As they say, "it's an honor just to be nominated!"

As they say, "it's an honor just to be nominated!" I mean it, though.

Check out this list of Georgia Author of the Year nominees! Good company, huh?

More chickens - this time a 'how to' here at home

I'll be out of town for this, but the chicken thing is sweeping the nation. Here, for example, is an intown chicken adventure (and a lesson in how to keep chickens) here in Atlanta.

Info courtesy of my new friend D. I suggest that you, uh, chick it out.

Looks like they've got other cool stuff going on, too.


(Image from "Harvest of History." It's really hard to find an image of a chicken who's not on a plate!)

Dutch cover!

Hey, look! I'm in Dutch! Thanks to fabulous agent S., by whose hand (and post office, and good deal making) these arrived in today's mail.

I can only recognize names in the book, and I know that mijn moeder means "my mother." When M. and I were in Amsterdam a few winters ago, people kept speaking to him in Dutch. He must look Dutch. Maybe he can read it?

Doin' the "my book's in Dutch" dance.

Hittin' the Road

Week after next, Charlottesville! I've admired the Virginia Festival of the Book from afar for several years, and this year, I get to play, too! Lots of great panels, activities, readings, and if we're lucky, we'll squeeze in a side trip to Jefferson's home, Monticello

Then a reading at Gettysburg College, and a visit with some terrific friends.

Shortly after that, Southern Kentucky Book Festival in Bowling Green. Pretty name for a place, huh? Yes!

Things that are causing me stress

Way too many potatoes in this house. Need to cook them before they grow eyes. Despite the joviality of Mr. and Mrs. Potato-head, actual potatoes with eyes are disturbing.

The Ballad of Uptown Gerry

Since I'm not writing at the moment, merely waiting for a shoe or two to drop, I thought I'd hook y'all up with the saga of my friend Elyssa East and the adventures of Uptown Gerry.

(A chicken.) The whole story's made it to New York Magazine, but a few weeks ago it was a fast-twittering, chicken-rescuing story. A "ticking clock scenario" as a screenwriter might say. Or "ticking cluck?"

When you're done reading this, read her book Dogtown . I don't recall that there are chickens in it. There's a murder, some history, naturalism, witches, and the 1980s.

Cedartown, Georgia

This bit of nascent-novel inspiration from my friend Sam Starnes - Waylon Jennings singing about Cedartown, Georgia.
Quite the appropriate tone, I think.

Honesty in Signage

Snapped this last night on the way to a party hosted by my pal, "The Irreverend." Honesty in signage.

It was dark outside and cell phones don't come with flashes (maybe they do and I don't know how to use mine?) but I would shop at a store that sold "harmless junk." Wouldn't you?

The Golden Rule's Been Going Around Lately

Want to know the takeaway? The bottom line of my guest post over at Terry Cordingly's terrific marketing blog is "be nice!"

You can read more secrets (like finding your platform) here !

Radio, she is fun

Radio is fun. Just sayin'.


(Image of silver headphones from poetryfoundation.org. A great site, btw. Go there!)