Proud mama alert: Kelsey Wells is the subject of a new short documentary from folklorist Caitlin Coad. Old Bunch of Keys, named for an old-time tune, as well as Kelsey's latest CD and thesis project as a Buchanan Fellow at Middle Tennessee State University, is a fifteen minute film available here on Vimeo. Yes, yes, I'm her mama, so of course I've watched it more than once. But even you might enjoy at least one viewing to: Learn more about old-time music, particularly fiddling Sample a … [Read more...]
The Next Big Thing: Is There Still a Novel in This Poet’s Future?
February 13, 2013 By 8 Comments
When my writing friend Candace White of aintgotenoughgravy blog fame asked if she could tag me for "The Next Big Thing" blog hop, of course I said yes. After all, 2012 was a good year for my writing life. Decent Pan of Cornbread, my spoken word and old-time music CD with Kelsey Wells, came out, and I had a bit of other poetry and nonfiction published in various places. Similarly, 2013 is off to a good start. I've been writing almost every day and am looking forward to a couple of publications … [Read more...]
Southern literature fan? You need this app!
February 5, 2013 By 4 Comments
It's February, and while it's possible we could still get a good snowfall here in middle Tennessee, the worst of winter is probably over. Today was a beautiful spring-like day - the kind that reminds me that vacation and travel season will be here soon. And that makes me think of an app you need to check out if you like Southern literature. The Deep South Literary Trail Guide is a guide to writers' homes, bookstores, festivals, and other literature-related landmarks in the South. For many … [Read more...]
Books, gifts, spirit: the shop at Scarritt-Bennett
July 25, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Scarritt-Bennett Center has been one of my favorite places in Nashville for a while. First of all, it's the home of Poet's Corner, a monthly reading series where several of my dear poet friends sometimes read, and where Kelsey and I will be appearing on September 27. Second of all, it's a lovely campus that's great for programs, workshops, retreats, and special events. Its chapel is a popular site for weddings. But now I have a new reason to love SBC: its lovely Gifts and Books shop, now … [Read more...]
Yay! A New Year, and My 2011 Favorites in Books, Music and Techy Stuff
December 30, 2011 By 7 Comments
On Christmas morning, each of us Wells found a different Yay! LiFE! magnet in our stocking. As they congregated on our fridge later in the day (undoubtedly holding out hope for a bite of yay! sausage balls! or yay! eggnog!), I realized that they are an astonishingly simple but enthusiastic expression for most of the passions in my life: Yay! Books! was in my stocking and of course represents my love for reading and writing both prose and poetry. Favorite fiction I read in 2011: The Night … [Read more...]
