BOOKS UNDER THE TREE

Just a quick note to say thanks for your support in 2018, especially in what we think of as "book-buying season" with the holidays almost over. All of us at Dogwood Press signed books for one person after another who bought for parents, friends, cousins, co-workers, and more. It's very humbling to know that when those gifts were unwrapped on Christmas morning, the recipients added books with our signatures to their collections.

It was great fun to team up with nearly the whole team at Lemuria on December 18 for Dogwood Press Day, where we signed a few books for Christmas shoppers and caught up with old friends. John Floyd, who taught so many creative writing students during his years at Millsaps College, always signs books for writers of all ages who had the opportunity to learn from him. And it was fun to see childhood friends of Valerie Winn--who were quite familiar with the house on the cover of The Dance Between--stop by to pick up their copies of her new book.

A fun evening at a wonderful bookstore!

Lifelong friends!

Meanwhile, John's winning streak continues: The twentieth anniversary issue of The Strand Magazine contains his story "Lucian's Cadillac," and the new Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine has an especially fun one called "On the Road with Mary Jo." Pick both up magwherever you buy books (hint: grab a copy of John's fantastic The Barrens).

I had a great time at Lorelei Books of Vicksburg on December 6, presenting not only a reading from my novel 40 Days but a publishing seminar that covered what I'm looking for as Editor-in-Chief (primarily mystery/suspense) as well as what to do and what NOT to do when getting in touch. Hey, I completely understand the excitement when you've put together what you think is the next Great American Novel. As I told the gathering in Vicksburg, though, put yourself in the shoes of the interviewer before submitting that proposal--is it written in such a way that conveys all of your strengths as well as the professionalism you wish to show? As the old Head and Shoulders tag line reminds us, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. The submission requirements page on the Dogwood Press website is something I mention at every book talk, since there are always questions about submitting one's work for consideration.

                                              I just flew in from Pittsburgh, and boy my arms are tired!

Janet Brown joined us at Lemuria for Dogwood Press Day and got to meet several folks who'll probably grab her spellbinding suspense novel Deadly Visits as soon as they can get their hands on it. Janet will launch at Lemuria on April 4, and she'll soon have a calendar full of book talks and appearances in support of the book. Can't wait!

                                             You'll never look at your cell phone the same way again!

And a real oddity: Valerie was at Books A Million of Biloxi, Mississippi, signing copies of The Dance Between and preparing to autograph a book for a customer when she noticed that the endsheets of the particular copy she opened were brown instead of the pink that goes with the cover. Turns out an entirely different book--by an author not with Dogwood Press--was inside the front and back of what appeared to be a copy of Valerie's new novel. Those things happen. But not very often, thankfully!

No disrespect to Mr. Johnson. I'm sure his book is very good. But we hope not to see it inside The Dance Between again!

There's still time for you to take advantage of the great $4.99 download price on the following Dogwood Press titles:

RANDY PIERCE - The Peter Bay

JOHN M. FLOYD - The Barrens

JOE LEE - 40 Days

SUSAN CUSHMAN - Cherry Bomb

VALERIE WINN - Forsaking Mimosa

Thanks again for supporting us in 2018, and we look forward to making new friends and meeting new readers and writers in the new year! Visit www.dogwoodpress.com to learn more about what we do, and where our writers will be speaking and signing books. Email addresses to reach everyone on the team are included, so get in touch if you're looking for a speaker at your next event. Happy reading, and happy holidays!

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!

No, I'm not directing a movie scene or television show. Just trying to illustrate, with that oft-used Hollywood stage directive, the magnitude of a book launch. Many months have gone into the preparation and planning, and walking into that first venue, bookstore or otherwise, is a huge thrill as well as being a little scary. Will anyone like it? If you write, and don't ask yourself that at least once, you may not have a pulse. Is anyone coming? Been there! See previous response.

October was a very busy month as we launched two outstanding books, beginning with Valerie Winn's The Dance Between. After our central Mississippi kickoff at Lemuria in Jackson, she returned to Pink Rooster Art Gallery in Ocean Springs for her Gulf Coast debut. In addition to living in the area, Valerie teaches art at the venue and has a huge following there. Not surprisingly, there was a great turnout for her second book.

You'll have to read the book to understand the coffee can and monkey.

Soon-to-be Dogwood Press author Janet Brown joining Valerie at Lemuria.

The John M. Floyd tour for The Barrens began at Lemuria two weeks from the afternoon Valerie was there. It was a beautiful thing to see the throng of John's friends and former creative writing students who stood in line and waited for him to autograph their purchases, and it was great to hear how many of them mentioned the fine review of the book in the previous day's Clarion Ledger, the daily newspaper that serves central Mississippi.

This is what you hope for at a book launch!




John with mega-talented illustrator Chuck Galey, one of John's former students.

Can you save me a seat?

Molly May made several stops during October--Breast Cancer Awareness month--to promote My Crowning Achievement (Beating Cancer). If you don't have a copy yet, here are two things to consider: 1)...a portion of proceeds from EVERY COPY SOLD will benefit Batson Children's Hospital in Jackson and Le Bonheur Children's Hospital in Memphis, and 2)...the book remains priced under $9 at Amazon! What a deal! Order a copy of Molly's inspirational memoir now for someone whose life has been affected by cancer.

Well worth your time.




Molly at First Baptist Church of Fulton, Mississippi, during a Breast Cancer Awareness luncheon.

Susan Cushman led a writing workshop at Novel, a neat little bookstore in Memphis, and gave a pair of talks as well as overseeing a critique session of the students' manuscripts. Talk about an education you can't get in a textbook--Susan is the editor of the excellent Southern Writers on Writing from University Press of Mississippi, and a year ago Dogwood Press published her very good debut novel Cherry Bomb. In addition to the instruction, each attendee received a signed book.

You never know ... one or more of these writers may be household names one day!

I'm really looking forward to a free seminar I'll give at Lorelei Books of Vicksburg, Mississippi, on December 6 at 5:30 p.m. We'll start with a reading from my recent novel 40 Days before I put on the publisher's hat and discuss what I'm looking for when considering queries from writers--how to go about getting in touch (and what not to do), and how you can make your best impression on any literary agent, acquisition editor, or small publisher like me. 

Upcoming events include Valerie signing TODAY at Aston Court Retirement Community in McComb, Mississippi, this afternoon at 1:00, which should be great fun because Valerie grew up in McComb and her father still lives there. You can meet John Floyd and pick up a signed copy of The Barrens this Saturday, November 10, at Books A Million of Meridian, and Molly will visit Evans Memorial Library of Aberdeen on November 14. John and I will be part of the annual multi-author holiday book signing at The Book Mart and Cafe in Starkville on Sunday, November 18.

And, since we've gotten such good response to our download special, it continues for a limited time! Grab any or all of these terrific Dogwood Press offerings for your Kindle right now for just $4.99!

JOHN M. FLOYD / Dreamland

SUSAN CUSHMAN / Cherry Bomb

JOE LEE / 40 Days

RANDY PIERCE / The Peter Bay

VALERIE WINN / Forsaking Mimosa

That's everything happening in the land of The Little Publisher That Could! I always appreciate your time, and all of us would love to see you at an upcoming book event. Visit www.dogwoodpress.com for signing schedules and information. Have a wonderful day!  

HAVE BOOKS, WILL TRAVEL

One summer day a few years ago, my son, who was probably in junior high, stuck his head in my office and said, "Dad, there's a huge truck parked outside." As I told him, it was a book delivery--as in a SHIPMENT of books. We had another delivery last week, with first printings of John Floyd's The Barrens and Valerie Winn's The Dance Between arriving together. After all the unpacking and organizing and sorting and filling of pre-orders was complete, I finally had a chance to take a close look. And oh my gosh, they look beautiful!

A work of art!

Also a work of art!

Both John and Valerie have a slew of exciting launch events lined up. Valerie kicks off at Lemuria in Jackson, Mississippi, at 5 p.m. on October 16 before racing back to the Mississippi Gulf Coast and an interview the following day on WLOX-TV's 4 p.m. newscast. On October 18 she will sign at Pink Rooster Art Gallery in Ocean Springs, followed by a signing and reading at Pass Christian Books on Saturday, October 20! Below is Valerie with her father, John Balser, an exceptional photographer who decades ago took the black-and-white cover photo that graces the cover of The Dance Between. It was a wonderful father-daughter moment for Valerie to present this book to Mr. Balser!

The young girls in front of the house in the photo are Valerie and her sister!

John will speak to the Bayou Writers Group in Lake Charles, Louisiana, on October 13, and he will have his usual Lemuria kickoff in Jackson on October 30. He has outstanding new stories in new issues of The Strand Magazine and Black Cat Mystery Magazine. The former is well-known in the industry, and this new issue of The Strand features a previously unreleased Ernest Hemingway story; the latter is a really neat mag that has come charging out of the gate with three outstanding issues--John has had a story in all three!

John's story in BCMM is called "Diversions." It's great!

My man John Floyd ... and Ernest someone??

I'm really looking forward to a combination book talk/publishing seminar at Lorelei Books of Vicksburg, Mississippi, on Thursday, December 6 at 5:30 p.m. I'll read from 40 Days and discuss the book, then "switch hats" and make a FREE presentation about the book business--what I'm looking for as a publisher, how one makes his/her best impression when querying, and what responsibilities the author will have once a publishing deal is in place. I hope you'll come join us!

All I ask is that you refrain from throwing fruit and vegetables until the talk is complete!

Molly May visiting Lorelei to promote My Crowning Achievement (Beating Cancer)

Molly May will visit Fleet Feet Sports of Jackson's Ridgeland location on October 17 at 7 p.m. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Molly gives a very powerful talk. This is a great venue for her, because Fleet Feet does a wonderful job of supporting women who've gone through breast cancer, and we're excited about Molly being there and signing copies of her new book! And Amazon has it marked down below $9 right now! Grab one--or several!

Meanwhile, we're getting closer to the launch of Janet Brown's Deadly Visits! I absolutely love the cover as well as the tightly-written suspense thriller, and I know you will, too!

Spooky!!!

Just as eye-catching a cover!

Susan Cushman has a lot going on, including a Cherry Bomb panel at the Louisiana Book Festival in Baton Rouge on November 10, and a seminar at Novel bookstore in Memphis where participants can choose either Cherry Bomb or Southern Writers on Writing as part of their registration fee! 

Finally, if you haven't done so already, take advantage of the bargain-basement price on some of our Dogwood Press downloads via Kindle. These five are $4.99 right now:

SUSAN CUSHMAN - Cherry Bomb

RANDY PIERCE - The Peter Bay

JOE LEE - 40 Days

JOHN M. FLOYD - Dreamland

VALERIE WINN - Forsaking Mimosa

Back to airing up the tires and gassing up the Bookmobile! For a full list of author signings, as well as contact information to get in touch with any of the Dogwood Press authors about a book talk, please visit www.dogwoodpress.com. Thanks very much for your time, and have a great day!

DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY!

It was fun to hang out with my mega-talented friend Valerie Winn at the Mississippi Book Festival and help hand out brochures for her great new novel The Dance Between. We also debuted paperback copies of Forsaking Mimosa, with the hardback now out of print. But there's loads of difference between talking about a forthcoming novel and actually having it on hand to sell. And the wait is just about over! Valerie launches The Dance Between at Lemuria in Jackson, Mississippi, on October 16 and will debut the new book on the Mississippi Gulf Coast at Pink Rooster Art Gallery in Ocean Springs two evenings later. It's a timeless story and a really neat book, picking up twenty-five years after the conclusion of Forsaking Mimosa and taking place in the same small town! 

Just several weeks away! Can't wait!

The book festival was great fun, as always. I spent the whole day--as did everyone, probably--waiting for the bottom to fall out of the sky with torrential downpours in the Jackson area all weekend. But we didn't get but a pair of quick, light showers, much to my relief. Believe me, when you're selling merchandise from a tent, there's nothing quite like half a dozen people rushing around throwing towels and tarps over books and marketing materials. 

A big festival highlight was being on the Mississippi Publishers Roundtable, where I shared the stage with Larry Wells of Yoknapatawpha Press, Craig Gill of University Press, Jim Dickerson of Sartoris Literary, and moderator Jim Ewing. There were lots of questions from audience members, and it was really nice when we were all asked to answer the same questions (such as the different marketing services we offer to our authors, or how the editing process works before publication). Even with the ominous weather, a reported 7,600 attended the festival. That's up nearly 1,000 from 2017, and well over twice the 3,200 in the inaugural year of 2015. Already looking forward to next year's event, which will be held on August 17, 2019! Meantime, here are some cool pix from this year! 

Susan Cushman, moderator of the Southern Writers on Writing panel, with contributor John Floyd

Valerie with literary legend Rick Bragg!

That's me in the visor, during the Mississippi Publishers Roundtable panel.
As I told the audience, nobody was there to see my hair!

We're just a few weeks away from launching the new John Floyd short story collection, The Barrens. This book is LOADED with great stuff--highlights include "Gun Work", which is included in this year's Best American Mystery Stories. John also has new stories in new/current issues of the Saturday Evening Post, The Strand Magazine, and Black Cat Mystery Magazine. He's even featured in a great new story collection called Pop The Clutch. It's edited by Eric Guignard and will hit stores on November 1. A couple of John's writing heroes, including Joe Lansdale, are also in the book!

Awesome! Plan on getting one!

And this, too! Real authors! Real cool! Real reading material!

We launched Molly May's My Crowning Achievement (Beating Cancer) at the book festival, and it was special to watch Molly interact with folks who wanted to meet her. This is a powerful book and getting a very good response--remember that a portion of proceeds from all sales goes to Batson Children's Hospital in Jackson and Le Bonheur in Memphis. 

Fun at the Mississippi Book Festival ...

... and at Mississippi State University's Barnes and Noble!

Susan with my friend and fellow author Mary Abraham
at the Mississippi Writer's Guild's annual conference in August.

And we can't wait to roll out Janet Brown's novel, Deadly Visits. Janet joined us at the book festival and handed out brochures. As she told folks in our tent, what happens when out-of-control scientists go too far with their mind and behavior control experiments? You'll have to read to find out, and trust me--you won't be able to put it down! Coming in April 2019 ...

What a neat book cover!

That, as they say, is all the news that fits! But wait--a quick note from the marketing department--you can still pick up these great Dogwood Press titles for your Kindle at the low, low price of just $4.99!

JOHN M. FLOYD - Dreamland

SUSAN CUSHMAN - Cherry Bomb

JOE LEE - 40 Days

RANDY PIERCE - The Peter Bay

VALERIE WINN - Forsaking Mimosa

We're all gearing up for a busy fourth quarter! In addition to the launches of the new John Floyd and Valerie Winn books, Molly May will sign her book at a slew of spots before year's end. For a complete list of author stops, please visit www.dogwoodpress.com, and let us know if you'd like any of us to come speak to your club or organization! We'd love to do so! Thanks, as always, for your time. Have a wonderful day!

HAVIN' A PARTY!

Yes, you're invited to a party--as in our state's fourth annual Literary Lawn Party! Less than two weeks until the Mississippi Book Festival, and we can't wait. It's remarkable how fast the festival has grown in three short years, jumping from just over 3,000 attendees in 2015 to more than 6,700 in 2017. The likelihood of even more folks visiting this year in is probably just as good as the ever-present chance of late-day storms in mid-August! Come say hello--we'll be in the Dogwood Press tent. Pick up a signed book or two, and here's where you can see several of us on panels inside the state capitol during the day:

Susan Cushman will serve as moderator for the SOUTHERN WRITERS ON WRITING panel at 10:45 a.m. (John Floyd is on that panel).

John Floyd will serve as moderator for the LIFE'S GREAT MYSTERIES panel at 12:00 p.m.

Joe Lee will be on the MISSISSIPPI PUBLISHERS ROUNDTABLE panel at 2:45 p.m.

Hope you'll be there, too!

We've talked about the Molly May inspirational memoir for months, and it's finally here! The MBF is Molly's first official event, so she's very excited about seeing old friends and making new ones. We'll have lots and lots of copies of My Crowning Achievement (Beating Cancer), and know that when you purchase the book, you're doing so for a good cause--a portion of proceeds from every copy sold with benefit Batson Children's Hospital in Jackson and Le Bonheur Children's Hospital in Memphis!

Buy a copy at the book festival, or bring yours and get Molly to sign it!

Paperback copies of Valerie's debut will be available at the festival, too! They look great!

And here's a really cool-looking book cover--can't wait till next April to launch Janet Brown's Deadly Visits! It starts a bit like a ghost story, but it's so much more--fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat suspense as a pair of enterprising tech guys take mind control well beyond what would have been deemed even possible just a few short years ago. You'll never look at your cell phone the same way again!

Come meet Janet at the festival, too!

We're just two months from launching Valerie's The Dance Between and John's The Barrens. Flyers for both books will be available in the Dogwood Press tent--one more reason to stop by. Keep in mind that almost everything in the Dogwood Press catalog is available for digital download via Amazon Kindle. In fact, these five are only $4.99 ... but for a limited time only, so grab one or more if you're getting low on reading material:

SUSAN CUSHMAN ... Cherry Bomb

RANDY PIERCE ... The Peter Bay

JOE LEE ... 40 Days

VALERIE WINN ... Forsaking Mimosa

JOHN FLOYD ... Dreamland

Thanks, as always, for your time. For the complete list of Dogwood Press author appearances, please visit www.dogwoodpress.com. All of us are available to speak to your group or organization, too! Have a great day, and see you at the 2018 Mississippi Book Festival!

ANOTHER FLOYD MILESTONE

I published John Floyd for the first time back in 2006. That collection of mystery/suspense short stories, Rainbow's End, set the stage for a long-term friendship and a whole series of fantastic story collections that continues this fall with The Barrens. One of the many unique aspects of Rainbow's End was the inclusion of six humorous mysteries which featured Sheriff Charles "Chunky" Jones and his retired elementary school teacher Angel Potts. The Chunky/Angel stories were already a fixture in Woman's World magazine (which has ginormous readership), and John and I both thought half a dozen of them would be a wonderful addition to that first book. Over the years, as Woman's World has continued to publish one Floyd story after another, I've paid close attention as the number of published Floyd pieces in the magazine neared the century mark.

Great reading made easy, too, with John in nearly every issue!

Well, that mountain has been scaled. With the July 16th issue of Woman's World hitting magazine racks all over the country, it marks the ONE HUNDREDTH time they've published a John Floyd story. Some interesting facts and figures from this remarkable feat: John's first Woman's World story was in the April 20, 1999 edition. In 2001 he began featuring the two aforementioned characters on an ongoing basis, which, as he says, keeps him from having to "introduce them" in each story--and gives him more words to devote to the story's plot. Also, 62 of the 100 stories involve either a robbery or a burglary, with only 21 involving murders--John notes in his Sleuth Sayers blog that Woman's World has always liked non-lethal crimes!

Here's to another 100 stories in Woman's World from John in the coming years! And he has stories coming up in the next issue of Strand Magazine and in the next print edition of The Saturday Evening Post. There's more: others are ahead in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Black Cat Mystery Magazine, and an excellent western called "Gun Work" in the 2018 Best American Mystery Stories. (It's worth noting that "Gun Work" is included in The Barrens!)

Can't hardly wait, as they say!!!

Meantime, Molly May is getting ready to hit the road in support of My Crowning Achievement (Beating Cancer). You can meet Molly in person (as well as John, Valerie Winn, Randy Pierce, and me) in the Dogwood Press tent at the Mississippi Book Festival on Saturday, August 18 at the Mississippi State Capitol. You'll want to pick up autographed copies of all of our books, but you'll REALLY want to grab a copy or two of Molly's book--a portion of proceeds from all copies sold will benefit Batson Children's Hospital in Jackson and Le Bonheur Children's Hospital in Memphis!

A powerful message, and a great cause!

An equally powerful story, beautifully brought to life!

SAVE THE DATE! Saturday, August 18

We're really looking forward to the book festival. I have the honor of being on the Mississippi Publisher's Panel, which is at 2:45 p.m. inside the Capitol. Susan Cushman is the moderator for the Southern Writers on Writing panel, which will include John Floyd. We'll have the Dogwood Press tent set up first thing in the morning, so please plan on stopping by to say hello! The festival is something very few other states have--nobody throws a literary lawn party like Mississippi!

And a special offer for you: The following Dogwood Press titles are available at the low, low price of just $4.99 via download to your Kindle:

SUSAN CUSHMAN - Cherry Bomb

JOHN M. FLOYD - Dreamland

VALERIE WINN - Forsaking Mimosa

RANDY PIERCE - The Peter Bay

JOE LEE - 40 Days

Hurry, this offer ends without warning! For the full list of Dogwood Press books available for download to your Kindle, as well as cool photos, book signings, and even how to go about submitting your  work for possible publication, please visit www.dogwoodpress.com. Have a great day, and thanks for your time!

JOHN'S LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Think of some of the people who have won Lifetime Achievement Awards. The words alone catch your attention--whatever such an honor is presented for, it's a pretty big deal, right? And it's an especially big deal for my friend and fellow author John Floyd to have just been named The Edward D. Hoch Memorial Golden Derringer Award winner, presented annually for Lifetime Achievement in the writing of short mystery fiction.

As I tell folks at book talks, the Derringer is to the short story what an Oscar is to acting, or the Grammy is to the music business. John has won several Derringer Awards over the years--a major accomplishment--but the scope of today's announcement leaves me absolutely awestruck. As well as very, very proud of a man I'm proud to call a friend, as well as an absolutely fantastic writer.

Previous winners include luminaries such as Bill Pronzini, Loren Estleman, Ruth Rendell, John Lutz, and one of my very favorite suspense authors, Lawrence Block. The award will be presented in St. Petersburg in September, at the annual Bouchercon Mystery Conference. John is making plans to attend and accept the award in person. 

Which gives me the perfect opportunity to mention The Barrens, John's great new collection of short mystery/suspense fiction that's coming in October! Come visit with us at the Mississippi Book Festival on August 18 and hear all about it!

You can also grab an all-new paperback copy of Valerie Winn's first novel, Forsaking Mimosa, as well as learn about Valerie's great new sequel, The Dance Between (also launching in October). 

Six years in the making, and worth every second of the wait!

And in case you don't have enough reasons already to come visit the Dogwood Press tent at the book festival, you'll meet new author Molly May! Her story will be relevant and meaningful to anyone who has someone with cancer in their family, or will benefit from reading about someone who has accomplished much in her short life with the odds very much stacked against her.

A powerful, inspirational read!

And here's a little marketing fun! Take a look at this flyer for the forthcoming (April 2019) Janet Brown novel Deadly Visits and see if you don't want to start reading the second the book comes out! Janet will also be at the Mississippi Book Festival and can tell you a whole lot more!

Uh, far out, man! 

Meanwhile, I've had a blast traveling all over the state (and beyond) to support my new faith-based Oakdale series novel 40 Days. I've seen old friends, made new ones, and visited a bunch of Mississippi public libraries--that's truly where the rubber meets the road in terms of the word spreading about a book. Think about how many folks check out books from libraries, and how many of those people tell their friends. I'm so thankful for the many books clubs and Friends of the Library groups there are around Mississippi, and it's an honor to speak to so many of them.

That's Starkville librarian Virginia Holtcamp to my right, and Friends President Sue Minchew to my left. Very nice people!

Lastly, big props to author Susan Cushman, who continues to sell copies of her excellent literary novel Cherry Bomb, for serving as editor of the very fine Southern Writers on Writing (published by University Press of Mississippi). The twenty-plus contributors all wrote pieces about writing--or about writing about the South--and one of my favorite entries is the selection from none other than John Floyd. Yes, THAT John Floyd! 

Great work, Susan and John!

That's all the news that fits! If you know John, give him a big pat on the back for winning the Golden Derringer Award--what a wonderful feat! For a complete list of Dogwood Press author events, visit www.dogwoodpress.com, and remember that all of us are available to speak to your group! Just send an email, and I bet we can make it happen! Most of the Dogwood Press catalog of titles is available via digital download for your Amazon Kindle, so keep that in mind as you make your reading purchases. And we certainly look forward to seeing you at the Mississippi Book Festival in just a few short weeks!