Sunday, August 29, 2010

Yes, it was a GREAT time!

The Suwanee Festival of Books was one fantastic event! Some 100 authors spent this weekend sharing stories, teaching classes, sitting on panels, selling books, and simply chitchatting with gracious knows how many festival goers.

Yes, friends, I did fine with my talk and panel discussion, and managed to sell some books, too. But mostly I had a ball hobnobbing with the likes of Terry Kay, Jackie Cooper, Haywood Smith, Dale Kramer, Ed Putnam, John Wilsterman and Patti Callahan Henry, along with soon-to-be published, Renea Winchester.
I also got to meet Melinda Long, who wrote the fantastic picture book about the little boy who becomes a pirate (until bedtime). It's been a favorite with our grandsons. Melinda autographed her new one for Loftin and Emmett and they are thrilled.

I saw Spider Man, enjoyed lots of talented dancers and musicians, and met a gentleman who wore a fish on his head as he played the piano. Needless to say, there was something for every taste and shopping need: book-wise, food and product-wise!

The festival planners didn't overlook a single detail from welcoming and taking care of authors to providing two days of fun for everybody who attended this, Suwanee's inaugural "celebration of the book."

Surely hope to be back next year! MMP

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Saturday

Saturday is the big day in Suwanee, Georgia. The Suwanee Festival of Books kicks off at 10:00 a.m. My friend Ed Putnam, author of "The Final Season", checked out the venue today. He tells me it's a perfectly wonderful place for a book event.
Besides, even the weather man is cooperating with festival planners. Just image, a coolish day in the Atlanta area in AUGUST. A miracle, for sure!

I plan to chill out with Ed in his tent for a while in the early part of the day, then drop by The Brown Bag Deli and go to the Barnes and Noble Book Marketplace where "Creola's Moonbeam" will be for sale. I plan to catch Haywood's talk and Patti's talk on the main stage at 11:30 and 12 prior to making my way to the children's stage to tell folks about Ociee Nash at 12:30 . . . hopefully meet a few fans, then I'll go to Olde Towne Tavern and Grill for our 1:30 panel. Whew, that's a busy schedule. Next, Terry Kay speaks at 2, a talk I couldn't miss! Lastly, dear friend J. Kershaw Cooper speaks at 5 o'clock. What a perfect end to our authors day.

Am I ready? Sorta. Tomorrow, I must pack up books, get some change for customers, and pick out an outfit. So far, I'm thinking something comfy.
Also, after 18 months of letting my hair turn silver, I caved in today and got it colored again. Why not? After all, Ociee Nash was a blond until the day she died (age 94). She'd approve, wouldn't she?

Hope to see you at Suwanee Town Center Park day after tomorrow. Milam

Sunday, August 15, 2010

A puzzlement

I just opened my website to find some 374 "hits". This brings the question: either I have a crazed person who checks on my site every few minutes, or there are 300+ folks who are a tad curious, but a bit too shy to write to me. I never, but never, receive comments. Please understand it's perfectly fine to contact me; no purchase is necessary.
For now, however, I will remain content with the website's attention!

I've mentioned the Suwanee Festival of Books a couple of times and hope to see lotsa folks there on Saturday, August 28, especially when I'm on the Childrens Stage at 12:30. Now I've also been invited to sit on a panel at the Old Town Grill to discuss children's literature. That event will be at 1:30. I figure by mid afternoon, I'll be without much else to say!

Speaking of children, our two precious grandsons, Loftin and Emmett, are due here shortly, so I must step out of author mode into MyMy, the doting grandmother's shoes.

Let me hear from you! Milam

Friday, August 6, 2010

More excitement about Suwanee

I was chatting with Ed Putnam, author of "The Final Season" when he suggested I check out the website for the Suwanee Festival of Books. Weeelllll, guess I should have done so before now, because much to my surprise and delight, along with Terry Kay, are several other precious and talented author buddies.

Included with Ed Putnam are J. Kershaw Cooper, Haywood Smith, Patti Callahan Henry, Franklin Cox, and John Wilsterman. This is going to be one fun event. For me, it feels a bit like a family reunion!

So mark your calendars for that last week in August: Saturday, August 28 (10 a.m to 6 p.m.) and Sunday, August 29 (1 p.m. to 6 p.m.) at Suwanee Town Center Park. Do check out the festival's website. The organizers are offering many exciting things to do for book lovers of all ages including, of course, authors with a terrific selection of books, presentations by authors, along with art and music, games and yummy food. I, for one, cannot wait.

Please try to get to the Children's Stage on Saturday at 12:30 where I'll be blabbing about our Ociee girl! *See yawl in Suwanee.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Another Freebie

"Get Caught Reading at the Suwanee Festival of Books 2010"

There's a brand new book festival in the Atlanta area, and it's going to be a great one! The event is set for Saturday, August 28 and Sunday, August 29.

I'm scheduled to speak at 12:30 Saturday on the Children's Stage. The address is Suwanee Town Center Park, 370 Buford Hwy NW. I truly hope to see you there! For complete details, kindly go to: suwaneefestivalofbooks.com.

Ociee Nash is continuing to receive lots of attention with the free KINDLE offer for "A Flower Blooms on Chartlotte Street"--------------AND she's very pleased! Hurry, however, the freebie only runs until August 12.

Signing off now; I'm looking forward to seeing Ociee fans in Suwanee that last weekend in August. Milam