Sharman Burson Ramsey's Blog, page 31

Successful Launch of In Pursuit

 In Pursuit got successfully launched on January 23 at Dothan's Cultural Arts Center with an intrepid audience that braved the bitter cold. Ann Cotton and her staff set the stage for our event with wine and hors d'oeuvres.

Book Launch for In Pursuit

The Book Launch for In Pursuit will be next Thursday at 7 PM in my hometown of Dothan, Alabama. The event is open to the public at the Cultural Arts Center, the perfect venue. Ann Cotton, the director, knows how to throw a very classy party.

Since I write this blog also to help others who are following the same path behind me, I want to emphasize that the success of the novel depends upon reviews those who buy the book post upon Amazon. Those reviews can make or break the novel.

How does one go about organizing something like this? My Facebook friends, of course, become the first guests invited after setting up an event page. I then use Word to create a flyer that I then attach to emails and send through other email accounts I might have. Sometimes one must use the mails and send invitations to those with whom one is not connected through other media. I have also been invited to Live @Lunch at our local television station and that also should broaden the scope of those who know about the book. Marketing a novel falls mainly upon the author.

I believe the theme of this novel is an important one. It is based on events shrouded by the passage of time and the politics of the day. The poignant stories of the remnant of Red Sticks who survived Horseshoe Bend and the destruction of the Negro Fort on the Apalachicola River inspired me to write In Pursuit. Books have the power to open a window onto an era and invite people in. I hope In Pursuit will be such an invitation.

But, In Pursuit is first and foremost a love story. Joie and Godfrey, first introduced in Swimming with Serpents set during the Creek War, come together once more and live an adventure with pirates, Red Sticks, Andrew Jackson's army, and British officers determined to build an empire. I hope readers will come away from the novel satisfied with the love story and adventure, motivated to honor the memory of some of those forgotten people in the history of our country.

Train them up

 I'm sure many of you worry about the education your children and grandchildren are getting. I decided to post an email I recently sent my own children on this topic. Should you also be facing these concerns, something here might help you as well. 
Dear children,I include in this note resources that I found online to help your children in school. Your father and I were fortunate enough to find a school with a curriculum that taught these things so you all got well-drilled in the basics. You must either find such a school or provide those basics yourself. Don’t take it for granted that your children are getting what they need. That is a hard lesson to learn after the fact. These are excellent resources for helping your children develop skills they will need. Your child will be one among many in a classroom with children whose parents may already have familiarized them with these concepts. You cannot depend upon the schools to teach your child. Stay alert always.1. Encourage your small children to learn to read phonetically. Regurgitating sight words is not reading. Children must be able to decode unfamiliar words or they will be unable to progress beyond the limit of their memorized vocabulary. Encourage listening skills. Have them repeat sounds after you so they can identify them.  2. Make sure they know their addition and multiplication tables. http://www.superteacherworksheets.com...http://www.superteacherworksheets.com/addition/dominoes-matching-game-add_WNNFD.pdfhttp://www.superteacherworksheets.com/basic-addition.html3. I remember Mother holding my hand and teaching me to hold the pencil and then to make circles with the pencil. That helped me later in writing cursive. Encourage that hand co-ordination because the notes a person writes reflects upon their abilities. Handwriting also tells a lot about the person. A signature or a thank-you note may determine the impression one makes upon a prospective employer. Begin with teaching your child to hold a pencil correctly.http://www.icanteachmychild.com/2012/06/correct-pencil-grip/4. Please encourage your children to write thank-you notes. Teach them gratitude. If someone cares enough to give your child a present, teach them gratitude and appreciation. Have them write a thank-you note or, until they can write, draw a picture and help them write thank you note.
“Grateful kids tend to be much more satisfied with their lives,” says Froh. “They do better in school and are less materialistic, less depressed, and less envious. Their relationships are much stronger and more supportive.” In one study, grateful kids even reported fewer physical symptoms, like headaches, stomachaches, and fevers.”http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/etiquette/writing-thank-you-notes-00100000085109/Set the example of gratitude early. Remember that a thank you note consists of at least three lines written in cursive (after the third grade). The first line should read something like this:                                                                                             DateDear ____________, (a comma goes after a personal note and a colon goes after a business note)Thank you so much for the _____________________. (The second line describes the item and how you plan to use it or what you really like about it.) I have already had hours of fun playing/building/riding/coloring.   (Let the third line reiterate appreciation.)You were so kind/generous to think of me in such a thoughtful way.                                                                              Sincerely (love, truly yours),                                                                               NameTeach them that no one owes them a gift. Someone has sacrificed resources, time and effort to think of a suitable gift because they love them and the least they can do is sit down and write a note expressing their appreciation not only of the gift, but the the care and love that came with it. Take them places that will educate and not just entertain them. I suggest watching the movie Gifted Hands: the Dr. Ben Carson story to see the impact reading and being exposed to arts and music can make in the life of a child. Talk to them explaining and describing as you do. Create imaginary activities in your discussion to help them visualize and create. (See those birds gathered on that pier. Do you suppose one of them is the teacher. What do you suppose the teacher is teaching them? How to write? Can they write with wings? Could they write with their feet?) Silly stuff. I remember Mother entertaining me by sitting on the steps of the front porch and imagining a circus parade coming down the street with clowns, tigers, bears, jugglers, etc.) We listened for Alliwishus and she told me his story. http://www.southern-style.com/Alliwis... are all wonderful parents and I am so proud of each of you. Your children are your greatest contribution to the world. What you are is your gift from God, what you become is your gift back to Him. The greatest lessons of all are those will guide them to their own saving knowledge of our Lord and Savior. I love you,Mother

Happy New Year

 Wishing you all happy times and many blessings in the New Year. 


Like grandmothers everywhere Christmas programs and the gathering of family have been the light of the season. Faith, family, food and friends are what make life worthwhile. I am truly blessed.
Back to the world of books, my visit in Eufaula on December 7th with the genealogical society was a real treat. They really "get" the reason for the genealogical information in Swimming with Serpents. The New Year begins with the official launch for In Pursuit on January 23 at 7 PM at the Cultural Arts Center in Dothan, Alabama. If you are close by, please come. In Pursuit is book 2 in the family saga begun with Swimming with Serpents.

Book 3, with the working title of Sons of Caesar, should be complete in a few months. 

I look forward to visiting with the Dothan Fine Arts Club in January and Books Alive in Panama City on February 1.

Pocahontas - Pettus genealogical connection

New information has come to my attention about an intriguing family tie between Pocahontas and our family's Pettus line. According to William Walker Pettus, IV, author of Thomas Petyous of Norwich, England and his Pettus Descendants in England and Virginia, Ka-Okee, the daughter of Pocahontas and Kocoum, to whom Pocahontas was married before John Rolfe, married Thomas Pettus and was the mother of two of his children, Christian and Stephen, from whom many American Pettuses descend. For more information: http://www.southern-style.com/pettus.htm

Southern-style.com

I spent the better part of last week giving my website a facelift. I started my genealogy website using FrontPage which I found easy to use. Unfortunately, servers quit supporting that WYSIWYG and I have had to teach myself Dreamweaver. I chose Dreamweaver because I was told it had become the industry standard. I must admit there is quite a learning curve when one is determined to do one's own website with no formal training in such things. I have so many interests and pages, however, that it just seems logical for me to do it myself. Besides, I am one of those impatient people that does not like to wait for someone to have time to do it for me.

I am a writer. Right? And writers write. So, why not let the website be my format. A blog spot is rather limiting, I find  for the diversity of topics upon which I write.

Southern style is a website devoted to Southern Culture. I hope you will visit: http://www.southern-style.com.

We Southerners are a unique breed. Pride of place, manners bred into us from birth, the foods we eat, our bond with the land and our relationship with our family and friends make us who we are. Most practice true religion. For most of us football is nearly a religious experience.

Southern-style began as a genealogy website. It expanded to become a general interest website (generally anything I am interested in). Those interests evolved with the discovery that not only did this born and bred southerner have ancestors on the Mayflower and in Jamestown, but among those Native Americans who originally inhabited these lands.

You will see that history intrigues me, particularly the people and area in which I grew up, Southeast Alabama. Folks greet each other asking, "How's your mom an 'em?" Wondering how all those folks were related led me to doing lots of genealogy which many of you may find interesting. The same was true for Wilcox county, Alabama, my father's old stomping grounds and Escambia, Alabama, where my mother was born. Of course all of that took me back many generations and into the history and founding of this nation and those from which those ancestors came. This tapestry has threads that lead to fascinating people and their stories.

I grew up in a privileged home, the daughter of a small town doctor and a stay at home mother who met my father after a World War in which my father served in the Phillippines and my mother served as a nurse and earned a battle ribbon at the Battle of the Bulge. Mattie Martin, the black housekeeper who helped them raise their children did much more than cook and keep house. She supported our parents in teaching us manners, morals and values and our place in the world. She was also the very best cook in town. The profound impact she made on me influenced my view of the world and the books I have written.

If you have a wedding coming up you might enjoy reading about our daughter Brooke's home spun wedding. The Wedding Raising was a lot of fun! The "how to" might give you some ideas. I also share the Mother of the Groom perspective on a wedding as well.

As I write this, my kitchen is getting bedazzled with new Jenn Air appliances just in time for my renewed efforts toward writing a cookbook. I hope to share with you more recipes and menus from my own Southern experience.

I also threw in a few short stories you might enjoy.

Please visit this very personal view of the South.
Sharman Ramsey
Roll Tide!









By the way, my novels Swimming with Serpents and In Pursuit are available through Independent Book Stores, Barnes and Noble, Mercer University Press, and Amazon.

Great review for In Pursuit and Netflix recommended shows

Thank you, Megan Wessell, for the fantastic review of IN PURSUIT on your blog! http://abookishaffair.blogspot.com/2013/10/review-in-pursuit-by-sharman-burson.html 

I've been watching Netflix lately and want to recommend the Emily Owens, MD series with Mamie Gummer, Meryl Streep's daughter. She is fantastically talented and reminds on immediately of her wonderful mother. Two cooking movies captured my attention. Haute Cuisine relays the story of Francois Mitterand's personal chef. One learns a LOT about the French obsession with food. But, apparently the French are not alone in their culinary interest.

According to the Korean movie, there are two great joys in the world: Water going downhill and food going into your child's mouth. As a mother I can relate to that.

Le Grand Chef - Kimchi War Every mother should watch this. I found it on Netflix and was profoundly moved. We have so much more in common than we have that makes us different. Take the time to watch this movie. It is worth it.

http://www.dramastyle.com/movie/Le-Grand-Chef-Kimchi-War-Korean-Movie/#.UnQ6aRCIbJg

The two books now with my agent, Holly McClure, are about two sisters long estranged who get back together after the deaths of their husbands. During a tipsy night at Antoine's in New Orleans, they finagle their way onto the Dishing It Network using their family plantation house as their gimmick. I've already written a cookbook, so I guess my interest in food shows is understandable.

Victoria Bush, whose studio is located across the street ...

Victoria Bush, whose studio is located across the street from the Captain's Table in St. Andrews, painted this beautiful portrait of our granddaughter Lily. It is eight years later and it is Megan's turn for her portrait. We met with Victoria in the lovely home she and her husband Zoltan built in Parker on the bay. Their gardens truly give you the feel of being on the Mediterranean as you look from their windows onto the water. I can hardly wait to see the work of art this gifted artist will create featuring our Megan.

Nashville Festival of Books

I finally got to meet Kathy Patrick, the Pulpwood Queen, in person. I look forward to attending the Pulpwood Queens Girlfriend Weekend in January. Ward Briggs was an associate of James Dickey and promises to be one of our premier southern writers. Kathy Patrick and I met him and his wife in Nashville.
The best part of attending Book Festivals is making new new friends and seeing the old friends who come out to support you. The Nashville Festival of Books did not disappoint. Skip Tucker (Pale Blue Light) and I were together on a panel and my dear old friend, Suellen Martin Joyner attended the Festival just to see me! Around 200 authors attended the Festival and the setting was simply glorious. Nashville shone!

Cook, my darling daughter

I was first introduced to this book by my dear friend and fellow BOOB (Bunch of Old Broads), Julie Cheshire, when she prepared Enzio Pinza's Spaghetti recipe to serve us at her turn to host our luncheon group. Pinza starred in South Pacific. The author, Mildred O. Knopf, was the wife of Edwin Knopf who was a writer and Hollywood producer as well as the brother of Alfred Knopf who just happened to own a book publishing company. Mildred was the premier hostess in Hollywood.

I am impressed with the foreword to this cookbook mainly because it is written by Wendy, the daughter with whom she co-wrote this cookbook. I am struck by the impact of the woman in her kitchen on her children. So many young women seem to struggle with their  place in the world. Older women who are to be teaching the younger women to "love their husbands, to love their children and to be keepers in the home," are themselves just as conflicted.

Rather than diets and lifestyle lifts, perhaps more time in the kitchen with those entrusted to us to be our legacy might be an answer. One thing is for sure -- we are all going to die. What did we do with the time we have? Perhaps we can have it all...just not all at one time. Anyway, with these thoughts, I share with you the foreword to the cookbook to which my dear friend referred me...
  
One dreary winter afternoon when the endless gray rain poured against the windows and flooded the streets, my three little girls and I retreated to the kitchen to make fudge. When the rich glossy chocolate had been beaten into creaminess, poured into a pan for cooling, marking and eating, we sat down at the kitchen table together for our treat. The gay impatient chatter of the children made the thrumming rain outside seem far away. It was then my little four-year-old, smeary with chocolate, gave me my idea for this foreword to my mother’s cookbook. “I love you, Mommee, she said, “cause you make good things.”

 Love and food? Are they allied I think so, especially if you can cook with care and serve with affection. Whether you cook every day, cook on special occasions, or only supervise the meals in your house, it is a form of giving from you to your family and friends; it is a tangible and creative expression of yourself. Love of family. Love of friends. Love of food and all the pleasant ways in which it may be cooked, served, and eaten. These were and still are a part of the hospitality that flourished so warmly within the old white stucco house with its red-tiled roof ad many rooms where my two brothers and I spent our childhood. Apparently, this house could absorb squads of hungry children, Sunday guests of all ages who came to lunch and stayed all day, and crowds of fifty dining at midnight after a concert on homemade pate, cold salmon with cucumbers, chicken in wine and whatever else the laden table could hold. What made this house such a pleasant haven for so many people I am sure it was the spirit in which the hospitality was given; the care with which the home was kept.

The garden bloomed with roses; apricot trees were carefully espaliered against a sunny brick wall. Here one found fragrance, pleasure, and respite, as was intended.

At the west end of the house, endlessly busy, our high ceilinged, awkward old kitchen seemed to have a life of its own. There, despite the distances from sink to stove and the inaccessible cupboards piled almost to the ceiling, my mother’s talents bore fruit. Often, in the center of all the activity, was my father, poking into pots, turning down flames, examining, enthusing, often predicting dreadful happenings if the roast remained in the oven another minute longer! It was a good place to be, our kitchen. Here, more than in our temperate California skies, the year displayed itself. Birthday cakes with pink and white layers and sentimental frosted messages; the Easter ham, glazed and elegant and garlanded with pansies which surprised us all one year when they proved to house a large family of ants; an afternoon spent making Christmas cookies with pungent gingerbread bodies and raisin eyes for my brothers to hang upon the tree. No one would have dreamed of dismissing my mother as “just a housewife.” She was the pride of the household, the purveyor of delicacies relished by us all, and, for a little girl, someone to be admired, followed about, and emulated. Just as I knew that someday I would wear lipstick and high heels, I knew that I would love to cook.

To my mother who cooked with love and to my father who ate with affection and gusto, I owe a debt of gratitude. There is real pleasure and satisfaction for me in cooking for my family, entertaining our friends and giving from our kitchen to all who care to come. This book has been written in the hope of giving you that same pleasure and to further your efforts when you go to the kitchen to “make good things.”