MAKING LEMONADE

Nobody I know wants to go through another 2020, but I remain blessed to work with some wonderful, resourceful people. Case in point: a Randy Pierce in-person book talk and signing for Missy that took place at the Mississippi Gulf Coast home of new Dogwood Press author Candy Wheeler and her husband. This was a VERY kind gesture that gave Randy's book crucial exposure in a part of the state he hasn't been able to reach yet because of the pandemic, and we wore masks, observed social distancing, and enjoyed grab-and-go food and drinks. We had several Dogwood Press authors together in one spot for the first time in at least a year, and not only did I get to brag on Randy and his new book, I was able to do the same about Candy and her wonderful novel, Cradle in the Oak, which is only five months away! 

                                                 Randy describing the inspiration for Missy

So good to spend some time with these great folks

A must read. Coming in April 2021 

Meanwhile, John Floyd has had a whopping TWELVE stories published in the past thirty days in places like The Strand Magazine, Mystery Weekly, Black Cat Mystery Magazine, Woman’s World, and the 2020 edition of The Best American Mystery Stories. Also, the film option on one of John's Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine stories was recently extended until next year, and last week he recorded a podcast of his Derringer-Award-winning story from Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine. You can listen here: https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/eqmm/episodes/2020-10-30T13_25_11-07_00  

John's "Rhonda and Clyde" is inside

Molly May did her usual great work during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, speaking often and raising awareness. She spoke again this year at Copiah County Medical Center in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, late in the month, and our marketing material presented her talk as something which "might just save your life." It truly isn't an exaggeration.

Socially distanced lifesaving information

Masked up for BCA Month!

I had the honor of being asked to edit brand-new Mississippi author Randy Delaughter's debut, Heaven's Dew. Part one of a trilogy, this faith-based adventure takes place in both the jungles of The Sudan and the southeastern United States. It's fun, fast-paced, and will make you think. Isn't that what a good read is supposed to do? Find Randy on Facebook to learn more about the book.

Well worth your time!

Upcoming events: Randy Pierce signs Missy this Thursday, November 12 at the Waynesboro-Wayne County Library at 2:30 p.m., followed by a visit to Impression Books of Flowood on Saturday, November 21 at 10 a.m. In between, Randy will do a Zoom event with the Central Mississippi Library system at 3 p.m. on Thursday, November 19. 

Don't forget that nearly all of the Dogwood Press catalog is available for digital download via Amazon Kindle, including John Lee's The Guardians of Latharcus, a neat young-adult novel. Be sure to visit our website at dogwoodpress.com for videos, photos, and contact information for our authors. Need a speaker, either in-person or for a virtual event? We will be glad to make it happen.

Thanks for your time. Be well, stay safe, and keep reading! 

IT'S HERE!

I'm normally not a fan of unloading and breaking down palettes of books (it makes my back hurt). But I've never been as glad to see a delivery truck as I was last Friday when the first printing of Randy Pierce's Missy arrived. That goes double for the excitement of cracking open the first box and holding a copy of a new Dogwood Press title in my hand. I'm always like a little kid on Christmas morning when our books get here, but this shipment's arrival--amid a pandemic we continue to suffer through--was a moment I'll savor. Maybe because it felt so normal. I'll take all the normal I can get right now.

This pic went right on the Dogwood Press Facebook page. I may put it in a frame.

For right now, the sum total of Randy's tour schedule is a stop next Monday, October 5, from 5-7 p.m. at Leakesville United Methodist Church in Greene County, Mississippi (where Missy and two of his other novels are set). We are quite serious about safety precautions at this one, and masks will be worn with social distancing strictly observed. Randy will be masked-up the entire time. He can't wait to see you, though, and he and I are both so grateful for the excitement we're hearing from all who are planning to attend. As with everything else right now, we can make it work if we're patient and careful. 

 

Can't wait for you to read this wonderful novel!

It was great to visit with John Floyd in person yesterday for the first time in quite a while. His wonderful book of humorous poetry, Lighten Up A Little, may have slipped between the cracks in your reading purchases, because the sum total of Floyd book events to support the book is zero. We're selling through the Dogwood Press website, through Lemuria Books of Jackson, Mississippi, and Amazon. If you love John's great short stories but have held back about buying a book of his poetry, let me assure you that the hallmarks of John's work (versatility, humor, and clever wordplay) are there. You'll love it!

Masks were only off for the photo!

We'll keep you updated regarding virtual events for Randy and John. Meantime, I can't wait for the release of Cradle in the Oak, the wonderful debut novel by Coast-based Mississippi author Candy Wheeler. She and I have had multiple discussions about how her book launch will unfold, and by spring 2021 we may still be wearing masks and standing six feet from each other. Trust me, we will be safe while putting our creative heads together. There will be virtual events, of course, as well as in-person visits to book clubs and any venues where there's enough comfort for people to gather. 

Six months away from this must-read!

Visit the Dogwood Press website at dogwoodpress.com as soon as you can to order copies of Missy and Lighten Up A Little. Our orders are often filled and shipped the same day, meaning you'll have your purchase (which will be signed by the author) in just a couple of days. With so many folks at home, wouldn't a book or two make a great Christmas gift for the readers on your shopping list?

And while we can't autograph downloads, we know a whole lot of people do their pleasure reading on a device. If that's you, know that Lighten Up A Little is now available for purchase on Amazon Kindle for only $6.99! You won't be able to stop grinning and laughing.

Thanks, as always, for your time. Be well, stay safe, and happy reading!

WELCOME ABOARD!

It's great to welcome my friend Candace Cox Wheeler to the Dogwood Press team! We'll launch her wonderful debut novel, Cradle in the Oak, next April. Set in the early twentieth century on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Cradle opens with protagonist and young mom Carrie Burns waking up to discover that her husband left in the middle of the night with the kids and the babysitter. Making it her life's work to find her beloved sons, Carrie lands a job and reinvents herself as a resourceful businesswoman in order to save enough money to travel and sleuth. There's action, suspense, and romance in a novel that's deeply submerged in Coast life circa 1910--Candy puts you right there as Carrie Burns learns the shrimp industry from top to bottom as well as what it takes to sail competitively. 

Isn't that a pretty cover?

Plans are still on for Randy Pierce to launch Missy at Lemuria Books of Jackson, Mississippi, on October 6. Randy will also do an event the day before in his hometown of Leakesville. I promise that if you've enjoyed Randy's three previous novels, you'll really adore Missy. Among the many things Randy does well as a writer is bring back characters from his previous works, and it's interesting to see a couple of folks who had significant roles in Pain Unforgiven and The Peter Bay make brief cameos in Missy. Ultimately, there's a strong theme of forgiveness in the book (and the need for us to be able to do so), which will resonate. 

As with Candy's book, characters who will get under your skin and stay there.

We're getting the Dogwood Press authors involved in as many virtual events as possible. A big one, recently, was Mystery in the Midlands, a mystery/suspense short story event which was headlined by perennial bestseller Jeffrey Deaver and included, among others, John Floyd as a panelist. We had orders for signed copies of John's books come in through the Dogwood Press website in the first minutes and hours after his participation, which was greatly appreciated.

Our new book-selling reality, as least for a while

It's also true for book clubs and writing groups, such as Valerie Winn's group.

I hope you and yours are staying safe and healthy. These are certainly some challenging times. Treat yourself to a good read as soon as you can and visit dogwoodpress.com to order a book or two. You'll absolutely love the recent collection of humorous poetry from John Floyd, Lighten Up A Little, and if you want to escape with a good beach read (even if you're staying away from the beach), you'll enjoy the pulse-pounding suspense of Janet Brown's Deadly Visits. Remember that when you order through the Dogwood Press site, you'll receive U.S.P.S. Priority rate shipping at no extra charge, regardless of the size of your order. Thanks for your time, and have a great day!

SILVER LININGS

I hope this new month gets off to a great start for you, and I hope June is a little bit better than May for you and your family and friends, just as I hope May was an improvement in some ways over April. These are tough times to be sure, but I have exciting news to share.

Let's begin with your very first look at the brand-new Randy Pierce book cover for Missy, which we will officially release on October 1.

Intriguing, isn't it?

This novel is arguably Randy's best, in my humble opinion, a powerful story of heartbreak, forgiveness, and redemption. Take several looks at that cover, as two very important components of the plot are featured there. We've heard from many of Randy's fans who can't wait for the book. Believe me, we're very excited about releasing it. 

What we hope you'll do, given the Pierce tour will probably look a lot different than he and I were envisioning a few months ago, is purchase the book as soon as it's available even if Randy won't be able to make it to a venue near you for a while. 

The same is true for John Floyd's fantastic book of humorous poetry, Lighten Up A Little, which was released in March. Visit the Dogwood Press website at dogwoodpress.com to purchase copies of not only John's new book but any Dogwood Press title and receive U.S.P.S. Priority Shipping at no extra charge. 

Likewise, you'll be able to order Randy's book this fall from independent stores around Mississippi, and we'll be discussing the possibility of virtual book signings and readings with those stores for both Randy and John. We'll let you know, of course, when dates are nailed down and how you can participate.

No, it's not Frost, Dickinson, or Poe ... but it will make you laugh out loud!

About a year and a half ago, a writer from Biloxi, Mississippi, named Candace Wheeler took part in a writing seminar led by Valerie Winn in Ocean Springs. While I was fully aware of the seminar (and promoted it in this blog), I was not there for the event and didn't meet the participants. Not long after that, Candace Wheeler submitted a manuscript to me. 

It was several months before I met her in person, and by then I was very impressed with how hard she was working to bring her manuscript closer and closer to what I told her I was looking for. We've made it official in recent days: her novel Cradle in the Oak, a riveting work of fiction set in the early 20th century on the Mississippi Gulf Coast as well as locations like New Orleans, Baltimore, and St. Augustine, Florida, is slated for release in spring 2021.    

That's Valerie at far left in the back, and Candy in the black top on the front row.

Valerie, by the way, was named Artist of the Month for May by Pink Rooster Art Gallery in Ocean Springs!

I've had the opportunity to work with a great many writers on an editorial basis who've self-published their work. The most recent is Cary Butler of Pearl, Mississippi, a good guy whose first novel, Digital Twin, has just been released. Cary spent more than three decades as an AI (artificial intelligence) researcher for the U.S. Department of Defense, and his novel is a page turner about how our health care system may look well out into the future when it comes to detecting and combating catastrophic diseases. It's a really neat book that will make you think (especially in light of the pandemic), and I'm honored to have been part of it. Visit his website, while1:ai, to learn more. 

Love the cover!

Again, when you order directly from us at dogwoodpress.com, you'll get U.S.P.S. Priority Shipping at no extra charge. A good book might be a wonderful escape right now from what ails you. Thanks for your time, and keep smiling. Better days are ahead.  

KEEPING IT LIGHT

There's little I can add to the conversation everyone's having right now about COVID-19, other than echoing those who believe that now is a good time to be as kind and patient as we can with each other and check on our friends. For me, checking on my friends includes touching base with the team of Dogwood Press authors, all of whom are fantastic people. I've said before that I don't just go to work; I look forward to every single day of being an author, editor, and publisher. 

The timing of the release of John Floyd's new book of humorous poetry is fascinating and a silver lining of sorts. Lighten Up A Little is a collection of 300 bite-size poems, of which all are clever and quite a number are laugh-out-loud caliber. Well before COVID-19 materialized and impacted our lives the way it has, John came up with what turned out to be a truly fitting last line for the back-of-book copy: The book's title is also its message: We all need to take the world a little less seriously.

Like you, we're having to be extremely flexible about working around cancellations and postponements of events, so the original tour schedule we set up for John may look a lot different a few weeks from now. Just know that whenever you're able to get your hands on a copy of Lighten Up A Little, it will be well worth the time you'll spend with it. This book will indeed bring smiles to your face and may even make you laugh out loud a few times. We could all use a little of that right now, don't you think?

That's John's artwork on the cover, along with a big assist from our friend Chuck Galey!

I'm still shaking my head at how a pair of much-publicized author events took place as planned in the very final days before the cautions were issued about gathering in groups. Valerie Winn, who grew up in McComb, spoke to a large gathering at the nearby Tylertown Public library and had a wonderful time visiting with old friends and making new ones. Both The Dance Between and Forsaking Mimosa have found a vast audience in her old stomping grounds, thanks in no small part to the fact that that area of Mississippi is where her novels are set.

Valerie and Tylertown Friends of the Library president Alisa Leggett.

Likewise, Molly May had been invited months ago to speak at the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards conference in Florence, Mississippi. RYLA is a tremendous networking opportunity for 50-60 outstanding high school students from central Mississippi each year (they hear wonderful speakers, make new friends, and learn some great life lessons), and Molly's talk included a book signing for every student, fellow speaker, and conference organizer. Molly had a wonderful time, and I have no doubt she made a long-lasting impression on everyone who heard her powerful presentation.

Molly's book is truly an education you can't get in a textbook.

John Floyd and Starkville-based author, artist, and jewelry-maker extraordinaire Laurie Parker were panelists at an author event two weeks ago at Meridian Community College. Once again, it was a great opportunity for a large group of young people to learn from a pair of true professionals, and the sharp contrast of their backgrounds made for a great learning experience for the students. 

Laurie, I promise there will be some people here!

That's all the news that fits. Hopefully, when we chat again, our world will be a little closer to normal than it is at the moment. But we'll get through it. For me, a big part of getting through it is reading (which I do a whole lot of anyway). Visit the new Dogwood Press website as soon as you can at dogwoodpress.com. If we can make your days even a tiny bit easier with a good read, we're glad to do so. Have a great day, and thanks, as always, for your time.

THE ROARING TWENTIES

Happy new year! Happy new decade! There's a lot for me to be happy about as we open 2020. All of us on the Dogwood Press team are honored that you've bought our books and supported a small but traditional publishing house in an era where fewer people are purchasing physical books. As editor-in-chief, I'm delighted to tell you that we're hitting the ground running--or roaring--as we hit the twenties!

Our next big book launch is the new John Floyd collection of humorous poetry, Lighten Up A Little. Featuring a cover drawn by John himself (with a crucial assist from our hugely-talented friend Chuck Galey), it's a collection of poetic works that is FUN to read! In fact, I dare say you'll laugh out loud at many of them. We're less than four months to the grand opening at Lemuria Books of Jackson on April 23 and expect a packed house.

He's a poet! Who knew?

I really enjoy short fiction, which drew me to John's work long ago, so I was glad to get my hands on a copy of the 2019 Bouchercon anthology. Entitled Denim, Diamonds, and Death, it's great fun, with high quality stories from some fantastic writers--grab a copy and I promise you'll blow right through it. A highlight is John's entry, "The Midnight Child." Pick one up as soon as you can. This is a very good read all the way through, which is not always true when a work includes a variety of writers.

You won't be able to put it down!

Dogwood Press authors were all over the place in the last few days before Christmas, making new friends and greeting old ones at bookstores and public libraries. Again, we are very grateful for your support. It's gratifying to know that quite a number of our books were opened Christmas morning!

Valerie Winn at Barnes and Noble of Gulfport, MS. Is the ceiling about to fall?

I know August seems like a long time from now, but you know how fast time passes. Randy Pierce's terrific new novel, Missy, will be here just before the Mississippi Book Festival. In the meantime, keep an eye on the Dogwood Press website, www.dogwoodpress.com, for author talks and further news about upcoming releases. Most of the catalog is available for download via Amazon Kindle, so keep that in mind if that's your preferred way of reading..

Thanks for your time. Have a great day, a great new year, and a great new decade!