A Sugar Island Bakery Event

I was lucky enough to be one of the people participating in the Sugar Island Bakery's RETRO WORD FROM THE BIRD Holiday 2016 Show.

It was a total delight!

Photo by Samantha, owner of Sugar Island Bakery

Harley was invited too!

Photo by Samantha

Donald and Harley and I are back home in Boone now after a week at Topsail Island (which I'll be writing all about a little later - with loads of pictures.  Some pretty great pictures, actually!). 

A week capped off by getting to spend some time signing books before hitting the road home this morning.

If it had not been for the long drive back home, I could have stayed right there and played with everyone all day.

There were a lot of things happening, a lot of cool things on sale from some pretty awesome artists and artisans that Samantha (Queen of Sugar Island!) invited to participate.  I was honored to be among them.

As it was, I was pleased as punch with the number of books I sold during the hour I was there.  Harley was over the moon happy with the number of books he sold also.

And we both left a few books for Samantha to put on the shelf.

She let me know this evening that she sold every one of them.

Every.  

One.

Yay!!!!!!

I've talked here often about how much I love Topsail Island - and is it any wonder?

Topsail Island loves my "Whimsey".

Donald and Harley and I are not Topsail locals.

We're only there once a year  -  twice when we're able.

And yet, we've been made to feel like a part of a pretty amazing community.

I'm not going to gain any friends by saying this, but since I'm on a mission of truth lately, here's the facts - I have two hometowns:  Cambridge, MD where I was born and raised, and Boone, NC where we now live.

Neither of those places has shown "Whimsey: A Novel" the kind of support Topsail Island has.

There are two bookstores on the island - Quarter Moon Books and Sugar Island Bakery.

Both have had me for signings.

Both carry my book (and Harley's).

I can walk into a shop on Topsail and someone is going to say, "aren't you the writer?  I've read your book - I love it!"

This happens.

It happens on Topsail Island.

and it makes me happy.

It does not, however, happen much in Boone, the small town where I've lived for 20 years.

And a lot of people I've known my whole life in the small town of Cambridge seem to not even know (or care) I've written so much as a grocery list.

(You know - it felt good to get that off my chest)

So.

Writer friends?

Check out Topsail Island - they love writers.

They appreciate creativity of all sorts.

And you know, it's damn nice feeling appreciated from time to time, I'm here to tell you.

To those of you who voted for Trump

Whoa! Those of you who are telling us to calm down.

To be "gracious in our loss?!" 

It's NOT a fucking sporting event. 

Did Republicans calm down quickly after Barack Obama was elected? 

Why, no. No, they didn't - for, um, HOW MANY YEARS did you not calm down?

Good Lord - some of you are still insisting on his birth certificate, for God's sake!  In case you didn't hear, your hero, Trump, finally admitted to not being serious about any of that . . .

How very presidential of him.

And another thing . . . 

To those of you who are so smug in your "get over it" preaching. 

How 'bout you guys "get over" your witch hunt. 

Hillary Clinton has been proven innocent of all the crap thrown at her for more years than some of you have been alive. 

Surely to God, if she were guilty of even one of these charges, she would have been charged, indicted, arrested and thrown into the hoosgow by now. 

So, how bout this? 

"Get over it."

And, oh yeah, there will be lots more of this sort of thing showing up here.

As my friend Greg Herren said this morning, "I plan to treat President Trump with the same level of respect with which President Obama was treated by the Republicans."

The Day After

It's rare for me to not be able to find words to express my feelings.

But, it happens.

Like many of you I spent a night of worrying and crying more than sleeping.

But sleep came, finally, and was welcomed.

When I woke up all I wanted to do was pull the covers over my head and hope against hope that our dreams had not been dashed.

That maybe last night was a dream of the worst kind.

And maybe I could just go back to sleep.

Have a do-over with a different outcome.

Like you, my heart is broken.

Like many of you, the tears don't seem to have an end.

So. 

Today I'm going to allow myself to wallow in my sadness. 

I will cry. I will cuss. 

I will take my camera and take pictures of pretty things.

I will read Facebook to check on my friends.

I will post poems that say what's in my heart.

I will post art that speaks to me.

And I will write.

And tomorrow?

Tomorrow, I hope the tears will have found their end.

And I will start thinking about "what next?"

Today, I'm having a hard time deciding what shoes to put on, so not a day of decisions.

Not even a day for thinking.

Today is a day of emotion and feelings, that's all, I'm afraid, I'm capable of.

And I'm sending out a little bit of love to each of you.

And I'm remembering some of the old posters I had hanging on the walls of my very first apartment.

A lot of you had the same posters - remember?

The peace and love posters?

Wish I still had them.

First Sunday of the Month! Yay!!!!

I'm at Jungle Red chatting about November 8th.

I hope you'll drop by and say "Hey!"

http://www.jungleredwriters.com/

Upcoming Whimsey Signing

There's not a soul who knows me who's not aware of how very much I love Topsail Island.

Donald and Harley and I have had some fun, lovely, delightful stays.

Harley has romped and rolled in the sand and the surf.

Donald and I have walked a lot of miles on the beach along the waves, and collected a lot of shells.

We've both had some great luck with catching some pretty outstanding photos of sunrises and sunsets, and captured the personality of Topsail.

I've done more than a fair amount of shopping.

And we've had some great meals

But, what, exactly about this island has captured us?

I have no idea.

It's not that different from a lot of other small coastal towns we've visited and stayed.

I've given up trying to explain it, and truth be told - others may not feel the same pull that we do.

The undefinable things about Topsail that charm us may completely elude others.

And actually, that's okay by me 'cause I'd hate to see it become another one of those overbuilt resort type communities.

Oh, how I remember Hilton Head back in the day when you could walk South Beach and never see another living soul. When you could pick up literally hundreds of starfish and sand dollars - unbroken.

And, because we've been going every year for awhile now, we've gotten to know some of the locals.  It's nice walking into a gallery, a restaurant, a bookstore and get a hug from the staff or owner who remembers your name.

So how fun was it to be invited to one of my favorite spots to do a signing?

Sugar Island Bakery is a magical place

Take a look - http://sugarislandnc.com/farm-to-island/books-boutique/

This from their webpage - "We are not only a bakery, we’re also a bookstore and a boutique with a smidge of bakery ingredients thrown into the mix.

When you visit our main retail location on Topsail Island, you’ll find books galore in a variety of genres–sci-fi, mysteries, literary fiction, cooking, gardening, romance, children’s, travel, and more! We carry new and used titles. Look for signed copies of books by your favorite local authors.  The bakery counter is a main attraction, sure, but we also have gorgeous jewelry, baby clothes, quilts, pottery, handmade journals, candles, and other delights handcrafted right here in North Carolina. Stop in and see for yourself!"

And I'll be with the Sugar Island folks on Saturday, November 12th for their RETRO WORD FROM THE BIRD Holiday 2016 Show.

Here's what they have to say about my visit - "the magical Kaye Wilkinson Barley will be on sight from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m., signing her significantly Southern, enchanting book “Whimsey”. If you love a light and different read with elements of fairies and love and some characters so real you are pretty sure it’s a true story-you will be SMITTEN with Ms. Barley and “Whimsey”. It’s a great gift for yourself or your whimsical friends! We love Kaye and her corgi!  HOW could I not love Sugar Island Bakery?!

Read more about this fun event and some of the other people you'll see there.
https://sugaronfrontst.wordpress.com/2016/11/01/word-from-the-bird-retro-show-and-turkey-speakeasy/

There will be gorgeous holiday linens for sale, books (of course!), pastries (of course!), jewelry AND a beer tasting.  

Did I mention how much I love Sugar Island Bakery?

AND - they will ship directly to your door!  Got a hankering for some tasty treats, or some yummy Cheddar Pigs (homemade cheese crackers with bacon)?

Give Sugar Island Bakery a call.

You can also follow them on Facebook   -  https://www.facebook.com/SugarIslandNC/


And did I mention that it's next door to one of my favorite little boutiques on God's green earth?  

I never leave Topsail without a cute new dress from Sandy Toes Boutique.

You can follow them on Facebook too.
https://www.facebook.com/Sandy-Toes-Boutique-858115354265367/?fref=ts

And - IF you happen to be on or near Topsail Island on November 12th while I'm there - do pop in and say "Hey!"

If you're there any other time, pop in and tell them I asked you to to say "Hey!"

NaNoWriMo - Day One

I am one tired girl.

In the spirit of transparency, I am not starting a new novel. 

I'm back to my Whimsey #2 manuscript, of which I had previously completed 9,886 words.

NaNoWriMo does not recognize previously written words; only the words written beginning today.

Today I wrote 1,176 new words.

I'll need to do a little better in the word count to reach the 50,000 new word NaNoWriMo goal, but I think this is a good start.

Vote! Vote! Vote!

Early voting is happening right now in North Carolina.

I voted last week.

Today I went downtown to help pass out some campaign literature for the Democrats.

I shared my corner with an ASU student who was timidly passing out literature for the Republicans.  He told me he was doing this as a school project, but really, didn't care all that much who won.

Before I left, a woman came to join our corner to pass out campaign literature for a particular judge.

She relayed a story about how she was worried about Thanksgiving at her mother's house this year.  Seems her family is split in how they're voting.  It hasn't been a pleasant split and she doesn't think this year's Thanksgiving will be any too pleasant either.  Her mother's main concern is whether everyone will actually stay long enough to finish eating the meal she'll be preparing.

And, once again, (I had a similar experience when I was doing some campaigning for Sue Counts) I had a gentleman stop on his way out of the polling area to tell me he has always voted Republican. Until this year. This year he is ashamed to be a Republican. I hugged his neck. I "think" we both had a couple of tears in our eyes.

Have you voted?

If not, please go vote.

It's never been more important.

Some Days by Philip Terman

Some days you have to turn off the news
and listen to the bird or truck
or the neighbor screaming out her life.
You have to close all the books and open
all the windows so that whatever swirls
inside can leave and whatever flutters
against the glass can enter. Some days
you have to unplug the phone and step
out to the porch and rock all afternoon
and allow the sun to tell you what to do.
The whole day has to lie ahead of you
like railroad tracks that drift off into gravel.
Some days you have to walk down the wooden
staircase through the evening fog to the river,
where the peach roses are closing,
sit on the grassy bank and wait for the two geese.

NaNoWriMo

Are you familiar with NaNoWriMo?

NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month.

National Novel Writing Month is right around the corner - beginning November 1.

If all this sounds like Greek to you, here's the webpage that will answer all your questions - http://nanowrimo.org/


In brief, from the webpage -

"National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to creative writing.

On November 1, participants begin working towards the goal of writing a 50,000-word novel by 11:59 PM on November 30.

National Novel Writing Month is also a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (formerly known as the Office of Letters and Light) that believes your story matters.

National Novel Writing Month believes in the transformational power of creativity. We provide the structure, community, and encouragement to help people find their voices, achieve creative goals, and build new worlds—on and off the page."

Although I have known of NaNoWriMo for some time now, I have not participated.

Until now.

While I've been busy writing essays and short stories, and have had some success with having them published, I have two novels that have been "in the works" for entirely too long.

Stalled.

Languishing.

Whatever.

Lately, they've been speaking to me.

Saying, "Hey!  Get me outta here!"

So, I'm enlisting the help of NaNoWriMo for motivation and the push I definitely need to see if I can't get these manuscripts moving.  

Y'all?

Cross your fingers, please.

I had no idea how annoying an ignored manuscript could be.

And loud!

whew

Larry Karp - R.I.P.

I just heard about the passing of Larry Karp.

Janet Rudolph posted this - http://mysteryreadersinc.blogspot.com/2016/10/larry-karp-rip.html


Larry was a contributor to Meanderings and Muses over the years.  I always enjoyed our visits and his pieces always led us into interesting discussions. 

Our conversations would come to an end, as conversations do, but I always knew they would pick right back up again at some point.

I'm sad to know that won't ever happen again.

I know many of you were fans of Larry's, so here are the links to the pieces he wrote for Meanderings and Muses.

Enjoy -

http://www.meanderingsandmuses.com/2010/05/my-flirtation-with-fame-by-larry-karp.html


http://www.meanderingsandmuses.com/2011/11/unorthodox-pair-odocs-by-larry-karp.html


http://www.meanderingsandmuses.com/2012/07/larry-karp-tells-us-story.html


You will be missed, Larry . . . Thanks for all the stories, my friend.

When Margaret Maron introduces you as a writer

This is hard for me to tell.

Hard for me to write.  Which is usually a bit easier for me than telling.


And many of you will "get it."  Oh, yes.  



By now you've read my piece about the North Carolina Literary Hall of Fame event we attended this past Sunday.


Can I tell you a personal highlight?


It was when Margaret Maron, friend and personal literary icon, introduced me to a friend of hers saying, "This is Kaye Barley.  Kaye's a friend of mine.  She's a writer."


I will always puff up like a banty rooster when Margaret refers to me as a friend.  I'm that proud.


But, do you have any idea how this might have felt to a person who is, frankly, unable to refer to herself as "a writer?"


To be introduced to someone.


By Margaret Maron.


As a writer.



Did I cry?  Almost.  (well,yes, okay, I did get a wee bit teary . . . ).  But I didn't burst into sobs.  I would have if Margaret and I had not been standing there, holding hands, while talking to her friend.  'Cause I would have run off to some private little place and boo-hooed.  Probably loudly.  And since I've never been able to cry "pretty," it would have been nasty.

And then?


Then, riding home I was browsing through Facebook and saw a picture that Bob Witchger had taken.

A picture of me with Sarah Shaber, Katy Munger, Brenda Witchger aka Brynn Bonner, and Diane Chamberlain.


Most of you will recognize these women - writers, all.


Excellent writers.


Known writers.

Brynn had posted it on her FB page and said this, "On this beautiful sunny day in North Carolina I was privileged to be with writer friends at Weymouth in Southern Pines to see our good friend, Margaret Maron, inducted into the North Carolina Literary Hall of Fame. Lovely ceremony and a well-deserved honor."

And I started to cry a little.  (Again! for God's sake).

Donald looked over and said, "Miss Kaye?  (yes, he does sometimes really call me Miss Kaye), what's wrong?"

And I sobbed, "nothing."

This is when husbands have, I think, a hard time deciding whether to laugh, or roll their eyes, or pat you on the leg a little while muttering those little nothings meant to be soothing, or say, as Donald did, "Nothing.  Really?  Nothing.  Well, okay then."

Knowing full well that I would spit it out.

And, so I did.

And he listened.

And then he said, "I don't understand why you can't call yourself a writer.  This is the first I've heard of this.  I tell people you're a writer.  Why can't you tell them you're a writer?"

More tears.

"I don't know," I wailed.

And, of course, I do know.

Sorta.  Even though it sounds silly.  Especially in this day and time, I think.

And.

It's very hard to admit.

But, I did.  Finally.  For the first time, maybe.

I told Donald that it comes from all the years of self-published writers being the red-headed step children of the writing community.

And we talked about this.

But then, bless his ever-lovin' sweet soul, he took the time to remind me that my "Whimsey" had gotten some awfully nice reviews.  Reviews from people who did not know me from Adam's house cat and did not know I don't (can't) call myself a writer.

And he took the time to remind me I've had a few juried pieces accepted in magazines and anthologies.  

And, reminded me about how excited I'd been when I heard about being a finalist at Southern Writers Magazine.

No.  Of course I had not forgotten these things.  Of course not, but still - it is nice to be reminded of them.

Y'all?

Suffice to say, it was an emotional day.

It was also a day of creative motivation for me.

I don't know, truthfully, that I will ever be able to refer to myself as a writer when someone says to me, "What do you do?"  The best I've been able to do, so far, is say, "I write a little."

But, today?

Today,

I wrote.

North Carolina Literary Hall of Fame - 2016

Donald and Harley and I took a drive yesterday.

Sunday, October 16, 2016 was the date of the 2016 North Carolina Literary Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

We made a stop along the way at the Sly Fox Pub to join friends Diane Chamberlain, Sarah Shaber and Katy Munger for lunch.

I love to eat.

and lunch was delish!  

Wish I'd taken a picture of my Scrambled Egg Crab Benedict, but I gobbled it up as soon as it hit the table and wow - was it tasty yumm!




Sarah and Diane popped out to say hello to Harley before we moved on to Weymouth for the day's ceremony.

Harley is always happy to receive guests.

Guess who, it turns out, is allergic to Harley?!

And here's a little about The Weymouth Center for the Arts, where the ceremony was held.

From the Weymouth Facebook page: "Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was built in 1920 by James and Katharine Boyd. Surrounded by 21 acres and a beautiful garden. The property was the original home of the Moore County Hounds which was founded by James and Jackson Boyd in 1914, and continues today.

James Boyd was the author of novels of America's past, among them "Drums," "Marching On," and the "Long Hunt." In 1941 he bought the Southern Pines Pilot, built it into a strong weekly newspaper, and used much of its influence on behalf of the war effort in the NC Sandhills.

The purpose of the Friends of Weymouth is to promote, as a charity, the conservation and development of the James Boyd Place as a natural preserve and park. And, the spacious Boyd dwelling thereon and its curtilage, as a center for education,literary, social and civic research, study and similar activity for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations of the public."

and you can read a little more about Sunday's program here at The North Carolina Writers' Network webpage

This year's inductees were Clyde Edgerton, our friend Margaret Maron and Carl Sandburg.  

The program included a moving welcome from Weymouth's Talmadge Ragan.

J. Pender Zane was a perfect Master of Ceremonies.  He moved his audience smoothly from laughter to thoughtfulness.  His respect for the inductees could not have been more apparent.

The day was a glorious blue sky North Carolina day.

There's no where on earth I would have rather been than right there, feeling a quiet peace in a lovely setting, and enjoying celebrating the gifts of talented, creative, caring people.

Katy Munger, in a piece at her Piedmont Laureate website, summed up the feelings of all of us who were in attendance.  In part, she said, "Leaders from North Carolina's arts community were there, along with columnist J. Peder Zane, the inimitable Bland Simpson, and North Carolina Poet Laureate Shelby Stephenson, among others. 

The common theme? How the arts brings us together. And, truly, yesterday they did. Political differences were forgotten. Our diverse backgrounds and lives bound us rather than keeping us apart. We were all in it together, as North Carolinians. It was a good feeling, one I had missed."

Indeed.  It's a feeling I've missed also, but which was in abundance yesterday. 

We attended the event, primarily, to support and celebrate Margaret Maron.

I have, like so many of you, enjoyed watching the awards and accolades which have come Margaret's way over the years.

Each one more deserved than the one before.

When we learned about her induction into the North Carolina Literary Hall of Fame, Donald and I agreed there was nothing that would have kept us from being there.

The fact that Clyde Edgerton was also present as an inductee was the cherry on top of my happiness sundae.

So - here you are 

photos from the joyous occasion.

Enjoy!!

Margaret Maron

Joe Maron, Sarah Shaber, Diane Chamberlain, Margaret Maron, Katy Munger

J. Pender Zane

Rhonda Bellamy introducing Clyde Edgerton

George Terll reading

Clyde Edgerton

Bland Simpson introduces Margaret Maron

H. Tyrone Brandyburg -
Superintendent of Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site

North Carolina Poet Laureate, Shelby Stephenson
and cousin of Margaret Maron

And, oooooh, take a lookee here - - -

Aren't these pieces gorgeous!!??!  

One for each of the inductees.

Made by North Carolina potter Ben Owen, III

Bob Witchger

John Maron

photo by Bob Witchger

Margaret joined by NC judges

Bland Simpson, Margaret & Joe Maron

Margaret & Donald

oh, my.  How much do I love this picture of Margaret, Donald and Joe?

I have long been a fan of Clyde Edgerton. 

When I told him how much I loved "Walking Across Egypt," he shared a story with me. He went by to see his mother one afternoon and she told him how she had fallen through a chair and was unable to get up, or out, of the chair. She told him this story while acting out all the many and various attempts (arms were, apparently, essential to her attempts) at ridding herself of the chair. And, Voilà, "Walking Across Egypt" was born. After reading the book, Mr. Edgerton's mother told him she enjoyed how much "that lady" reminded her of herself.

The reception following the ceremony was everything you would expect.

A bit of a garden party on a shaded lawn in the shadow of a grand old house.  A house that has plenty of stories of its own.

Casually elegant and slow moving, conversations punctuated by southern drawls, heartfelt hugs and soft laughter.

Timeless.

Harley was issued a special invitation by none other than Hall of Fame inductee Margaret Maron.

And let me tell you, no one enjoys a party more than Harley Doodle Barley.

John, Andrea & Natalie Maron

The Garden Party

The bright sun is shining down
On the party guests milling around.
Everyone has gathered on the stripy green lawn,
Which, by the gardener, has recently been shorn.

Garden parties are always such a pleasure.
A lovely way to spend a few hours of leisure.
The guests gather round in small mixed groups.
Periodically, there’s the sound of laughter or whoops.

Some people sit and relax in recliner chairs,
As the soft sound of music fills the balmy air.
The guests are soon engaged in different conversations,
Exchanging a mixture of interesting and trifling information.

With each other, the guests chat and make new friends.
Those who may have previously squabbled make amends.
The ladies wear pretty, summery, floaty dresses.
Sporting a variety of beautifully dressed tresses.

A trestle table covered in a red gingham tablecloth,
Holds a variety of inviting food and drink aloft.
There’s a selection of sandwiches: cheese, tuna and ham,
And fresh scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam.

There’s roast chicken legs, pies and mini sausage rolls,
And salad items are laid out in brightly coloured bowls.
There are cocktail sausages and cubes of cheese on sticks.
Of finger food, there really is quite an eclectic mix.

The ladies, who are on diets, needlessly quibble,
Over whether or not, at the food, they should nibble.
There’s everyone’s favourite drink, Pimms and lemonade,
And, a large pitcher of alcoholic punch, freshly home-made.

At the bottom of the garden, children play by the old oak,
And there’s shrills of laughter, as they all share a joke.
From a tiny tot, there are joyful cries,
As she chases after pretty butterflies.

A toast to their hosts, the guests propose,
As the party finally draws to a close.
It’s been an enjoyable and successful day,
And now, all that is left to do is clear away.

by Angela Wybrow