The Butcher Freaks Me Out

So, I’m doing an interview for the book and the last question is, basically, who would I cast in the movie version of my book. Well, really, there’s only one recurring character–the Devil. So, I’m mulling over who could be the right mix of charismatic, sexy, and seem like he might, at any minute, beat [...]

My Mom Charms Me

She has been sending me texts as she reads the book, complaining about how creepy it is and how I lied when I told her the stories in the first half weren’t scary (I just said they weren’t as scary as the ones in the second half). I asked her how far she was and [...]

Two Tennessee Things

1. Christine Kreyling has more on the Fisk decision. I think O’Leary is right–that we’re basically choosing between the art and the school. I also think that Fisk’s problems are so large that a sale of a stake in the art is just a stop-gap measure. One thing I think we non-Fisk folks have to [...]

Though It’s Totally Cool If You Want to Call Me ‘The Gentlelady’

So, no, I’m not going to be running for State Senate, now or in the future. And I have addressed the substantive portions of Oatney’s smarm over on Pith, which will be up tomorrow–the gist being that it doesn’t matter what the insidery reasons are, Haslam is still giving a huge amount of support to [...]

The Nashvillest Brings News I Can’t Quite Process

We lost Opryland for a mall. And now we might not have a mall at all.

My Trip to SchmubleyouPLN

It was awesome. Folks, I am a small-town girl. I wish I were more sophisticated, but I am not. Shoot, I moved to Nashville and I have never been happier living here than when I found a part of town with a cow pasture in my back yard. Things just don’t happen to small-town girls. [...]

My Publicist Wants a Word With Me

I should be practicing reading through my story a few times so that I am comfortable. But instead I am starting eight million things and writing emails and wondering if one of my arm pits smells different than the other. For the record, I think so, slightly. My publicist would kick my ass. And I [...]

Fingers Crossed

Okay, so tomorrow morning I am going to a place I will not name for fear of jinxing it–let’s call them SchmubleyouPLN–and recording one of my stories for them to play during the local time on SchmenPR on the Friday before Halloween. I think we all remember how I got bumped from SchmenPR last year, [...]

Mid-Shift

I am really enjoying this article over at Slate and the ensuing discussion at Jezebel. Partially it’s because even Franzen is mulling this kind of stuff over and partially it’s because I am feeling good about things changing. I mean, I think this is one of the publishing paradigm shifts–we won’t have the same kinds [...]

Who are These Bathroom Designers?

I have noticed over the past four days that many bathroom stalls are not actually designed for you to get into and out of without straddling the toilet. I have started measuring and the bathroom here at work, the space between the open door and the toilet is less than the span of my hand. [...]

Two Things Worth Your Time

1. Dogs and Daemons (this is, actually, one of the best explanations of daemons I think I’ve ever read. I’m also thinking about how I would honestly describe Mrs. Wigglebottom, and I’m sad to say, I think her three most obvious traits in order of obviousness are 1. she’s game (she’s up for anything you [...]

Haslam Likes Campfield?

If Woods doesn’t beat me to it, I’ll have a post up over at Pith about this. But lord almighty, I am dying to know what parts of Campfield’s agenda Haslam thinks are good ideas for Tennessee.

Just When You Think Things Can’t Get Any Weirder, In Ascending Order

1. I am distracting this Danny person from getting things done. No, not with my glorious boob freckle. Anyway, I take back what I said about not being that talented of a writer; apparently I can ruin it for all mankind with one sentence! Bow down before my amazing power, gentlemen. 2. So, yes, Fisk [...]

Lucky

On our drive home, the Butcher said, “I feel like I’ve been very lucky. I’m always afraid I’m about at the end of it.” I laughed and said I knew what he meant. I’m not the best writer, by any stretch. But I write regularly, and the practice shows. And I love it, which is [...]

The Depressing Park Review

It’s up. And the next post is a kick-ass feminist post by Tracy Moore.

Strange Things are Afoot on Clarksville Pike

I drive this particular stretch of Clarksville Pike twice a day every day on weekdays and at least once a day on weekends. It is the main street through my part of town. So, on Saturday, I was grabbing lunch at Sonic and I’m coming back up Clarksville Pike and I cross the Whites Creek [...]

My Overwhelming True Blood Finale Thought

What kind of waitress doesn’t know you have to run water while you’re using the garbage disposal? Christ. I don’t even have a garbage disposal and I am going to have to disinvite Sookie from my house over that nonsense.

My Mom’s Birthday

It’s my mom’s birthday today so we drove to Vincennes to have lunch with her and my dad and my cousin, A. My dad bought my mom two copies of my book–one for reading and one for bragging. And then my mom wanted me to sign them! As if she doesn’t have a million things [...]

A Conversation with My Republican Uncle

My dear Uncle B., with the signed framed picture of President and Mrs. Bush hanging right in the entrance-way called me to ask where his free signed copy of my book was and I said, “Like you, I’m a capitalist. No free rides for anyone. Buy it on Amazon.” “Not even for family?” “Especially not [...]

The Park Review I Just Wrote

Whew, it’s a weird one. Tore my fucking heart right out without me quite realizing it. I was going to do an analysis of the Battle of Nashville Memorial and talk about this idea that the blood of the World War One dead should somehow cleanse the nation of the wounds of the Civil War. [...]

Battle of Nashville: Shy’s Hill, Redoubt One, and the Monument

That Place

I have been practicing getting to that place where I feel joy and peace. Like, now, whenever I feel joy and peace or joy and excitement, I try to carry it along a little farther than necessary and practice feeling like that, for no reason. I know it’s corny. But I have been meditating before [...]

A Weird, Cool Thing

I’m off this morning to go be on a panel for the Americana Music Association meeting. I don’t know Wes Yoder, but I can only assume that he’s Amish, based on the last name. I’m a little excited about Eileen Sisk and Tommy Womack, but I’m trying to get it out of my system before [...]

Note: I do not actually advocate punching your grandma

I do advocate for good sex, though.

Book Things Are Happening

–I put the book for sale at GoodReads, if you want to buy an electronic copy there. –You can Look Inside the Book at Amazon! –And you can watch information about the book slowly trickle out to other outlets here. If you want to see what kinds of headaches publishers have, that will give you [...]