Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Distinctly Southern





Before I begin, let me say I’ve missed you guys! Wait, I’ve missed y’all. That sounds right.

Now that summer is here, I hope you’re able to kick back,splash in a river, listen to some music, or just read a good book.

Speaking of books, I did manage to finish that second novel, The Passion Diary. Whoopa! See, I really was working. Finishing the book hadn’t really sunk in until yesterday, when I began constructing that query letter to send out to agents. It has to be wild, short and attractive. Sounds a bit like an old boyfriend, but all kidding aside, it’s daunting trying to sell yourself and your book in a couple of paragraphs. Lady luck-please wish me that.

And speaking of luck, my dear friend and Author, Jeff Yeager, dubbed The Ultimate Cheapskate by Matt Lauer on The Today Show, has created his own luck with hard work and a creative streak that sizzles. His second book, The Cheapskate Next Door debuts today. www.ultimatecheapskate.com

Yeah, he’s no southerner, but I’ll make an exception in his case and here’s why: I believe he could kick tail in a seed spitting contest, and flat do a jig if he wanted, and that’s good enough for me. I do hope you’ll check out Jeff's lively work for yourself.

Now back to southerners. We know summer has set in here, due to brutally hot weather. When you walk outside before noon and feel as though you’ve been shoved into a sizzling sauna, you know you’ve landed in south Texas. On days I’m not fortunate enough to be in and around the water, I crank down the air-conditioner, pour some iced tea, and listen to Willie Nelson tunes. This original outlaw never fails to satisfy my musical hankering. To this Texan, his voice is velvety as melted chocolate. And I’ve always loved his braids. And chocolate.

Born and raised in Abbott Texas, Willie’s grandparents gave him mail order music lessons at age six. He wrote his first song at age seven and was playing in a local band at age nine. I finally got to see him in concert last year, and I danced around for days, so excited. He didn’t disappoint, his voice as pure and rawboned now as it ever was. Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain is one favorite, along with Whiskey River and Always on my Mind.

I thought of Willie Nelson the other day when I watched my older girls drag in from Summer Fest. They had sat in blistering Texas sun to catch these bands: The Flaming Lips, Girl Talk and Kid Sister. At 11:00 p.m., they got back, worn but happy, saggy pants and sunburned faces, and bandanna’s wound around their sweaty heads.

Of course Willie wears a bandanna. Stay cool!

19 comments:

  1. HA! I logged on just at the right time to see this post come up. I loves me some Willie! When he sings "Georgia," well, lets just say I would embarass myself around him if we were face to face. And I agree about his voice, velvety as chocolate.

    Up here, we have Merle Haggard. He's one of the locals and on occasion, I've entered a local restaurant and seen he and Willie drinkin' coffee. I also worked on Merle's tight muscles, once upon a time.

    Your girls sound like they had a great time. Congrats, again, on your book and I'll check out the Ultimate Cheapskate.

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  2. Oh, yeah, Mr. Haggard! Love him, too. You saw Willie and Merle drinking coffee; now don't that beat all! Lucky duck.

    I'm sure glad I waited up to see the girls come in. It was quite a treat. They never cease to amaze me with their antics, and always manage to have a grand time.:-)

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  3. I'll check out Mr. Cheapskate asap. Glad to see you're back to posting! Congrats on completing your second book! I hope you celebrate!

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  4. Think you'll appreciate Mr. Cheap and his story telling abilities, Stacy. Thanks.

    Appreciate the well wishes for the book as well. Had a small celebration. The big one will come when it's published.

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  5. Congratulations Dorraine. The Passion Diary. I love the title and I will love the book.

    It is hot and humid summer all year long in this corner of the world but these two weeks are school holidays so it feels like a summer break.

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  6. i think of willie often...(maria is my fav)
    welcome back! happy summer! congrats on finishing the book!

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  7. Good to see you, Ocean Girl! And thanks much for your sweet words. Appreciate your well wishes. :-)

    This part of the world is hot and humid, too, so I feel your pain. We'll have the same forecast until October: high nineties, with ninety percent humidity...bah..Guess we'll just have to deal.

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  8. Hi Brian!

    Oh, yes, Maria; fabulous choice.

    Great to be back! Thanks for dropping in and leaving your kind words. Hope you find some time this summer to kick back and relax.:-)

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  9. Kudos to you for finishing the work on your second novel, and Good Luck with selling it!

    I hate it when men compete with women when it comes to growing hair (Willie's braids), but I guess his velvety voice compensates us for any hard feeling, especially on a hot, humid day.

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  10. Re: Willie's hair, very funny, Duta! Yeah, I know what you mean. Hard to take when a man has better hair than we women.

    Thanks for the luck. I can always use a shot of that!

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  11. After reading "Jack Rabbit Moon", you've whetted my appetite! Looking forward to your second book :)

    And I hear ya about th' Texas heat; New Mexico can be just as brutal. But now stuck on the East Coast, we could use some to replace all th' rain!

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  12. Hi Subby! Well then,let's hope book two keeps you well entertained. I really appreciate your vote of confidence.:-)

    Here, take some southern heat, would you? It's free.

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  13. Congratulations on finishing the book! I sent you an email regarding your first, and I'm looking forward to reading it. You and so many other bloggers are such an inspiration to me. So much talent in this little community of ours. I look forward to what we all have in store for each other in the future!
    Jennifer

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  14. Yes, I got your email, and wrote you back. Hopefully, you have received it by now.

    Appreciate the encouragement, Jennifer! Keep on blogging and doing your own splendid thing. We are all blessed to have you around. :-)

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  15. Dorriane, after spending a week tracking down a copy...

    Anywho, I got it home and read the first 30 or so pages ( my being tired put off reading further 'til next night; at which point I read it through! ) I dinna do that too often...

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  16. Hey Subby, are you referring to The Cheapskate Next Door? If so, thank you so much. I know Jeff will appreciate that. Great book for sure!

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  17. YAYYYYY You're back... Woop and double woop and free ice cream and stuff ;0)

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  18. Cracking post. Out of the usual run.

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  19. Hola, Ms. Eternally Distracted and Mr. Dave King! Thanks and great to see your around.

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