Over the Rainbow

        The release of “The Mandolin Case” borders on surreal. It is out of stock on Amazon right now, though they have promised it will roll out again in 24-48 hours.

        WNCW 88.7 radio was my first media gig. I was relaxed and yukked it up with Dennis Jones as if we were on my grandmother’s front porch swing eating MoonPies and picking bluegrass. At one break he told me how many people listened to WNCW and I ’bout freaked, but then settled down okay. It ain’t as scary as acute myocardial ischemia (heart attack) but it was new experience.

        I guess I did okay, ’cause first thing Monday morning an upstate S.C. television station e-mailed and wanted to arrange a T.V. interview. It is now 99% set up, but I’m gonna wait until I have more details to announce it. I decided right away all these spots will have to be on Wednesdays (my day off) or weekends when not on call. I have to keep the balance right to be happy and want to give my patients my best. It might sound strange, but when I see them I seldom think about the writer gig unless they ask. Few of them even know I write, and that might be for the best. I want to stay on at the Doc gig as long as they’ll have me; it’s all I know. 

        The great Alison Brown is in Asheville Friday. We’ll be at her show, but I won’t have any books there. I don’t have many anyway, but also I don’t want to impose on another artist’s gig. Y’all need to come out and hear Alison; the young lady is a world-class talent with a band to match. Part Harvard business woman, part banjo picker, Alison and her husband Gary own Compass Records in Nashville. They not only carry fine bluegrass, but also a wide selection of jazz and Celtic music.

       Saturday me and Marfar are gonna be in Jackson County at their annual bluegrass festival.  I have few books left and will have them there. This is a nice low-key event at a lush green meadow nestled between a couple of North Carolina mountain ridges. It should be a touch cooler up there, and it will be a reprieve. Harvey County hovers at 100 right now.

         A decade ago, I decided I had to write a book to show how to be a decent human being and doctor even under duress, and also to promote the music I love. It looks like I might done just that. I think modern bluegrass music is the last relatively undiscovered American art form, and I hope to be some small part of the transformation I believe to be imminent.

        I’ll always be 80% doctor and 20% artist. My doctor brain is practical, predictable and boring. The artistic side of me can’t help but chase dreams and rainbows. Somewhere over the rainbow me and my Marfar have already found more enjoyment than any human beings deserve. Y’all come join us when you can.  

Dr. B

Advertisement
Explore posts in the same categories: The tour, Writing

Tags:

You can comment below, or link to this permanent URL from your own site.

8 Comments on “Over the Rainbow”

  1. Mrs. Chili Says:

    My copy came in the mail yesterday! Guess what *I’M* gonna be doing today!!

    • drtombibey Says:

      chili,

      I am so thrilled you have a copy. When I run into you on the bluegrass road, I sure want to sign it for you.

      The publisher had an MFA go thru it before press, but there are still a few typos. However, those are now the “Limited Edition” versions, and have been offered on the Net for 125.00, though I don’t think many have traded for that.

      I don’t understand what that is all about, ’cause they are printing more.

      Anyway, the whole process has been much fun so far. We’ll see where it all goes.

      Dr. B

  2. newt221 Says:

    Some times I feel like I aint in Kansas anymore! So I guess I go over the rainbow when that happens…LOL

    Though most time, it feels like I had a house fall on me. Boy, I could sure use those ruby slippers now!

    Anyway, glad you guys are enjoying yourselves. And, glad to know that dreams really do come true!

  3. Sharon Says:

    Your book is doing well, Dr B. Congratulations! You’ve achieved the writer’s dream and managed to stay true to yourself and your people.

    • drtombibey Says:

      Sharon,

      Your sentence, “You’ve achieved the writer’s dream and managed to stay true to yourself and your people” says it all to me.

      That is what I set out to do and I am so pleased. I wanted to get my message out but wouldn’t compromise it just to satisfy commercial demands. To my agent’s credit, he let me be myself.

      Hey, he told me some guy in Australia bought up some on was trying to sell them on the Internet in Australia for 50.00 U.S. dollars. I don’t understand that; they just went back on line with Amazon for 18.00.

      Dr. B

      • Sharon Says:

        Dr B. new releases are expensive in Australia, but this seems a little extreme. Clearly that guy cares more about profit than bringing literary diversity to Australia. Fortunately your book is now available in selected stores. It is retailing for around $40US but can be bought for around $30US on Booktopia (Australia’s answer to Amazon).

  4. drtombibey Says:

    Sharon,

    You are 100% correct. Neither me or my agent have any idea why this guy did this, and we didn’t authorize it in any way.

    I’d get it thru the legit dealers for sure. I always felt it should be under 20.00 bucks. I worked hard on it and it’s pretty good, but it ain’t that good!

    Dr. B


Leave a Reply

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Log Out /  Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. Log Out /  Change )

Connecting to %s


%d bloggers like this: