The Value of Change

By Annette Cole Mastron  @acole828

Communications Director for Southern Writers Magazine

As Meg Ryan’s character, Kathleen Kelly, in the 1998 movie, “You’ve Got Mail” says at the closing of her bookshop, “People are always telling you that change is a good thing. But all they're really saying is that something you didn't want to happen at all... has happened.” Well, not to agree with a fictional character or anything, but change is an everyday occurrence in everyone’s life, including the characters we write about. Change is what drives the plot of any book.

Change is life. We were all once babies. Babies are born; they grow; they go to school; they go to college; they move into their own life, and the change repeats. Change drives our own lives on a daily basis whether we recognize it or not. Why wouldn’t it drive the characters we create? As Heraclitus said, “There is nothing permanent except change.”

Farewell to a Friend

By Annette Cole Mastron, Communications Director for Southern Writers Magazine

Last week, we celebrated the life of a friend of mine. She is guarded in her earthly resting place by two sentinel angels, representative of the angels she is now dancing among.  Since her death, I’ve replayed in my mind the fun times we shared over the years. We met because we shared a dear mutual friend. We were cemented in friendship while watching our children grow up. She had a million-watt smile that would light up a room. She was kind with a giving heart. 

Make this Your Decade to Shine

By Annette Cole Mastron, Communications Director for Southern Writers Magazine

Today’s blog post was inspired by “Tour Collierville Magazine’s,” November/December 2019 editor’s letter, titled, “Let Your Soul Shine”, the Allman Brothers song titled, "Soulshine" and the arrival of a wonderful new decade. The possibilities abound. Do you have a plan for your writing?

The editor’s letter quotes her publisher dad, Keith. He said, “Everyone can give, but no one gives like a child. When they want to give you something, they truly want you to have it and it means everything to them. It’s a way they let their soul shine.” Albeit, Keith was talking about the gift giving that occurs during the holiday season. However, don’t you just love the combination of those words “soul shine?”

The editor says, “If we all let our soul shine like children, it would have the potential to change the way we give.” Can you imagine if you use those words to influence your new decade of writing? Let your soul shine in your writing, and it may inspire you to connect with your readers in a new way in a new year.

Pick up your pen or laptop and “let your soul shine.” This is your decade!

Ideals Christmas Books Means Christmas to Me

By Annette Cole Mastron, Communications Director for Southern Writers Magazine 

Most children of my generation looked forward to the annual Sears Christmas catalog and would dog ear the pages of items they hoped to find under the Christmas tree. I was one of those children. 

However, I was drawn more by my Mom’s collection of Ideals Christmas soft cover books. The glossy Christmas-themed cover never disappointed. She kept her collection in the bottom drawer of her mahogany secretary. Even in the midst of the 100 degree heat of July, I would carefully dig in the bottom drawer and pull out Mom’s Ideals Christmas books, losing myself in the pictures and stories of Christmas found within those favorite pages. Mentally escaping into those pages of pictures of snowy landscapes and holiday stories and poems of Christmas had a cooling effect on a sweltering July day. 

At Christmastime, Mom would decorate using the Ideals Christmas books. The current year would sit on her upright piano. Her collection of Ideals Christmas books would sit in a pretty basket decorated with a faux cardinal on a pine branch and a bright red bow on the floor to the left of her piano. These were well loved stories Mom would read to us during the season. It was Mom’s version of an advent calendar. During these readings, I would lay on the floor under the Christmas tree and look up through the tree colored light bulbs, ornaments and icicles, throughly enjoying the cadence of my Mom’s voice reading these stories aloud. 

My favorite of all the stories is Hans Christian Anderson’s, The Little Match Girl. The story always made me cry and still brings tears to my eyes. Mom didn’t like reading it to me because I would cry and would try to steer me to happier stories. I loved this story because it’s about reminding us all, especially in the Christmas season, to pay attention to those less fortunate and be grateful for what we already have. 

Ideals started as a newsletter and evolved into a magazine then soft and hard cover books. The Ideals magazines were published bi-monthly by the Ideals Publishing Co. of Milwaukee, WI. Ideals magazine is a holiday magazine of inspirational poetry, artwork and nostalgia. The first issue of the magazine was published during the Christmas holiday of 1944 by a public relations manager named Van B. Hooper. The magazine began as a collection of poems that were added to a company newsletter in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Ideals is now a division of Worthy Publishing Group, based in Nashville, Tennessee.

Unfortunately, I don’t have my Mom’s Ideals Christmas books. She would bring them and read to my children when they were younger. I don’t know what became of her books, but I have luckily found a couple on eBay. The Ideals Christmas Treasury shown in the above was my best find. It contains my favorite story, The Little Match Girl.

Do you have a favorite Ideals Christmas story? 

Kindness, Mr. Rodgers and a Virtual Candy Cane

By Annette Cole Mastron, Communications Director for Southern Writers Magazine

Are you “jingle belling,” yet? Do you feel the spirit of the holidays, yet? Have you had the taste of a delightful cup of peppermint mocha, yet? How about a candy cane, which evokes the scent and taste of the season? Come on, change that frown of the Grinch into the season of giving, kindness and smiles.

I travel with a basket of fresh (not the ones from last Christmas) candy canes in my car and pass them out to those I come in contact with throughout my day. It makes me feel good to give a candy cane to those who I work with, bring groceries to the car, drive-up Target orders, dry cleaners, etc. The candy cane recipients leave with a smile and a shout of “Happy Holidays.” A win-win for sure and it feels good in your soul.

The many lessons of kindness learned from Mr. Rodgers are numerous. What am I talking about? Humble Fred Rodgers impacted a change on the youth of America and the world through his “little” underfunded PBS children’s show, “Mister Rodgers’ Neighborhood.” Fast forward to December, 2019. The release of the new Tom Hanks movie, "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” highlights the positive influence Mr. Rogers had on people, both young and small, even now. According to a CNN article Tom Hanks just learned through a DNA kit, he was actually related to the character he portrays in the movie, Mr. Rogers. “Fred Rogers and Tom Hanks are sixth cousins.” How cool is that to know as you watch the movie.

One of my favorite Mr. Rodgers quotes is, “There are three ways to ultimate success: The first way is to be kind. The second way is to be kind. The third way is to be kind.” Kindness to your fellow writers definitely will fuel your own personal writing success.

In my job with Southern Writers Magazine, I’m on the email list of a number of publishing houses. One of those is Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. Anyone can sign up to receive their offers which include some free book downloads. Here is where you can sign up to get your own email from LPC. In their email yesterday it started by saying “Help our authors BE the Light! Forward this email to one friend and post your reviews on Amazon & Goodreads.” A simple request. Anyone has the power to show kindness to others. Merely, forwarding one email to one person, sharing an authors information and leaving positive reviews, will help fuel your own success especially if you sign your name and list your book title after your name. In doing so, this is your way to give a virtual candy cane to a fellow author.

Enjoy the Holidays by passing out many virtual candy canes and real ones, too. Kindness makes you feel great!

Giving a Unique Gift to Your Thanksgiving Guests

By Annette Cole Mastron, Communications Director for Southern Writers Magazine

In a week, most families in America will gather with their friends and family to enjoy time together over  traditions both new/old and a bevy of food. My idea is to use your talents and write a story to share with your guests. Print a copy for each guest to take home. You could wrap it up as a take home goodie bag for each guest. 

Ideas for stories abound. Y’all are authors and creative. Here are a few suggestions for stories:

-Write out your Thanksgiving recipes and share the stories as to how the dishes became part of this Thanksgiving menu. 

-Write a Thanksgiving memory you share with each guest. You might want to enclose pictures. It could be a family Thanksgiving memory that perhaps younger members gathered may not know and will remember. 

-Write a prayer of Thanksgiving and list uplifting Scriptures about blessings and gratitude. You can print a copy and give it to each of your guests. 

In researching this blog, I came across a Spoon University article by Melissa Fisch at Duke University, “Our Funniest, Weirdest, Most Memorable Thanksgiving Stories.” The article may help jog your memories. 

Pick up your pen and get started. Yes, I know we are all busy preparing for the big day but you CAN do this! 

Have fun, laugh out loud and enjoy the writing process. You have a week to delight your Thanksgiving guests with YOUR stories on Thanksgiving Day. Happy ThanksGiving, Y'all!

Bluff City Law-Changes Many Worlds

By Annette Cole Mastron, Communications Director for Southern Writers Magazine

Halloween morning arrived with a drastic shift in temperatures. Memphis had record highs at the beginning October, peaking at a hot 98 and ended the month with a wind chill of 30 and snow flurries. Talk about a drastic change.

As I was running errands with the heater on full blast in my warmest sweatshirt, I happened upon the film set of Bluff City Law and was encouraged. Fingers crossed that filming continues for this well-written and perfectly-executed show and that a Season Two happens. My fingers are crossed. As you may recall my last blog post was titled “Save NBC’s Bluff City Law LikeCharlotte Did Wilbur.” 

I hope you will watch to see how to craft screenwriting with multiple plot lines. The show, "Bluff City Law", can be seen Monday nights at 9:00 p.m., CST, on NBC. It has been shooting in Memphis, and we would love for it to have a second season. It’s been economically and spiritually giving to Memphis and its citizens. Memphis salaries, hotels, restaurants, and local businesses have received a boost of more than $10 million, a huge boost for our economy. However, more important than economics, the cast and crew are genuinely kind folks who have embraced our city and found a place in our hearts.

Case in point, last week on The Memphis and Shelby County Film and Movie Commission Facebook page, I saw this heart warming story. “Alexis Bezilla, a patient at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, brought a very special few hours to the set of NBC’s “Bluff City Law” in Memphis when she made an unannounced visit to the set last month! Although not expecting her, the cast and crew spontaneously made time for her- taking time from their 14 hour day. Series star Jimmy Smits spent ALL his breaks with her. Director of Photography Mike Spragg asked for the spelling of her name- then surprised her with a slate personalized with her name. He even went to his colleagues and collected autographs for her. Director of Lighting Greg Argarin even brought a young woman to meet her who had survived serious cancer- in order to give Alexis and her Mother, April Bezilla, hope. Justin Sulham, a grip from Nashville who had competed as the world’s strongest man, carried Alexis-wheelchair and all- from place to place on the set. Alexis went to Heaven Monday night. The visit to the set of “ Bluff City Law” was to be her last outing. Thank you, cast and crew of “ Bluff City Law” for making Alexis’ last day away from the hospital one so special, so memorable- so fun! . Memphis and Tennessee have been so incredibly fortunate to have you here. May each and every one of you be a part of Season Two! ❤️🙏 #bluffcitylaw” Fingers crossed! 

A detailed article in the Memphis newspaper, The Commercial Appeal, recounts additional information and pictures of this touching example set by the cast and crew of Bluff City Law. Thank you BCL for the example of kindness and giving.

We all possess the ability to give and show kindness in our world. It is, after all, the month of giving. Show a little kindness to authors you have read over the year. Take the time to give a positive review and show kindness and give encouragement to a fellow author. We all mean to give a positive review. Now is the time to give back to fellow authors.

Save NBC’s Bluff City Law like Charlotte Saved Wilbur

By Annette Cole Mastron, Communications Director for Southern Writers Magazine

Each September, I look forward to the new television show offerings on the major networks. I’m a TV junkie for good reasons. I like seeing how the show writers handle challenging situations in the limited time they have to garner viewership for a show that must compete with veteran shows and their established viewers. Such is the case with Bluff City Law. I truly love this show and wish it to surge past established shows like “Bull,” “The Good Doctor,” and of course “Monday Night Football.”  In my humble opinion the placement of “Bluff City Law” against these established shows and primo football didn’t give BCL time to be seen by viewers. 

Bluff City Law scripts are excellent and have a true sense of the authentic flair of Memphis and how things work in our city. Like most Southern towns, everyone knows somebody who knows someone within two or three people in your sphere of friends. In a city of a million people, Memphis is still just a small interconnected town. It’s like that 1990’s game described on Wikipedia, “The Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon or "Bacon's Law" as a parlour game based on the "six degrees of separation" concept, which posits that any two people on Earth are six or fewer acquaintance links apart.” Only in Memphis it’s more like 2 to 3 acquaintances before you know someone. 

Real life Memphis attorneys, Richard Glassman and his daughter, Lauran Stimac are legal consultants for the show. Their expertise has become a source of many of the episodes’ plots. I find it so fascinating, especially since I worked with Richard Glassman in my previous career as an insurance investigator. He’s a friend and a fierce defender of his clients rights, much like the character of Jimmy Smits in Bluff City Law. In an interview with NBC affiliate, WMC Channel 5, Glassman said, “I got an email from one of the writers the other day. The end of it was, got any new cases coming up. He’s looking for storylines,” he said. This is a well researched and cleverly written legal drama which makes it worthy of saving. 

The Commercial Appeal, Memphis’s newspaper reported on the viability of Bluff City Law last week, “The producers announced Thursday that shooting will end October 31, with the completion of the show's 10th episode. Six scripts had been written for additional episodes, but NBC has decided not to go ahead with the series at this time. “Bluff City Law" has not been canceled, however. Executives will access the program after its 10 episodes air, to see if it builds any traction on Hulu or other delayed-viewing and on-demand platforms.” I wish NBC realized what the writers of “Bluff City Law” understand; Memphis, (the setting of the show) like “The Law,” is complicated, gritty and requires nurturing to get viewers to understand and then fall in love with both the city and the show. This is a serious, well-written show taking on serious issues. It’s a show about underdogs who sometimes win, but when they don’t, they live to fight another day. It’s a show that shows lawyers as real people with real problems who fight for their clients. Isn’t that what all lawyers already know? Hopefully, the executives will re-evaluate and continue with the show’s production. 

This past week celebrates the 67th year of the children’s book, Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White. Do you remember the tears you shed while reading this book? A brief review of the 184 page book provides a great story set on a working animal farm where Fern, the farmer’s daughter, saves her friend, Wilbur, the pig. The themes shown in this children’s book actually provide lessons to be carried from childhood into adulthood. One of the central themes is to celebrate and make the most out of life. As Charlotte, the heroine spider, says, “After all, what’s a life, anyway? We’re born, we live a little while, we die. A spider’s life can’t help being something of a mess, with all this trapping and eating flies. By helping you, perhaps I was trying to lift up my life a trifle. Heaven knows anyone’s life can stand a little of that.” Memphis is always celebrating something. 

Other lessons shown are give people who seem rough around the edges a chance. At the first meeting of Charlotte and Wilbur, it was a bit rough. Then, Wilbur gave her a chance, and he saw a kind heart and a friendship formed that through her efforts, Wilbur was again saved. Appreciating diversity is shown with the interactions of the various animals born in the same barn they all find a way to reach amicable cohabitation and resolve issues throughout the book. Much like the diversity found in our city. 

One of the most important lessons is to never dismiss those involved in the creation of something great. As Charlotte began weaving words into her web no one even saw Charlotte. They just saw her handiwork. As is the case of Bluff City Law, the show deserves a longer stint on network TV. The actors are perfectly cast; scenes are filmed with the backdrop of the gritty picturesque city of Memphis; it is produced brilliantly with well-researched scripts by writers who go the extra mile to get it right. 

My thanks to my talented picture-taking friend, Rene Leach for the fantastic spider web picture she took out her Memphis backdoor. The web appeared like Charlotte’s web overnight between her iron fence, and I revised Rene’s pictures in the spirit of the illustrations from “Charlotte’s Web.” Come on America. Help give BCL a winning judgement by watching Bluff City Law on NBC on Monday nights at 9PM CST or on demand at NBC. You don’t want to miss this show. To the NBC executives who make programming decisions, to quote the post it note from episode 1, “Change the World” and give Bluff City Law a fighting chance!     #SaveBluffCityLaw

Should I Have a Blog?

By Doyne Phillips, Managing Editor for Southern Writers Magazine

Southern Writers Magazine is a big believer in having a blog. The official magazine blog, Suite T, has over 3.5 million views which is due to the hard work of our Communications Director Annette Cole Mastron. Many authors have posted here and our hope is they will continue to visit here and more will join. The blog archives are a treasure trove of writing information.

Annette has a total understanding of social media and knows the benefits of a blog, podcast or video blog. Annette explains the media you use is not as important as the message you send. As an author the blog is the best way to introduce your writing style to your readers.

On Suite T we introduce many authors writing style to many readers. Many authors that have posted on Suite T also have their own blogs. With their blog and Suite T combined they can introduce their own writing style and their personal websites and books.

For the most part social media is more of a short-term medium. It is important to not only be aware of that but know its value and how to benefit from it as well. Over time it has developed into something that isn’t an end to itself but a conduit for a more long-term medium like your blog, then your goal is your website. Social media introduces you to the reader and takes the flow of traffic back to your blog and website.

This feeds into the scientific marketing facts of search engine rankings and social algorithms. What that means to us is our books and online visibility is greater. This in turn should mean a higher number of views on your website. In the end your connection with your readers is enhanced. With that comes more book sales.    

Our purpose at Southern Writers Magazine is to promote authors and we have promoted close to 4,000 authors. We have done so through our magazine articles which are supported by Suite T blog post. Our readers can get to know and further connect with our authors by following us on Suite T then going to your website. We don't want readers to stay on social media - we want to drive them to the author's website. A blog is the best way to strengthen the connection between an author and their readers. They have a deeper interest in you and your books. The answer is you should have a blog and you should feel free to take full advantage of ours.

You are more than welcome to appear as a guest author and you can connect to our SWM's, Suite T by emailing Annette Cole Mastron at annette@southernwritersmag.com. I think you will like what we can do for you and help promote your brand and books.

   

Hygge Writing Could Be For You

By Annette Cole Mastron, Communications Director for Southern Writers Magazine

Happy Fall, y’all! Yes, it’s hard to think cozy and all things fall when it’s 100 degrees in my neck of the woods. Cooler temperatures are promised for this week, fingers crossed. Pumpkin spice everything has arrived, so you know it’s fall. 

The word, “hygge” keeps popping up in various articles I’ve recently seen. I dove into finding out more about it. Hygge (pronounced hue-guh) is a Danish word art of creating intimacy. Dictionary.com defines “Hygge is a Danish cultural concept and value of warm, happy coziness and togetherness, which people make time for in everyday life. Outside of Denmark, hygge is commonly referred to as "the good feeling you get from a well-curated, cozy, and aesthetically pleasing environment." 

It’s a live in the moment vibe you can create for yourself. Unlike other catch words, hygge doesn’t require any cash investment. It’s about using what you have and creating a cozy space for yourself, friends and family. You don’t need to buy a “hygge writing desk” and there are no “hygge foods” to consume. Are you in, now?

Even HGTV is focusing on hygge.  “HGTV Urban Oasis 2019 embraces the elements of a hygge lifestyle with simple, modern design that emphasizes the joy of the everyday.” 

For me, I always rearrange my reading/writing area by adding a comfy cozy throw and pillow. #hyggeMySpace

My deep dive into hygge found some interesting articles. There is a Pinterest board on “journal writing and hygge.” There are numerous articles to peruse on This board. One article from montanahappy.com provided 100 journal hygge writing prompts to get your creative juices flowing; Here are 10 of their “Hygge Journal Writing Prompts: 

1) What advice would you give your younger self, knowing what you know now?

2) If your employer gave you a month-long paid sabbatical, what would you do and where would you go? 

What elements are the most important in designing your dream house?  

4) When was the last time you felt in awe of something? 

5) What’s your favorite restaurant or coffee house, and what about it makes it so unique?  

6) If you could start your dream career, knowing you wouldn’t fail – what would that career look like?  

7) What’s your top destination on your bucket list and describe what it is you would like to see and experience there?  

8) What simple things make you happy?  How are you going to make room in your life for experiencing more of them?  

9) How do you express your creativity?  

10) When have you felt “in the flow” of life, where whatever you were working on was effortless?  What do you think prompted it? “

Are you ready to try to give your writing/reading space the hygge vibe and try some hygge writing exercises?  #hyggeMySpace

Hallmark’s Mystery 101: Words Can Kill has Tips for Writers

By Annette Cole Mastron, Communications Director for Southern Writers Magazine

Mystery 101 is a Hallmark series, and “Words Can Kill” is the third in the movie series. The series protagonist is Amy Winslow, a professor of English literature who specializes in mystery fiction. Amy's father, Graham, is an author of a bestselling series of crime novels. Another character, Travis Burke is a new-to-town police detective. The series takes place in the fictional town of Garrison in the Pacific Northwest.

In one scene of Mystery 101: Words Can Kill, at fictional Elmstead College, Professor Amy Winslow has Detective Travis in a POV class discussion. The dialogue is:

Amy: “So you’re saying I’m wrong?”

Travis: “No, I’m just saying we view things differently.”

Amy: “Isn’t that the same thing as saying I’m wrong?”

Travis: “I mean that’s one way of looking at it. The other way is saying that I’m right.”

Amy: “Alright, well the point of inviting Detective Burke here today was to better understand Point of View in fiction,more importantly in crime fiction where the perspective of the detective is everything. And what drives every whodunnit is the question of who is solving the mystery.”

Travis: “But in the real world as a cop, I don’t have that luxury. If I’m going on “who,” that could be based on prejudice. Maybe I like the person, so I’m going to rule them out. Maybe the opposite’s true. Either way, I’m wasting time to get to the right arrest. I have to follow the hard evidence. The first question we ask is “what.” If I do that, the “what,” will lead me to the “who.” I think that’s the main difference in how I’m thinking as a detective, and how you guys might be thinking as crime fiction readers.”

Amy: “Detective Burke underscores a key point that we’ve discussed before: The best mystery writing really is just a search for identity. Not just of the killer but also of the investigator.”

Travis: “But who I am doesn’t matter as much as how we find the evidence.”

Amy: “You sure about that?”

Travis: “Pretty sure.”

As this exchange of dialogue shows, the perspective of the detective in writing a mystery story is paramount, and often contradictory, to real life investigations. There are different ways a real life detective investigates so it might help for authors to talk to investigators to understand the procedure in investigating a crime. Often, police departments and various agencies have citizen based training that could help you in writing your mystery or true-crime stories.

Author DiAnn Mills writes an FBI book series and has attended several “citizen academies” held by the FBI and ATF in her area. She also wrote a blog post for SWM’s Suite T about the experience. You can read her SWM Suite T, guest author blog post, titled Writing Authentic and Accurate Law Enforcement. By attending these “academies,” she received authentic research for her book series. Something for all mystery crime writers to consider for actual field research. 

You might want to check out various departments and agencies to see if one in your area can help you expand your knowledge to help you in developing authentic stories. 

Who knows, like Hallmark’s Mystery 101: Words Can Kill, you and your book might appear at the next book festival in your area. The fictional festival in the movie was titled, “Murder We Wrote Book Festival.” Don’t you just love that title for a festival?

Alphabet Writing Exercise Gets The Juices Flowing

By Annette Cole Mastron, Communications Director for Southern Writers Magazine

At writer’s group our moderator suggested we do a new writing exercise to get our creative juices flowing called simple, alphabet writing. It will make for a very challenging writing exercise, and I recommend having a dictionary and thesaurus near at hand.

Here’s how it goes. Begin writing by starting each sentence with a different letter of the alphabet. You must go in order, and remember it has to link from sentence to sentence to create a story. All 26 letters, from A to Z, must begin the first word in each of the first 26 sentences.

Talk about a challenge!

My friend and author, Michael Hicks Thompson, emailed me while I was writing this blog post and this was his story using the ABC Writing Exercise. You too can be creative, just like Michael.

“The Alphabet from A to Z in Cajun Country"

By Michael Hicks Thompson, author of The Rector and The Actress

“Abacus was his name. Because his parents, Pappy and Zita, were likely insane,” said Jewel, Zita’s sister. “Cajuns can’t hit a lick at naming a baby if theys life depended on it.

“Don’t look down on Pappy and Zita, though,” she continued, “’cause they had twelve babies, and Abacus was the last, so they tried they best, but they just run outta names and chose his from an ancient counting game, strange as that seems.

“Even they neighbors said they was nice folks. Friendly. Grateful. Hard workin’ folks always holding down two jobs each. It was me who taught Abacus about the world he would eventually inherit.”

“Jewel,” he used to ax me, “tell me, what’s the meaning of life?”

“Kinda like a journey,” I’d say, “a short one where you have to make the right choices to have a second life.”

“Like when I was a little boy, got into trouble at school, and told the principal it was my fault?”

“Most definitely just like that, Abacus.”

“Nobody was more scared than me, Aunt Jewel, but I learnt it pays to be honest.”

Opening the door to Pappy’s crab shack was Butra McAlfie, ‘plastic man’ we called him, ‘cause of all the wet weather gear he wore everywhere, even in the hot summa.

“Pappy,” he announced, “Yous in for a big treat. “Queen conch, got plenty of ’em today.”

“Regular price?”

“Sure, ’course.”

“Then put ’em in the freezer out back.”

“Unless you want ’dem conchs to fill up yo whole freezer, you best tell me how many you want.”

“Very well, you musta’ hit the honey pot.”

“World record for me. Xena helped, too, I must admit. You know what a tough woman she is.”

“Zita,” Pappy yelled, “get in here and let’s crack some ’o these queens open and cook us up some conch.””

Y’all can meet Michael and thirteen other talented authors on 9-14-19. You are invited to a Southern Writers Magazine event: 12 SOUTHERN AUTHORS AT COLLIERVILLE BURCH LIBRARY SEPTEMBER 14, 2:00-4:00 pm in Collierville, TN.

Have you tried your hand at Alphabet Writing? Ready, set, go!