Mary Kay Andrews

We’ve been shot—by BH & G

Stylists extraordinaire Annette and Natalie

Tom explains blue crab wrangling to Annette

The Breeze Inn has never looked better than it did this weekend–thanks to the genius of the the team shooting our house for Better Homes & Gardens magazine; freelance stylist Annette Joseph and her gorgeous assistant Natalie, and brilliant photographer Rob Brinson.

Rob, our shooting star

After spending a couple days last week slumming at the Cloister on St. Simons Island with my junking buddy Beth, I motored up to Tybee on Friday to meet Annette and Natalie for the much-anticipated shoot for Better Homes and Gardens magazine. They pulled into our driveway Friday at 10 a.m., and I swear, they did not slow down until they’d finished shooting me, Katie and baby Molly on Sunday at noon at our favorite shopping haunt, Seaside Sisters.
Annette had told me they’d be bringing stuff to style the house for the shoot, but schnikeys! They’d brought down a whole SUV-full of pretties. Within five minutes of arrival, Annette and Natalie started hauling most of the furniture off the screened porch, moving it out to the carport, where it served as the display area for all the props for the shoot. Annette had carefully studied scouting photos of our house to see our style (junky) and color scheme–mostly blues and greens with some shots of coral. They bought tons of accessories from Home Goods and World Market, sprinkled in with some vintagey things like a great 1950s aluminum Schlitznik beer cooler, and some items culled from Annette’s personal prop stash, like a stack of delicious turquoise glazed fluted plates from Anthropologie. Did I mention that we got to keep lots of the loot? Yay!

Pretty loot, er, props

First to get photographed was the master bedroom and bathroom. It was amazing to watch how with just a few switched around pieces of furniture and some added accessories, the rooms took on a new zing. Boomerang Boy’s room got shot next, all propped up with fishing poles, a vintage tackle box and a duffle bag full of clothes–not his own–because in real life Boomerang Boy usually arrives at the beach with luggage consisting of his high school football equipment bag stuffed full of dirty laundry. On Saturday morning, Rob and Brian met Tom and Andy at the marina where we keep our boat, and they got some great “lifestyle” shots of the guys fishing. Even a pod of cooperative dolphins showed up for the shoot. In the meantime, back at the house, the girls were styling up our living and dining room. I learned that in the world of magazine photography, more is less. Annette gently diagnosed me as someone with “shopping issues.” Duh. Our rattan armchairs were annexed to the far side of the room to give the living room “breathing room”, and one of the slipcovered armchairs I bought last weekend was moved from the dining room to the living area. Then the girls added shots of hot pink accessories–a soft pink plaid throw went over the arm of the sofa, pink striped pillows from Home Goods were added to the slipcovered armchairs, a white vase of pink roses was artfully posed on an end table, and yes, a stack of Mary Kay Andrews novels was added to the mix. Wasn’t it smart of my publisher to give my books jackets that fit my beach house color scheme? The kitchen and dining room got fluffed up too–down to having each plate and wine glass in the glass-front kitchen cabinets carefully lined up, and the countertops accessorized with a vintage bread box, copper utensil jugs and a row of designer jams and jellies. Not even the tiniest detail got overlooked. Our kitchen sink got glammed up with grapefruit dish soap, a pretty pink sponge, and an array of Home Goods aqua dish towels. Since it was my husband’s birthday weekend–and our whole extended family was down for the celebration, I’d mentioned that we’d probably serve a birthday dinner with Tom’s famous crab cakes, corn on the cob and a chocolate birthday cake. Off went Natalie–to Bowie’s Seafood on Tybee for the aforementioned blue crabs, and to Davis Produce on Wilmington Island, for a crate of fresh corn, ripe tomatoes, and mango for the mango salsa.

Glamour shot of the kitchen sink–even the pink sponge was color coordinated

My newlywed niece Corry helpfully baked the birthday cake layers, and then I made the frosting–using a spazzed-out hand-mixer which left me and the kitchen counter covered head-to-toe in chocolate . Good thing the stylist made me change out of my “picture clothes” before hand! Then Annette stepped in and made my homemade chocolate frosting look waaaay prettier than I could ever have done. Finally, Tom was brought in to wrangle the blue crabs into the pretty blue stockpot. I kept thinking of the lobster-cooking scene from Annie Hall. Thankfully, none of our crabs escaped. Funny thing, after all those carefully staged food shots, we were too tired to actually make the crab cakes, so we ended up sending out for pizza! On Sunday morning, we managed to get the whole family–including Tom’s sister Jeanne, brother Bob, who was the contractor for the house remodel, his wife Laurie, his three sons, daughter-in-law and grandson, rounded up for family beach photos. At one point, Annette spotted a couple surfers down the beach, and decided Rob should take photos of Andy surfing. Thus, Natalie, the smoking hot assistant, was dispatched to persuade the surfers that they should loan us their boards. Obviously, they could not have been more pleased to help out. Once the photos were finished, the BH&G team headed back to Atlanta, and all the family members headed home too. Now, lest you think our house always looks this photo-ready, let me let you in on a secret–it takes a village to get a house ready for a national magazine shoot. Mr. Mary Kay and I went down to Tybee last weekend to do some fluffing, and then The Mermaid Cottages housekeepers worked feverishly between guests last week to make sure every inch of the house was sparkling. Our amazing landscape wizard Kelly Lockamy even worked through a couple of torrential downpours to get the front garden spiffed up with blooming posies. Sunday night, to celebrate a sucessful shoot, we invited Susan from Seaside Sisters, and Diane from Mermaid Cottages to join us for the kind of occasion we love–an impromptu Sunday night supper. Beth and husband Richard drove up from the Cloister, so we had a dinner for six–crab cakes, cold asparagus with lemon-herb mayonnaise, a fresh corn salad made with tomatoes, basil, red pepper and a buttermilk vinaigrette dressing. Topped off with Susan’s peach crisp. Perfect ending to a great weekend. P.S.–Look for the BH&G story next summer–probably July.

Susan and Diane toast to Sunday suppers

Remember me?

Tybee yard sale score–slipcovered armchairs–3 for $40!


Framed kiddie bathing suits from the 1950s


Flea market letters spell out the locale on Breeze Inn porch

I’ve been a bad, bad blogger. Readers, including Tybee Ron, have chastised me because I’ve been neglecting to blog. So I’m back with exciting news. Next weekend, The Breeze Inn–and its owners, are going to be photographed for BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS magazine. Which meant that Mr. Mary Kay and I took a quick trip down to Tybee this past weekend to do a little fluffing. Boomerang Boy and his oldest buddy, Michael, joined us. I had pictures to hang, and stuff to arrange, and the boys wanted to go out fishing, which they did. They brought back a nice mess of spotted trout. And I did some hunting. Junk hunting, that is. My junk buddy Tacky Jacky called Friday night to alert me to the fact that she’d seen a Craigslist ad for a sale just a couple blocks from the Breeze Inn. Saturday morning I hopped on my beach bike and cruised over to the sale. Jackpot! I snagged a sweet antique twin bed–for five bucks! Also a mission oak desk–for next to nothing, along with a $2 mirror. I ran home to get Mr. Mary Kay and his truck, to pick up my stuff, and when we got back to the sale a few minutes later, the woman running the sale had uncovered more good stuff–including three slipcovered armchairs–for $40. How could I turn down a deal like that? By 9 a.m. I’d positioned two of my chairs in the dining room at The Breeze Inn, and the third was loaded up to bring home to Katie. Jacky and I did a little more junking around Savannah. I scored a repro Jadite covered casserole at the Union Mission thrift shop, and she scooped up some cookbooks, but mostly, we just laughed and caught up with each other. Saturday afternoon, Mr. Mary Kay and I did our fluffing. We hung up the adorable matted and framed 1950s children’s bathing suits (a gift from posse members Jinxie and Shay) in the stairhall, where I’ve been arranging all my vintage black and white beach photos. And on the screened porch, we hung the old sign letters I’d found in June at the Scott’s Antique Market. My husband also hung the beautiful original pastel painting that was a birthday gift to me from my friend Diane of Mermaid Cottages. Wish I’d taken a picture of the painting, it shows a pigtailed little girl running down a sandy path to the beach. Diane says this is what our Molly will look like in only a few years. I’ll be sure and get a picture when we’re down next weekend. And I promise not to take so long between blog posts.

Breeze Inn winner–Meet Kellie

We had tons of responses to Apartment Therapy’s super-cool giveaway of a weekend at my own BREEZE INN COTTAGE and I truly wish I could give everybody a free stay there–but Mr. Mary Kay and the rest of the family might not like that. So here’s the one, true winner chosen by Apartmment Therapy: Kellie–she lives in St. Louis, is a former flight attendant who still loves to travel, and she says she’s been wanting to visit Savannah ever since watching MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL. Welcome Kellie. And stay tuned, the rest of you contest devotees, for upcoming cool contests.

End of the Book Tour Trail–Almost

Pork roll–a Jersey specialty

With Cathy Blanco at Book Exchange in Marietta

Star for a night in Woodstock, GA.

Bits n’ pieces, dibs n’ dabs, odds n’ ends. Nearing the end of a very busy, very good tour. It’s so gratifying–and fun, to meet folks who love books–and better yet, like mine. So here are some highlights: Favorite sign: spotted on a storefront in Pittsburgh: GUNS AND SMOKES. Says it all, doesn’t it? Favorite moment? The day I got to hold my new granddaughter Molly. Second favorite sign? The marquee of the theatre in Rome, GA. where I gave a talk and book-signing last Friday night. Finally–my name in lights. And within a week–more lights–courtesy of Fox Tale Books in Woodstock, GA., where I was treated to a fabulous book signing birthday party. Mom and Dad woulda been so proud! Favorite new friends? The five gay men I met at dinner in Rehoboth Beach, who by way of a compliment, told me “your hair’s not that big for somebody from the South.” Favorite junk find, tie between the “NO SWIMMING, DIVING OR CRABBING FROM BRIDGE” sign found at Pleasant Point Antique Emporium, and $5 vintage straw boater found in Fairhope, AL. Favorite gift? Vintage beach snaps from Vintage Sue, or how ’bout that suitcase full of treasures from Rita and the Real Estate Barbies of Woodstock? Although I really don’t know how I’m gonna explain that pair of red thong panties (ala HISSY FIT) to Mr. Mary Kay. And I can’t forget that wonderful Breeze Inn light gifted me by Clare. Favorite meals? All the ones shared with old and new friends, like dinner in DC with Sue of Vintage Rescue Squad, late-night supper with the fabulous Laura Lippman and Marcia Talley in Baltimore, drinks with super-agent Stuart Krichevsky on the porch of The Parker House in Sea Girt, NJ, dinner with marketing maven Meg Walker and her mom Kathy in Ocean Grove (or was that Asbury Park?) summer book party chicken salad with a great party at The Book Exchange in Marietta, GA., and dinner last week with Diane from Mermaid Cottages, Susan from Seaside Sisters, Tacky Jacky and a host of other cool ladies, not to mention late supper with Patti Morrison in Mount Pleasant, S.C. Thanks everybody!

From a hotel room in Pittsburgh

Molly–born on lucky July 13

Party hostess Kathy Ahl on left, with her mom, “Chick” on right

That’s me, with new friends Cheryl and Joel, and Stuart Krichevsky

Signing books at Spring Lake Library

Me–getting the joyful news about Molly’s arrival

Greetings from Asbury Park

Two different friends emailed me this week to point out that 13 should be my new lucky number. How right they are! Two weeks ago, THE FIXER UPPER debuted at #13 on the New York Times bestseller list. And on Monday, July 13, the world’s most perfect baby, Miss Molly Hogan Abel, made her debut in Atlanta. To say my week has been a whirl would be an understatement. After spending the weekend in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, I motored over to the Jersey Shore. At first, I was totally a stranger in a strange land. As I was checking into my hotel, the clerk asked me if I needed a beach badge. Huh? In the South, you don’t need a badge to go to the beach—just a sackful of quarters to feed the parking meters. I had to sign a document stating that the hotel could bill my credit card $150 if I didn’t return the badge. WTF? But Sunday night, Meg Walker, the marvelous marketing maven, and her mom, Kathy Ahl, picked me up to take me to dinner and give me a proper orientation to the Jersey Shore. Turns out there are different beaches for different folks. Spring Lake, where I was staying, is known as “The Irish Riviera.” Too funny–I guess a Hogan like me would fit right in–if she had a beach badge. Just down from the Irish beach is the Italian beach. And further down, was the gay beach. Good to know. Meg and Kathy took me past Ocean Grove, which has a famous summer religious retreat tent city, which apparently dates back to Victorian times. I’d seen photos in magazines, but the glimpse I got the other night was fascinating–the most adorable teensy canvas homes dolled up with gingerbread, flowerboxes, ect. For dinner we went to a restaurant called Moonstruck, which prompted me to tell Meg and Kathy to “Snap out of it!”. Very delicious food–washed down with a pink Pommerey champagne called Pink Pop. Then came a quick tour of Asbury Park, which has been totally revitalized since the days when Bruce Springsteen came of age in its gritty bars. I saw the Stone Pony, where an all female Led Zeppelin tribute band, called, yes–Lez Zeppelin–recently played. Lots of cool bars and restaurants and shops–and a restored beach boardwalk, made me want to spend more time in Asbury Park. We did go to a hip rooftop bar called The Watermark. On Monday, when Katie called to tell me she was checking into the hospital, I was too nervous to stay around the hotel, so I went to my happy place–junking. I’d heard about an antique mall in Point Pleasant Beach, a few miles away, so I headed over there. Of course I bought a sweet little vintage baby dress and slip for you-know-who, and then I found an awesome old sign warnign “No swimming, fishing, ect from bridge.” It’ll go in The Breeze Inn. I was so nervous I couldn’t even concentrate on junking–can you believe??? So I headed back to my hotel, where I was to meet Stuart, my amazing agent, who drove down from New York for my talk at the Spring Lake Library, and the party afterwards, given by Meg and Kathy. I was standing on the porch of the hotel when Katie’s best friend Carolyn called to tell me about Molly’s arrival. I think you can tell from the picture how excited I was. Stuart and I had drinks on the porch at a very cool Victorian place called The Palmer House, in Sea Girt. And then we headed over to the Spring Lake Library, which has to be one of the prettiest old buildings ever. It’s a 1920s era red brick wonder, built as a community center for returning World War I veterans, with beautiful mouldings and antiques. I gave my talk in the community theater, which is a jewel box. I was nervous that nobody in New Jersey would turn out to see a displaced Southerner, but we had a great turn-out, probably more than 100 people, and everybody was so warm and welcoming. After the signing, it was time to party! Meg and Kathy had a great spread, and I met lots of their family members and friends. Such fun. Tuesday morning, Stuart and I met Meg at a local luncheonette called Who’s on Third, where I sampled the local specialty–pork roll. Kinda like a cross between bacon and ham, on a yeast roll. Tasty. Then it was time to leave the beautiful Jersey shore–of course, the weather was absolutely gorgeous. I headed to Philly for a signing there last night, and tonight, I signed at Joseph-Beth Booksellers, which is in a revitalized development on the spot of a former US Steel mill. Appropriate, since Mr. Mary Kay’s family is from this area, and many of them worked in the mill or cokeworks. Tomorrow night, I’ll sign books with my old friends at Mystery Lover’s Bookstore in beautiful Oakmont, PA.–and then it’s home Friday to get acquainted with my new grandgirl. Can’t wait!

Meet Molly

Please join me in welcoming little Miss Everything, our very first grandchild–Miss Molly Hogan Abel, who was born Monday at 4:39 p.m. at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta. Mom Katie, Dad Mark, granddad Tom-Tom (heretofore known on this blog as Mr. Mary Kay) Uncle Andy and Great Aunt Jeanne have all gotten to see and hold her. I, sadly, am still four days from home, but my friend Margaret Maron assures me that they will not have kissed all the new off her before I get to her. My heart is just about to burst with joy!

From a motel room at Rehoboth Beach

Delaware yard sales seem more exotic!
You’ve never seen such massive hydrangeas

The sign that started my adventure

My first visit to a “northern” beach was a big success. I walked on the boardwalk here at Rehoboth Beach and bought caramel corn. I sat on a bench and watched the hordes of people enjoying a beautiful July day at the beach. I mean hordes! The signing at Browseabout Books Friday afternoon was great. Such warm, welcoming booksellers, and a fabulous store. Browseabout is huge and it sells everything; books, of course, but tons of gifts and toys and beach neccessities. Wish we had a shop like that at Tybee. Jennifer, one of the booksellers, turned me onto a new book which I can’t wait to dive into, it’s called EAST OF THE SUN, by Julia Gregson. Jennifer also tipped me that you can watch old movies on Youtube. What??? When I got back to my room Friday night I found the movie she recommended, FIRELIGHT. And yes, you have to watch it in installments, but it was well worth it. I got so engrossed I didn’t go out to dinner, just stayed in and ate my caramel corn, propped up in bed with my laptop. Such a beautiful, incredibly romantic movie. Of course, now my keyboard is unspeakably sticky…On my way to Rehoboth I almost had to slam on my brakes when I saw the above sign in the gorgeous little town of Lewes. Saturday morning I got up bright and early to go explore the town. Lewes bills itself as the first city of the first state. The town reminded me of Nantucket. I walked all over, prowling through the many quaint shops. I hit the antique fair, but didn’t buy anything. I did, however, manage to find a yard sale, where I bought an antique porcelain fish plate. Lewes is brimming over with flowers–I wonder if you have to be a gardener to live there? Even the humblest little house seems to be surrounded by blooms. And the hydrangeas–oh my! Blooms the size of a dinner platter. I had a nice lunch at a restaurant called The Buttery, and then spent the afternoon cruising around enjoying a beautiful day. Last night I had dinner at a restaurant here in Rehoboth called Lupa di Mare, in the lobby of the Rehoboth Hotel, which reminds me of a hotel in South Beach. I had a divine salad of grilled artichokes and cherry tomatoes and struck up a fun conversation with the five divine gay men at the table next to mine. Rehoboth seems to be the home office of fabulous gay men. I would have gone shopping with any one of my new friends! Today I’m off for Spring Lake and new adventures on the Jersey Shore.

From a motel room in Baltimore

The tour for THE FIXER UPPER seems to be going great. I’ve met lots of wonderful readers and awesome booksellers. So, let’s recap the previous week. I got the news that we’d made #13 on the New York Times list while I was at home last Wednesday. Took daughter Katie and son-in-law Mark out to dinner at Feast in Decatur to celebrate. Appropriate, I thought, since that’s where we had the book launch party. Then I flew over to Fairhope and Page and Palette Books where I managed to sneak in a little quality junking time at a couple of this charming town’s many antique stores. I scored a vintage $5 straw boater complete with red hatband, and an adorable old children’s cloth picture book, which I want to have made into pillows with some old ticking I’ve been hoarding. I also found another great black and white beach snapshot from the 1920s. We had a great, standing room only crowd at P&P–distracted only momentarily when a huge thunderstorm blew up in the middle of my talk, sending half a tree crashing down on a car parked on the street below. Among the many friendly faces in the crowd was blogger Layla from The Lettered Cottage, who drove through the gathering storm with her husband and mom. Layla is a talented self-taught decorator, junker and photographer, so check out her blog. The next morning I got up at the butt-crack o’ dawn to hop a plane from Pensacola down to Savannah, where I had an 11 am signing on July 3 at Seaside Sisters. All my Tybee peeps came over to show some major book love–we ran out of books twice and had to send into town for more. Managed to sneak in some R&R over the weekend at The Breeze Inn with Mr. Mary Kay, my sister-in-law Jeanne, and nephew Alex and his girlfriend Mary Beth. We cooked burgers and made trailer trash for dinner guests Polly and Steve. Polly is a stringer for People magazine, so we got to catch up on the antics of Miley Cyrus, who’s shooting a movie on Tybee this summer. We got to watch Tybee’s Friday night beachfront fireworks from the roof-top of friend Sally’s home, which was really cool. On Sunday, I finally got to go out fishing in the boat with MMK–first time this year for me. We anchored off Little Tybee and enjoyed the overcast skies and breeze. I only caught some puny trout and “puppy drum”–redfish too small to keep. But as we were leaving, a mama dolphin and her calf swam up beside the boat and followed us for several yards, begging for scraps, and swimming close enough to the boat that I could have leaned over to scratch her poor lil’ scuffed up snout. (Did not feed scraps as this is illegal). I got to spend two days at home–catching up on laundry, mail and grocery shopping before heading back out on tour. Wednesday night I was in DC, and caught up with another blogger buddy, Sue from Vintage Rescue Squad. Sue loves estate sales as much as I do, and although she has a “big-girl day job” she also has two booths in an antique mall in Leesburg, Va. We had a blast talking junk and books–and she gifted me with a bundle of vintage beach snaps to add to my stash! last night I had a first-time signing at a neat bookstore called A Likely Story Books in Sykesville, which is a Baltimore suburb. Owner Debbie Scheller did a great job The big treat for me was that my friend Laura Lippman, award-winning author of many Baltimore-set mysteries, including the Tess Monaghan series, took me to the signing. Laura, like me, is an ex-newsie (she did time at The Baltimore Sun, I did time at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution) so she had the brilliant idea to interview me for the event. We had a great time, and an even better time afterwards, when fellow mystery writer Marcia Talley, (author of the Hannah Ives series) who’d driven over from Annapolis, joined us at The Wine Market in Baltimore for dinner. Today, I’m headed for the Jersey Shore. First stop is Rehoboth Beach, DE, for a 4pm signing at Browseabout Books. Stay tuned for my Jersey junkin’ journal!

Books. Stay tuned for my Jersey Junkin’ Journal.

NYT Bestseller List: THE FIXER UPPER IS #13!!!

Here’s your pony, everybody! I had to take it out for a little ride, just to make sure it was safe for all you novice pony-girls and boys. It’s name is Jiffy. Do you like my jaunty hat? So much cooler than the same-ol’-same’-ol’ cowgirl hat, doncha think? Okay, here you go. Your turn.

Wow! I’m thrilled, excited, bewitched, bothered, bewildered. Thanks everybody! What? You didn’t buy multiple copies of THE FIXER UPPER yet? No worries. The stores are open late over the holiday weekend, and wouldn’t it be just extra-sweet if I could actually move UP the list next week? Don’t forget, you want to buy at a New York Times reporting bookstore, not your local likker store or swap-meet. Thanks everybody!

If you’re in the vicinity of Fairhope, Alabama tomorrow, come see me at Page and Palette.