OMG! Our long-awaited blog is here! Here's hoping I have something worthwhile to say on it, and that the pages don't remain as empty as my journal has since opening the bookstore. But no pressure, right? Just write what's on my mind. . . . Hmmmmm. On my mind today is Andre Dubus, the third, who Karen and I had the pleasure to meet In Louisville last month at a book convention. We devoured his first book, House of Sand and Fog, and that was reason enough to love him. But you just have to meet him in person to get the full effect. Andre has the coolest head of hair ever, and he's just so personable and sweet and approachable. And he kissed Karen and me, even though he was admittedly kissing all the women, but still I think we had a moment there. And he was all "I'd love to come to your bookstore," even though he's not even scheduled to come to Atlanta ever. But what's the harm in encouraging a couple of old (Karen, not me!) broads anyway? Now I'm reading his not-yet-published The Garden of Last Days, and feeling a little guilty because I should be reading stuff that's out now, and this one doesn't hit the stores until June, but I Just. Could. Not. Wait. It's good, too. Longer that House of S&F, edgier too, if you can imagine that. Andre (I think I can call him by his first name since our moment) has this style that is all about the convergence of random events, and he just has you holding your breath and flipping ahead in the book to make sure things turn out alright. But you're afraid that they won't, like in H of S&F. And that doesn't give anything away, for those of you who haven't read Sand & Fog. (You need to come get it right away if you haven't yet read it. BEFORE you see the movie.)
BTW, I also read Susan Gregg Gilmore's Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen which was feel-good marvelous. This author will be at the store this Sunday, Feb. 17th. (Please excuse the shameless promotion, but it's true.) Lee Smith blurbed this one, and Gilmore's been compared to Fannie Flagg, but she reminded me more of Olive Burns (Cold Sassy Tree), an oldie, but one of my favorite southern novels. Karen and I are trying to see if we can coordinate getting some Dairy Queen dilly bars for the signing, because that's what the main character's always eating. Potentially melting ice cream around all those books is giving us pause, but you know we like a creative challenge. It'll be a fun event at any rate (more shameless promotion) so come on by at 1:00 Sunday!
Thanks, Dwight, for our wonderful blog and updated webpage! If anybody wants a terrific webguy, I'll hook you up.
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