheoutcomeofthatdiscussion, youwillfindthatdamnbarnsomewherearoundpage178, molderingtherelikesomePoe-esquenightmare.However, ifyoureadonabit,topage180orso,youmightnotice thatitburnsdown.Hey,itwasn’tme.Oneofthe charactersdidit.

Mythirdnovel, CampRedemption,cameoutin2013, andthisonetaughtmethemostabouttheins-and-outsof thepublishingindustry.Ioriginallysoldthemanuscriptto Medallion,butafterthatsaleandbeforepublicationtheir businessmodelchanged,andtheyproposedtobringitout asane-bookonly.Ihavenothingagainste-books;allmy titlesareonKindle,andthelasttimeIlookedtheywere onNookaswell,andasfarasthatgoes,Imakemore

moneywithane-booksalethanIdowithaprinted version.ButwhenIgotothetroubleofwritingabook,I wanttobeabletoholditinmyhand,andsmellthepaper, andputitonashelf,andsignitbeforegivingittoa reader.I’moldschoolinthatregard,whichisokayI suppose,sinceI’m,well, old.

Luckilymypaperworkwasinorder,andtheyreverted therightsbacktomeandallowedmetokeeptheadvance aswell.Ifoundanewpublisher,MercerUniversityPress, andthebookwhenpublishedwasawardedtheFerrol SamsAwardforFictionandtheGeorgiaAuthorofthe YearAwardforFiction.

Myfourthnovel, SweetwaterBlues, taughtme everythingIeverwantedtoknowaboutpatienceandthen some.Itwasreleasedin2014andwassupposedtobemy breakoutnovel.IknewthisbecauseIhadreadanarticle whichstatedthatstatistically,morefourthbooksbreakout thananyother.Sowhenitwasreleased,Iputonmybest authorlygarb,boughtapipewithacurvedstem,and waitedpatientlytobreakout.Unfortunatelyforme,not toomanyofyouguyshadreadthatarticle,andIdidn’t breakout,butIdon’tblameanyofyoufornotknowing aboutthatfourth-bookbusiness,andIguessyoucan’t alwaysbelievewhatyoureadanyway.

2016.ThisreleasetaughtmethatIcouldwritesomething besidesanovel.Itwasacollectionofessaysaboutliving inNorthwestGeorgia,justsouthoftheEtowahinfact,and IenjoyedtheexperienceofwritingitsomuchthatIwill probablydoitagainoneofthesedays.Oneofthestories, “NativityScenes,”wasnominatedforaPushcartPrize.

Mysixthbookwas SetList. Itwasreleasedin2018.On manydaysitismyfavoriteofthebooksIhavewritten thusfar,andwhatItookawayfromthecreationofitwas flexibilityandtoalwaysfollowmyinstincts.Thebook beganasamemoirofmytimeasabarbandmusician,but evenasIwaswritingit,thestorywastellingmethatit neededthefreedomtobeanovel,andthusitbecameone. Itwasalsomyfirstforayintosongwriting,anditcontains 13originalsongsIwrote,thelyricsanyway,soIcame awayfromtheexperiencefeelingliketheBernieTaupinof theGeorgiahills.ItwasduringthistimethatIwas AwardedtheGeorgiaWritersAssociationLifetime AchievementAward,anhonorthathumbledme, especiallyconsideringalloftheamazingliterarytalent hereinGeorgia.

AsasortofpreviewofcomingattractionsIwillbriefly mentionmytwoworks-in-progress,oneofwhichyou shouldseenextyear.Itisentitled TheyAllRestinthe

BoneyardNow,anditisacollectionofpoetrycombined withoriginalphotographyaboutsomeofthemost interestingtombstonesIhaveseenwhileroaming graveyardslookingforcharacternames.Trustmeonthis; repurposednamesfromlonggonepeoplemakethebest characternames.Theysoundauthenticbecausetheyare; theyhavebeenusedforanentirelifetimebeforebeing retiredtotheclay.

TheotherbookIamworkingonisanapocalypticstory setintheGeorgiamountains.Iwasn’tgoingtowriteit, butapparentlyitisnowfederallawthatallwritersmustat leastmakeagoodeffortalongtheselines,andIam nothingifnotaruleabider.Don’tworry;theapocalypse doesnotpertaintozombies,aliens,oritchybuttonfingers downinthesilos.Ithinkinfactitmaybeauniquetakeon allofthisendtimesbusiness,oratleastasfarasIam aware.Hell,itmayevenbemybreakoutnovel.Ireadthis articlethatsaidthatapocalypticnovelsarethehotthing.If Iincludethelink,maybesomeofyoucanreadittoo.

Sonowyouknoweverythingthereistoknowaboutme, andenoughisenough.Inthecomingmonthswewilltalk aboutallthingswriterlyandreaderly,andhopefullywe willhaveagoodtimeintheprocess.

RaymondL.AtkinsresidesinRome,Georgia,wherehe writesandteachesEnglishatalocalcollege.Heliveson thebanksoftheEtowahRiverinanoldhousewitha patientwifeandaRepublicancat.Hishobbiesinclude people-watching,reading,andwatchingmoviesthathave nohopeofeverachievingcredibility.Youmayreachhim atraymondlatkins@aol.com.

Notefromtheeditor-Ican’twaittofindoutwhichcharactersetthisbarnonfire. I’dalsoliketosaythatI’mhonoredtohaveRaymondL.AtkinsjointheWELL READteam.Y’allgetready-we’regoingtohavesomefun!

TheArtofHerLife

by CynthiaNewberryMartin

Atnineyearsold,onherfirstvisittoamuseum,Emilyfell inlovewithBreakfast,apaintingbyHenriMatisse.Nowa singlemother,shelivesintheworldofartandcanbarely findtimeforhertwodaughters,muchlessforMark,the mansheloves.Herdaysareajumble-she'slostthethread ofherlife-butacontestatthemuseumwhereshe'sthe registrargivesherhope-thechancetoseeBreakfastagain. Matisse'swordsandpaintingspermeateherdaysand nights,andglancingatanotecardofthepaintingshe loves,sheseessomethingshe'sneverseenbefore.TheArt ofHerLifeshowsthepowerofarttotransforman ordinarylife. KirkusReviews callsit, "Anunsentimental,luminousstory aboutart,illness,andcomplicatedrelationships.” "Thesplendidproseistintedwiththeinimitable melancholyofMatisse'sblue."

—HowardNorman,authorof TheGhostClause

"There’sasparelyricgracetoMartin’swriting,andinthis

story,shecapturesthenuancesofordinarylife–whatwe loveandfeartorisk,whatweloseandachetohold.”

—DawnTripp,authorof Georgia

"InTheArtofHerLife,CynthiaNewberryMartinshows howtheunexpectedturnsofalifecanmostoftenonlybe steadiedandmooredbywhatweholddeepestinside.”

—AdamBraver,authorof RejoicetheHeadofPaul McCartney

CynthiaNewberryMartin'sfirstnovel, TidalFlats,wonthe GoldMedalinLiteraryFictionatthe2020Independent PublisherBookAwardsandthe 14thAnnualNationalIndie ExcellenceAwardforFiction. Hersecondnovel, LoveLike This,waspublishedinAprilof 2023.Herwebsitefeaturesthe HowWeSpendOurDays series,overadecadeofessays bywritersontheirlives.She grewupinAtlantaandnow livesinColumbus,Georgia, withherhusband,andin Provincetown,Massachusetts, inalittlehousebythewater.