Estelle Ford-Williamson's Blog
May 6, 2014
Talk about a long time...
I look at the last blog entry here and I cringe--it's been a loooong time! Since then, I've been gifted with and used a Kindle several times, although I still prefer hard copy--it's easier to book mark, pick up and flip through, and it just feels so substantial! The biggest change, and as a former reporter I hate to admit it, I'm using social media for "real" news with those fabulous links all over the world! I do still enjoy reading the paper, but it's for background, often critical background. And still the best movie reviews in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, anyway.
One of the reasons I'm back: the publisher of our soon-to-be-released book said to do it. McFarland and Co. this month will publish "Seed of South Sudan: Memoir of a 'Lost Boy' Refugee, an intriguing story of a young boy who at 7 had to flee his village in southern Sudan and walk about a thousand miles across three countries to find safety. It took 14 years to find that final home, here in the U.S. The book is a followup and an updating of the story of the Lost Boys here in the US, although it mainly is the story of my coauthor, Majok Marier.
What better excuse to get on Goodreads again and review some of my favorite books? You'll see a few of these soon, as I've been holding them in my head with a promise to self on a regular basis: "I really want to write about this!" Now I can!
One of the reasons I'm back: the publisher of our soon-to-be-released book said to do it. McFarland and Co. this month will publish "Seed of South Sudan: Memoir of a 'Lost Boy' Refugee, an intriguing story of a young boy who at 7 had to flee his village in southern Sudan and walk about a thousand miles across three countries to find safety. It took 14 years to find that final home, here in the U.S. The book is a followup and an updating of the story of the Lost Boys here in the US, although it mainly is the story of my coauthor, Majok Marier.
What better excuse to get on Goodreads again and review some of my favorite books? You'll see a few of these soon, as I've been holding them in my head with a promise to self on a regular basis: "I really want to write about this!" Now I can!
January 11, 2011
What about "Best of" lists?
My inbox had an irresistable link: Goodreads best books of 2010. I'm a sucker, I had to open it. But as I looked at the winners, I drifted into a worst books list and was surprised to find a favorite of mine, Cold Mountain, was among that group. It's going to be 15 degrees in Atlanta tonight, so maybe it's a good thing to focus on something cold, find some redeeming value in it. But my interest was strong because I was so impressed with this book, felt it did everything a good literary novel should--take me somewhere different, with language and images that stayed with me forever. But as I read reviews I realized that Goodreads brings us all together--those who want escapist literature and those wanting a classic read. A look at the many categories of winners in fantasy, fantasy-paranormal, etc. says it all. People do want to escape and they want the vehicles to be extraordinary, preferrably extra-terrestial! It takes all kinds of readers, and I'm glad to have them all. But I'll take Charles Frazier's writing over all of them any day. His Thirteen Moons thrilled me as well, but we trod on common ground, the mountains, native Americans, pre-Civil War era and all. Read my review of Cold Mountain here; I'll do one soon on Thirteen Moons. Thanks, Charles.
November 29, 2010
A Titan Retires
I realize I write a lot about the Decatur Book Festival--its energy is infectious, the reach wide. But before there was the Festival, there was the quiet, highly effective director of the DeKalb Library System, and I'd like to give Darro Wiley our thanks and appreciation. After 15 years leading this crown of the metro Atlanta cultural life, Darro retired this fall, but only after creating a whole new experience for Atlantans centered on books, literature, and knowledge.
I was chair of the Village Writers Group when Darro became director of the Library. For many years the VWG was supported with space to meet at the Decatur and then the Avis Williams library, and we were partners in the effort to have the longest running Atlanta area writers group open to all writers (Atlanta Writers Club at that time allowed only well-published writers.) Along with Village Writers president emeritus Helen Friese, I met with Darro and we succeeded in reopening the Local Writers Room, a small secure space in Decatur Library that had been created to enable a local writer to have extended time and place to write a book. (VWG friend Terry Kay had had to rent a motel room to write his first books). Subsequently, Alyson Landrum,another VWG member, myself, and Amanda Gable among others created their first works there.
During my writer group leadership, Darro asked us to nominate someone to the first Board for the Georgia Center for the Book. At that time, only John Slaughter had published a book, so he was our nominee. Little would I or others dream that this Center, a part of the Library of Congress program to promote the reading, production, and consumption of the handy little multi-paged device you hold in your hand and display on your bookshelf, would become the birthhome of the Decatur Book Festival!
An initial effort of the Georgia Center for the Book, led by Bill Starr, was to host authors from all over the world reading from their books. During its long run on the stage at the Decatur Library--and other venues as well--the reading series has brought so many hours of pleasure and knowledge for patrons all over Atlanta, not to mention opportunities to buy books and speak with the authors. The Center also created and updates the list of "25 Books Every Georgian Should Read," co-sponsors the Southern Literary Trail and carries on the Georgia Literary Festival, a moveable feast of authors with a local slant in every part of the state.
Darro led the expansion of the DeKalb Library System's online presence--going on its website is still a seamless experience--and diverse services to patrons in the form of computer workshops, programs for kids to seniors, and service to literacy patrons, especially, grew to unprecedented levels. I remember encountering some of the literacy patrons as I wrote in the Local Author's Room. I remember more than once an older gentleman working with a tutor in the small room next to me was making labored sounds of basic words. I might have thought it an interference, but I rededicated myself to writing. I'd been given the gift of reading at an early age, and I wished him the same enjoyment of the written word.
The DeKalb system's footprint has been expanded terrifically, with existing structures adding dramatic square footage, and services to the entire county growing greatly. Stark budget realities now face the county's library system. It will be up to new leadership and us, the reading community, to deal with this challenge. May the same creativity that inspires writers to imagine worlds for us to live in help fashion a new future for this important living resource, the DeKalb Library system.
Thanks, Darro, for all you did!
I was chair of the Village Writers Group when Darro became director of the Library. For many years the VWG was supported with space to meet at the Decatur and then the Avis Williams library, and we were partners in the effort to have the longest running Atlanta area writers group open to all writers (Atlanta Writers Club at that time allowed only well-published writers.) Along with Village Writers president emeritus Helen Friese, I met with Darro and we succeeded in reopening the Local Writers Room, a small secure space in Decatur Library that had been created to enable a local writer to have extended time and place to write a book. (VWG friend Terry Kay had had to rent a motel room to write his first books). Subsequently, Alyson Landrum,another VWG member, myself, and Amanda Gable among others created their first works there.
During my writer group leadership, Darro asked us to nominate someone to the first Board for the Georgia Center for the Book. At that time, only John Slaughter had published a book, so he was our nominee. Little would I or others dream that this Center, a part of the Library of Congress program to promote the reading, production, and consumption of the handy little multi-paged device you hold in your hand and display on your bookshelf, would become the birthhome of the Decatur Book Festival!
An initial effort of the Georgia Center for the Book, led by Bill Starr, was to host authors from all over the world reading from their books. During its long run on the stage at the Decatur Library--and other venues as well--the reading series has brought so many hours of pleasure and knowledge for patrons all over Atlanta, not to mention opportunities to buy books and speak with the authors. The Center also created and updates the list of "25 Books Every Georgian Should Read," co-sponsors the Southern Literary Trail and carries on the Georgia Literary Festival, a moveable feast of authors with a local slant in every part of the state.
Darro led the expansion of the DeKalb Library System's online presence--going on its website is still a seamless experience--and diverse services to patrons in the form of computer workshops, programs for kids to seniors, and service to literacy patrons, especially, grew to unprecedented levels. I remember encountering some of the literacy patrons as I wrote in the Local Author's Room. I remember more than once an older gentleman working with a tutor in the small room next to me was making labored sounds of basic words. I might have thought it an interference, but I rededicated myself to writing. I'd been given the gift of reading at an early age, and I wished him the same enjoyment of the written word.
The DeKalb system's footprint has been expanded terrifically, with existing structures adding dramatic square footage, and services to the entire county growing greatly. Stark budget realities now face the county's library system. It will be up to new leadership and us, the reading community, to deal with this challenge. May the same creativity that inspires writers to imagine worlds for us to live in help fashion a new future for this important living resource, the DeKalb Library system.
Thanks, Darro, for all you did!
August 26, 2009
Only a few days now to the Book Festival!
Excitement is building for the 4th AnnualDecatur Book Festival, and the only thing I can add to enhance your planning is that there is a newspaper insert in this weekend's AJC with much more detail, including a calendar for the Friday-Saturday-Sunday event. You can pick up your own at the DeKalb County libraries, or at independent bookstores such as one of my favorites,
Bound to be Read
in East Atlanta. BTBR will be one of the booksellers for featured events.
Still find that the on-line listing helps you uncover specific writers and their times. My book actually predates the festival, so I'm in the Book Market and Festival in tents rather than on a stage--come see me 10-12 Sat a.m. or 2-4 p.m. Sunday in Village Writers Group Booth 515: same street as Starbucks, but opposite, on the shady side of the street! See you there!
Still find that the on-line listing helps you uncover specific writers and their times. My book actually predates the festival, so I'm in the Book Market and Festival in tents rather than on a stage--come see me 10-12 Sat a.m. or 2-4 p.m. Sunday in Village Writers Group Booth 515: same street as Starbucks, but opposite, on the shady side of the street! See you there!
August 3, 2009
How to Get the Most from the Decatur Book Festival 9/4-6
It's a month off, and there's lots to enjoy on the square in Decatur when the Decatur Book Festivalopens up--the monster that devoured Decatur is how the graphics depict this year's event--hopefully that dinousar with the book for a mouth does not reference the demise of books. Instead, the scene will show that books are indeed alive and well and THRIVING in the South.
Going on the Festival's web page is the best way to plan for this event--there's so much to do, it's dizzying!Here's the general link to the myriad events you'll want to plan ahead for: Note that a few music events may be ticketed, and if so, you'd best get your tickets now--they go fast!
http://www.decaturbookfestival.com/20...
Here's a link to where I'll be appearing at 10 on Saturday and 2 on Sunday (check out Booth 515), as well as a guide to the Book Marketplace.
http://www.decaturbookfestival.com/20...
Good news of fellow writers: Jack Riggs' The Fireman's Wife was named Best Novel of 2009 by the Georgia Writers Association (See My Books, and my May blog here).Collin Kelly, poet and now novelist debuts his well-written Conquering Venus at the DBF (see above) and Amanda Gable, a fellow member of the Zona Rosa Writers Group, will debut August 11 at the Decatur Library her first novel, The Confederate General Rides North . While it has a battlefield theme, it's really about a young girl and her fantasy of being a general during that "late unpleasantness"--Amanda has been published in many prominent literary journals and so I think you can expect a great novel!7:15 at the Decatur Library.
Happy reading and writing!
Going on the Festival's web page is the best way to plan for this event--there's so much to do, it's dizzying!Here's the general link to the myriad events you'll want to plan ahead for: Note that a few music events may be ticketed, and if so, you'd best get your tickets now--they go fast!
http://www.decaturbookfestival.com/20...
Here's a link to where I'll be appearing at 10 on Saturday and 2 on Sunday (check out Booth 515), as well as a guide to the Book Marketplace.
http://www.decaturbookfestival.com/20...
Good news of fellow writers: Jack Riggs' The Fireman's Wife was named Best Novel of 2009 by the Georgia Writers Association (See My Books, and my May blog here).Collin Kelly, poet and now novelist debuts his well-written Conquering Venus at the DBF (see above) and Amanda Gable, a fellow member of the Zona Rosa Writers Group, will debut August 11 at the Decatur Library her first novel, The Confederate General Rides North . While it has a battlefield theme, it's really about a young girl and her fantasy of being a general during that "late unpleasantness"--Amanda has been published in many prominent literary journals and so I think you can expect a great novel!7:15 at the Decatur Library.
Happy reading and writing!
May 31, 2009
Reports of the Demise of Readers are Exaggerated; Decatur Festival review
Welcome sight in recent weeks…enthusiastic and numerous book buyers in a Beaufort, SC bookstore. At first on a lovely May Saturday afternoon, it looked like a signing I’m familiar with: author seated at the desk in a prominent place in the store, and NObody in sight. “Oh, but they’ll be in between two and four—we usually get flooded about that time.” That was the word from the two chipper saleswomen at the desk.
Almost like clockwork, they drifted into the store, the Bay Street Trader on the historic downtown waterfront, looking for a favorite book, or just looking, and they encountered Atlanta author Jack Riggs at the front of the store. He’d engage them in some talk about the new novel, The Fireman’s Wife , or his first work, When the Finch Rises , and bingo, the book was sold. Sometimes we get disappointed in low turnouts, and we see that when people do get to bookstores, they often seem to go for a specific magazine or book and then that’s it. (Remember browsing for hours at the old Oxford Bookstore in Atlanta?)
There are readers out there. In this oceanside retirement/tourism haven and home to several military installations, there is some money for books, and time for reading.
And meanwhile, back in Atlanta over the Memorial Day weekend, I got to take in some of the Decatur Arts Festival, a longer-running event than the Decatur Book Festival, which is held every Labor Day in Decatur, GA. Both events feature the same wonderful restaurants and unique bars along tree-lined streets, making an evening in this walking-around city a great pleasure. With rain showers threatening, my choices were the Friday night Speakeasy, with featured performances by local writers, and the Sunday night dance performance at the Beacon Hill Arts Center, a city-supported arts facility. The great surprise at Friday’s writer’s performance was the jazz duo performance by Bill Wilson and Charles Marshall. Wilson, son of jazz great Teddy Wilson, played a melodic piano to the accompaniment of Marshall’s versatile and skilled sax.
Another pleasure: The Beacon Hill event, called “Breaking New Ground: New Dance at the Decatur Arts Festival,” featured 10 different dance groups giving personal interpretations in a range of styles and music from flamenco to Paul Simon. The mix was pleasing, well-done. But the ending pair, Shooting Star, blew everyone away with their wheelchair and able-bodied combination. The graceful Tzipporah Gershon was matched in her dramatic presentation with the soaring wheelchair whirls of Alex Spitzer so that together they were in unforgettable flight. We look forward to a promised fall concert by Shooting Star at the Beacon Center.
And to the Fourth Annual Decatur Book Festival September 4-6. How great is that—two such festivals in our midst?
Almost like clockwork, they drifted into the store, the Bay Street Trader on the historic downtown waterfront, looking for a favorite book, or just looking, and they encountered Atlanta author Jack Riggs at the front of the store. He’d engage them in some talk about the new novel, The Fireman’s Wife , or his first work, When the Finch Rises , and bingo, the book was sold. Sometimes we get disappointed in low turnouts, and we see that when people do get to bookstores, they often seem to go for a specific magazine or book and then that’s it. (Remember browsing for hours at the old Oxford Bookstore in Atlanta?)
There are readers out there. In this oceanside retirement/tourism haven and home to several military installations, there is some money for books, and time for reading.
And meanwhile, back in Atlanta over the Memorial Day weekend, I got to take in some of the Decatur Arts Festival, a longer-running event than the Decatur Book Festival, which is held every Labor Day in Decatur, GA. Both events feature the same wonderful restaurants and unique bars along tree-lined streets, making an evening in this walking-around city a great pleasure. With rain showers threatening, my choices were the Friday night Speakeasy, with featured performances by local writers, and the Sunday night dance performance at the Beacon Hill Arts Center, a city-supported arts facility. The great surprise at Friday’s writer’s performance was the jazz duo performance by Bill Wilson and Charles Marshall. Wilson, son of jazz great Teddy Wilson, played a melodic piano to the accompaniment of Marshall’s versatile and skilled sax.
Another pleasure: The Beacon Hill event, called “Breaking New Ground: New Dance at the Decatur Arts Festival,” featured 10 different dance groups giving personal interpretations in a range of styles and music from flamenco to Paul Simon. The mix was pleasing, well-done. But the ending pair, Shooting Star, blew everyone away with their wheelchair and able-bodied combination. The graceful Tzipporah Gershon was matched in her dramatic presentation with the soaring wheelchair whirls of Alex Spitzer so that together they were in unforgettable flight. We look forward to a promised fall concert by Shooting Star at the Beacon Center.
And to the Fourth Annual Decatur Book Festival September 4-6. How great is that—two such festivals in our midst?
April 24, 2009
Fireman's Wife a good read for women and men--gets the women's POV
The Fireman's Wife: A Novel by Jack RiggsMy review
rating: 5 of 5 stars
Read my review below; great novel for lots of reasons!
April 19, 2009
Two Georgia Author Debuts, And I'm Presenting at Historic Indian Springs
Writing is really hard, but two of the hardest working of the authors who "do the gift," as Johnny Cash called it, are debuting their books this week and next. Editor of the Chattahoochee Review Mark Fitten launches
Valeria's Last Stand
, a novel already published in several European countries, at the Carter Center on Thursday, April 23, at 7 p.m.
The following Thursday, April 30 at A Capella Books, it is Jessica Handler's turn. Jessica and I met when she and her husband attended a Village Writer's event in Decatur years ago. She told me then of a memoir she was writing, then next thing I knew she was enrolled in an MFA Program in North Carolina, then next I knew she was teaching at the Art Institute of Atlanta and VOILA!--a book contract. Jessica's memoir, Invisible Sisters , is of her days as the daughter of a civil rights worker in Atlanta, and the difficulties racking two generations due to debilitating illnesses of several family members.
Want to Write Historical Fiction? This coming Friday, April 24, at 3:30 p.m., I'll be presenting a workshop on research and writing skills needed for writing historical novels at the revered Indian Springs, near Flovilla, GA (between Atlanta and Macon)as part of a very exciting 2nd Annual Writers Conference. If you are interested or know someone who is, then pass on the information that's in the events section here on my page, or email andi@phaseonedesign.com.
Phone: 770 227-4002
The following Thursday, April 30 at A Capella Books, it is Jessica Handler's turn. Jessica and I met when she and her husband attended a Village Writer's event in Decatur years ago. She told me then of a memoir she was writing, then next thing I knew she was enrolled in an MFA Program in North Carolina, then next I knew she was teaching at the Art Institute of Atlanta and VOILA!--a book contract. Jessica's memoir, Invisible Sisters , is of her days as the daughter of a civil rights worker in Atlanta, and the difficulties racking two generations due to debilitating illnesses of several family members.
Want to Write Historical Fiction? This coming Friday, April 24, at 3:30 p.m., I'll be presenting a workshop on research and writing skills needed for writing historical novels at the revered Indian Springs, near Flovilla, GA (between Atlanta and Macon)as part of a very exciting 2nd Annual Writers Conference. If you are interested or know someone who is, then pass on the information that's in the events section here on my page, or email andi@phaseonedesign.com.
Phone: 770 227-4002
