Deborah Adams in the wild

The two latest posts at the new site (www.Deborah-Adams.com ) address ways that gardening can improve your writing and writing can improve your gardening.

If you’d like to continue receiving notices about new posts, please go to the new site (www.Deborah-Adams.com) and sign up for RSS or email notification.

Note: This blog has moved to www.Deborah-Adams.com .

The first step toward food independence is growing our own food. The second step is saving seed rather than buying seed every year.

Step Two does not work, however, with hybridized plants. You’ve probably heard about GMO (genetically modified) crops, and you’ve probably seen those vast fields of corn behind signs that proudly proclaim it’s grown from ‘patented’ seed. Did you know that if the GMO corn pollen blows your way and mingles with your heirloom corn that you might be sued for patent infringement? Yes, it really does happen.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Monsanto and a few other companies like it are steadily working toward a seed monopoly. I’m ashamed to say that I thought I could ignore this and go about my gardening business. Not so. Not if I value sustainable agriculture (I do).

Dr. Vandana Shiva and Seed Freedom are calling for an Occupy the Seed Fortnight of Action in October. Even if you don’t grow your own, even if you don’t intend to take any action about this, please learn more about the issue. It matters to you. I promise. Here are a few of the facts posted on the Seed Freedom site at: http://www.permacultureday.info/?page_id=2657

• In countries across the world, including in India, new seed laws are being introduced which enforce compulsory registration of seed, thus making it impossible for small farmers to grow their own diversity, and forcing them into dependency on giant seed corporations.
• Genetic contamination is spreading – India has lost the cotton seeds because of contamination from Bt. Cotton and Mexico, the historical cradle of corn, has lost eighty percent of its corn varieties and these are but two instances of loss of local and national seed heritage.
• Besides displacing and destroying diversity, patented GMO seeds are also undermining seed sovereignty, the rights of farmers to grow their own seeds and to save and exchange seed.
• As farmer’s seed supply is eroded, and farmers become dependent on patented GMO seed, the result is indebtedness. Debt created by Bt. Cotton in India has pushed farmers to suicide.

Please read more about this impending crisis at Seed Freedom‘s website.

Note: This blog has moved to www.Deborah-Adams.com .

The first step toward food independence is growing our own food. The second step is saving seed rather than buying seed every year.

Step Two does not work, however, with hybridized plants. You’ve probably heard about GMO (genetically modified) crops, and you’ve probably seen those vast fields of corn behind signs that proudly proclaim it’s grown from ‘patented’ seed. Did you know that if the GMO corn pollen blows your way and mingles with your heirloom corn that you might be sued for patent infringement? Yes, it really does happen.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Monsanto and a few other companies like it are steadily working toward a seed monopoly. I’m ashamed to say that I thought I could ignore this and go about my gardening business. Not so. Not if I value sustainable agriculture (I do).

Dr. Vandana Shiva and Seed Freedom are calling for an Occupy the Seed Fortnight of Action in October. Even if you don’t grow your own, even if you don’t intend to take any action about this, please learn more about the issue. It matters to you. I promise. Here are a few of the facts posted on the Seed Freedom site at: http://www.permacultureday.info/?page_id=2657

• In countries across the world, including in India, new seed laws are being introduced which enforce compulsory registration of seed, thus making it impossible for small farmers to grow their own diversity, and forcing them into dependency on giant seed corporations.
• Genetic contamination is spreading – India has lost the cotton seeds because of contamination from Bt. Cotton and Mexico, the historical cradle of corn, has lost eighty percent of its corn varieties and these are but two instances of loss of local and national seed heritage.
• Besides displacing and destroying diversity, patented GMO seeds are also undermining seed sovereignty, the rights of farmers to grow their own seeds and to save and exchange seed.
• As farmer’s seed supply is eroded, and farmers become dependent on patented GMO seed, the result is indebtedness. Debt created by Bt. Cotton in India has pushed farmers to suicide.

Please read more about this impending crisis at Seed Freedom‘s website.

There was a time when the little lady you see to the left would have sent me screaming. Fortunately Margaret Maron taught me to admire the Argiope, or ‘writing spider.’

Yes, like Charlotte in Charlotte’s Web.  You can see how the string of Ms or Ws that she’s created look like writing.

This particular Charlotte has taken up residence in my garden, attaching one end of her web to my garden storage box and the other end to a sweet potato vine. As a matter of fact, there are two more Charlottes out there, diligently weaving among the okra and the marigolds (that I’ve found — maybe more) and I’m thrilled by their presence. Like Margaret, I’ve taken the Argiope as a sort of mascot and I hope her presence in my garden is a good omen.

As intricate as her web is, you’d think she’d be finished, but not our arachnid writer! Oh no. Like all writers, she is continually revising. According to Margaret, the Argiope will undo and reweave her web repeatedly. In time she’ll deposit her egg sac full of potential future writers. And then, when her life’s work is complete, Charlotte will pass quietly on to that great web in the sky.

Such is the life of a writer. Always scribbling, always striving to get it exactly right, but in the end we put our babies out there to face the world (i.e. readers and reviewers), and hope that our work will be gently received and achieve longevity.

Please note:

I’ve moved my blog to a new location. www.Deborah-Adams.com should get you there, but if not, try deborah-adams.weebly.com

If you’d like to continue receiving notice of my blog posts, you’ll want to subscribe at the new site. (Just click on the Blog tab)

I’ve moved my blog to a new location. www.Deborah-Adams.com should get you there, but if not, try deborah-adams.weebly.com

If you’d like to continue receiving notice of my blog posts, you’ll want to subscribe at the new site. (Just click on the Blog tab)

Archived posts will remain here, but a whole new batch of posts about all manner of things will be popping up on the new blog.

Rebecca Curry graciously offered these thoughts on reading. I think she has nailed it, don’t you?

I once had a college professor begin a world literature course by explaining that he did not expect us (the students) to love every piece of literature we read, but he hoped we would gain an appreciation of classic literature. This was pleasant news to most students in the course, as many of them were not English majors but Bachelor of Arts degree-seekers who simply needed to fulfill a literature course requirement. Throughout the semester-long literature course, the professor conveyed his appreciation of literature to his students through his teaching. In turn, his feeling of enjoyment transferred to us as well. Most importantly, he taught us to recognize the value of literature written by great authors.

The value of reading is not synonymous, but rather collaborative with the value of writing. Avid reading advances writing skills, and authors write to provide literature. Authors write for different individual reasons: to gain money, to fulfill a life goal, to impart knowledge to others (whether through writing nonfiction, fiction, poetry, drama, etc.), or to give people material to pleasure read. While I love the world of fiction – I feel that reading fiction allows me to escape the real world for a bit – my mom enjoys nonfiction; and though nonfiction is often informative, it is very often a great source of pleasure reading for those such as my mom. Autobiographies are high on her list of desirables.

Though not all readers write, all writers read. Writers do not necessarily need an English degree to obtain the status of a great writer. I constantly read articles published by people whose stories are too wonderful not to tell, and I am grateful these people write them; it seems that more often than not, they are not English scholars. Sharing stories is what makes us different from any other species on the planet. And that’s not to mention the fact that cultures have been sitting around campfires telling historically significant tales since the beginning of time. Homer was telling Odysseus’ story in hopes of keeping cultural treasures alive. Thousands of years later, we continue to carry on this tradition.

Imagination is the art of being able to pay attention – as my formerly mentioned professor explained to me – and successful authors have sincere imaginative minds. Though Homer’s Iliad was based on a true story, he embellished the story, to say the least. As an English major, my appreciation of authors of classic literature continues to grow. However, I am grateful too for authors who write for the principle reason of providing pleasure-reading material for readers. If those authors also happen to include intellectual literary elements within that novel, I’m hooked! (Kudos to The Hunger Games. Not only did this series reach a wide audience, it also provided material of academic merit.)

I am a huge Hemingway fan and, in my opinion, you can never go wrong with Charles Dickens, but Charlaine Harris recently wrote the cutest series about a librarian who lives outside Atlanta solving murder mysteries. Though I love the intellectually daunting analysis of great literature, sometimes I just want to sit on my front porch and read a Southern cozy. I am sure many English majors and serious writers would disagree with me, but nevertheless, I hope writers will continue to do what they do – and write.

Rebecca Lee Curry graduated from Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee with a Bachelor of Arts in English Teaching. After teaching for the past two and half years, she is now a full-time graduate student pursuing a Master of Arts in English at Middle Tennessee State University. She works as a proofreader for Thomas Nelson, Inc. and enjoys writing for various publications as a guest author. Recently, Rebecca co-edited Mr. Fred A. Manske’s newly published book, Core Strategy for Success. Rebecca can be reached at rebeccaleecurry (at) gmail (dot) com.

Rebecca Curry graciously offered these thoughts on reading. I think she has nailed it, don’t you?

I once had a college professor begin a world literature course by explaining that he did not expect us (the students) to love every piece of literature we read, but he hoped we would gain an appreciation of classic literature. This was pleasant news to most students in the course, as many of them were not English majors but Bachelor of Arts degree-seekers who simply needed to fulfill a literature course requirement. Throughout the semester-long literature course, the professor conveyed his appreciation of literature to his students through his teaching. In turn, his feeling of enjoyment transferred to us as well. Most importantly, he taught us to recognize the value of literature written by great authors.

The value of reading is not synonymous, but rather collaborative with the value of writing. Avid reading advances writing skills, and authors write to provide literature. Authors write for different individual reasons: to gain money, to fulfill a life goal, to impart knowledge to others (whether through writing nonfiction, fiction, poetry, drama, etc.), or to give people material to pleasure read. While I love the world of fiction – I feel that reading fiction allows me to escape the real world for a bit – my mom enjoys nonfiction; and though nonfiction is often informative, it is very often a great source of pleasure reading for those such as my mom. Autobiographies are high on her list of desirables.

Though not all readers write, all writers read. Writers do not necessarily need an English degree to obtain the status of a great writer. I constantly read articles published by people whose stories are too wonderful not to tell, and I am grateful these people write them; it seems that more often than not, they are not English scholars. Sharing stories is what makes us different from any other species on the planet. And that’s not to mention the fact that cultures have been sitting around campfires telling historically significant tales since the beginning of time. Homer was telling Odysseus’ story in hopes of keeping cultural treasures alive. Thousands of years later, we continue to carry on this tradition.

Imagination is the art of being able to pay attention – as my formerly mentioned professor explained to me – and successful authors have sincere imaginative minds. Though Homer’s Iliad was based on a true story, he embellished the story, to say the least. As an English major, my appreciation of authors of classic literature continues to grow. However, I am grateful too for authors who write for the principle reason of providing pleasure-reading material for readers. If those authors also happen to include intellectual literary elements within that novel, I’m hooked! (Kudos to The Hunger Games. Not only did this series reach a wide audience, it also provided material of academic merit.)

I am a huge Hemingway fan and, in my opinion, you can never go wrong with Charles Dickens, but Charlaine Harris recently wrote the cutest series about a librarian who lives outside Atlanta solving murder mysteries. Though I love the intellectually daunting analysis of great literature, sometimes I just want to sit on my front porch and read a Southern cozy. I am sure many English majors and serious writers would disagree with me, but nevertheless, I hope writers will continue to do what they do – and write.

Rebecca Lee Curry graduated from Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee with a Bachelor of Arts in English Teaching. After teaching for the past two and half years, she is now a full-time graduate student pursuing a Master of Arts in English at Middle Tennessee State University. She works as a proofreader for Thomas Nelson, Inc. and enjoys writing for various publications as a guest author. Recently, Rebecca co-edited Mr. Fred A. Manske’s newly published book, Core Strategy for Success. Rebecca can be reached at rebeccaleecurry (at) gmail (dot) com.

My website is getting a makeover and I need your help.

Readers, booksellers, librarians … what do YOU want to find on an author’s website? Information about the books, of course, and a little something about the author. But what else could a website provide that you’d find fascinating?

If I remember correctly, there were two Jesus Creek newsletters produced by the Jesus Creek Women’s Guild. I found a single copy of one in the box full of odds-n-ends. If any of you still have a copy of the second newsletter, please drop me a note. I’d love to know what I wrote!

Those of you who live in small towns served by small (perhaps weekly) newspapers will be familiar with the format in this newsletter. You might even be able to substitute local names for the character names.

THE JESUS CREEK NEWSLETTER

published sporadically by the Jesus Creek Women’s Guild

 Clara Maddox, editor and former president of Women’s Guild

• Our congratulations and best wishes go out to Glenda Richmond, the reigning Miss Goober. Glenda will be competing in the Miss Tennessee National Pageant to be held in Memphis next month. She hurt herself pretty badly while practicing for the talent portion of the program, but word has it Glenda will be on her feet again real soon.

• We’re equally proud of Oliver Host, upon the completion of his book about Jesus Creek settlers. Oliver tells us the book will be out in plenty of time for Christmas purchasing.

• This month’s award for Yard of the Month goes to Frankie Mae Weathers. If you haven’ t seen Frankie Mae’s orange lilies and charming pink flamingos (which she borrowed from her neighbor, Mrs. O’dell), better run by and look before the growing season ends.

•  Estelle Carhart asks us to remind everyone that this is fine-free month at the library. Turn in your overdue books now and there will be no charge. lf you can’t get in to the library this month, just let Estelle know and she will drop charges for you anyway.

•  Jesus Creek newcomer Roger Shelton had dinner with Delia Cannon and her daughter Charlotte last week. As you probably know, Charlotte is a recent bride and now lives in Nashville. I have not yet heard who her husband’s people are, but believe he comes from out of state.

• Sons and Daughters of the Confederacy is holding a covered dish dinner next Saturday night for members only.

•  Lindsay James Leach and his lovely new wife went shopping in Nashville recently. While there they ate at Sylvan Park and report that the food was excellent.

•  Friends of the Library will hold their monthly meeting at 10 A.M. the third Tuesday. All interested parties are invited. If no more than two people show up, the meeting will be canceled.

• Kate Yancy was in Jesus Creek recently to visit her brother, Patrick McCullough, who unfortunately was out of town.

•  Mary Anne’s Back Porch Florist reopened this week. Mary Anne is feeling much better, as is her cat.

• @Brother Wagoner, pastor of the Jesus Creek Southern Baptist Church, won hisfirst 10K race. I do not know how far he ran but congratulations anyway, Brother Wagoner^l

This time our recipe comes from Miss Constance Winter. I know you will all want to try it out at home.

Vinegar Pie

Mix 1 cup sugar with 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, 3 tablespoons flour, and 1/8 tsp. salt. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in 1 cup water. Add 3 tablespoons vinegar. Add the sugar mixture gradually and stir until smooth. Cook over boiling water until thick, stirring occasionally. Beat 3 egg yolks slightly and beat in a portion of the hot mixture. Return to the main mixture and cook 1 to 2 minutes longer, stirring constantly. Cool rapidly. Pour into a baked, cooled 9 inch pie shell. Top with meringue.

If I remember correctly, there were two Jesus Creek newsletters produced by the Jesus Creek Women’s Guild. I found a single copy of one in the box full of odds-n-ends. If any of you still have a copy of the second newsletter, please drop me a note. I’d love to know what I wrote!

Those of you who live in small towns served by small (perhaps weekly) newspapers will be familiar with the format in this newsletter. You might even be able to substitute local names for the character names.

THE JESUS CREEK NEWSLETTER

published sporadically by the Jesus Creek Women’s Guild

 Clara Maddox, editor and former president of Women’s Guild

• Our congratulations and best wishes go out to Glenda Richmond, the reigning Miss Goober. Glenda will be competing in the Miss Tennessee National Pageant to be held in Memphis next month. She hurt herself pretty badly while practicing for the talent portion of the program, but word has it Glenda will be on her feet again real soon.

• We’re equally proud of Oliver Host, upon the completion of his book about Jesus Creek settlers. Oliver tells us the book will be out in plenty of time for Christmas purchasing.

• This month’s award for Yard of the Month goes to Frankie Mae Weathers. If you haven’ t seen Frankie Mae’s orange lilies and charming pink flamingos (which she borrowed from her neighbor, Mrs. O’dell), better run by and look before the growing season ends.

•  Estelle Carhart asks us to remind everyone that this is fine-free month at the library. Turn in your overdue books now and there will be no charge. lf you can’t get in to the library this month, just let Estelle know and she will drop charges for you anyway.

•  Jesus Creek newcomer Roger Shelton had dinner with Delia Cannon and her daughter Charlotte last week. As you probably know, Charlotte is a recent bride and now lives in Nashville. I have not yet heard who her husband’s people are, but believe he comes from out of state.

• Sons and Daughters of the Confederacy is holding a covered dish dinner next Saturday night for members only.

•  Lindsay James Leach and his lovely new wife went shopping in Nashville recently. While there they ate at Sylvan Park and report that the food was excellent.

•  Friends of the Library will hold their monthly meeting at 10 A.M. the third Tuesday. All interested parties are invited. If no more than two people show up, the meeting will be canceled.

• Kate Yancy was in Jesus Creek recently to visit her brother, Patrick McCullough, who unfortunately was out of town.

•  Mary Anne’s Back Porch Florist reopened this week. Mary Anne is feeling much better, as is her cat.

• @Brother Wagoner, pastor of the Jesus Creek Southern Baptist Church, won hisfirst 10K race. I do not know how far he ran but congratulations anyway, Brother Wagoner^l

This time our recipe comes from Miss Constance Winter. I know you will all want to try it out at home.

Vinegar Pie

Mix 1 cup sugar with 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, 3 tablespoons flour, and 1/8 tsp. salt. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in 1 cup water. Add 3 tablespoons vinegar. Add the sugar mixture gradually and stir until smooth. Cook over boiling water until thick, stirring occasionally. Beat 3 egg yolks slightly and beat in a portion of the hot mixture. Return to the main mixture and cook 1 to 2 minutes longer, stirring constantly. Cool rapidly. Pour into a baked, cooled 9 inch pie shell. Top with meringue.

Along with promotional items, my cleaning and organizing efforts also uncovered this essay:
A Matter of Pedigree: : the Southern regional mystery as written by women

No story begins on page one. There is always a convoluted ancestry of greats, grands, and twice-removeds that have intertwined to create the germ of the tale. Likewise no writer comes to page one free of cultural and familial influences.

For Southerners in particular there is strong social and historical pressure to create and share entertaining yarns. In our largely agricultural areas storytelling skills were honed among farm families who turned their isolation and the ability to survive it into a point of pride. To counteract loneliness and stave off madness (although some would say it wasn’t succ essfully staved), these pioneers depended on each other for diversion. Family stories became an evening’s entertainment –near-legends of heroic grandfathers who battled the hostile land to build homes, strong grandmothers who defended the hearth and hid the family silver while the men were away, and of course, eccentric but charming aunts, uncles, and cousins who exhibited their own unique versions of bravery.

The stories were convenient and affordable pastimes, and they sustained us during the most difficult spells, so naturally a good storyteller was prized above gold. The tradition continued long after easy communication became widespread and families left behind the farms for crowded cities.

Still, consciously or not, many of us understood that whipping up an entertaining account of some everyday event was an act every bit as important and patriotic as farming or fighting, and in our fondest dreams we were the creators of magnificent yarns that warmed the room and brought satisfaction to our kin.

In recent years the mystery genre has been invaded by Southern writers –a move that should come as no surprise to anyone with even a vague knowledge of our history. Of all the diverse groups in this country, those of us raised below the Mason-Dixon line are most likely to find satisfaction in a good mystery. While the popular old stories explored the human spirit or, as Faulkner preferred, “the human heart in conflict with itself,” each was, in some way, a morality play.

It has been noted that Southerners are the only Americans who know how it feels to lose a war, and much has been made of our reluctance to let go of that loss. We seem determined to cling to the harsh perception of ourselves as  underdog –vulnerable weaklings fighting valiantly against a large and well-armed foe. But we manage to find in the David and Goliath tales some vindication of our stubborn self-definition, a reassurance that the small but clever scrapper can, indeed, defeat the more powerful enemy. It follows, then, that Southerners would be drawn to the mystery story, the ultimate morality tale in which the small but clever amateur sleuth or lone, outnumbered law officer outwits and defeats a powerful villain.

Having found a fictional genre that fills our need for familiarity and optimism, we set out to make the form fit the tradition of all those comforting tales we grew up with. Southern fiction is so often explained by the superficial elements it contains. “It’s a story about the region,” critics say, “or written by someone from the region.” The most important element, though, will inevitably be the unique and thoroughly human characters  created by the Southern author, and the female author has a particularly strong advantage here.

Keen perception of human behavior is a prerequisite for creating believable fictional characters, and this is a skill that is taught to our young ladies early on. You see, there remains within Southern society a rigid caste system, of which women are the caretakers. It is vital that we be able to size up a stranger within seconds, to understand where he or she fits in the social order, and how to behave toward that person. After a lifetime of practice, a feminine perception has developed that is so sharp, it eerily mimics psychic ability.

As writers, this allows us to collect and file subconsciously all the minute but telling quirks and ticks that add flesh to the character on the page. We instantly assign full pasts and rich presents to the shadowy skeletons in our minds, just as we immediately recognize (or imagine!) the life histories of everyone we meet.

The purpose of our novels is to explore the wealth of people who spring to life from our minds. When a Southern woman sits down to write, she may begin with deliberately constructed plot, clues, and setting, but inevitably, with or without her blessing, the characters will take center stage, drawing the spotlight to themselves and directing the action of the story around their own personalities.

It seems to me, though, that the greatest strength we possess, and the one that so often truly defines a Southern novel, is our immense appreciation for peculiarity. What some view as threatening abnormality, we call enchanting eccentricity. When literary legend Flannery O’Connor was asked why Southerners so often write about freaks, she reportedly replied, “Perhaps it’s because we can still recognize them.”

In these politically correct times, I feel obligated to provide an explanation for that amusing comment, other than the obvious. Surely Ms. O’Connor meant to suggest that Southerners have a whole-hearted appreciation for aberration and therefore look closer to find and admire the freak in everyone.

 This essay originally appeared in DEADLY WOMEN, edited by Jan Grape and Dean James, 1997, and was reprinted in both MYSTERY SCENE MAGAZINE and THE OLD STATE OF FRANKLIN.

Along with promotional items, my cleaning and organizing efforts also uncovered this essay:
A Matter of Pedigree: : the Southern regional mystery as written by women

No story begins on page one. There is always a convoluted ancestry of greats, grands, and twice-removeds that have intertwined to create the germ of the tale. Likewise no writer comes to page one free of cultural and familial influences.

For Southerners in particular there is strong social and historical pressure to create and share entertaining yarns. In our largely agricultural areas storytelling skills were honed among farm families who turned their isolation and the ability to survive it into a point of pride. To counteract loneliness and stave off madness (although some would say it wasn’t succ essfully staved), these pioneers depended on each other for diversion. Family stories became an evening’s entertainment –near-legends of heroic grandfathers who battled the hostile land to build homes, strong grandmothers who defended the hearth and hid the family silver while the men were away, and of course, eccentric but charming aunts, uncles, and cousins who exhibited their own unique versions of bravery.

The stories were convenient and affordable pastimes, and they sustained us during the most difficult spells, so naturally a good storyteller was prized above gold. The tradition continued long after easy communication became widespread and families left behind the farms for crowded cities.

Still, consciously or not, many of us understood that whipping up an entertaining account of some everyday event was an act every bit as important and patriotic as farming or fighting, and in our fondest dreams we were the creators of magnificent yarns that warmed the room and brought satisfaction to our kin.

In recent years the mystery genre has been invaded by Southern writers –a move that should come as no surprise to anyone with even a vague knowledge of our history. Of all the diverse groups in this country, those of us raised below the Mason-Dixon line are most likely to find satisfaction in a good mystery. While the popular old stories explored the human spirit or, as Faulkner preferred, “the human heart in conflict with itself,” each was, in some way, a morality play.

It has been noted that Southerners are the only Americans who know how it feels to lose a war, and much has been made of our reluctance to let go of that loss. We seem determined to cling to the harsh perception of ourselves as  underdog –vulnerable weaklings fighting valiantly against a large and well-armed foe. But we manage to find in the David and Goliath tales some vindication of our stubborn self-definition, a reassurance that the small but clever scrapper can, indeed, defeat the more powerful enemy. It follows, then, that Southerners would be drawn to the mystery story, the ultimate morality tale in which the small but clever amateur sleuth or lone, outnumbered law officer outwits and defeats a powerful villain.

Having found a fictional genre that fills our need for familiarity and optimism, we set out to make the form fit the tradition of all those comforting tales we grew up with. Southern fiction is so often explained by the superficial elements it contains. “It’s a story about the region,” critics say, “or written by someone from the region.” The most important element, though, will inevitably be the unique and thoroughly human characters  created by the Southern author, and the female author has a particularly strong advantage here.

Keen perception of human behavior is a prerequisite for creating believable fictional characters, and this is a skill that is taught to our young ladies early on. You see, there remains within Southern society a rigid caste system, of which women are the caretakers. It is vital that we be able to size up a stranger within seconds, to understand where he or she fits in the social order, and how to behave toward that person. After a lifetime of practice, a feminine perception has developed that is so sharp, it eerily mimics psychic ability.

As writers, this allows us to collect and file subconsciously all the minute but telling quirks and ticks that add flesh to the character on the page. We instantly assign full pasts and rich presents to the shadowy skeletons in our minds, just as we immediately recognize (or imagine!) the life histories of everyone we meet.

The purpose of our novels is to explore the wealth of people who spring to life from our minds. When a Southern woman sits down to write, she may begin with deliberately constructed plot, clues, and setting, but inevitably, with or without her blessing, the characters will take center stage, drawing the spotlight to themselves and directing the action of the story around their own personalities.

It seems to me, though, that the greatest strength we possess, and the one that so often truly defines a Southern novel, is our immense appreciation for peculiarity. What some view as threatening abnormality, we call enchanting eccentricity. When literary legend Flannery O’Connor was asked why Southerners so often write about freaks, she reportedly replied, “Perhaps it’s because we can still recognize them.”

In these politically correct times, I feel obligated to provide an explanation for that amusing comment, other than the obvious. Surely Ms. O’Connor meant to suggest that Southerners have a whole-hearted appreciation for aberration and therefore look closer to find and admire the freak in everyone.

 This essay originally appeared in DEADLY WOMEN, edited by Jan Grape and Dean James, 1997, and was reprinted in both MYSTERY SCENE MAGAZINE and THE OLD STATE OF FRANKLIN.

After my own intimate encounter with an alien, I decided it was a good idea to help others learn to recognize the warning signs. Here’s another piece of fun that went out to promote the Jesus Creek books.

ALIENS ARE AMONG US!

How to tell ifyou are an alien

1 Unusual sleep patterns: Because of the different length of the alien sun cycle, they often have trouble adjusting to our twenty-four hour days. Many aliens wake early or late, find themselves more energized during our nighttime hours, and need midday naps to function.

2 Creative ability: Aliens are obsessed with creative arts, such as music, reading, dance, or painting and drawing.

3 Sensitivity to electromagnetism: Aliens are prone to uncomfortable physical symptoms as a direct result of exposure to fluorescent lights, microwave ovens, television, and overhead power lines.

4 Unusual dreams: Aliens have a rich and fulfilling dream life, in which they dream vivid, color images. Often these dreams involve being able to fly.

5 Uncommon physical characteristics: While every attempt has been made to conform to human standards, aliens seldom accomplish this goal Most of them have bodies that are less-than-ideal by our standards.< /span>

6 Bizarre concept of humor: Watch out for those who laugh at inappropriate times, such as during formal ceremonies, or who seem to have no sense of humor at all.

7 Talking to themselves: Aliens can often be spotted by their habit of talking aloud to themselves. Of course, they aren’t really talking to themselves, but are relaying information to the Mother Ship via tiny, implanted communication devices.

8 Sensitivity to Earth climate: Aliens suffer from the very different climate on earth, exhibiting symptoms of sinusitis, headaches, earaches, sore throats, and extreme irritability when the temperature rises above eighty degrees or drops below fifty degrees

9 Peculiar fashion sense: Aliens may dress in a way that is considered tacky or in bad taste, such as socks with sandals, or white shoes after Labor Day.

When my first book was published, author self-promotion was a new concept but it caught on quickly. None of us particularly enjoyed hawking our wares, but it soon became part of the job. (And it’s worse today, when many publishers won’t even consider reading a manuscript without the author’s marketing plan attached!)

That was before social media, of course. Back in the day, our idea of promotional items ran to brochures, postcards, and any little thing related to the latest book that we could stuff into an envelope.

While cleaning the downstairs closet I ran across one of the bits I used for All The Blood Relations, which happens to include a sub-plot about alien abduction. To the best of my knowledge, this has never before appeared anywhere on the internet; here, then, is original, untweeted, un-reposted content

Mystery Writer Confesses: I MARRIED AN ALIEN

Mystery author Deborah Adams created the fictional town of Jesus Creek and filled it with killers, good guys, and … aliens! For years Adams has claimed that ideas for her books come from her imagination, but at last the Tennessee author has volunteered the truth. “Those aliens?” she confessed to close friends, “They’re based on life with my husband.”

“She’s really very naïve,” says close personal friend and fellow writer Joan Hess in response to Adams’ assertion that she didn’t realize she’d wedded an alien until years after the ceremony. “The peas were a dead giveaway!”

According to a reliable source, Adams tearfully related the tale of a special evening early in her marriage. “I’d made a wonderful dinner – cornbread, fried potatoes, and peas. He just looked at his plate and asked, “What’s wrong with these peas? They aren’t green!”

Blinded by love, Adams convinced herself that her pea-vish husband was only joking. “But it soon became obvious that this was no ordinary earthling I’d married. Oh, sure –he drives a pick-up truck, but there’s no gun rack! When we had children he was fascinated by the human birth process, even going so far as to claim that he enjoyed that Lamaze video. I knew I had to face the truth, though, when I came home unexpectedly one day and found him sorting the laundry before he washed it.”

Adams contacted an alien-tracker who advised her that birth certificates could be faked and that Adams would do better to search out a permanent record from her husband’s school years. Adams did, and was stunned to learn that her mysterious mister is an alumnus of Robichaud High in, of all places, Michigan!

“At first I was heartbroken. How could I comfort my children when their little friends called them names? And it goes without saying that no one else in my family has ever married a, you know, Yankee. But love conquers all, and we are in love,” insists Adams, cuddling up to her furry hubby.

Now that the skeletons are out of Deborah Adams’ closet, she’s making plans for a family vacation to her husband’s home planet. “He’s told me stories about the place, about snowdrifts higher than cars and about fishing for ice!”

I’ve gone on a bit (too much, perhaps) about my own gardening efforts. A lot of folks think ‘a garden’ means that I have planted 40 acres by hand. In fact, I have a 40′ x 30′ space with a lovely fence surrounding it. I started with three little raised-bed boxes, however.

For new gardeners, I definitely recommend a year or two with containers or small raised beds. Easy to say, isn’t it? Instructions would be considerably more helpful, eh?

So I’ve enlisted the help of my friend Joan Silva and begged a guest post from her. Joan is one of the Fix-It Professionals and shares a lot of articles through her website and newsletter. But here now, just for you, is her advice on getting started with raised bed gardening.

Are You Thinking INSIDE the Box?

Is Your Yard Looking Its Best?

by Joan Silva

In this day and age, we are often encouraged to let our imaginations go, and think outside the box – the box being “conventional” thought. But, today, we are here to tell you about Thinking INSIDE the Box – planter boxes, that is! One of the most dynamic and creative ideas for your backyard is the creation of raised garden beds and planter boxes. It is a way to separate areas in your yard, create easy-to-maintain gardening areas and, at the same time, provide seating and an ambiance for entertaining that will make your yard a hot spot for friends and family!

Envision. The first step is to envision where you might place planter boxes and raised beds. One helpful hint would be to look at your yard from INSIDE your house. Look out your windows that face your yard, and view things “at a distance.” Maybe take a photo or two of the area. Many times a photo reveals more than the naked eye!

Evaluate. Next, evaluate your wants when it comes to gardens. Do you enjoy gardening? Do you want low-maintenance planting? Where could you use more seating, more planting areas, or more form and shape? What about your lifestyle, and your entertainment needs, as well as your desire for more planned gardening space? All of these goals are well within your reach with raised beds and planters.

Plan. Almost all raised beds and planter boxes can be planned and built with seating, giving you a multi-purpose use and expanding the enjoyment of your yardscape. One of the most convenient forms of planter boxes can be used either as a part of your deck or along your paths. Variations can include trellises for climbing plants, and storage benches (with end planter boxes) for cushion storage.

Moreover, the great thing about raised beds and planter boxes is that they can be built in whatever configuration works best for you. Whether you like to Do-It-Yourself or want to have the beds built for you, designs and plans are easy to come by. They are limited only by your space and your imagination! Paint, stain, and varieties of wood can all contribute to making your chosen beds or boxes unique and original.

Plant. Besides deciding the configuration of your beds and boxes, based on your space and needs, you will also need to consider what you want to plant. Do you want to plan bulbs or perennials (plants that grow back on their own year after year)? Do you want a vegetable garden? An herb bed? A flower garden? (Some of those plants will be annuals that have to be replanted each year.) These factors may affect the depth of your boxes. Roses, for example, need a hole that is 15″ deep, and 18″ wide.

Enjoy. Planter boxes and raised beds can be such a fun project – enlivening your yard, and creating space for beauty and relaxation as well. You can work with what already exists in your yard, adding planter boxes and raised garden beds as you need or want them. The greatest advantage about them is that they can be used year after year and, with good maintenance, will add value to your home. What’s not to like! Think of the ongoing enjoyment for you, your family and friends!

A couple of years ago, I had  a burst of energy and an urge to learn something new. I gathered up some of my previously-published short stories and published them via Kindle under the title Kudzu and Corpses.

I actually enjoy writing short stories, which isn’t the case for many novelists. All of the stories in this collection were written while I was committed to the Jesus Creek contracts, so it was especially fun to play around with different characters, settings, and style.

Just recently I ran across this comment from Debra Eisert, posted on her Goodreads page:

Deborah Adams’ Jesus Creek mysteries are some of my favorites, but these short stories are possibly even better. A mixture of surprise endings, humor, original concepts make this anthology of previously published works a real pleasure.

Thank you, Debra! That may be the nicest review I’ve ever gotten. It also puts you in the running for beneficiary when I update my will.