The Imagination Will Set You Free

        I had a patient who was confined to home her entire adult life.  Before the Internet she had a good life and many friends from all over the County, but after the Internet came in, she extended her connections around the world.  She could describe Australia better than many people who had been there.
       She was an [...]

Glory Hallelujah Gonna Lay my Burdens Down

          I turned in my last deep revision of ‘The Mandolin Case’ to my editor, Jenny Lynn.  This was the same night I was getting shed of a kidney stone.  “Glory glory Hallelujah, I’ve laid my burdens down.”
         I was humbled by the fact that Ms. Sharon, a young lady all the way over in [...]

My Editor is a Genius

        Jenny Lynn has now outlined the first major edit of  ‘The Mandolin Case.’  I like this lady.  She took her time and asked a lot of questions.  We began to work on a few minor things while she got her thoughts together.  Now we are ready to dig in.  I have much work to do but [...]

Excerpt from a Mississippi Book Store Gig/Act Naturally

        As you know, I am in the final edit stage of ‘The Mandolin Case.’  I expect to spend about six months on this.  We should beat our January 1, 2010 deadline by a few weeks, then I’m gonna spend Christmas with my family.
        After that it is on to publication.  We have several publishers who have it under consideration.  If [...]

Mandolin Players Anonymous

        Today I dedicate my post to a new group of FaceBook friends.  They are called ‘Mandolin Players Anonymous.’  If I have ever run into a group of folks I felt a more immediate kinship with I do not recall it.
        You see, mandolin players are the same everywhere you go.  We all know the same tunes, [...]

A Swimming Pool of Lemonade

        I went to visit Indie last night.  He is near the end.  I hate to see him that way, but as always he is unconcerned.
       “Bibey old boy, I saw a lot of hard times.  I appreciate you seeing me through.”
       “You always stuck by me too man.”
        “You know, we saw a lot [...]

A Face Made for Radio (My Facebook Page)

        My agent has been after me forever to start a Facebook Page.  For a long time, I never got around to it.  “Awh, heck boss, my people know where to find me.”
        He persisted.  “Come on, Doc.  Are you gonna insist on being a Neanderthal forever?  You use new meds don’t you?”
        ”Well, yeah, but [...]

Indie’s Struggles

        Poor Indie is not doing well.  He is back in Hospice now.  I hadn’t been by in a month, and I was shocked at his condition yesterday.  Bless his heart, all he wanted to know about was how I was doing.
        “Tommy, how’s life treating you?”
        “For goodness sake, Indie.  I’m fine.  How are you [...]

Dr. Bibey, Country Music Star

        Well, the headline was just to get your attention.  I am no country music star, and never will be.  All my life I have been the baritone man.  My vocal range is six notes, but I know where to plug them in, so I can get by.   
        I worked with a band in the studio recently, [...]

Do or Die Deadline/Publish or Perish

        Writers live or die by deadlines.  A big bluegrass promoter, Milton Harkey, e-mailed me to ask me write an article for the Laurel of Asheville on his upcoming Bluegrass First Class event in February.  I was off, so it was no sweat to get them a rough draft before the Doctor gig cranked up again on [...]