Southern Wing and A Prayer

Tupelo, Nashvile, and Home Again!

2010-04-02T14:33:00.000-07:00

It was hard to believe the Wing and Prayer tour only had two more stops to make on this 21 stop, 14 day excursion. But it was true. We were headed to the famous John Grisham launching bookstore of Reeds Gumtree Books - next to our last. The end was drawing near.

Now one thing was becoming apparent to us all along the winding road - we never knew what to expect and every stop offered up something special. A different slice of life and the unexpected pleasure of a surprise.

Reeds offered up the friendly faces of Emily and Jane and the one and only Jack Reed, son of the founder of Reeds but the instigating factor for getting the bookstore added and off the grown. He honored us by making a special trip in to welcome us to the store. Honor is a loose word for the experience. After conversing with Jack for over an hour (and never wanting to leave) we were humbled by his wisdom and his presence. We both purchased HIS BOOK at his protest and captured the storyteller offering some sage advice for the ages.

Reeds is one of the places that when you wander in you want to park. The kind of place where we found ourselves having serious conversations with booksellers in the children's area with questions like "Did you find Llama, Llama Misses Mama as good as Llama, Llama Red Pajama?" Seriously. Our appreciation for fine literature knows no boxy boundaries.

Another wouldashouldacoulda was added to our list - never, ever come to Reeds Gumtree Books or the beautiful little city of Tupelo without more time to spend and spare. Never.

Headed straight on down the road (in a roundabout find another story kind of way) we passed through Tennessee and flowering trees and pulled up at our last stop - Davis Kidd in Nashville. What a delight to see friendly faces waiting and people who had great patience as we poured out stories, stacked up stories, and laughed through incidents of the long road show. Afterwards when we caught our breath - we realized no one probably understood a tired, manic word we'd said. But they were all so beautifully attendent. We met sisters Mary Elizabeth and Sara who shared with us thoughts on her most recent reading experience. You can view the clip here:

It was a great evening of storytelling, celebrating story and wrapping up this Great Southern Wing and a Prayer Tour. Tired. but too happy to care, we finally had to hush and let the good folks of Davis Kidd go home for the night and say goodbye.

We have too many favorite lines to post them all. We kept quoting the great literary line from The Tale of Two Cities - "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times" as we pushed, pulled and lugged luggage state after state. But well worth every stop, turn, mile and smile along the way.

It will take months to process everything that we learned and that happened on this trip but we can pinpoint a couple of things that are worth sharing:

*Community bookstores are vital to the ongoing health of the gathering of people who love books. They are our town squares, our central outposts for civilized discussion, and a place where souls can find something in common - their love for the written word.

*Young people are reading everything and everywhere which gives us great hope that our idea of a book and a good story will live for a very long time.

* That in this age of blogging, facebooking, twittering and so on - and kudo's to social media for connecting and reconnecting so many of us - nothing will ever take the place of a little face to face grace.

And now the only great literary line that come to mind is . . .

"THAT'S ALL FOLKS!"

Thanks for staying so close to us as you followed along. We have loved sharing this evolving trip with you.

And now - On a Wing and a Prayer - we have to say goodnight. Please scroll down to see all the wonderful pictures of where we've traveled and the friends we've made along the way.

River and Shellie

Crossing the Finish Line at David Kidd

2010-04-02T13:13:00.001-07:00

Reed’s Bookstore, Tupelo MS

2010-04-02T13:10:00.001-07:00

Book Talk at Susan’s Parlor Party

2010-03-31T22:45:00.001-07:00

Susan Cushman set up the most beautiful table, a special area with a few of our books, and began to host the Book Talk in the Parlor!

Friends and smiling faces!

And a table fit for a Queen!

At the last minute we discover that Real Simple had all the advice we needed - More Time for You and how to find it. IF only we had found this at the beginning of the trip we may have seen Rock City and Graceland!

Ann wins a drawing from Panola Pepper!

These tired, road weary Radio hosts were still all smiles in Susan's gracious company.
Once again - someone had to point the way out of here as our tour draws closer to the end. We'll be on the road to Tupelo, Mississippi tomorrow and then turn the Jeep North to Nashville for one last stop. ON a Wing and a Prayer and a Shoestring!

River and Shellie

WREG Live at Nine out of Memphis welcomes Great Southern Wing and Prayer Tour

2010-03-31T22:19:00.001-07:00

Special thanks to WREG out of Memphis, TN for welcoming the Great Southern Wing and a Prayer Tour to Live at Nine’s Morning Show. And thanks to the viewers who dropped what they were doing and rushed off to That Bookstore in Blytheville right away! We talked about - what else? Story!

On a wing and a prayer, (and coming in on a shoestring!)
River and Shellie

That Bookstore in Blytheville

2010-03-31T15:56:00.001-07:00

These arch gateways into downtown Blytheville are so perfect because everyone knows what a mecca this store has been for writers for generations.

Shellie grabs a shot of the store but captures more. See that little white, darling, Jeep Angel in the reflection, just like the logo - she's been getting us down the road for 1000's of miles.

The shelves overflow with the most incredible stories of our day.

Friendly faces abounding. Someone here loves putting the right book in the right hands.

Mary Gay Shipley's High Profile was well earned. A lifetime of promoting authors and their good words is due a little recognition.

We wanted to take the neon home for a night light. Mary Gay said NO, NO - it must stay in the store.

If this character looks familiar it's because it is none other than Pat Conroy - Really. These dolls are from the story that his beautiful daughter created titled - Poppy's Pants.

Four friends for forty years. Is that what they told us? Can that be true? Retired School teachers who drove for an hour to join us. Love you every one!

Now we're missing some folks here but we managed to corral a few and snag this photo. Thank you to all of those who also saw the Channel 3 Live at Nine Segment and dropped what you were doing to get in the car and rush to the bookstore. We are honored by all of you!

Oh thank you beautiful for making a special trip and coming in to Grace us with your presence.

All we can say to this poster is AMEN!

Sometimes what you really need after a long day on the road is a little puppet play time.

But some puppets, just like their people, are a little camera shy!

What was the last thing we asked Mary Gay even with the gps systems and an Atlas? Oh yes we did, we asked her directions.
And some stories we just had to wonder about and leave behind because we had to continue on down that highway. On A Wing and A Prayer folks!

Cordova Library, Memphis TN

2010-03-31T15:54:00.001-07:00

Fresh from our stop in Jackson - by way of Fairhope, AL that morning, the Cordova Branch of the Memphis Library looked like a Welcome beacon.

And it was. We had smiling face holding the door, literally holding the door open for us and greeting us, as we walked through with a smile and a sigh. Philip and Norvel were the greatest of hosts.

We may have been blurry-eyed but we were having a great time.

This is the beautiful sculpture that awaits library patrons. Incredible!

A little gator anyone? A little bear time? We can't speak highly enough for Cordova. We walked through the door to discover little gift bags which included Memphis b-que sauce and bowls of fresh fruit. More things we MEANT to take pictures of but were too busy telling stories. We closed the library down and wanted to stay another hour in the parking lot but an early morning TV appearence was on the schedule. Thank you so much Cordova for making our visit so memorable.

The Lemuria Gang

2010-03-31T15:51:00.001-07:00

We pause for pics with Jonni Webb, the original, founding, let's do a book club Pulpwood Queen of Jackson Mississippi. We loved visiting this famous bookstore and perusing the shelves. Then we joined the readers for a little storytelling time in the Lemuria.com room. All we needed was a stage, a mic, and a little encouragement and the stories started flowing. As you can see from all the photos below no doubt about it we were having a great time. If laughter is good medicine, we were over-medicated when we had to say our good-byes and get on down the road to be in Memphis. And if it looks like that one of us grew a little - that would be a special someone who surprised "her Keggie" with a visit to the Road trip. I do believe the Bellerina Czar even helped her sign books!

AS tempting as it was to put our feet up and stay awhile, library folks were waiting for us up the road in Memphis.

On a Wing and a Prayer (and a shoestring now)

River and Shellie

WOULDA - SHOULDA - COULDA

2010-03-30T08:18:00.000-07:00

Shellie is driving and we are lamenting. What else should two southern girls be doing while they are riding a thousand miles.

THIS IS our OFFICIAL WOULDA, SHOULDA, COULDA list but this does not mean that we are signing off on it permanently. It has been a growing nest of despair as each day had ticked by with the delightful feeilng of getting closer to the finish line and yet . . .

At the same time there is this horrible sense of loss, of mighthavebeens, and if only's knocking at our door.

It started with the fact that we had both looked forward to SEEING ROCK CITY like 4th graders on a spring break bus trip. We longed for statues of dwarfs without reason, photo ops at the Ruby Falls, a quick peek at Lover's Leap (not a good way to express your love we might add) and collecting some great items to bring home to family and friends like little birdhouses that say so poetically - SEE ROCK CITY.

We passed up Tallulah Falls, Gorge Overlooks, little restaurants by the water with cafe tables and umbrelleas. We have missed F. Scott Figerald's House, The little House of the Poet of Tolstoy Park, The Blue Angels Air Show (kinda), The graves of the famous and the dead unknowns (and by the way - I'm using that for a book somewhere). We have longed to wander under magnolia trees drapped with moss and pick our way through tombstones with stories. All for naught our wanting.

Our wandering has not led us down any of the paths here that we would have chosen or included on this trip, our little passport to paradise of things we wanted to see has not been punched. However and so on - -
We have made incredible friends along the way and then stayed up till three posting, cutting and editing those interviews so that those of you who couldn't be with us - somehow still were with us. Yes, we missed discovering Dauphin island on bikes or meandering down precious sidewalks in Fairhope. We have drug (past tense of drag) around cards to mail from our families from the beginning of this trip but there hasn't even been time to find aPost Office.

What we have found is the inside of bookstores across six states and dipping into seven. What we have found are stories that have been waiting for us to show up and pluck them. What we have found everywhere we've pulled up, set up our radio eqiupment and opened up a book is YOU reader, behind the door or behind the page.

I guess our woulda- shoulda - coulda list just disappeared into thin air. We''ve been right where we were supposed to be all along.

On the road to Jackson, MS. And coming in on a Wing and a Prayer (and a shoestring!)

River and Shellie

Big Fun at Page and Palette

2010-03-29T21:41:00.001-07:00

We entered Fairhope with incredible Sunshine, a festive Spring air and with everyone dancing! See, we mean it.

Where we received the key to the city upon our arrival. (okay - we received the keyhole but that was good enough for us. We felt welcomed.)

Page and Palette corners the market on most, excellent reads.

The Cat was waiting. With attitude.

And so were old and new friends. And enticing things to buy.

Our newest friends were waiting patiently when we arrived. And no, we were not late. They were early and that really is the truth. What beautiful souls and how much fun they were.

Ellen made that great dish the Caviar of the South. Yum, yum. Really.

Love this sign and it is all true.

We love it when children feel so welcome.

Ahhh, stories, stories, stories.

Beautiful Rita graced us with her presence. Thank you for listening to everything.

Rick gave us a little technical advice, and just cracked us up. And he made our other new friends from Chicago feel a real, southern welcome. Love that fact that the family visiting had never once before been to an author reading, signing, or tapdance. Rick said that it certainly wouldn't be their last he was sure of that.

Bookstore Ellen and Sandra.

WE have a pocket full. A double fisted pocketful!
These boards of welcome have been some of our favorite things on the trip and we are saving all the pictures for the Mama's.

Ellen was so nice to host us. She made our night.

Ummm, which way do we go?????

We walked back to our home away from home away from home like tired but happy pups, still telling stories, still staring at that great full moon,

Love a town with a clock. We wanted to take this one home with us. For the record it's glued down!

Somewhere in here is a place to lay our tired heads.

Shellie is missing March Madness and she has whined about it a lot! Really, really a lot. She is so missing it she wanted to find a place with a tv when we discovered there was no hotel restaurant or room service.

So we roughed it like any good writers on the road. A little fireplace, a bite to eat, and a whole lot of Thankful.

Turn the page folks, we are in bed and then down the road to Lemuria Books and Jackson, Mississippi.

Coming and going on a Wing and a Prayer!

River and Shellie.

Leaving Dauphin Island…

2010-03-29T12:17:00.001-07:00

Hey folks, River’s driving and I’m throwing pics up on the blog to get us half-way caught up as we are going to be hitting Fairhope with a host of other things awaiting on the to-do list to be attacked in the hotel room before our event at Page and Palette. We’ve heard so much about this bookstore and the wonderful reading environment they’ve created. We’re excited about seeing and hearing from those of you who’ve been in touch letting us know that you’re coming out, as well as the many surprise conversations that we’re always finding at every stop.

Last night we were treated to the warm hospitality of Herman and Ginger King on Dauphin Island. Among other gifts, Herman writes for DeSoto. I’ve included a pic of his article in the zine I picked up in the living room as well as a neat shot of him holding a hand-written poem he read us aloud this morning. I enjoyed it and have plans to include it here when we emails it.

Below that you’ll see them pointing us out of the neighborhood as has become the custom on this great road trip and towards Shell Mound Park where I, of course, had to climb a tree to pose for a picture as I spent my childhood reading in a tree—and writing important works that have yet to be published. (I have not given up on the hope that someone will buy “Martha and Her Horse”.) Please note that “good pics” of the tree experience were taken by Herman while the one with the moss draped across my face comes compliments of River. Thanks, pal. (FYI: River says, “Shellie, I was going for the mysterious writer look and you must admit it looks mysterious.”)

I hope you’ll enjoy the scenery, but please don’t miss the last pic. It speaks to us as we feel a little more like road-kill at this moment (and, alas, I did see a pic of a dead possum that would fit really well right here but, we didn’t stop and let me get it) than the raring to go wordsmiths we were about fourteen days ago---- WAIT ----breaking news alert----FRESH BOILED PEANUTS –we’re pulling off now. Later dear ones…

On a wing and a prayer,

River and Shellie

Catching Conversations Everywhere We Go!

2010-03-28T09:32:00.000-07:00

We have been having some serious conversations with book owners and readers all around the South for a number of days now. And yes, what you see here are a lot of pictures and all the fun and wackey stuff (okay some of it) but don't be lulled into the false security that those other conversations are not taking place.

We are currently in Auburn, up from Montgomery, and headed now to Fairhope, AL. We are also currently held up in a hotel room with head phones on working on respective projects, radio shows, blogs and deadlines.

But what we really, really want you to understand is that we are developing this great, invaluable conversation about the importance of human contact. The old face-to-face kind where people wander into their community bookstores and get recognized. It has been such a pleasure getting to know booksellers across the region and also to meet new readers all along the way.

River Jordan Live will feature some of this out-takes this Wednesday, a discussion on what has been happening all along the way, and follow up later with more interviews and material captured. All Things Southern will be bringing back a bushel of stories to tell about what we have discovered on this long and winding jouney.

Stay tuned. We couldn't be out here doing this without all of your support. A special thank you to SIBA for hosting a Conversation with Book Sellers at the Spring Book Show. It was such a pleasure. And to all the most recent bookstores Capitol One News and Books, Little Professor Books, Bookselller at St. Vincent's, the Gnu's Room and places prior that have taken the time to sit down with us. We appreciate all you do to support the power of Story and put the right book in the right hands!

Getting YOUR story and bringing to the world Soonest on . . .
A Wing and A Prayer!

River and Shellie

We Know Exactly Where We Are…

2010-03-27T23:10:00.001-07:00

More of these to come!
It's a Wing and A Prayer for a reason folks!
River and Shellie

Gnu’s Room, Auburn AL

2010-03-27T23:08:00.001-07:00

Yoshi greeted us the moment we entered the GNU's Room. BUT wait! There is more of a story to Yoshi's presence. Stay tuned.

So Shellie is telling a story and Yoshi the dog let's out this strange grunt, falls over dead on her side, legs in the air and paws over here face. We swear! Ask the witnesses. Of course she was only faking but it was all kinds of funny!

Tina and Kelley were delightful bookstore hosts.

Anna Ruth is so delighted to Suck in Her Stomach and Put on Some COLOR! (Okay, okay, she came that way.

River Jordan, Anna Ruth, Kelley, Tina, Shellie Rushing Tomlinson in our Great GNU'S ROOM SHIRTS.

The beautiful, hysterical, funny Amanda, Kelley, the person who said we JUST MUST COME TO AUBURN AND GO TO GNU'S, THE FAMOUS LIBRARIAN FROM BAY MINETTE, CHARLOTTE ROBERTSON, Tina, and a special, shining guest.

Okay our- Newests favorite Bathroom Sign.

Wait - how did this get here. There are no connectors. It's a chocolate bar at the wonderful Italian restaurant.

And that's ALL FOLKS for tonight! See you tomorrow in Fairhope, AL and Monday at Page and Palaette
where we'll be coming in on a Wing and a Prayer.

River and Shellie

Next stop, Capitol Book in Montgomery

2010-03-27T23:01:00.001-07:00

So we were on the road . . . And then we see this! And we're thinking Now wait a minute. That huge thing is not a passenger jet. And wait just a cotton pickin minute.

Are those prop planes? Are we in a time warp???? No, We justs happened to be driving into Montgomery on this sunny day as the Blue Angels were performing their on Wing and A Prayer Show.

Then we pull in fast and furious at Capitol Book and News. Okay - just fast. THe door opens with a whoosh as Cheryl breathes a sigh of relief. Apparently, she has been keeping up with the tour travels, lost keys, and dualing gps signals.

This is the delightful Cheryl Upchurch, owner of Capitol and a living doll. Her brother Scott just happened to be spending the day with family from St. Louis.

Inside/Outside Oh what a happy place!

Yes, The Wing and a Prayer Tour has landed!!!

Yes, the sound of the register and books selling just tickles Eleanor.

The 19 year old mascot of Capitol Book and News. She has greeted customers longer than some of them have been alive! Booksellers tell us that if they take a day off no one notices. But if she goes missing everyone is searching for her.

And now she poses pretty. Well, book mascots have an important job.

These were our delightful, breathless vistors that came rushing in from the airshow - and I mean rushing through the door signing in the air with invisable pens saying - WE NEED BOOKS! WE NEED SIGNED BOOKS. Please don't leave! We read about the tour.

And check this out - it was their FIRST TIME TO CAPITOL BOOK AND NEWS EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE LOCAL. We love it. We were wearing our designer shirts designed by author/artist Daniel Wallace, gifts from Capitol Books with pride.

More blogging and upcoming radio shows abounding about our trip and all our new friends.

Hello Alabama

2010-03-27T22:54:00.001-07:00

Blog in progress…

Our first stop - St. Vincent's Hospital to see the Book Seller.

Ruth Breipohl welcomes us with open arms. What a great lady!

Thanks guys for coming to see us.

Little Professor Welcomes the Southern Wing and a Prayer Party

2010-03-27T22:47:00.001-07:00

First met the good people of Little Professor books at the Hoover Library Southern Voices Conference where they were patiently selling books to lines out the door.

Off in the distance in a semi-hey you! -Candid shot - that would be authors River Jordan and Kerry Madden doing what else but talking about books.

Happy Customers abouding at Little Professor and Ben is no exception. We enjoyed a lengthy discussion on the state of the book.

Chrystal talked serious literature, Spanish writers, and books that have a lasting impact on the reader while keeping her cool.

Oh what a beautiful family in everyway. This is author Kerry Madden whose latest book about Harper Lee Up Close is taking the world by storm and daughters Lucy and Nora - both avid readers and heart grabbers.

OH - long time no see! Author Michael Morris makes an appearence and says hello.



We cannot tell a lie- do you know what it's like to have four authors looking at photos and choosing which one is the best? They're all saying - Do I look at in this? (Okay - so Kerry is the coolest of all of us and may not have asked that question!)

Then we went to the local Greek Restaurant and ate like natives!

Our local English Professor picked up the violin and played for the table.

Michael Morris talks serious literature with Nora.



Lucy and her sister plan to take over the world. Okay - they were only planning what to devour for dessert but they were very serious about it.

IT WAS A GREAT EVENING, the morning belonged to the sunshine and sidewalks of Homewood, at opportunity to get organized we just didn't have time for :) - lunches to go, Latte's for the road, and one more story for the road.

See you down around the corner - on a Wing and A Prayer-

Shellie and River



Shellie: I fell in love with this adorable couple at a coffee bar in Montgomery and fell in love with their sweet spirits. They were doing a Beth Moore Bible study together. They graciously agreed to an interview, too. That footage should be on YouTube soon. (Thanks Shelley and Jake. I will never forget y’all!)

Shellie: And then a quick sandwich to go grab at the grill next door while River held a parking spot for us. This would be where I stole a few minutes to watch March Madness. Don’t tell River. I haven’t been at all please about missing March Madness. She hasn’t cared one way or the other. :)

On the wing and a prayer,
River and Shellie

New YouTube Videos from the road

2010-03-26T14:16:00.001-07:00

We’ll be catching the blog back up in just a bit. Right now we’re about to head off to the next event. Just wanted to let y’all know we have more videos edited and up!

Keep reading, Keep Believing

River and Shellie

Yawn Books, Bound to Be Read, and SIBA within 24 hrs? SURE!

2010-03-25T20:11:00.001-07:00

Hey, hey, I said hey - do you know the way to . . . scroll down to blog post to see just how many times we will ask anyone or anything that stands still long enough for directions.

The quaint town of Canton, Ga where we wish we could have sat here, enjoyed sunshine, and the southern hospitality.

Books, ice cream and lunch? Now folks, What more could you ask for?

OKAY - so MAYBE you could ask for the Great American Trailer Park Musical. Now, why can't we stay in one place long enough to see a great musical.

Our favorite bathroom picture yet.

Our friends Carmen and Tara at Yawns.

We were having a creative moment here. Wonder if the Cohen Brothers have these kind of consultations in the middle of the stream.

Shellie, Michelle, and Tara discuss why they love Yawn's, books clubs, and their current reads.

New tech toys? SURE! One more for the road. Thanks John for pointing us in the right direction at Best Buy.

Jef and our earliest visitor at Bound to Be Read Books.

Pulitzer award nominee finalist Charles McNair shares a secret - he really did come from Alabama with a Banjo on his knee.

Best-selling author Patti Callahan Henry, Pulitzer author Charles McNair and the Wing and Prayer girls.

A beautiful global traveler who has been in 88 countries and came home again. So happy you found us and Bound to Be Read Books.

Then our gracious friend Patti Callahan Henry opened her home to us. God bless you Patti and Faye and all the other angels on the road.

OH we miss our dogs! This one is a real good hugger with much love. Patti's dog Hank who told us stories we are not at liberty to reveal. They were confidential.

This is Tracy, Patti's assistant. She is a superwoman and we want one.

Thanks Patti for a refreshing pause and a great interview to be featured on our respective radio programs.

Hold our breath - we found our way to the SIBA event at the Spring Book Tour.

Check out the digs. Yes, it did have special hotline telephone.

The SIBA visitors and board members were the greatest! Everyone gets their name tagged to their picture tomorrow but for midnight - smiles, places, action. We told stories and celebrated the same. Thank you booksellers across the south and the U.S. for loving books and making them a life long passion!

See you tomorrow in Birmingham and yes - We'll be coming in On a Wing and A Prayer -

River and Shellie

We Know Exactly Where We Are…

2010-03-25T19:59:00.001-07:00

Our dueling gps systems were arguing with one another and would not agree on which way we needed to go. We reverted to pulling out the old fashioned Atlas from the back seat. Hold the farm folks - we need to get things sync'd up here.
Okay - that didn't work. Let's try something a little more old-fashioned. Can you tell us the way to . . . . ?

Ummm, thanks for that double shot expresso for the road but now can you tell us exactly WHICH way down the road we are supposed to be headed?

And would that be East or West?

What I"m saying is - you head on down the road, take your first left, go about three miles, take a right, get up on that highway . . .

More of these to come!

On a Wing and a Prayer and so not kidding -
River and Shellie

Foxtale Books Rocks!

2010-03-25T09:43:00.001-07:00

  A fox No wait - three foxes. You know what the word on the road is - Have you met those foxy ladies at Foxtales? Well, you just have to go there. So that's what we did. We had dualing banjo gps systems all the way but we still went straight to their door and were greeting with readers and story lovers.

Check out the Store. These place is really a lot of fun and so warm. We had hot, chocolate chip cookies waiting for us, wine, coffee. Yummy's! But the yummiest thing of all was the hearts of all the readers who came to visit with us.

Oh yeah, suddenly we remember to get the camera out and take pictures of the beautiful lolly-gaggers including the two of us who stayed after hours.



A few of our winners for giveaways on the tour.



US and the FOXES!

AND A few great snapshots of the things that makes Foxtales so unique.

Magical, mystical, wise, and beautiful. God was having a great moment when the red fox came into being.

We are on the road again - and coming in on A Wing and A Prayer!

Shellie and River

The Road from Waynesville, NC to Woodstock GA

2010-03-25T09:41:00.001-07:00

River: We are loving the views and the people everywhere we go. Obviously as you can see, the Road to Waynesville was no exception. Please come with us, we are on a little journey and we want to take you along.

And going around these curves everywhichaway we are saying - WAIT! That reminds me of a story!

And while road trips are for views like this one of the Great Smokey Mountains, they are also for meeting beautiful people along the way. Our lovely hostest at the Great Smokey Mountain Visitors Center thrilled us by sharing how many book clubs were in the area and what they had been reading. Book Club you say? Can we just lean on this counter while and talk words?

Shellie: And this is the bear that wandered up to me on the side of the road when we stopped for that trash can. Without any warning, he pounced on me and it was “On, Chicken Bone!” It wasn’t easy and I’m not at total liberty to tell you all of my bear wrestling tricks because I may go into that line of work if this doesn’t work out, but suffice to say I whooped him down to his knees right there on the spot and made him swear to Jesus he wouldn’t bother anymore weary travelers.

River - We are on our way to Foxtale Books. If only we had a little blinky gps signal going off so you could see us coming around the mountain!

We love you for following, tracking, and traveling along on this big adventure. Stay tuned for more stories.

On a Wing and a Prayer,

River and Shellie

Video Conversations from City Lights

2010-03-23T21:36:00.001-07:00

It’s a little after ten Tuesday night. We’re in Woodstock, GA, where we’ve just checked into our refuge for the night after a perfectly wonderful evening at Foxtale Books. We’ll be blogging about our delightful events at both Blue Ridge Osandu and Foxtale as soon as possible! For now, please enjoy these video clips from City Lights, Sylva, NC while we get back to the editing.
Book Conversation from City Lights 3-21-10 Part I and Book Conversation from City Lights 3-21-10 Part II

And if we don't catch up fast enough - don't forget to tune in to River Jordan Live tomorrow at 12-2 107.1fm Nashville or http://www.riverjordanlive.com where I'm sharing our road trip experience, playing a little music, and mixing it in with literary news.

Bye for now but not for long!
River and Shellie

Face first

2010-03-23T06:27:00.000-07:00

Good morning from the road and the back porch of the awesome Bed and Breakfast that is Brookside Mountain Mist Inn in Waynesville, NC.

I can't speak for River--she is in the room at this moment enjoying a moment of solitude, so please note that I am in no way implying she looks like the duck on the right. I, however, am closely identifying with the duck on the left in this picture. Her posture and her expression suggests she has tripped face first, unknowingly and accidentally into something amazing. The story of my life meets road trip.

Hugs,
Shellie
Sent from my BlackBerry Smartphone provided by Alltel

A Conversation from Cowan’s Book Nook

2010-03-22T20:45:00.001-07:00

One of the challenges of this tour is editing and delivering the clips for y’all in a timely manner. These have been ready for two days but Internet problems have made it difficult to post them. We hope you enjoy.
Cowan’s Book Nook, Part I and Cowan’s Book Nook, Part II
Keep believing, Keep reading,

River and Shellie

From City Lights to Blue Ridge Osandu

2010-03-22T20:21:00.001-07:00

River: We have been on the road for a few days now. And it seems we traveled back in time. Okay - so we traveled around two rock slides and every switch back in the world to get there - beautiful, curvy - worth it.
An old photo Shellie found of Sylva

Shellie: This way to the children’s corner!

River: So now we know Shellie was tripping through the Hundred Acre Woods while I was getting the jeep washed. (BUT she (the jeep that is) feels so much better. (Of course wandering through Pooh Corner would make anybody feel better too!)

Shellie: It was interesting to find this photo in a scrapbook and find that City Lights Bookstore was originally built by a doctor as both his home and office.

Shellie: Another great photo of the early days of the store. The boy in the lower left? That would be none other than Chris, the current owner!

The lady on the right side of this newspaper clipping is Kathryn Stripling Byer, former Poet Laureate of North Carolina. She graciously allowed River and I to stay in her writer’s loft above the bookstore. The next day I found one of her poems in the City Light’s scrapbook and was captured by it! So captured that I got footage of me reading it—no doubt without doing it the justice it deserved, but I could not let the opportunity pass. Kudos to you Kathryn.

River: Did you get that? Strange coincidence? The boy on the left is standing in the bookstore that he would one day grow up and own. The woman on the right would become the Poet Laureate of N.C. and possess one of the coolest hide-aways a writer could hope for. Threads that bind us, invisible in their making, time travelers we are one and all!

(And we will be uploading Shellie reading this incredible poem on YouTube as we move on down the road. Right now you can find the clips from Cowan's Book Nook.)

River: This is Jeremy and Carey that made a special trip in to City Lights to visit with us on the radio and in Video Interviews. Stay tuned for more from these great smiles!

River: This is Chris in real live modern day. A great host as well and thanks for all your kind attention!

River and Shellie: Of course we didn't miss the chance to snap a few random shots around town that caught our eye. One thing for certain - Sylva is a town that we will revisit!

River and Shellie: Yes, it's true - they mean it. You just sit there and HONK YOUR HORN and they will come right out to you. We released Books Into the Wild here, picked up soup and slaw, and headed off to Waynesville, NC

River: THis is where we landed.

Shellie: And we had homemade peanut butter cookies waiting. A little sugar for the visit with Blue Ridge Osandu Books.

River: And yes, we packed sleeping bags and pillows. And tomorrow night we may be under the freezy stars but tonight we sleep all cushy cozy.

Shellie: Our lovely hostess who has paid attention to every possible detail.

River: Then we stepped out to meet these great folks and talk stories, books, and books about stories.

A special Thank you for making our visit memorable!

Stay tuned for great words from Margaret on her passion about this thing we call the written word!

Rain on the Roof

2010-03-21T19:21:00.000-07:00

Every writer needs a little quiet time, particularly after traveling hard and heavy - but I'm not certain all writers find it . Currently we are hidden in a writer's studio above City Lights Bookstore. Tucked away quiet literally in a warm, inviting place full of light and grace.

Thank you to City Lights Chris for making us feel so sincerely Welcomed. We are looking forward to spending more time with you, interviewing staff and readers tomorrow morning on The State of the Book for radio programs.

For the record, this is a beautiful town. As picturesque in the mountains as they get. The kind of thing that calls to the soul of a writer to put down the words. Pen to paper, or rock to wall - makes no nevermind. The fact is, some places breed story like nobody's business and Sylva is one of those places that just invites you to take a deep breath, wander around, amble a little down the sidewalk, and capture a dreamy character on page in the making.

Shellie did just that today by working on her upcoming work as I toyed around with radio equipment and ideas for the new show. She also updated her personal blog with a rather intimate story from the road and you can find it at her own personal blog linked from All Things Southen tomorrow!

Right now, the rain is playing itself out through the night as I write these words. I just wanted you to know how much we appreciate each and everyone of you following the tour along whether your meeting us on the road, keeping up on Twitter and Facebook, or simply riding along in spirit. It matters to us so much that you are out there as we carve our way across the states and around rock slides collecting (and gracious me - TELLING) story after story, mile after mile.

Blessings and Sweet dreams from Your Writers On the Road!

River and Shellie

New favorite line of the trip

2010-03-21T10:20:00.000-07:00

While on a detour, a long detour rerouteing up around a rock slide, thru the mountains of North Carolina, on a winding, curvy, beautifully dangerous mountain road we finally come upon a potential pit stop.

The kind souls inside point up towards a bathroom. River heads that direction, seeing only the bathroom under construction (pic attached) and not the one beyond it says, "Do you have one with a door?"

On the road again...

Sent from my BlackBerry Smartphone provided by Alltel

Rock Point Books Rocks

2010-03-20T20:29:00.001-07:00

River: Sometimes when your on the road you never know what to expect. What we decided was the journey is part of the trip. We discovered this as part of our blog below which you can see with those photos of the Dixie Belle Look Alike and Darlene's baby Bel Air.

Shellie: Not knowing what to expect is one thing, having the right perspective to open your eyes and see the opportunities and messages around you, why, that’s a different animal entirely. Remind us to tell you THAT story.

River: Now, part of the journey we had originally planned was to visit Savannah, GA and Charleston, SC and take a little break and a Buggy Ride. Then our tour was rerouted through Fairhope, AL and Jackson, MS and the coast had to be postponed for another trip. But WAIT! What is that in Downtown Chattanooga when we arrive but a Horse and Buggy carriage complete with Dalmatian Dog!

Shellie: We made a commitment to each other right there on the spot. We will ride in that buggy ‘fore we leave, yes we will.

River: What we discovered in Chattanooga when we first arrived was that Shellie had fans waiting on her who are official and dedicated “Porchers” – people who sit on her cyber porch, readers and listeners of All Things Southern (can you see the fanship t-shirt?)

Shellie: And how could I ever tell you what it meant to see someone show up who had never written in to me but had been there for years, years, showing up with an ATS shirt and a heart of solid gold?! This time and space won’t permit. Let me just say that Mike and his wife have written themselves on the pages of my heat and yes, we did have prayer together right there in Rock Point Books. We are on the Wing and a Prayer Tour after all.

River: Then we had surprise guests who were visiting from Crossville, TN - and I had the great pleasure to meet this young lady Kayla along with her beautiful family. They were a great audience and she just captured my heart for stepping forward in a special way and declaring her love of story.

Shellie: The end of that story has River running down the street to “finish” some business with that small child who had stolen her big old heart but she will have to tell you that one.

River: I have to tell everyone that the customer in the red shirt was lured into the store by the Geleto Italian Ice Cream then Shellie lured him deeper into the story circle by telling stories and asking for props from pockets as part of our tell a story on the spot reader game. - He pulled a dollar from his pocket and we had to take it from there. Never fear, a story was lurking near.

River: Anna and her beautiful staff took great care of us and please tune in to our radio shows for their interviews about 'the state of the book'. At the end of the night we met a few wild, women who told us to watch for them at Foxtale in Woodstock where they planed to join us.

River: And finally - because we just couldn't resist, we took the buggy ride. Featured for your viewing pleasure - Eragon the horse and Max the dog.

Shellie: Ah, the carriage ride. What a fitting end to a great day.

On a Wing and A Prayer - and a very, soft pillow.

River & Shellie

From Knoxville to Ellijay, GA—on the road again

2010-03-20T20:09:00.001-07:00

Shellie: It wasn’t easy, but we did have to leave Faye and Jack’s home. The first pic is the scene they are forced to look at from their back porch. Poor things, suffering for Jesus they are..

River: Southern hospitality took on a new charm as they opened their door and their hearts to these two tired writers on the road.

Found Jamee and her adorable coffee bar on the way. Coffee, always coffee and more coffee.

Set two books free at the coffee shop. River released, “The Last of the Mohicans” and I released “The Swiss Courier”. Find out more about releasing books at http://www. bookcrossing.com

Shellie: And, THIS is where I got all kinds of sad. Met Cleo at a hardware store who looked just like and I mean, just like Dixie Belle, the baby I left home. They say everyone has a twin. Dixie’s has an obsession similar to her tennis ball fetish. Only, Cleo’s addiction is to having visitors toss rocks for her to retrieve. The way it works is that she places the rock on your shoe, you toss it with your foot, and she FINDS it, that rock, that very rock, from all the others on the the concrete.

Don’t forget me, Dixie Belle—I am coming home again and I will throw your tennis bal, tomboy honor.

River: While Shellie was whining about her Dixie Belle lookalike I was falling in love with Darlene’s 55 Chevy Bel Air. Darlene assured me that it was gonna be washed today and she hated for me to picture it dirty but I find this baby sweet beyond words. And have I mentioned I’m a car girl and not a cow girl?

Next stop, Cowan’s Book Nook, Ellijay, GA at noon today, (Saturday).

Keep praying, Keep believing,

River and Shellie

Greetings from Cowan’s Book Nook

2010-03-20T19:52:00.001-07:00

Shellie: Oh, what a wonderful time we had at Cowan’s! Can’t wait to do some video editing of the conversations we had with readers and sellers about love of the story and state of the book. On the far right here is Melinda Cowan, owner, and her lovely staff, Ansley in the middle and Sharon on the far left. Somehow, in all the confusion, I missed taking pics of the customers, but they’ll be represented in the video clips~ We appreciate all of you! It was fun.

River: And the customers greatly appreciated our fun give-aways from Panola Pepper and Literary Threads.

Shellie: Of course, after all that talking, we needed sustenance, which it just so happened was waiting for us around the corner at the Pig on the Hill.

River: As it happens, Gary an employee of the Pig and a Cowan customer had stopped in the bookstore to say hello and pick up a copy of a travel book on London he had ordered, a place he longs to travel to…

Shellie: While we oh, so badly wanted to buy a flag with our name on it and have it “planted on the hill”, (please note that the flags are in the shape of a pig), we were flat out of time.

River: Slap out of time or not, we could not pass up a chance to ride the wild pig.

Shellie: Which, no doubt, increases our literary respectability and creds. See y’all in Chattanooga~

Keep reading and Keep Believing,

River and Shellie

From Knoxville to Ellijay, GA—on the road again

2010-03-20T19:45:00.002-07:00

Shellie: It wasn’t easy, but we did have to leave Faye and Jack’s home. The first pic is the scene they are forced to look at from their back porch. Poor things, suffering for Jesus they are..

River: Southern hospitality took on a new charm as they opened their door and their hearts to these two tired writers on the road.

Found Jamee and her adorable coffee bar on the way. Coffee, always coffee and more coffee.

Set two books free at the coffee shop. River released, “The Last of the Mohicans” and I released “The Swiss Courier”. Find out more about releasing books at http://www. bookcrossing.com

Don’t forget me, Dixie Belle—I am coming home again and I will throw your tennis bal, tomboy honor.

Next stop, Cowan’s Book Nook, Ellijay, GA at noon today, (Saturday).

Keep praying, Keep believing,

River and Shellie

VID 00014.3GP

2010-03-20T19:45:00.000-07:00

Sent from my BlackBerry Smartphone provided by Alltel

Near Tears...

2010-03-20T08:36:00.000-07:00

Met a dog who looked just like Shellie's Dixie Belle at a pit stop. She's in tears...

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Mercy on our souls

2010-03-20T07:38:00.000-07:00

Our hostess, Faye Bryant, may have solved our key issue. Note the big clip.
Sent from my BlackBerry Smartphone provided by Alltel

Mercy on our souls

2010-03-20T07:14:00.000-07:00

Our hostess, Faye Bryant, may have solved our key issue. Note the big clip.
Sent from my BlackBerry Smartphone provided by Alltel

A Conversation from Landmark Books

2010-03-19T20:28:00.000-07:00

Shellie: It's been our intention all along to send daily video clips to Youtube. Unfortunately, I already have oneYoutube account and it won't seem to allow me to create another one designated soley for the tour. It is also unfortunate that my Youtube account was set up under the name "Little Dragoon" but it won't allow me to change that either and the why behind that title is a storey for another night. I hope you enjoy this little clip. For the record, I realize I don't hold the camera steady, my voice is way too close to the mic, and I don't frame my subjects that well, but I believe you'll find the content interesting! This is on the job training folks, stay tuned.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3reCDAbkfg

Please feel free to share our video on Youtube.

Keep reading, keep believing,
River and Shellie

Carpe Librum

2010-03-19T19:56:00.001-07:00

Flossie and the gracious staff of Carpe Librum received us Friday evening with open arms, even talking us through one story after another via the speaker phone right up to their door. What a beautiful place to browse and buy! Hours of any word lover’s day would be well spent discovering the hand selected titles awaiting you here.

(Just in case you are wondering Flossie is holding one of the book bag giveways from Literary Threads.)
This sweet reader bought a book for herself and one for “her favorite Yankee”, posed for us, and headed off to support her local community theater. You have to love that!

Readers, Carpe Librum awaits you with a great - and WE Do Mean GREAT reading area with art, sofa, and chairs, waiting for you to have a sit down and fall in love with words all over again. If you are anywhere near the Knoxville area, or even just passing through, this store is just a drop off interstate 40 and well worth your time to sidetrack on a business or vacation trip.

Our hosts for the evening, Jack and Faye Bryant, could not be more hospitable. We type these words from their guest rooms where every consideration has obviously been given to what we might want or need during our scant hours at their home. Talk about being humbled!

A shot of our “comfy socks” and lotion so thoughtfully left at our bedsides. Thanks, Faye! We could get used to this, right River?

It’s late, y’all—and tomorrow is another day, so we’ll bid adieu and hope to see you at noon tomorrow in Ellijay, GA at Cowan’s Book Nook!
Keep reading and keep believing,
River and Shellie

Numb3rs

2010-03-19T16:01:00.000-07:00

What does 33, 27, and 90 have to do with this road trip?

33 more miles to our next event, 27 miles to empty, and 85 is how many miles per hour we're going to get there as close to late as possible.

So hoping this doesn't turn into The Great Southern Apology tour.

Note to selves, two words: Time Zone

On the road again,
River and Shellie

Sent from my BlackBerry Smartphone provided by Alltel

LandMark Books in Franklin, TN

2010-03-18T17:13:00.001-07:00

Shellie: Our second stop of the day was vastly different from our Loveless get-together but every bit as charming! We were greeted at Landmark books by owners, Joel and Carol Tomlin. (Joel and I immediately decided that our family trees may intersect somewhere back down the line as he has been told that their family name was once Tomlinson before someone began dropping the last letters. I’m figuring that person was what you’d call bone tired, amen?)
Rivuh and I were quite touched with our billboard. Made us feel all Hollywood.

Here is a shot of the Tomlins with a sweet reader we met from Shreveport, which, of course, isn’t that far from my stomping ground. I interviewed her with my flip camera and will try to send that up, too!

Now, I just don’t know what to say about this mother-daughter duo. The Wells just may take up where The Judds left off! Mom, Korie, is a talented poet and daughter, Kelsey, is a very accomplished musician. They blessed us with a performance of Korie’s poems set to Kelsey’s music, and because I just know I can’t do this justice with words, I’m keeping this post short on purpose so I can try to find and
upload that video!

River: One of the great surprises on the road is discovering other writers. Now, I've known Kory Wells for sometime but - I DIDN'T KNOW HER! Please check out Kory and her daughter Kelsey with their artistic rendition of words and music performance. What an amazing work of living art these two are doing. Don't miss them anywhere! And order Kory's great book of poetry. I'm first in line for Kelsy's first CD.

A very, special Thank YOU to Joel and Carol - And look for our Conversion on Books, The Digital Age, ADD, What Storytelling Really Is - and more on YOU tube and upcoming radio shows. (Youtube.com for video links soon!)

On the road again,
River and Shellie

Technorati Tags: southern wing and prayer tour,Landmark Books,poet,musician

Breaking Bread at The Loveless Cafe

2010-03-18T16:56:00.001-07:00

Notes from the road:
Shellie: By 1:00 today we had lost and recovered one blackberry, one camera, AND the jeep keys (the sunglasses remain at large), but none of that could dampen our enthusiasm!

River: Spastic. That's the only word that comes to mind when Shellie couldn't find her very fine Nikon camera and I couldn't find the jeep keys - which by the way were in Shellie's bag where I had been digging to find something else.

Shellie: Here we are at The Famous Loveless Cafe, (who also donated some great jams for a giveaway at one of the bookstore visits) breaking bread with fellow writer and word people. I’m NOT going to try and name these wonderful folks. Rivuh is in this ginormous mall somewhere and I’m posting from Starbucks and just as sure as I try, I’m gonna mess up. Can I just say they were all precious—precious! Yes, I may have teared up when it came my time to introduce myself and tell a little about me and what it is I do, especially since River was smiling at me across the table with some sorta twisted proud parent look like, “You tell ‘em, buddy.” I’ll let River add the names later! Please note that my priorities were straight. There are a number of pics toward the end of the food, first the legendary biscuits in the making and then one of River’s plate and another of River enduring me taking a pic of her plate. The last couple shots are of our wonderful waiter and host—a fine example of southern hospitality. We enjoyed it, Loveless!
Oh—and by the way—watch for us on the Food Network. Yep—there was film crew there and we just “happened” to get in the shot.

River: Okay - I can't even figure out how to put names under the pictures so here goes. Obviously there are a few shots of me and Shellie doing that WE WERE HERE moment, and then the group shot - in order: Me, Brenda McClain, Shellie, Denise Mitchell, Jolina Petershiem, Ginna Foster (newly married and forgive me for not remembering your beautiful additional name), Denise Hildreth, Darnell Arnoult, and Tom Kimmel. (And everyone forgive the wrong spellings of everything. Can barely see. Must still get it together and get on the road for Nashville.

Then you have- great foodie pics, Shellie telling me - Take a picture of your plate River - and the wonderful people who took care of us at the Loveless - Beth and Randy! Thanks guys for making it such a delightful lunch.

On the road again,
River and Shellie

Technorati Tags: wing and prayer tour,authors,Loveless Cafe

River and I "releasing books into the wild" (more details at bookcrossing.com)

2010-03-18T12:26:00.000-07:00

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At The Loveless Cafe!

2010-03-18T12:03:00.000-07:00

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Ready and RUBBING IT IN?

2010-03-15T20:18:00.000-07:00

River: Okay, that's just my point of view but what would you call it when your radio show road trip buddy let's you know that not only has she lined up a guest host for her show for two weeks, taped years of radio segments in advance, filled a thousand orders for All Thing Southern t-shirts, started a new tv program and had her nails done - she has also lined up 14 days - count -em - 14 of pre- HOME COOKED meals for her husband with a MENU for each night's choices taped to her fridge. Seriously. Okay - just a few things were a stretch but the guest host, the shows, and the MEALS ARE NOT. Tell the truth Shellie.

Shellie: The expression we use around here, Rivuh, is "tell the truth, girl,and stay in church" and so, I will. The guest host for the live show is so you and I can call in with a live update from the road. Good idea, huh? And I only pretaped four weeks worth of my daily segments for the other affiliates, not years. Oh, and I don't have a meal for every single day cooked for my husband. He will have to eat leftovers once or twice to make it all work out. ;)

River: So this puts just a little pressure on a woman that burns herself heating up a precooked chicken. And it was no small burn mind you. A woman is beating her head against the wall over just a few technical frustrations, a woman who tries to cook, Lord knows I do, but it's like spinning that big Wheel on the Price is Right - you just never know where it's gonna land, how burnt, cut and maimed I will be after the experience, or exactly what the food will taste or look like in the end of all that trouble.

Shellie: Poor Rivuh, I shouldn't have taunted you about the precooked meals. That was just flat out wrong. (But it was fun.)

River: So here's what I was thinking after sitting and mulling over what a loser wife I am and how my poor, hard working husband will be coming home to a cold kitchen. 1. Buy lots of frozen wing things in a bag and stick them in the freezer. 2. I can't come up with a two. 3. Consider the fact that good buddy Shellie is obviously a whiz at this and maybe she can just stir up a few extra things for FOURTEEN DAYS and put names and numbers on them like DAY ONE, DAY TWO, DAY THREE - and so on - and put them in a cooler on her drive up here to Nashville. I'm thinking I can relocate them to my freezer with little maiming unless I trip and fall headlong, chest first into the gate post walking in the door which is a true story for another time.

Shellie: Okay, I'm just flat out chuckling aloud on this side of the screen. Had this come up sooner than say less than 48 HOURS before I have to strike out to your place, we may could have come up with something here.

River: It also occurred to me that Shellie's folks are concerned about her traveling with a 'stranger' for good reason but there are some things that they will find comforting. I am not afraid of Rattlesnakes, spiders, or scorpians. I will kill them all. (Sorry to my friends who protect all things on the planet.) I have a real healthy respect for a Water Moccasin that will chase you across a dirt farm yard down by the creek on a Summer day till you must get your hind in up the porch steps with a quickness. Ask me how I know. HOWEVER - I can not stand, abide, get near, touch or talk to a big, old, black cockroach otherwise known as a Palmeto bug in the South which is just a lie with a word that sounds better. I will scream bloody murder if one comes near me flying high/low or otherwise. If it lands on me my eyes will fall out of my head and I will dance the strangest thing maniacal roach raid dance you have ever seen. God help us if one happens to get in the jeep and CRAWL UP MY LEG. All I can say is that Shellie you better take the wheel!

Shellie: As the Jetson's dog might have said, "Ruh, roh!" This is another one of those things that should've come up sooner. See here, Rivuh, I can and have killed my share of snakes. Why-- my sisters and I even hung green snakes by our ears (they make great dangly earrings) yeras ago, and I dare say I could do it again today. HOWEVER, I can not-- not-- kill cockroaches. My stomach rolls at the sight of the thing. As a matter of fact, I lost total interst in Survivor the very first time they thought it was a good idea to eat a Madagascar Hissing Cockroach! Eat. One. That's all I'm gonna say on that lest I get sick right here. I'm just saying, I stand with the legendary Suzanne Sugarbaker on this one who once said, "I say the men should have to kill the bugs." Here, here, Suzanne. Rivuh, if a cockroach gets on my leg, you will not need to know how to kill it because I will likely step out of your jeep to get away from it-- running or sitting still, makes no never mind to me.

River: And just so you know that we do have the strangest things in common - Shellie and I had both agreed to do a little trip catching up planning on the phone Sunday since we have been running hard at it (right now I can't figure out a thing I've done since there isn't even a bag of frozen wing things or hot pockets in my fidge) but we needed to talk. Shellie text's me that she is on the porch and that Dixie Belle is ready to go. Shellie would you have a pic that you can insert here?

Shellie: Why, of course. I'm thinking you're talking about the pic I sent you of Dixie Belle who was "working like a dog" beside me at the time.

River: And I look across the room and say, Yep - it looks like we are raring to go here too.

On a Wing and A Prayer folks! And just around the Corner!

River & Shellie

Ready or Not Here We Come?

2010-03-11T17:00:00.000-08:00

River: Not. Not ready.

Shellie: I can't imagine why! Personally, I'm so ready... NOT! :)

River: I've been thinking of things I really hope Shellie is not allergic to certain things. Like Chanel perfume and me singing Me and Bobby MeGee at the top of my lungs because it is such a great road trip song.

Shellie: Far as I'm concerned, you can bathe in Chanel. Won't bother me a bit. As for the Me and Bobby MeGee, well, I may have to see "On the Road Again" with Waylon and Willie, so we'll be even.

River: I've also been making a list and checking it twice. It is not making me feel anymore prepared. I am searching for a new purse that will carry EVERYTHING including recording equipment. Picked up one cowboy sized satchel I needed a horse to carry. And that was before I loaded it up with everything from said Chanel to plugs and microphones.

Shellie: A list? Yeah...I started a list too! ( Note to self: FIND THAT LIST!)
River: The Loveless Cafe will be our shall say last lunch before we hit the road? But what better place to break bread with Nashville writers over biscuits and fried chicken and jam - and thanks to the Loveless Cafe for offering up a Jam Pack to some fortunate Wing and Prayer tour tracker.

Shellie: Okay, so seriously. I'm totally stoked about breaking bread with author folks at The Loveless Cafe. Additional thanks from me to the Loveless folks for the give-a-way!

River: Shellie you'll be happy to know I whipped out my little pocket knife from my purse and opened up that new Droid battery charger like nobody's business. (Could something cute with bullets be far behind?)

Shellie: Don't even start with me about that Droid, River Jordan. I wanted one before the trip, too, and it looks like I'm gonna have to stay with the bberry! Although, of course, I am proud of you for being all can-do.

River: Umm, did I mentioned that new Droid? Now if I can only figure out how to ANSWER THE PHONE by the time we head out of town.

Shellie: You mentioned the Droid. I can't speak for the others but I'm ignoring you.
River: I am also making a list of things that I am NOT doing before Shellie you arrive at my door. I am NOT painting the walls, fixing the porch, removing the old wallpaper border, buying new dishes or shower curtains. However, I don't even think I will cook a meal and you will be the better for it. I will spray the white goat dog with Chanel.

Shellie: Well, shucks, now-- and here I was expecting a full course meal with a fingertip bowl. You will have Diet Coke, right? Or shall I bring my own?

River: My mother is starting to count the days and ask me serious questions - again? Like why are you doing this? Are you driving your own vehicle if I might ask? Are ya'll having to pay for the gas? And I sure hope someone comes to see you. To which I must reply - Momma, we wouldn't trade this experience traveling across Six states and talking books to everyone we meet for anything.

Shellie: I think my Mama would feel a lot better about me hitting the road with someone who "mightaswellbeatotalstranger" if you filled out a questionairre.

River: So please, ya'll do turn out and bring your Mama's, sisters, brothers, cousins and neighbors because our Mama's happen to be tracking this tour and they are demanding hard evidence that we are going where we say we are and doing what we say we are doing and not just off lollygagging.

Shellie: Amen, to that special request from Rivuh. We want to see y'all, find out what lights your literary fire, and ~~pick your brains for new material~~ hear your thoughts on the future of the written word and the advantages and disadvantages of the new technology. Now, y'all go ahead and leave us a little note if you read this. We LOVE your comments.

Yours on a Wing and A Prayer,
River & Shellie

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Tour Time

2010-03-03T13:47:00.000-08:00

Shellie: As the Great Southern Wing and a Prayer trip nears, River and I are trying to carve out time to discuss the many tour details that need addressing before we hit the road. And yet, as said road trip nears, the list of personal and business details that must be crossed off before we pull away from our respective homes is growing faster than the mold on the leftovers in my refrigerator (for the record, that’s on the list, too) and almost as fast as the list of caring questions from our family and friends, in particular our mamas, “Honey, do you really know that girl well enough to take off on a two-week road trip?”

River: As I said on the radio show today We are about to know one another a whoooooole lot better. And for the record - those moldy leftovers are on my list too. I know it's time to do it when I keep yelling at husband DON'T EAT THAT YOU'll GET SICK! anytime he pulls something out in tupperwear.

Shellie: Amidst today’s hustle and bustle, it occurs to me that River and I have talked to each other about the give-a-aways we’ll be doing along the way, but I don’t know that we’ve told y’all how this is gonna work. So, here goes what I know and River can chime in:

River: Hmmmm, Shellie's right. We don't have time to breathe much less talk as we get closer to the wire. Let me go see if what she is saying is what we said.

Shellie: At each stop on the landing we’ll be drawing winners/door prizes from those attending the event. (Please see box on left hand banner to know where we’ll be and when we’ll be. Asking me would be useless, but I actually think River has it memorized. Memorized. Color me impressed.) Yes, that means you must be present to win and while we know your mamas are just as adorable as ours, she can’t win unless you bring her. Prizes include books and Literary Threads book bags, All Things Southern t-shirts, Book Crossing cool things, and Panola Pepper Products!

River: EXACTLY. We tried to think of other ways but this is the perfect reward for taping American Idol, throwing something in the crockpot for dinner, and getting out to see us on the ROAD!

Shellie: We’re also gonna be giving away daily prizes to those who follow the tour. I was gonna say “track us” on tour, but that just looked scary in a stalker kind of way. I’m not gonna stop here and tell y’all about Stalker Boy from high school who stashed prizes in my locker and hid to watch me find them even though it is a great story cuz he may find it and then, well, there you go.

River: Shellie put that down for a story on the road after you scan the audience to make sure Stalker boy isn't present (but on the hush hush - yes tour trackers is right.)

Shellie: Rules to win the “follow” prizes: You must be signed up to follow the tour here and you must leave a daily comment on facebook, twitter, or here on the blog. We would prefer these to have something to do with the tour, but heck, if you feel the need to comment on your Cousin Betty’s fourth husband we’ll be fine with that, but do know she may find her way into our next project. Material is a finders’ keepers thing with us.

River: Don't you know we are using this big radio road trip as a sneaky, secret way to get new story material? Sure you do! The fun part is that all along the trip we will have new stories to tell from the road we just traveled.

Shellie: And now, back to the races. You may return to your regularly scheduled browsing.

River: PS - I am proud to report that baby Jeep Angel is reportedly leaving the shop finally today after that little run in with the deer.

Keep reading and keep believing,
Shellie and River

Why We Might Not Be Packing Guns

2010-02-25T07:23:00.000-08:00

River: Okay there is a disclaimer here - for those of you who support major gun control and wish they would fall off the planet - I UNDERSTAND. BUT = I was raised in the Rural South where everyone had a gun and they used it for hunting and protecting the little house back up in those woods.

Shellie: Not to mention having it on hand to fire once, just once, straight up in the air to usher in the New Year. What? Everyone's daddy didn't do that?

River: And where I come from everyone was in a little house in the middle of nowhere surrounded by lots and lots of trees, howling, who-ing, and otherwise spookety night time noises with dark that is really, really, DARK! 911 is not an option. A telephone might be an option but not emergency hurry up services.

Shellie: Of course, back on Bull Run Road, the first emergency call didn't go to the authorities. It went to whoever picked up the party line. This ernest soul made sure a slew of folks came to your aid, like yesterday, men packing heat and women packing food because heavens knows you need to keep your strength up.

River: This brings us to the present where I was raised around woman folk who carried guns too. In their pocketbooks if need be. By the bed - you know, just in case an intruder thought twice about surfacing in that dark night. And yes, the shotgun is loaded and by the back door.

Shellie: Have I told y'all about the time, pre-author/interior decorater days, when I was confronted by a crazy lady (verified) with a shotgun by the door? I think I'll save it for the tour...

River: Have I told ya'll about the woman I met with a shotgun as one of my first introductions to Tennessee? i could see was her from the waist down holding that shotgun she had just fired. Yep, Shellie I better save this for tour also. Understandably, I have had some family members recommend that Shellie and I pack something special for the trip. You know, something cute, shiny, and wearing bullets.

Shellie: And I've had family and friends who can't imagine that we would leave without bullets. On my last road tour my Papa sent me off with mace and a billy club-- and he still thought I was woefully unprepared.

River: But here's the gig - Have you seen Shellie's All Things Southern Chat talking about too many programs open? Have you read my blog about Where Do All The Lost Things Go? For good reason both of our respective husbands (unbeknowst to one another) have strongly voiced an opinion that we might just shoot ourselves by accident. Hmmm. Let me think about this a moment.

I have images of Shellie holding a cute, shiny thing to her ear thinking it's her cell phone and me crawling all over the backseat saying having you seen my gun? I swear it was just here a minute ago.

Shellie: Good Lord, Rivuh, that's not a visual, that's a prophecy!

River: There are some people that shouldn't drive around with cases of great giveaways, video and radio recording equpment, books, cell phones, laptops and back-up laptops, flip phones and BULLETS.

(Shellie: For the record, I still say we should leave it up in the air as to whether or not we're really packing heat. You know, keep 'em guessing and all.)

River: I guess we'll just have to kiss our Annie Get Your Gun Roots goodbye and hit the road with just A WING AND A PRAYER!

Shellie: River's right! (wink, wink) No guns!

Keep reading, keep believing
River and Shellie

Common Threads

2010-02-23T15:10:00.000-08:00

A few Common Threads have bound Shellie and River together and set them up for the Great Southern Wing and A Prayer Tour.

Both love promoting authors and all things related to words on their respective radio programs. ( All Things Southern and River Jordan Live )

They have matching recorders for those professional interviews with Book Sellers, readers, and book clubs.

Both have serious crushes on those grand babies and are a bit Braggalicious here and there.

The Native Southern Girls have a deep and abiding love for the deep South and the best of the things it has to offer. (Like boiled peanuts, crickets at night, heat lightning, and STORYTELLING.)

The list really goes on and on. But what the two authors didn't know during the planning of this wild, engaging multi-state romp was that they would both have books coming out next year with Penguin - and actually with the same editor.

It's a little Serendipty, Kezmit, and Divine timing all rolled into one. So stay tuned for more as Sue Ellen's Girl Ain't Fat, She Just Weighs Heavy by Shellie Rushing Tomlinson and Praying for Strangers by River Jordan make their respective debuts in 2011!

Thanks for following the tour updates and travel plans. Shellie and River hope to see you soonest in a city near you.

Penny for your thoughts...

2010-02-23T12:45:00.000-08:00

Shellie: It's two o'clock and I just got back to my desk. I took my niece to the doctor this morning to help with her three year old who had fallen and fractured her tibia. Poor thing, the baby not the niece, is now in a cast up to her hip. Emmie did really well getting the cast. As she is quite the drama queen, we were totally impressed with her attitude and level of co-operation. Of course, her mindset became quite clear one minute after we got in the car and the new wore off her rocking hot pink cast. "Okay," she said. "It's all better. I'm ready to take it off now." Big sigh from her mom. And now, for the first of many thousands of times, "We've got to leave it on a while long, honey." And here we go....

Wait! Perhaps this post should've come with a disclaimer. Okay, here's one now: This post will be full of digressions from the original digression. I feel better.

It's two o'clock, the day is half over and I am staring at my overwhelming desk. I could and should jump into knocking out content I'll have to tape Monday that will air the following week on the radio affiliates that carry my daily taped segments. That would let me turn my attention to doing radio prep for Friday's LIVE show and after checking that off, I could send out the postcards to the stores on our tour, (right, Rivuh?) and after that I could get the t-shirt order to Simmons, and after that I could attack the inbox, and after that I could work on the manuscript that must be in New York, JUNE 1ST!

But, am I doing any of that? All together now: NO! Instead, I'm doing what I suspect all author type people do when they're supposed to be writing. I am p-r-o-c-r-a-s-t-i-n-a-t-u-n-g. It is an art, perfected over time. It is also called, "priming the pump", writing endless words to get to some that matter. I think I have to go thru more than the average bear to get to those that count.

And now, just when all of us thought this post was totally pointless, (and River is probably seriously considering using her admin credentials to get in here and delete this), I shall get to my reason for strolling over to our little mutual blog.

As River and I may have mentioned a hundred dozen times, one of the goals of our wild and wooly road trip isto interview Y'ALL the book-sellers and the book readers. I'm getting really excited about that! I spend time at night when I should be resting my tired brain, thinking about not wasting such a fantabulous opportunity. I do not want to miss a thing. So, here's my question. If you were with us, and you could interview a stranger about the industry in general, or their literary tastes in particular, what would you ask them?

Keep reading, keep believing.

Hugs,
Shellie

(P.S. to Rivuh, I have no idea why the font changed sizes and shapes and some of the letters wouldn't stay with their rightful owners. I can't seem to fix it and I didn't do it on purpose, tomboy honor.)

BookCrossing joins the Tour!

2010-02-22T13:44:00.000-08:00

River: We are making a list and checking it twice and yes - running out of more room every single day to fit all our great giveaways and goodies in the Jeep before we hit the road.

If you've never heard of BookCrossing you just don't know all the fun that you've been missing. We are proud to announce that BookCrossing has just joined the Southern Wing and A Prayer Tour as an official sponsor. They'll be providing us with some of the coolest book stuff you've ever seen for our great givewaways and . . . can we have a drum roll please -

Just because we didn't have enough to do we're going to be setting a book loose in the WILD every day of the trip. You can read all about exactly what that means at BookCrossing because they do such an incredbile job of doing what they were created to do. Celebrate books by just giving them away in strange place.

Shellie: Wild writer women giving away odd books in strange places. What a perfect sponsor!

BookCrossing first crossed our paths back in OHHH that was about the 1900's. Okay - at least it feels that way when they firsts visit the Gulf Coasts many years ago for a great book festival known as Book Alive. The founding member of BookCrossing gave this incredbile demonstraion how books were being set free and readers responded in droves. What's a drove you might ask? Just go on over, check out the site and you'll soon discover how many book enthusiasts from so many countries make up a drove.

Yes, each of us will be releasing a book into the wild every day, twittering and facebooking clues along the way of just where we left that book as we hit the road again - and then giving away great BookCrossing surprises to the people that find our little treasure!

Yes, that's more to pack but we're having too much fun to stop now. Thanks BookCrossing for joining the Great Southern Wing and A Prayer tour and to all our readers and tour trackers who are making plans to join us on the road or follow us on facebook/twitter/and youtube!

Keep reading, keep believing,
River and Shellie

Packing Clampett Style

2010-02-16T20:24:00.000-08:00

River: Okay - for those of you old enough to remember, or who have the good graces of TV LAND cable where they are PRESERVING our TV heritage, then you know all about that image of the Clampett's truck setting out to move to Hollywood piled high to the heavens with everything in this world including granny and her rocking chair.

Shellie: Come and listen to the story of some girls, corn fed...

River: Well folks, here's the deal - We only have so much room for our stuff in the jeep and our packing list has just begun - are you ready for this.

1. Sleeping bags for the nights we must sleep like real cowgirls under the stars
2. Hot rollers, hair dryers, hair brushes, hair spray, hair flat irons, hair spray and all things hair.

3. Make up for high definition television interviews - see exhibit a) pink fishing tackle box filled with spackle for faces and eyes

4. Outfits that will last us 14 days and nights with never once having time to do our laundry even at the Wishy Washy on the road.

5. Shoes for cold days, muddy days, mountin stops, seeing ROCK CITY, southern alabama, driving with tired ankles and booties to sleep in.

6. Mama's medicine kit which includes Pepto Bismol, Alka Seltzer cold plus, Vit C, those antibotics the dog never finished just in case, and a strange little bottle of things left over from other prescriptions that might just come in handy cause you just never know if someone might have a toothache, the hives, or naseau due to car sickness from trying to ride and twitter too much.

7. Electronics. Now this takes on a life form of it's own as we must bring multiple sets of headphones, audio recording equipment, two maybe three laptops for work and production, music for interludes, a couple of crackberries and charging equipment for both rooms and cars, gps electronic devices because ya'll - we are going to get lost, video equipment for the docudrama part of the program, flip phones, cords that we no longer recognise but are sure belong to something and we should bring them just in case. Cameras, camera batteries, camera charges, camera connectors for laptops and throw away cameras cause Mama says she is tired of never seeing pictures that just end up on the internet.

(Shellie: Mama is just gonna love you for that last one, Rivuh. She is so weary of people not printing out pictures anymore. "For goodness sakes, Shellie, I need some regular pictures I can show people.")

8. Raincoast, warm coats, jeans jackets, and coats just for Mississippi air conditioning (note - this may just be for River's suitcase)

9. Ball caps. We don't know why but We're thinking we are going to need ball caps maybe with our wing and prayer logo's and that we'll ride with the windows down so we just can't even hear each other talking anymore.

10. Books. Hahahaha. Not just books to read but some of our books. Then our books to read. Aloud. To each other. Oh, and add one Kindle to that electronic devise list.

11. OUR TERRIFIC GIVEAWAYS FROM SPONSORS FOR EVERY STOP ALONG THE ROAD!

12. A double loaded pocketful of prayers for a safe journey there and back again.
13. Earplugs so that we can just smile sweetly at one another and say, UH, huh.
14. Pictures of the Adorables and the Baby Czars - so that we can brag a little on the road.

Shellie: And number 15: Something small and cute with bullets.
River: That number 15 will have to be a whole new blog :)
Okay - friends, followers, and author buddies who have logged thousands and thousands of miles on the road - what are we forgetting? We're counting on you so do tell!

River and Shellie

And the Winner is...

2010-02-15T19:43:00.000-08:00

Shellie: Hey Y'all! Thanks for playing the slogan game with us. We appreciate all the good ideas and this wasn't easy by any stretch, but it's time to choose a winner. Now, if we could have a drum roll please...

And the winner is "Angels of the Airwaves"! Congratulations, Kory! We loved all the slogans, but yours speaks to us in particular about the many people we'll be interviewing and their love stories with the written word that we'll be bringing back to our respective radio shows. We want to celebrate those angel readers that keep literature alive! Send me an email with your physical address and your prize box will be on it's way.

Keep reading and keep believing!
Hugs,
Shellie and River

Write and Win!

2010-02-12T10:35:00.000-08:00

Shellie: Hey y'all! Monday night, Feb. 15th, River and I will draw a name from the hat and send someone a signed copy of each of our books, along with two All Things Southern t-shirts, one for you and one for a friend, that I'm tossing in just cuz. So, how do you get your name in the hat? The rules are simple:

1. Sign up to follow this blog. It won't hurt. I promise, and you'll be able to keep up with the tour!
2. Come up with a slogan for our tour and leave it as a comment.
3. Sit up pretty and be sweet.

River: Or Sit sweet and be pretty. Actually - just tell other people they are pretty no matter what. Specially the older they are. I don't care how you sit if you are reading one of our books. You can hang upside down off the couch.

Shellie: Okay, so that last one isn't exactly a rule. I think I was channeling Mama there for a second. But you have to follow the first two or game over.

Tread softly and carry a ton of books!

River: We apprecitate you keeping up with us cause God knows somebody needs to!
Shellie: Amen.

Keep reading and Keep believing!
Shellie and River

HOW IT ALL BEGAN

2010-02-09T19:21:00.000-08:00

River: I'm thinking it was the SIBA Trade show Shellie - what do you think? The moment of inspiration was the trolley car cell phone incident. WAIT! Or was it when we first met at Pulpwood Queens Girlfriend Getaway Weekend - I remember the moment - both of us with laptops humming, blackberries cracking, and somehow trying to juggle radio show productions from Jefferson.

Shellie: Nah, we were full steam ahead with this idea by that time, remember? Jefferson, home of the Pulwood Queen, host to the Pulpwood Festival and Girlfriend Weekend/Book Event Extraordinaire, just threw gas on our word fire!

River: Well, the shows were definitely years ahead but our inspiration to take the shows on the road? Maybe it was when we were running around in Decatur at the Decatur Book Festival - I guess the truth is taking our radio shows on the road was an ongoing hum. A developing saga for sometime.

Shellie: Actually, I think the idea was birthed that time you arrived in your shiny new Jeep in the niche of time and on a wing and a prayer for your author panel, and yours truly was waiting in front of building to grab your keys and park your brand new baby. I trust you've forgiven me for texting you that little funny concerning my innocence as to that dent in the left fender-- you know the message I sent just as you were going on? I was just loosening you up.

River: I didn't think it was funny did I Shel? Well, no need to worry - that run in with those 3 deer has gotten me over the worry of a little ding in the jeep. NOW that I think of it, I think this story might really have started during the trolly car crash that caused witnesses (ummm, that's friends) to say you two need to just hit the road together.

Shellie: Of course, there is always the chance that they just wanted us to hit the road period, meaning, leave the city they were in before anything worse happened...

River: No matter when it happened, the fact is Shellie and I are both interviewing authors every week on the air, promoting new book releases, taking the pulse of the book industry, and hearing from readers on what they are loving and why. And we both have some things in common. We both love talking a lot! To God (who is a good listener) to our husbands (who say, umhum baby and probably didn't hear a word), to our children who actually like us and will be seen in public with us, - and yes to those grandbabies who we think walk on water!

Shellie: Is this where I should post pictures of Grant Thomas, nine month old Baby Beau Czar and Emerson Ann, 14 month old Bellerina Czar? It's late and I'm tired, but as The Arnold would say, "I'll be back."

River: We also love great words,and stories in all their glory. And we are a little fond of all things Southern like Boiled Peanuts, rocking chairs, back porches, slow summer evenings, and the smell of dirt just before it rains.

Shellie: Stories and words, words and stories. They're gonna pile up in our Jeep and fall out all over everybody, Rivuh! (Thought I should let the folks know that I like to call you Rivuh. It makes me feel all Scarlett like.)

River: Our differences - oh, no doubt we are about to discover what those are to the full extent after fourteen days on the road together. Here's a few right up front.
#1. My music tendencies run pretty much from The Rolling Stones, Van Morrison, Coldplay and The Blind Boys of Alabama. I'm thinking Shellie will not really like my music. (We are packing separate earphones)

Shellie: I lean towards Kirk Franklin, December Radio, Allison Kraus, Babbi Mason, Reba Does She Need a Last Name, and Carey Underwood.

River: #2. Shellie tends to get HOT a LOT. I tend to run COLD all the TIME. (We are packing layers to take off and put on respectively. - Maybe I can just put on the layers Shellie is taking off to cut down on our packing!)

Shellie: I hope your Jeep baby has those seperate controls. I keep forgetting to ask you about that. Oh, well, no matter, I can always hang my head out the window. It's not like I haven't done it before.

River: Okay - the most excellent cool thing is - We are so EXCITED to be going out to visit book sellers, readers, and story lovers across six states. We already love each and every book seller we've spoken with. Our only disappointment is that with SEVENTEEN Bookstores/Venues AND a SPECIAL SIBA NIGHT EVENT in FOURTEEN days - we don't have time to make ever visit where we've been invited. (Next year? Could there possibly be a Southern Wing & A Prayer Tour II in the works?)

Shellie: Oh, yes, there could, ~~Virginia,~~ River. It may even be an annual event! Who knows?!

Stay tuned here for ALL THE INSIDE NEWS From the both of us as the Great Southern Wing and A Prayer Tour continues. And stay tuned for the awesome giveaways to tour trackers!

Special thanks to Literary Threads for joining the tour as an official sponsor and offering great totes for a lucky winner at every store!

And To Panola Pepper from Lake Providence, LA for sponsoring us, and packing us out with all kinds of goodies to give away!

We'll be comin' 'round the mountain near your hometown soon!

Tread softly and carry a ton of books,
~River and Shellie