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ALLERGY ALERT!
No, I'm not about to sneeze on you, but I do have a
problem. In addition, that is, to getting onto too
many e-lists that eat up my time. One list I got on
that looked like fun at first is Real Age. You
answer a bunch of questions, trying not to lie (uh,
exaggerate) too often, and they tell you what age
you really are. Like, hopefully, several years short
of your birth certificate.
Anyway, today they featured the last of a five-part
series on allergies. It started off: "You're
tackling allergies head on. You've identified your
allergy type, you know and avoid your triggers, and
you've seen your doctor concerning your allergy
symptoms."
Wrong! I tried the allergy bit several years ago.
Couldn't see that it was helping, got tired of my
arm substituting for somebody's needlework, and
moved on. My problem is a chronic cough. Many
doctors have tried but failed to find the cause (or
the cure). So, after many years, I just keep on
coughing. That and clearing my throat has about
ruined my vocal chords, which is why I no longer
make long talks. Fifteen minutes is my limit. But I
can write for hours, when I stay off the Internet.
Maybe the big "I" is my real allergy.
NOTICE ANYTHING NEW?
Okay, that's a trick question to see if you've been
reading the newsletter. I've changed to a new
format, using ideas stolen from several other
mystery writers, notably Chris Grabenstein. It's a
bit more colorful, with the outer border in good ole
Tennessee orange.
The links in the green box will take you to relevant
pages on my website. Most newsletters done in this
style are patterned after the author's website
design. Being a contrarian, I'll just pattern my
website after the newsletter.
SIGNING BY THE CREEK
Writers group colleague Beth Terrell and I have been
booking festivals around Middle Tennessee. In the
photo above, we're signing April 10 at the Buttercup Festival
in Nolensville, TN, just south of Nashville. It was
a beautiful spring day.
NEXT UP: RC MOON PIE FESTIVAL
On Saturday, June 19, we'll be at the famous RC Moon
Pie Festival in the small town of Belle Buckle, TN,
where they're 100 years behind the times "and proud
of it." It celebrates two Southern traditions—RC
Cola and Moon Pies. The festivities end with cutting
of the World's Largest Moon Pie, which is served to
the entire crowd. It's a Southeastern Tourism
Society Top 20 Event.
Belle Buckle has a Walking Horse Hotel and a shop
that sells all sorts of souvenirs celebrating its
neighbor to the south, the Jack Daniel Distillery.
Though it sounds like a backwoodsy place, Belle
Buckle has been the home since 1886 of Webb School,
a private coeducational college prep school with a
national reputation. Under its founder's leadership,
it produced more Rhodes scholars than any secondary
school in the nation.
A SPORTING MURDER ON THE WAY
I've saved the best news for last. The fifth Greg
McKenzie mystery, A Sporting Murder, is in
the pipeline at Night Shadows Press and will be out
this fall. Don't have a release date or cover yet,
but will shortly. Stay tuned!
Chester |
