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! 

MISSY

Here's a big announcement: Randy Pierce has a new novel coming next summer. It's called Missy.

I've had the privilege of publishing Magnolia Mud in 2014 and The Peter Bay in 2016 (as well as re-releasing his debut, Pain Unforgiven, in 2016), and Missy compares very favorably. The writing style is comfortable and familiar, like a conversation with an old friend, and you'll be immediately drawn into a tale of love lost, tragedy, and redemption. The best compliment I can give Missy is that I couldn't put it down. I wanted to keep turning the pages and find out where Randy took protagonist Wayne Jacobs and the rest of his especially well-drawn cast. 

It seems like yesterday that this picture of Randy signing copies of The Peter Bay was taken. It was spring 2016, the truck just having arrived with the first printing. We'll soon recreate that happy scene when Missy arrives. Watch for it in August 2020, just ahead of the Mississippi Book Festival.

Missy will be here before you know it!

John Floyd, as always, has been very busy and productive. He attended Bouchercon in Dallas several weeks ago, sitting on a panel and participating in a signing of the 2019 Bouchercon anthology. He has have a story in the current (December 2019) issue of Mystery Weekly, one in the current (#5) issue of Black Cat Mystery Magazine, and stories in the recently-released Eyes of Texas anthology, the 2019 Bouchercon anthology, and the November 25th Woman’s World. 

 

In addition, John has two stories upcoming in the next few days: the Jan/Feb 2020 issue of Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine (on sale mid-December) and the anthology Crime Travel on December 8. Three more are ahead in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, and others will be out soon in Sherlock Holmes MM, Black Cat MM, and several anthologies.

Last but not least, of course, is the forthcoming gem pictured immediately below. If you enjoy humorous verse, you'll love Lighten Up A Little. Think bite-size poems a la Ogden Nash, and you know how clever John is with the endings of his short fiction--all 300 of the poems will make you smile. Coming in April 2020.

Can't wait!

Need a Christmas recommendation or two? Glad you asked! Visit the Dogwood Press website right now (www.dogwoodpress.com) and order signed copies of our work. In need of a page-turning thriller? Try Janet Brown's Deadly Visits. Looking for a modestly-priced inspirational story? Try Molly May's My Crowning Achievement (Beating Cancer). Those two and many more will make great Christmas gifts!

Molly at the public library in Louisville, Mississippi, during a Breast Cancer Awareness talk in October.

Janet gives a potentially "deadly" talk at the Starkville Public Library.

Lots of author events in December: Janet will sign copies of Deadly Visits at Books A Million of Meridian this Saturday, December 7, at noon. John will be at the Hattiesburg Books A Million at the exact same time and day. Valerie Winn will visit Barnes and Noble in Gulfport on Saturday, December 14 at 2 p.m. Stop by and say hello!

Nearly every title in the Dogwood Press catalog is available for download through Amazon Kindle, so if that's your reading preference, we're glad to accommodate you, though I understand that authors can't sign downloads! The most important thing, of course, is you finding a great new read, whether in a physical book or via your preferred device.

Thanks for your time. Have a wonderful holiday season. We look forward to seeing you soon! 

LIGHTEN UP A LITTLE

So you're saying, "What's with the title of your blog post? What did I ever do to you?" Don't misunderstand--I'm not telling you to calm down or take yourself less seriously. I'm merely taking the opportunity to share the title of short story writer extraordinaire John Floyd's new book of poetry--

WAIT a minute ... Golden Derringer Award-winning John Floyd, whose mystery/suspense stories have graced nationally-read publications like Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, The Saturday Evening Post, and Woman's World for more than two decades ... THAT John Floyd ... is a poet?

Yes ... and he's fantastic! Think Ogden Nash, he of the bite-size, humorous verse for all those years. John's work is a lot like the great stuff Nash did for so long, and we've compiled 300 doses of humorous verse into one neat little book you'll absolutely love! Here's your very first look at the cover, which features a cartoon John drew himself--with a big assist from our super-talented friend Chuck Galey. Lighten up a Little is coming in April 2020!

Doesn't this sound like fun???

We braved the heat at this year's Mississippi Book Festival and were very thankful for the pretty day--I'm not so sure there was even a cloud in the sky this year. Janet Brown (pictured below with a nice lady who was glad to purchase a signed copy of Deadly Visits), Valerie Winn, Randy Pierce, and I all met a lot of great folks. And there were many; a record-breaking crowd of 9,300 turned out for what has become a highly-anticipated literary event and a true feather in Mississippi's cap.

A deadly purchase!

Book clubs are so much fun! That's Valerie Winn right in the middle of a bunch of enthusiastic readers from Biloxi, Mississippi, who gathered at Southern Bound Bookshop to discuss Valerie's first novel, Forsaking Mimosa. Remember, if you haven't picked up a copy of Valerie's recent release, The Dance Between, it's a wonderful sequel to Forsaking Mimosa!

Thanks, y'all!

The Dogwood Press website has been updated and has a sleek new look. Take a look when you can at www.dogwoodpress.com, and keep in mind that first-edition signed copies of our work are available through the site. Also, nearly all titles are available for download to your Kindle. Our authors are always interested in meeting other readers and writers and give interesting presentations, so keep us in mind the next time you need a speaker for an event. Thanks for your time. Have a great day!

SIX WEEKS AWAY

Wow, it's July! Any remaining vestiges of spring are gone. Everything is green. The days are long and begin early. And it isn't just hot. The mornings are a veritable sauna as one walks the dog at daybreak or gets a bit of light exercise before the sun breaks out high in the pink sky. Thoughts on such days turn to something only Mississippi has, the state's one and only literary lawn party ...

We've had Saturday, August 17 marked on our calendars for an entire year as we've anticipated the fifth Mississippi Book Festival. It's safe to say that the big day will dawn a lot like every other summer day in this region of the country: hazy, humid, and full of promise. We can't wait, even though it means getting up well before dawn and having our Dogwood Press tent set up before the sun is good and warm in the sky. 

Please save the date, and come say hello. Meet several Dogwood Press authors, including Janet Brown, whose wonderful suspense novel DEADLY VISITS is a perfect read for all the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer ahead--days you don't want to venture out into the heat if at all possible.

Makes a great gift!

It remains an honor to have John Floyd on the team. I vividly remember the two of us carpooling to the inaugural Mississippi Book Festival and wondering many things: would it live up to the hype, would the weather hold up, would we find a parking place in Hinds County. John continues his great run of fantastic short stories in major publications, like "The A Team" in the July Saturday Evening Post. Grab on and enjoy!

A legendary publication, classed up even more with the presence of one John Floyd!

John and Janet were included by publisher Johnny Lowe in a unique short story collection entitled 

What Would Elvis Think? It features a cool book cover and is loaded with Mississippi stories from Mississippi writers, including several from former students of the aforementioned Mr. Floyd when he taught creative writing at the Millsaps College Enrichment Program. Below the cover is a picture from Lemuria at the grand opening--John is with old friends (and illustrators extraordinaire) Chuck Galey and Chuck McIntosh).

                                                

 

I think Elvis would approve!

Nobody is more creative than Valerie Winn when it comes to promoting books. To understand the idea behind this imposing little lady of the cloth, you need to read Forsaking Mimosa. Then, of course, grab a copy of Valerie's most-worthy sequel, The Dance Between.

Happy reading, kids! 

One more reason to attend the Mississippi Book Festival: While this is NOT a book Dogwood Press published, I had the privilege to serve as editor of Margerita's Gridiron Adventure and spent a lot of time with the author. Margerita is a Slovenian lawyer who came to Jackson for law school and studied under (among other law professors) my friend Mike Frascogna Jr. The Mississippi Sports Council is publishing this wonderful book, which is a fascinating account of Margerita's crash course in the sport of American football as well as her observations about all things Mississippi and living in the Magnolia State. She'll be on the sports book panel at the festival, and you'll be able to meet her and purchase her memoir!

Paced like a two-minute drill and packed with interesting insights!

As I've said before in this space, we love autographing books, but I completely understand if you've shifted your reading preferences to a device in recent years. With that in mind, nearly all Dogwood Press titles are available for digital download through Amazon Kindle, including Deadly Visits. Get started clicking now, and be reading in a mere minute or two!

That's everything! Go put on the sunscreen, grab a quart of water or Gatorade, and go find a cozy spot to read, even if it's a foot from the air conditioner! We look forward to seeing you at the Mississippi Book Festival! Thanks for your time.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The Dogwood Press website includes information about our editing services, including exactly what constitutes a conflict of interest regarding what I can and can't publish. Let me see if I can explain further, since a good many writers have questions in this area.

First, Dogwood Press is a traditional publishing house, meaning we make the financial investment in your book from top to bottom and pay royalties as copies sell. There are hybrid presses which involve the author contributing to the financial investment, and there are vanity presses, where the author pays for everything. Both publishing options certainly have their place, but I don't do it that way. I will never accept money from a writer to publish his or her book under the Dogwood Press umbrella.

That said, I work with several editing clients each year and gladly accept money from all of them. It's under this condition, however: It's completely understood--and written into the contract--that that particular manuscript is not eligible for publication by Dogwood Press. Why, you ask? 

Let's say I read your manuscript and like many things about it, as well as finding areas in which I would need to see improvement. When I recommend that you find an experienced editor to work with you, you ask me to handle that role, which I do. Here's the key: If I don't rule out your manuscript for publication at that time, it's natural to assume you will have a better shot at landing a contract with Dogwood Press than many (or most) writers I'm considering--because of your investment in me. Later, if you've done everything I asked during the editing and I still tell you that your work just isn't quite what I'm looking for, you have every right to feel misled, if not cheated. Hence the conflict.

If we do work together on your manuscript, you have the option of looking for literary representation and a publishing contract with that newly-minted, edited product, or self-publishing if you wish. You can also submit a different work to me at a later date, as it's my hope that the writing improvements you made in working with me would find their way into your future efforts.

Valerie Winn, with whom I worked extensively on her wonderful novels The Dance Between and Forsaking Mimosa, is more than qualified to put on writing workshops and had a very successful one in April in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Topics included how to query literary agents, marketing, writing groups, and this very topic--how the editing process works.

Hands-on instruction from Valerie at Pink Rooster Art Gallery

You never know ... one of these writers with whom Valerie worked may just hit it big ...

It's great fun for me to speak alongside the authors I've published, especially when their books are brand-new. Janet Brown and I had great fun with the nice folks that visited the Winston County Public Library in Louisville during National Library Week in April. Beth Edwards (at far right) is the librarian and an especially nice lady. John Floyd will speak there and sign The Barrens on May 21, and Molly May will visit in October during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Getting the word out about Deadly Visits 

Speaking of Janet's book, we just made Deadly Visits available for download through Amazon Kindle this week, so if you've been waiting for the electronic version, you're now about a minute from reading. It's a great beach book, or one to enjoy while at the pool.

Hopefully it won't keep you awake at night!

And a quick SAVE THE DATE from the marketing department: The fifth annual Mississippi Book Festival is set for Saturday, August 17 at the Mississippi State Capitol in downtown Jackson. If you haven't been, it's a must-attend, and I'm thinking total festival attendance will bust 10,000 for the first time. We'll have the Dogwood Press tent out there, with authors that would love to meet you.

Can't wait!!!

Thanks for your time, and please visit www.dogwoodpress.com to order signed books. As someone once said, they make great gifts!