First Book Club of the New Year!

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My long-time friend Fran Mires invited me to her Book Club in Old Hickory. What a fabulous night! It began with a feast of Southern food to celebrate my book, Notorious in Nashville. All the members had read the book and it was so satisfying to hear their take on it! Thank you, lovely ladies!

Writers Group Christmas Party

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(l to r) Rita, Rick, Will, Mary

Each Christmas, it is a great joy for me to host our Christmas meeting of the writers group. In addition to our usual joyful time, we have Christmas music. A good time was had by all (yes, writers, passive voice)!

(l. to r.) Doug, Ed, Corabel, Shannon, and Mary Bess

(l to r) John, Rita, Rick, Will, Mary

 

Remembering Martha – Nashville Writers Alliance

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MarthaLast night, we raised a glass to Martha. Martha Whitmore Hickman was one of the founders of our writers group and a member for about 25 years. That’s a lot of Tuesday nights! Hundreds! The comments posted on Facebook following the announcement of her death were evidence that she was many things to many people. Last night we shared our memories of her as an elegant and wise writer. Doug Jones wrote a tribute to Martha, and I wanted to share it.

I was saddened to hear the news from California.
 
I recall my first meeting of the Nashville Writers Alliance (NWA) in the April, 1997. It was at Martha and Hoyt Hickman’s home on Castleman Drive in Green Hills. The NWA had been recognized nationally and had a group of excellent writers including Jim Young, Rita Bourke, Phyllis Gobbell, Charles Hooper and, of course, Martha Hickman. They were excellent craftsmen in the business of writing. But Martha Hickman was the master. Many have commented on how smooth her words and reading were. They literally flowed and you just gladly followed along.
 
I knew the reputation of the NWA and was afraid they would listen to me read my work and summarily pitch me out. Martha made me feel like a long-lost friend and guided me through that first nervous meeting. These writers would later all become like family to me.
 
As time passed, Martha became a mentor to me. I have learned she also helped a number of other writers, which is not surprising. She encouraged me to write and the only time I heard her say anything close to being hard was when she said, “Douglas, ignore the critics and keep writing!”
 
I have no idea why but she always liked my SILAS JONES OF ROCK SPRINGS. She said that although she was from the north, she felt she could be a member of the Jones family of Maury County. I would pick her up and drive her to NWA meetings. Our conversations were entertaining and I never had a clue what topic she would select. By the time we arrived at our member’s home, we would be laughing and hooting.
 
I remember like it was yesterday, as we were driving to Charles Hopper’s home for a Tuesday night meeting. We were on Granny White Pike and just passed the 4-way stop on Tyne Blvd. We were talking politics and the weather when she suddenly said, ‘Douglas, you are a natural storyteller. SILAS JONES OF ROCK SPRINGS will be published someday.’ I was so excited that Ms. Martha would say something positive about my writing that I almost drove off the road! She reminded me of my grandmother, Bertha McMeen, and that is about the highest compliment I can give.
She had a soft voice and was kind to everyone. Martha forgot more about writing than l ever know. She was a fine lady.
 
Bless you, Martha Hickman. You are in a better place but know that none of God’s angels are any sweeter than you.
 

Writers Group Celebrates!

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At our weekly meeting we had several reasons to celebrate! Mary has submitted the final manuscript to her publisher. Phyllis has good news about her mystery; it has been recommended for publication (not a book deal but close). Rita won first place in the Knoxville Writers Guild’s fiction contest. Phyllis won second in fiction and third in creative non-fiction. It was an exciting night!

Oldest Reader

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Mr. Jay Morris has to be our oldest reader! He was at the Maury County Library Saturday (which, by the way, was a fantastic event). He and daughter Bettie, who has not aged a bit since our cheerleader days, came to get books signed. Mr. Jay said, “Your daddy and I went to school together. We were born the same year – 08.” I had to think about that. 1908! Yes, that was when my dad was born. He died about 15 years ago, so it had not occurred to me that he’d be 103 if he were living.  Here was Mr. Jay, spry and full of himself at 103! He has to be the oldest reader of our book. He added, “You know we’re cousins!”  Proud to be related, Mr. Jay!

Doug on Bob Mueller show

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Doug Jones was interviewed on This Week with Bob Mueller for the TV show that will air this weekend, 6:00 Saturday night (also 9:00 Sunday morning) on Channel 2, WKRN. Bob Mueller interviews Nashville’s movers and shakers (Do you like that, Doug?) about politics and things that are happening locally. Doug is an attorney who is knowledgeable about state politics, but I’ll just bet he gets to put in a few words about A Season of Darkness.

Writers Group Celebrates Halloween

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Every year our writers group celebrates Halloween in a big way.  This year was the best! We all wrote and read Halloween stories, and we all came in costume. Farmer Jones took photos and wanted them posted, but, of course, he was the only one who was not in the photos.  Besides Farmer Jones, we had a witch, a Harley babe, a guy from the UAW, Sonny from Miami Vice, the Black Widow, and Morticia.  Missing (in Ireland, poor thing!) was Rita, who will have to make it up to us next year.