Shameless Self-Promotion

In all the drama of trying to finish a book (and get a beach house rehabbed) I’ve completely fallen down on the job of SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION FOR BRAZEN HUSSIES. So, let’s pause for a moment for a message from our sponsor. (That would be me, wearing my writer hat.)

This Saturday, at 12:30 p.m. please join me and author H.N. Kilby at the Atlanta Journal Constitution Decatur Book Festival. About the festival, it’s a really fun, family-oriented book-centric outing.

Snark warning: Just between us? It always annoys me when a book festival lines up a “headliner” who isn’t actually a writer, but rather, a cosmetically-enhanced television personality. It saddens me, too, because I realize that these television personalities will always out-draw the inky wretches who scratch out a living by writing. One year, I went to a book festival with an estimated 200 authors, and yet, the promoters chose to make Andy Rooney the marquee speaker. Andy Rooney, who makes a living being a cranky old tv codger on 60 Minutes, decided after about five minutes at this festival that he was outta there, leaving a line of some 200 people scratching their heads and wondering what to do with the book they’d just purchased. The AJC Book Festival’s headliner was going to be Ty Pennington, the over-caffeinated host of Extreme Home Makeover for Poor People who are Not too Proud to Accept Free Wide-Screen TVs and Hot Tubs. Guess what? Ty has apparently had a better offer from Oprah, so he has ditched the festival. Oh children. Okay, snarkiness over.

We’ll be speaking at the Old DeKalb County Courthouse. You know it–it’s the actually attractive decomissoned courthouse on the Decatur Square, facing Ponce deLeon. I’ve had a blast doing this festival for the past two years, and this year should be no exception. I have no idea what I’ll say or do, but I’ll do my best to be entertaining. And–should you need a bribe–and really, who doesn’t want a bribe?–I’ll be handing out my coveted MaryKayAndrews funeral parlour fans. But wait! There’s more! You say you want a door prize drawing? Well, sisters, I am all about pleasing my peeps. All you have to do is fill out a puny little piece of paper giving me your email address (to be added to my MKA mailing list) and you’ll be entered in a drawing to win a $50 gift certificate to my favorite Decatur restaurant, FEAST.

Now, about that mailing list. I don’t sell it or rent it. And I have no interest in selling you the world’s smallest fishing pole, penile enhancing substances, or colon cleansing products. I only want to sell you on selling ME, Mary Kay Andrews. So come, enjoy, pick up your freebie, register for a prize, buy my books, make me rich. I’ll be signing books after the talk, and then, I’m loading up my rented cargo van and heading back to Brimfield, Mass, with my junk sistah Beth for the Brimfield Antique Market for a solid week of junking. Oh Joy!

I’m really, really supposed to be staying at home and writing this summer. One of the very few appearances I’m making will be this Saturday, June 14, at the Galax, Virginia Leaf and String Festival. I’ll be signing books at their book tent during the day Saturday, and then speaking at a dinner that night. Here’s the press release about the event:
The 7th Annual Leaf and String Festival in Galax, VA will be held June 13-14 this year. The festival celebrates music, art & literature. The city of Galax is well known for its old-time and bluegrass music, but is also recognized for its crafts, art and literature of the area. This year, the Galax Public LIbrary and Chapters Bookshop have invited over 30 authors coming to share their works readers of the Twin County area. Local and regional authors include Joe Tennis (Beach to Bluegrass), Al Jennings (Saturday – My Day to Wear the Underwear), Scottie Pritchard (Under the Blue Bowl), and Alan Coleman (Railroads of North Carolina). Also coming is Gloria Houston, Appalachian children’s author, whose works include The Perfect Christmas Tree and My Great-Aunt Arizona. She will be talking with children at the library on Friday, and with the public at large on Saturday. Mary Kay Andrews will be here on Saturday, signing her newest book, Deep Dish, and will be the featured speaker at a dinner engagement at Warrick Hall Saturday night at 6:30. Other titles of hers include Savannah Blues, Savannah Breeze, and Little Bitty Lies. The festival will additionally host the Blue Ridge Music Makers Guild. They have a library of instruments that the public can try out during the two days. Steve Kilby can teach you how to flat-pick a guitar, if you already have a bit of experience with the instrument. Listen to some great music at the Rex Theater on Friday night, and then out at the Blue Ridge Music Center on Saturday evening, or catch some picking right on the street corner. Learn to carve a Gee Haw Whimmy Diddle at Chestnut Creek School of the Arts, beginner guitar lessons, or do a pastel drawing of Galax Leaves, for which the town is named. Learn the art of story-telling, a true Appalachian heritage craft. P. Buckley Moss, a frequent visitor of Galax, has created a poster and print which features Mary Guynn’s cabin and the Bogtrotters Band just for this year’s festival. She will be here to sign them both, along with some of her books, which include Reuben and the Blizzard and Reuben and the Quilt. There is so much going on during the Leaf and String Festival that it makes your head spin. Come and celebrate your Appalachian heritage at Galax, VA June 13 and 14.
For more information, google Galax Leaf and String Festival.