A Gainesville, Georgia group gave me standing ovations to start my roll through the Peach State. My talk on the importance of making memories routinely moves audiences to read my books.
Standing ovations are rare. But welcome.
And here’s a picture of me performing. Don’t I look like an ethereal presence lit by that light?
Everyone should hire me to entertain them.
And we’re making progress. I’ll report more on what we’re scoring for 2020 in coming updates.
I met Albert Murray this week in Conyers, Georgia.
He is related to Alex Haley, celebrated author of Roots. His last name comes from Murray Plantation, where his ancestors were slaves. Kunta Kinte, the main slave character in Roots, is drawn from one of his ancestors.
Albert’s stories are a painful reminder of our cruelty, as if we don’t see it every day in the news. Getting out and meeting people drives this home more powerfully for me.
Because every story about crowded conditions and cages and lacking food and sanitation?
Every one of those stories represents a real person. Like Albert. Or me. Or you. Imagine that next time you read the news.
Up next? I’m headed home to Charleston today, where I’m supporting MTM this evening. West Edge, his freaking awesome real estate development, is hosting Trash to Treasure night at the Charleston Riverdogs game.
Click the image below to buy tickets. You might find big money in a pile of trash.
Between now and September 8, I’ll be in Charleston working on my latest book baby. To hold myself accountable, I may post daily updates here. Betas expect something by fall. AND I CANNOT BELIEVE IT’S ALMOST FALL.
On September 8, I head to Boston, Massachusetts. I have eight appearances scheduled through September 13. CHECK OUT MY CALENDAR FOR MY COMPLETE SCHEDULE.
WHAT I’M READING
I’m almost finished with Jenny Odell’s How To Do Nothing. I was freaking excited about this book. When I read the first chapter, I corralled MTM and forced him to read it out loud with me.
And I have to say this: What started out as a riveting treatise on how to take charge of my attention has become a trying academic slog. It’s not that it isn’t useful, but it’s too professorial to appeal to most people. And most people don’t have enough attention span for that. 🙂 Hopefully, it will be worth it in the end. Less than two chapters to go.
A busy two weeks on the road cut into my reading time. I’ve read 20 more pages of The Leavers since my update last week.
BEST THING I READ ONLINE THIS WEEK
“The Mystery of Skeleton Lake Gets Deeper” by Rachel Gutman for The Atlantic. Yes, I am a geek.
But as a writer who’s fascinated by the layers of the landscape, a bunch of unexplained bones in a baffling location fascinates me.
BEST LIFE HACK
I hiked the Bald River Gorge near Tellico Plains, Tennessee. I dearly love East Tennessee and haven’t gotten that dirt on my hiking boots in ages. The Blue Ridge smells ancient. My steps stir up something primordial, a distinctive musk I’ve never sniffed anywhere else, like the color green mixed with decay. I give this hike several standing ovations.
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I’m almost done with Brian’s “Spirited Men.” In his vast collection of published works, it’s kinda unique. Next up is “Sense of Wonder.” I’ve two more to go and I’ll have read EVERYthing he published until the new book comes out in December. As you know, sometimes obsession is kinda fun.
I think each of his books is a glorious humbling meditative pleasure of uniqueness.
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