News From the Author

This morning I took a break from screenplay writing about cowboys and went to hear the Cowboy Poet of Florida at the local branch library. Thanks to the Palmetto branch Friends of the Library for sponsoring the program. My favorite from the wise old cracker cowhunter was “When This Old Hat was New.” With a few groaners mixed in, Hank touched on 9-11, motherhood, uncles, campfires, skeeters, famous Florida crackers Jacob ‘Jake’ Sommerland and Bonaparte ‘Bone’ Meisel.

Funny and heartfelt, a very worthwhile program of history and poetry to a packed room.

Thunderstorms are hovering. Hot and muggy this afternoon while I work away on the screenplay for Waltzing Cowboys. I zipped up to Ruskin Library in Hillsborough County on Thursday for their book discussion on Ann Tyler’s Breathing Lessons. Great group, not afraid to say how they felt about the very dysfunctional marriage. Their next discussion is on President’s wives, any and all. They’re all reading different books. Their moderator was so professional, inserting new questions for discussion if the debate lagged.

I tried last year to attend Holmes Beach writer’s group but their library had cut back on hours and I missed it. This year the newspaper says it’s scheduled for the 18th at 1:15 pm, so I’m going to try again. Always fun for me to hear what writers are working on. And there is this great place right down the road from Holmes Beach to find soft shell crab sandwiches and look out over Tampa Bay and that incredible Sunshine Bridge.

75 degrees, sunny, and no breeze this morning. Yesterday we had a fun time sitting on the porch at my sister-in-law’s and brother in law’s house in Gainesville. I’m heading to the sailboat this morning. More soon.

Last year during my writing retreat I met Doug Knowlton of The Village Bookstore at his Open Mic night. Very welcoming and amazingly knowledgeable about books in every category, he made me feel at home. Here’s the video of his dream job, a little slice of Florida sunshine for all my friends in chillier climes.