Picture me today as Vinny in gold chains, Hear the scratch of my polyester sleeves against my fake oak desk as I lean forward to claim that “This — My Excellent Friend — is your lucky day to get in on the ground floor of a once-in-a-lifetime unbelievable opportunity.
‘Cept I’m just regular old Jannie sipping tea here on my futon.
But there is a real deal and her name is Thomma Lyn Grindstaff, author of the very well received Mirror Blue, her debut novel on the Black Lyon Publishing label.
Imagine if Nora Ephron (When Harry Met Sally, You’ve Got Mail, Julie & Julia,) had just published her first novel. And imagine she had a personal blog where she would respond to your comments with a smile and a wink. And often a hug. And suppose she might post wonderful things, as Thomma Lynn does, like…
photos of hikes on her Tennessee mountain,
her garden’s progress this year, where she took this…
to this…
to this…
to this…
and this…
and these.
To have been new BFFs with Nora Ephron when she was just starting out, would that have been cool, or what? That’s how I feel about Thomma Lynn, pictured below with her Marilyn MonREOW. I stumbled onto Thomma Lynn’s Tennessee Text Wrestling blog last fall and am so lucky to call this gardening, cat-wrangling mountain-hiking woman my good friend.
Mirror Blue is categorized as a Literary Romance Novel — Literary being the key word, thankfully, as for me Romance Novel usually conjures up images of Aunt Lucilda engrossed in soaps, chain-smoking menthols and swilling Yoo-hoo while devouring Harlequin Romances. But please, for the love of Pete, don’t let your mind linger on that lovely image one second longer. Mirror Blue falls dead opposite on the Aunt Lucilda spectrum. When you think Mirror Blue, think longing, waiting, charm, humor, deep thoughts, intrigue and heartbreak via characters you easily grow to love and root for, in pages that flow like a dream of delights on many levels, written in highly original, often poetic prose, with a plot that keeps you rooted and rapt from the first sentence to the last. I can see it as a gripping movie.
And I’d tell you a bit about the storyline but I’ll leave that to Julia of the “A Piece Of My Mind” blog in her excellent Mirror Blue review.
So — My Excellent Friends — act NOW to get in on this ground-floor Thomma Lynn’s Grindstaff deal while she’s still got the time and energy for all us little people! She’s already on the third revision of her new book “Heart’s Chalice,” with more novels to come.
Oh, and talk about a mutual admiration cooincidence, Thomma Lynn recently published a review of My CD “I Need A Man” on her blog. Small world of love.
It was this past Wednesday, about 1:30 p.m. Central Standard Time.
I had just finished yoga and a bean taco. Kelly had played and sang “Ain’t She Sweet” on piano 39 times and was settling into Spongebob as l was logging onto Darren Rowse’s ProBlogger.
Knowing full well that Melbourne 12:07 a.m. was hours ago and I’d have zero chance at being even remotely close to Darren’s first commenter, I was still looking forward to gleaning something great on blogging… when what to my wondering big eye did appear at the top of THE super-super blogging A-lister’s post – but MY NAME linked in flashing lights. I’m serious! (Well, maybe not about the flashing lights, but it sure felt like it.) Little Jannie Funster featured and linked on ProBlogger in a post called How To Improve your Blog – Learn How To Take Criticism Well.
Holy freaking cow. And calf. And a 3-legged goat or two.
It felt nice to be shouted out by ProBlogger for something I’d said in a comment the day before and probably always. Yes, upon my deathbed I shall still be basking in the glow of my ProBlogger link. “Hey Dearie, pass the prune juice and step up my morphine, will ya? And did I ever mention the Summer of ’09 when ProBlogger linked me up, when my traffic zoomed from 300 daily uniques to over 1000 for two days in a row? Oh, I did? Sorry.”
Hey, maybe it’s just the first of more links to come if I submit something cool as a guest post to ProBlogger. Or to other bloggers. Hey, why not?! The mind’s the limit. And if I can do it, so can YOU.
Anonymous, I wish I hadn’t spammed your comment on my Blogging Addiction Survey post, else I’d email to get your physical address so I could drive or fly over Right Now to give you a big ol’ bear-hug, yep squeeze the stuffing right out of you. Sounds like you could use some hugs.
And Anonymous, you might just have jump-started my Twitter recalcitrance too. I bought “Twitter For Dummies” yesterday. Thanks! I now owe you two. Or three.
Photo by: Me [that’s my Kelly in the blue goggles.]
So, I was moping around in my satin hipwaders and golden fuzzy bra on the front porch swing — hungry, thirsty and gripped by general inertia, when up our pansied walkway bounced a sprite in a red riding hood and blue tights, holding out a basket of muffins and a super-jumbo thermos of coffee with my name on it.
Holy hen-house, Batman. What the?
“Hey, Jannie-Banannie,” the sprite grinned. “It’s me, Tess Marshall! Yep, your The Bold Life blogging buddy.” Take these, will ya? “And this,” she handed me a book. “Read it. You just might like it.”
And with two jingles of her ankle bells Tess vanished, leaving my big eye beholding the back cover of the cool smooth book in my hands;
Uplifting quotes… and stories that provoke thoughtful self-examination… empower you to move towards inner change, let go of the past, follow your dreams and fly.”
Okay, why not? I was only moping around anyway.
So I ate. And drank. Boy did I eat and drink. And I read. I read that whole book in 3 hours.
It lifted me up immediately to let go of doubt and fear, or at least give them both a good boot to the butt. Tess’s voice whispered from under the porch, “Jannie. Jannie. You must go beyond your fear to leave your comfort zone. Remember that turning points in your life are usually preceded by fear.” Yeah, so true!
After I was all coffeed and muffined and Tess’ed up I went out that day in my red cape and smiled at everyone I met. I planted flowers. I sang songs to old people (they seemed to like my wedgie one best.) I took the stairs instead of the elevator. I “wrote love letters to the world,” signing them with kisses of hope and inspiration. I forgave everybody who had ever hurt me. I became grateful for every single thing in my life, and I still am. Grateful, that is. Even for the yucky stuff, for the yucky stuff is our best teacher.
Flying By The Seat Of My Soul is available off Tess’ The Bold Life blog, either as a free download or in the delightful paperback you see pictured above with my Kelly-bops, the paperback surely a gift you can give yourself for less than the price of a movie and small popcorn.
It’s chocked full of real stuff your can sink your heart into and fly with.
I recommend it very extra much. And Blue Bunny does too.
There are two noggins bobbing past the videocam near the first of this song, the second one belonging to my Jim. I hope you enjoy it. (The song and my better half’s fleeting head.)
Wow, it’s been exactly 2 months since I released my CD. Remember the illustrious May 10th date? Well, I think I’m psyched to really start promoting myself to radio stations, etc. Will y’all please be my life coaches as I venture yet again into Unknown Territory and face the fears of expanding my comfort zone? You will? Cool, thanks! I feel ‘way better now. I really do. You are The Absolute Total Best.
