Beautiful mornings and sunsets here in Hayesville.
I finally finished my latest book. Now available on Amazon under S. Webster. It is all the poetry written since the last book. And has new short stories and narrative essays. I am finished for awhile since I am thinking of returning to the fictional town in Kind Gestures to write another novella. Only because I would like to get to know a character better. Poems and short stories don’t give me enough time to really get to know them.
There are three sections to this 145 page book. Poetry, Short Stories and Narrative essays.
I like how it feels in the hand. And using my own artwork for covers and pages inside is always fun for me. I don’t use an editor and have to actually feel the book to see the errors. So it took a few author proofs before I realized the images I drew and sewed for illustrations just did not have enough sharpness to them. So back into my archives of patched pictures. Now I simply say, “finished”
When I was waiting for new proofs to arrive, I went back to my hand sewing. Lots of stitching on the old linen layered shawl that got me through personal grief a few years ago and now is simply a joy to hold and pierce with threads collected from shops in Australia. When I got to a destination there, I would go into a thread shop to buy embroidery threads of all the colors of that particular area. Tasmania – lots of soft greens, NT – sharp reds, blues and browns, Queensland – brighter greens, Victoria – Eucalyptus leaf and blossom colors…and always the colors of the soils there.
All the holes I burned through the linen by using harsh soils to get the green of my driveway at home, are patched with scraps of contact printed silks and wools from Beautiful Silks. the more this ratty old shawl is handled, the softer it becomes.
It will take at least another month to finish stitching across at right angles to the first layer of stitching…but when I finish that, I might just want to make circles all over the surface…just to keep holding it.
I was quite social the other day and went to one of the monthly luncheons with the “Neighbor ladies”. This is big for me, to be in a room with that many women talking, but I did it. Came home and sat quietly until the cocktail hour and then poured myself a nice one.
Maybe I should write a story about some old lady who simply waits for 5 o’clock. But I won’t. She is familiar enough and by the time I finish my one glass of wine, or whiskey mac, or negroni, or scotch, I am ready to go to bed with a British mystery on my Iphone. Not much of a story there.
Speaking of stories, here is what I put on the back of this latest book…..
Suggestions on how to read this book:
Read slowly and aloud to those who want to listen. If your audience drops off before the first sentence is read, hand them back the remote. Try reading aloud to a kind neighbor, interested family member, fellow writer, your favorite bartender on a slow day. Bartenders are often used to listening to stories, so order a drink and give it a go. Feel free to write in the margins, underline words, phrases, and dog ear corners where you want to return.
Here is a new poem from the book:
My Feet
The right foot:
Always in the lead
Taps to music
Can’t wait to put its shoe on
Must be first
Controls all pedals
on the car floor
sewing machine
foot-levered waste basket
Whatever!
It is there to be counted on.
But the left!
Just a follower
And slow at that!
Clumsy on the dance floor
Uncertain where to step next
Every stumble is likely its fault
And just guess which was the first to get a bunion!
Well better get on with it….
Til later…..