Ever since Saving CeeCee Honeycutt was published, I’ve received countless emails and hand written letters, many of which were specifically about the character, Oletta Jones.

When I created CeeCee’s story I had no idea that a woman by the name of Oletta Jones would show up. And when she did, I was enthralled. I love Oletta; she’s real to me. So much so that I find myself talking to her now and then … and she answers!

Oletta has touched the hearts of readers throughout the United States, as well as those in Europe and Asia. I believe the reason for this is that Oletta is a woman who exemplifies the most admirable characteristics a person can possess: stability, honesty, and wisdom.

Today was a very exciting day for Oletta. She was invited to be a guest on Beth Fish Reads. She had a lot of fun, and if you’d like to read what she had to say, please visit this link: Beth Fish Reads

When I first saw this photograph I was drawn in to the point that I could have written a novella about the boy and his dog.

Perhaps I should have.

Perhaps I will.

This single image brought memories flooding back to me of my childhood years on the farm—barefoot days spent running through the open fields with our dog, Midnight, at my side, his ears flopping in the wind. And when I think about those days and all the hours I spent outside exploring, learning, imagining, and dreaming, I can’t help but wonder: what is happening to the children of today? I see them walking to school with earphones crammed into their ears—oblivious to bird-songs. I see them hunkered down in their seats on airplanes engrossed in some animated computer game to the point that hey have no interest in looking out the window to see the Grand Canyon looming below. And I see them “hanging out” at malls on sunny days while the mysteries of nature goes unexplored.

This past weekend I gave an author talk at the Velma Teague Library in Glendale, Arizona. In the front row of the audience sat a lovely young woman who listened intently and scribbled notes. When I had finished speaking and asked for questions, she raised her hand.  She was a creative writing teacher and she told me how much she enjoyed the character development and the sense of place I created in my novel. So much so that she would be using my novel in her classroom. She then asked what advice I would give her students on those topics.

I told her that being awake and aware was the key. When we are fully in the moment, when our senses are completely engaged and we are truly awake and aware, we train ourselves to be open. And, when we are open, we soak up our environment like a sponge. Being a human sponge is the single most important thing that I, as a writer, can do. By opening my senses, I expose myself to the nuances of all that surrounds me. Everywhere I look, everything I see and hear and taste holds the magic to stir my creativity. The inspiration for a well-turned phrase, a story, a poem, or a full-length novel is everywhere.

Truly. Everywhere.

I’d write more on this subject, but the birds are singing, a breeze is sneaking through the window and tickling my face, and the urge to get outside and soak up some good subject matter is impossible to resist. As I walk toward the river, I hope I see a child with his/her dog enjoying the magic of nature, but I won’t know until I leave my computer and get out of the house.

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Every day I try to stay awake and aware to the goodness in life. Whether it’s waking in the early morning to the distinct song of a red-winged blackbird, or watching raindrops glide down the windowpane on a cloudy evening, I feel a connection with all that surrounds me. Being awake and aware keeps my senses open which is imperative to my writing career.

But there’s a down side to this. We creative types feel on such a deep level that it’s oftentimes difficult to stay balanced. The daily news is filled with negativity, and it’s impossible to pick up a magazine or newspaper without seeing an image or reading a headline that leaves me feeling gutted. There have been times when I’ve wanted to shut down and shut out. So much so that I entertained the thought of moving so far out into the country that I could disconnect from just about everything but nature and my writing. Yet, in my heart I knew that idea wasn’t feasible.

Not long ago I came across a video, and when I watched it and listened to the words, I could feel something inside myself shift. I wondered how a simple 5-minute video could evoke such a sense of peace. But it did. And still does. I watch this video often, especially when world events and abuse to innocent creatures become too overwhelming. I’m sharing it here with the hope that others who haven’t seen it will enjoy its message.

Warm thanks to Brother David Steindl-Rast …

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Thousands of book-lovin’ people have touched my life since Saving CeeCee Honeycutt launched in January, and each day I’m amazed by the kindnesses that have been given to me so freely. My book tour has been beyond anything I could have dreamed. Each time I walk on stage and stand at the podium, I take a moment to look at the faces of all the people who gave up precious hours in their day just to hear me speak. An author has never felt more privileged.

My book has been embraced from Maine to Alabama, and from California to Georgia, and soon it will be published in Italy, Germany, France, Israel, and Poland. It has also landed on 9 bestseller lists, including the New York Times. When my novel was selected by the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance as an OKRA PICK, I was so stunned I could hardly talk.

What continues to touch me is that in a time in our history where many readers have been conditioned to expect shock and horror in the books they read, the story of little CeeCee Honeycutt and the women of Savannah who gave her the chance for a better life resonates within the hearts of countless thousands.

To the book people of the world—those who love the written word and the magic of storytelling—readers, book clubs, librarians, booksellers, and book bloggers—I say a huge and heartfelt THANK YOU. Every day you add a richness to my life that I’ve never before experienced. And everyday I am grateful.

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