, a non-fiction book about his poor relatives in Alabama. Rick Bragg is a truly awesome story teller and his books are page turners you cannot lay down! Rick is the winner of Alabama's 2009 Harper Lee Literary Award! He has truly earned this award with his wonderful books!
Now I want to brag a little! He reads my blog! Yes, he does!! Who knew?? We had a nice little conversation about my post on Brett Favre. Turns out he is a HUGE (no pun intended Rick) Favre fan!! Look how he signed my copy of his new book! From " me and Brett " !!
I was sitting just to the right of the mike. Here Jerry is introducing Sonny and Rick! Brenda @ One Kentucky Writer, I did tell him you were very disappointed to have missed him at Southern Festival of Books in Nashville and he said to tell you he is so sorry he missed you too! Speaking of which, Brenda where were you when the Tornado Sirens went off? He and Sonny has some funny stories about that!!
Main Street Books was packed for these guys! I heard people saying they left work or took the day off from work, to see Rick Bragg!
NEVER miss one of his signings if he comes to your town! He is the funniest guy you'll ever meet!
This is my first time meeting Sonny Brewer. I also bought his new book which will be my first time to read him. What a really nice guy!
Another shot of the crowd.........
Here Rick reads from his latest book " The Most They Ever Had " ...........
A usually very funny man becomes very serious as he talks about the Southerners he writes about. The south he knows. Not the south of romantic Civil War novels with heroes in battle riding white horses and returning home to plantations with a mansion on it. His is a south where most of the people had a hard row to hoe just to keep their babies fed and alive.
The same south that southern writers like Faulkner, Welty, Morris and others loved and wrote about. The same south I knew as a child. I can never say enough about how great Rick Bragg's writing is! If you read Rick Bragg, you will love Rick Bragg! Please leave a comment telling others about how you feel about his writing if you have read his books!
Here, Sonny and Rick take questions.............one question was about the youth of today.
This is my first time meeting Sonny Brewer. I also bought his new book which will be my first time to read him. What a really nice guy!
Another shot of the crowd.........
Here Rick reads from his latest book " The Most They Ever Had " ...........
A usually very funny man becomes very serious as he talks about the Southerners he writes about. The south he knows. Not the south of romantic Civil War novels with heroes in battle riding white horses and returning home to plantations with a mansion on it. His is a south where most of the people had a hard row to hoe just to keep their babies fed and alive.
The same south that southern writers like Faulkner, Welty, Morris and others loved and wrote about. The same south I knew as a child. I can never say enough about how great Rick Bragg's writing is! If you read Rick Bragg, you will love Rick Bragg! Please leave a comment telling others about how you feel about his writing if you have read his books!
Here, Sonny and Rick take questions.............one question was about the youth of today.
" What will they write about the south they know" ? Rick is very concerned that kids today know nothing about the hardship and struggle their ancestors knew. They equate today's economic state with the Great Depression .They are totally unaware of the poverty and homelessness that is right under their nose at present. He urges parents and grandparents to show them the truth and encourage them to become concerned givers instead of being spoiled "me, me, me" takers!
Here Sonny Brewer reads from his new book "The Widow and The Tree". I am really excited about reading this book after hearing him read from it! Absolutely beautiful prose. The story is a true story which made the news after the Widow cuts down a 500 year old Live Oak Tree on her land in Fairhope , Alabama.
As you can see, I did not get another picture with Rick or one with Sonny! It was a mad house after they finished talking. They were mobbed with people waiting to get their books signed.
This is a close up. I'm going to show this to Hubby and tell him this painting is on my Christmas List! HA! :)
Here Sonny Brewer reads from his new book "The Widow and The Tree". I am really excited about reading this book after hearing him read from it! Absolutely beautiful prose. The story is a true story which made the news after the Widow cuts down a 500 year old Live Oak Tree on her land in Fairhope , Alabama.
"Sonny Brewer holds the reader close" --- Harper Lee,Author of To Kill a Mockingbird
I've never seen a book blurb from Harper Lee !!!!!!!!!!!
As you can see, I did not get another picture with Rick or one with Sonny! It was a mad house after they finished talking. They were mobbed with people waiting to get their books signed.
I'm an old hand at this, I always get mine signed before the presentation! :)
They also have to be in New Orleans later on then on to Baton Rouge for the Bookfest! :(
So I ducked out.............but not before I got a picture of this wonderful painting of Windsor !!
This is the house that sat on Windsor Plantation outside Natchez. It burned in the late 1800s'.
The site; Windsor Ruins is now a famous tourist destination . It was at these ruins that Hubby and I saw the Yankee Soldier Ghost a few years ago! Just google Windsor Ruins for all the information about this place!
This is a close up. I'm going to show this to Hubby and tell him this painting is on my Christmas List! HA! :)
Got to get packed for our weekend in The Bayou Country of Louisiana!!
HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND EVERYONE!!! :)
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27 comments:
You're excitement is contagious, my dear.
Have a wonderful trip.
You are the best reader, Carol. I would kill to have people like you at my book signing. I do not know these writers, but I am taking notes. Thanks.
p.s. do pick up the Sisterhood award at my blog. You and I are definitely sisters. Did I tell you I spent seven years in Georgia, teaching at Thomasville Community College? See, I worked on a campus that had been Birdwood Plantation, with that southern ambience permeating from every wall. Funny Uh?
How wonderful to have such a large crowd!! I would love to have heard them both.
I adore reading about the South! you have convinced me. I will look for his book!
I also am not surprised he reads YOUR blog! I rather like it myself :)!
You mean Rick Bragg and I both read your blog???
How cool is that?
He is one of the greatest southern writers!
Sounds like a mighty fine time was had by all; I'm glad to hear it.
I'm so jealous you got to meet Rick Bragg. His writing is something beyond this world. It sounds like this was a fun and fulfilling event.
Congrats Carol on having such a fabulous day. You can bragg about Bragg all you want to. He obviously is a great writer. Sonny Brewer sounds like a great writer also.. Lucky Gal---getting to meet these two guys up close and personal.
Hugs,
Betsy
Gosh, did Sonny Brewer mention how he happened to get a blurb by none other than Harper Lee? What a great day for you, (color me a little envious), and I am going to read these two books.
Carol, I just love reading your posts, especially when it comes to the book signing ones and Rick Bragg, you can feel the excitement in your writings.
So glad to hear you had a wonderful time, and are off on your travels once again.
Safe trip deary !
A GREAT post, Carol! I don't blame you for bragging about Bragg! And thank you for giving him my message! I agree...Rick is one of the best southern writers ever. I've read all of his books except his new one, and I plan to buy it asap.
Can't believe I have never heard of Sonny Brewer. I'll definitely check him out.
There ain't no tellin' what you'll be doing next. Keep us informed!
I always like to hear about your travels, and you always have me checking out Amazon for the books you mention ... yes, it seems 'the book mobile/big brown truck' will be coming again with books by these two men. My TBR pile grows .....
What a great event, Carol. I have Rick Bragg's " All Over But The Shout'n " and loved it. Will buy a copy of his new book. I'll have to look for Sonny Brewer's book as well. Your enthusiasm is so contagious.
Have a fun weekend of shopping for treasures!
xox
Was going to the library today anyway so I checked on the computer and they have Rick's book.
I did not know Harper Lee was still alive. Wow, that is praise from Cesar. Will check Sonny Brewer also. Thanks.
I will for sure have to get his books. My hubby is from the deep south (Baldwin County.) He loves to read and I think he will love this. It is true that our children do not know of the poor south. B. (hubby) lived in a box car with a dirt floor when he was little! He has come a long way! I try to encourage him to write. He has wrote many poems and stories of his dogs.
It sounds like you had a blast! I've never been to a book signing but you're inspiring me!
I love your "need a break!" It certainly is not the usual nap!Enjoy your LA tour, too.
We are taking some tours, in the next 3 weeks for medical purposes, but at least we will be driving through the prettiest weeks of autumm in Missouri and Arknasas. So cameras will be in tow.
Now that is something to BRAGG about! Very cool indeed! Looks like you had a lot of fun. I love his books! I told my parents that you were going to a signing, they enjoy his books as well.
On another note...Bilbo has arrived in Lake Fork, Texas...you know I want him to come visit you...so please try to go get him :-)
Yes, your excitement is contagious and I love it. Haven't read these books but find them after this comment.
BTW, another fellow blogger, Charles Gramlich at Razored Zen will be there signing his new book; say hello to him for me, will ya?!
I love Rick Bragg! Wish I could have been there. Thanks for your post, which made me feel like I WAS there!
Elizabeth
Mystery Writing is Murder
I feel your excitement! I need to check out these books and add them to my winter shut-in log. You have yourself a great trip and eat some REAL jambalaya. MMMMmmmmm. Just can't even get close 'round these parts!
Have a fun filled weekend chucked full of blessings!
That's awesome running into someone that reads your blog. I just started. It may take 10 years for that to happen to me.
LOL
I began reading Rick Bragg when he was at the New York Times and loved the way he could be tender, raw, and dead-on accurate all in the same story, without a spare word anywhere.
One I haven't read yet is the book he wrote about Jessica Lynch. Have you read that one?
Before my husband retired, he read so much at work it was hard for him to get interested in reading anything beyond the newspaper at home. Two exceptions: Pat Conroy and Rick Bragg. Gotta give the man points for taste!
Sounds like you had a wonderful time! Just stopping in to say goodbye for a while as I go off to surgery.
I've never read his books, but after listening to you 'brag' about him, he must be good. Sounds like they had a wonderful book signing.
OK Miss Carol-
Now I need to go to de Amis for breakfast, and I need to find a Rick Bragg book.
How about a post listing your top ten favorite Southern writers?
Laura
What a wonderful post! Though I have lived in the San Francisco area for over 30 years and love it here, I am a GA girl, went to nursing school in New Orleans and still love the South. I haven't read Bragg but I must do so. Hope the local library might have some of his books since I am now retired and
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