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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.

From a motel room in Lexington

My new best friends at Rare Bird Antiques
Mason’s Motel–a great spot for lunch

Thanks to a Facebook friend, I had a wonderful road trip from Nashville to Lexington, KY. today. I’d posted this morning that I needed a junking spot on the way, and a kind reader immediately suggested I try Goodlettsville, TN. So I dialed up the town on my trusty GPS, and low and behold, the shop she suggested there, Rare Bird, was totally worth the trip. It’s a small antique mall–and the owners specialize in old store stock–unused merchandise from out of the past. I could have stayed for hours. One booth in particular captivated me. The owner had decorated it for the 4th of July with red, white and blue. He’s also a talented folk artist. I bought a hand-made Uncle Sam figure made with vintage textiles–holding a vintage box of sparklers. Just enchanting. I’m going to put it in my booth at Seaside Sisters this weekend, but if it doesn’t sell, it’s mine! In another booth I found a great vintage black and white beach snapshot to add to my collection, and then, to top it off, I found a maroon 1920s wool one-piece bathing suit, just like the ones shown in the photo–for a great price. I would have bought lots more at Rare Bird, but I’m flying home tomorrow. Of course, that never slows me down. From the shop, I went to a nearby Goodwill store and bought a cheap used suitcase to haul my treasures home. The gals at the shop tipped me to a great lunch spot, at a mom and pop motel just down the road. Mason’s Motel looks like it was built in the ’30s–a cluster of white painted brick bungalows, with a restaurant in the middle. It looks like a place Weezie would check into. The women in the restaurant were just what you’d expect, high teased hair, and the service was as sweet as the iced tea. I had fried chicken, ‘tater salad just like my mama used to make, yummy fresh from the garden baked squash, corn muffin, and yes, I’ll admit it, coconut custard pie. Mmm, Aunt Bea! The check–including a generous tip–came to ten bucks! If you ever get to the Nashville area, a trip to Goodlettsville is totally worth it. After lunch, I drove my woozy self to Lexington. A beautiful, blue-sky day, I enjoyed seeing the bluegrass area and horse farms. Tonight’s signing at Joseph-Beth Books was a success, and as always, it was a treat meeting Kentucky fans. Tomorrow, I’ll head home just long enough to unpack and re-pack before heading off to Fairhope, AL. for a Thursday night signing at Page and Palette. Then it’s down to Tybee for my Friday signing at Seaside Sisters, and an old-fashioned fireworks fourth at the beach.

From a motel room in Nashville

Bay Point Junior High reunion with Joe and Bruce
Now don’t forget–buy lots of books!

Me and my Nashville peeps

Hey, Nashville peeps–thanks so much for showing me the love tonight. We had a great signing for THE FIXER UPPER at Davis-Kidd Books here. I’ve been signing books at this store since I first started getting published–17 books ago, and the welcome in Nashville is always so warm and down-home. I even had a chance to catch up on two old, old friends from my hometown of St. Petersburg. I’ve known Joe since he was four and I was five, I think. Our mothers were best friends, and our older sisters were close friends too. As for Bruce, his older sister is one of my oldest, dearest friends. So we had a Bay Point Junior High reunion, right there in Davis-Kidd. I’m off to Lexington, KY. and Joseph-Beth Books in the morning–and if you Tenn-Ky. readers have any good junking suggestions for the trip up there, send ’em my way.

And we’re off!



The first week of publication for THE FIXER UPPER was busy. Okay, it was a blur. I remember the launch party–which was great fun. I remember the first signing, at Barnes & Noble in Buckhead, also big fun, especially catching up with former newspaper colleagues and loyal fans. After that it gets a little hazy. I drove to Highlands, NC, and spent an afternoon with Claire and Arthur Simpson, the charming owners of Cyrano’s Books. We sold tons of books, even for what Arthur termed “a dead-ass Wednesday afternoon.” The North Carolina mountains were beautiful–green and much cooler than the flatlands of Atlanta. I even spotted a great billboard on U.S. 441 advertising “Bates Cottages–NOT affiliated with the Bates Motel.” Had to laugh out loud. Flew from Asheville to Atlanta–and then on to Raleigh on Thursday, where I immediately cabbed over to Salon ROI for some intensive care from my buddy Roi–who I met when I shopped his yard sale six years ago after we moved to Raleigh. After Roi clipped and dipped me–and slapped some makeup on me, I scooted over to Quail Ridge Books. Owner Nancy Olsen has been a long-time friend and supporter–going back to the days when I wrote the Callahan Garrity mysteries under my real name–which is Kathy Hogan Trocheck–in case you didn’t know. Nancy and I got a few minutes to chat and catch up on book gossip, and then it was over to dinner with The Scribblers, my NC writers group. Although a couple of the gals couldn’t make it, it was great to see my mystery mama Margaret Maron, Sarah Shaber, Bren Witchger and Alex Sokoloff, as well as mystery maven Molly Weston and her friend. While we were in the restaurant, I happened to look at the television in the bar and see the shocking news about Michael Jackson. But no time to reflect, because it was showtime at Quail Ridge Books. We had a huge turnout, and it was wonderful to see so many old friends, including a couple of my Crusader baseball mom friends from Boomerang Boy’s days at Cardinal Gibbons High School. Boy, did we spend some time in those bleachers during all those baseball games. And boy, do I miss those days of listening to the crack of the bat. I left tons of signed copies of THE FIXER UPPER behind at QRB, so if you didn’t get there Thursday night, don’t worry, there are plenty of autographed books still there. Friday morning, I flew to Memphis. I thought Atlanta was hot, but Memphis, hoo-boy, Memphis was boiling. Still, we had a nice turnout at Books-a-Million in Southhaven, Miss. And then I went back to my hotel room, turned up the AC and watched the bargain DVD of BYE-BYE BIRDIE I picked up at BAM. Talk about a blast from the past–and so appropriate to watch in Memphis, home of Elvis, since Birdie is a spoof of Elvis mania. I flew home Saturday morning, and we’ve spent the weekend celebrating the wedding of good friends Jack and Shay. In between parties, I’ve been doing laundry and re-packing my suitcase. In the morning, I’m off for Nashville, for a signing at Davis-Kidd Books Monday night at 7pm at the Mall at Green Hills. And hey, you peeps in Lexington, KY, I’m headed your way Tuesday night for a signing at Joseph-Beth Booksellers at Lexington Green Circle, which my publisher just informed me about. Then, Thursday, I’ll be at Page & Palette in Fairhope, ALA. As Diana Ross and the Supremes would say, come see about me. On Friday, I’ll head over to Savannah for a signing at Seaside Sisters on Tybee Island at 11 am, and then Mr. Mary Kay and I will have the weekend off, biking around the island with an adult beverage in our handlebar koozies, watching fireworks, and most likely, fixing crabcakes. I’ll report in when I can. Until then, stay cool.

Fixer Upper Contest–with Eddie Ross


Last week when he was here for his Scott’s Antique Market shop-a-thon, Top Design super-star Eddie Ross and I cooked up a little contest to celebrate this week’s publication of THE FIXER UPPER. So here’s the deal:
Leave me a comment about one item in your home on which you’d like to have Eddie perform his FIXER UPPER magic. Maybe it’s that tired country cutesy kitchen window treatment, or your Aunt Mildred’s fugly mahogany china cabinet, or maybe it’s a sofa—a dreaded plaid Herculon nightmare from your early John Denver decorating phase. We’ll have a random drawing, and one winner will win a FIXER UPPER photo consult with Eddie. This means you’ll email him a photo of the item in question, and he’ll come up with a magical solution to your design dilemma. And I’ll send you a personally autographed copy of THE FIXER UPPER. Deadline is midnight June 30. Let’s review:
1. Comments only.
2. Only one potential fixer-upper item please, not an entire room. Eddie’s a genius, but he’s not Houdini!
3. Do NOT send me a photo of your item. When we announce the winner, that person and that person ONLY can email a photo of the fixer upper item.
4. We’re talking inanimate objects. Let’s keep it clean, okay?
5. Eddie’s FIXER UPPER solution will involve suggestions. He’s really not prepared to show up at your crib brandishing a can of spray paint and a glue gun.

THE FIXER UPPER Launch Party

Long-time fan David took the cake–literally–he won THE FIXER UPPER cake drawing

Missy and Naomi–fund-raisers for Avon 3-Day cancer walk

Anne was the first book-buyer of the night!

The calm before the storm
As my grandmother would say, “A good time was had by all!” We had THE FIXER UPPER launch party tonight at Feast restaurant in Decatur, and it was so much fun. We even raised a little money for breast cancer research. Launching a new book is a lot like birthing a baby–minus the stretch marks. So it helps to have wonderful friends, family and fans surrounding you when you send your baby book out into the world. Thanks to all who came, and those who wanted to come–but couldn’t. Here are the plugs: Eat at Feast–on East Howard in beautiful downtown Decatur, Ga. Fantastic food, great folks, I swear, you’ll love it. Buy desserts at Sweet n’ Sinful Bakery in Avondale Estates, GA. Two words: caramel cake. Seriously. Get your fixer upper supplies at Intown Ace Hardware in Decatur. Buy books at The Book Exchange in Marietta. Owner Cathy Blanco always throws a great party. And she’s funny. If you missed tonight’s party, I’ll be back there on July 18, and Cathy has plenty of signed copies of THE FIXER UPPER if you need one before then. Now, don’t forget, y’all. Get out there and buy THE FIXER UPPER! I’ll be blogging from the road, so check back early and often.

Me n’ Eddie Ross

Jaithan doesn’t suspect a thing!

Eddie likes his tarts on the small side!

Eddie made this fan’s day!

Yards and yards of goodies at Silk Trading Company

My daughter Katie and I spent a fun-filled day this week with Top Design contestant and lifestyle blogger superstar Eddie Ross. Oh yeah, Jaithan tagged along too. Shh. He so doesn’t realize it’s over between them. The boys were in town over the weekend to lead another of their wildly popular treks through Scott’s Antique Market, so Katie and I caught up with them for a day of shopping, dining and dishing at the Westside district here in Atlanta. We met up at Ballard’s Backroom, the Ballard Designs catalog outlet on DeFoor Avenue. Eddie loved all the fresh fabrics and great accessories and furnishings at this outlet, which is off Howell Mill Road. Katie and I scored some pillows–marked down 40 percent! Then it was over to the fabric stores on Huff Road, which is just a few blocks away from Ballard’s. We checked out the bargains at the newly relocated Silk Trading Company–found some great summery striped seersucker for five bucks a yard, and Eddie was loving some of the other silk fabrics. Then we cruised on over to Lewis & Sheron Fabrics, which, along with Forsyth Fabrics just up the street, offer shoppers a ginormous variety of decorator home fabrics. Of course, at every stop, people recognized Eddie, and reassured him that he shoulda won Top Design last summer. After agonizing over whether he could fit one more thing into his already bulging suitcases, we motored over to Star Provisions, where Eddie and Jaithan marvelled over the gorgeous cheeses and giftwares. Eddie was tempted to buy some tiny pastry tins, which he described as perfect for appetizer tarts. After strolling around a little more, we settled in for lunch at Taqueria del Sol, the super casual, super cheap Tex-Mex spot in the shopping center. Over lunch, Eddie and I cooked up a little contest to celebrate next week’s publication of THE FIXER UPPER. So watch this space for all the details!

Tennessee Treasures

Our guys–plus Maggy, the beer maiden
Star quilt and checked tablecloth
Newest addition to tin litho toy collection

We are up in the beautiful mountains of Tennessee this weekend, staying at friend Jinxie’s cottage at Sewanee. Jinx’s husband Mike, and daughter Katie, are alums of The University of the South, better known as Sewanee, and ten years ago they bought the sweetest cottage and guest house. Posse member Susie’s daughter Maggy will be a senior at Sewanee this fall. This weekend the guys are playing in an alum golf tournament (Mr. Mary Kay is a ringer, but it’s OK). In fact, they are defending champions! Yesterday the guys golfed and the girls shopped. First stop was at a sweet little shop called The Curley Willow, which is near Cowan, I think. I bought an adorable little tin litho toy watering can to add to my collection. Most of my tin litho watering cans and sand pails and shovels are Ohio Art, but I found this great little Chein watering can. It’s in really nice condition, and the nicest part was the price–$19.95. These toys have gotten to be hot collectibles, and I rarely find them these days for under $50–a price I refuse to pay, so buying this one as a souvenir of a fun weekend was a no brainer. We next travelled to Tullahoma and Shelbyville. In a shop called Memories I found this great blue and white star-pattern quilt, and the aqua checked tablecloth, which seemed to scream–“Take me to Tybee!” Well, what could I do? The quilt was only $40, and the tablecloth was $7, so I scooped them up. Don’t know where today’s excursion will take me, but I will report in soon. In the meantime, happy Saturday.