Okay, it isn’t quite winter yet. In fact, Thanksgiving, as of this writing, is two days away. But it sure feels like winter in the Magnolia State! And is there anything better than curling up with a good book on a cold, bleak day? Don’t know about you, but I’m absolutely loaded down with great things to read: the new Pat Conroy, the new Scott Turow, and the new Tom Franklin among others. I’m a huge Pat Conroy fan and am reading The Great Santini before delving into his new one.
We’re also quite busy with author signings (below) and advance work on the upcoming Randy Pierce novel, Magnolia Mud. He’ll have a pre-release party in Richton, MS, on March 31, and our official release date is April 1, at which time Randy signs copies at Lemuria in Jackson. As I’ve said, the book cover will look nothing like any previous Dogwood Press covers. Here’s a sneak preview. Take note of the directional sign:
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| Leakesville, MS, is one of the towns where significant action in Magnolia Mud takes place!
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The book cover will be very intriguing, and the novel itself is great fun and well worth your time. We can’t wait for it to come out! We’re busy loading Randy’s calendar with book talks and signings all over Mississippi and well beyond.
In the meantime, Valerie Winn, John Floyd, and I have all been visiting different parts of the state and signing our books. Just made one of my favorite road trips of the year: to Starkville on November 18 for the annual Open House at The Book Mart. It was great to visit with Starkville author Laurie Parker (picked up an autographed copy of her new novel, The Matchstick Cross), and authors Michael Kardos and Michael Ferris Smith were there, as well as Robert St. John and Wyatt Waters with their new book. And it was great to visit with my brother Stuart, who knows Michael Ferris Smith and stopped in to say hello.
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| I’ve known this guy over four decades!
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Valerie Winn will be selling copies of Forsaking Mimosa at the Ocean Springs Holiday Open House on December 6-7. The Open House takes place throughout Ocean Springs, and you’ll find Valerie in front of Pink Rooster Art Gallery all day that Friday and half a day Saturday!
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| Valerie and Linda with Pink Rooster, a couple of days before Forsaking Mimosa debuted. Has it been a year and a half?
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And be sure to stop by and visit with John Floyd on Monday, December 2 at Main Street Books in Hattiesburg. The annual Christmas Extravaganza book sale will take place that day with over 30 authors, including St. John/Waters, Marshall Ramsey, Laurie Parker, and many others. If you haven’t picked up a copy of Deception yet, it’s REALLY good! He’ll be glad to sign one for you!
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| You can’t go wrong with any of John’s short story collections, but this one is absolutely impossible to put down!
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Upcoming events:
Joe Lee…12/20 @ Books A Million in Meridian, MS – 2pm
Joe Lee…12/23 @ Books A Million in Hattiesburg, MS – 2pm
Joe Lee…12/24 @ Books A Million in Jackson, MS – 10am
John Floyd…12/7 @ Books A Million in Meridian, MS – 12pm
John Floyd…12/14 @ Books A Million in Hattiesburg, MS – 12pm
John Floyd…12/21 @ Books A Million in Jackson, MS – 12pm
Please come by and say hello if you’re in there area, and pick up a signed book for the mystery lover on your shopping list!
And if you have a new Kindle (or anticipate getting one for Christmas), be ready to download our Dogwood Press titles:
VALERIE WINN – Forsaking Mimosa
JOHN FLOYD – Deception
JOHN FLOYD – Clockwork
JOE LEE – Last Chance Texaco
JOE LEE – The Long Road Home
JOE LEE – The Magnolia Triangle
JOHN LEE – The Legend of Roger
We’ll debut Randy Pierce’s Magnolia Mud on Amazon Kindle within a couple of weeks of when we launch the book in hardback.
Have a safe and happy holiday season, and thanks for your time!