Driving into Natchez, MS always feels like I'm stepping back into time. It's not just the beautiful historic homes and buildings dotting Canal Street, though this grand old lady is a charming and accomplished hostess who knows full well how to whisk her visitors into days gone by. For me, it's more personal. Much of my childhood was spent in this city where Mama's folks always waited to welcome us on a regular

Last night's book launch for Sue Ellen's Girl Ain't Fat, She Just Weighs Heavy was held at Simmons Sporting Goods, the South's Largest Hunting Outfitters store. I thought that was pretty fitting for a book that Kirkus Reviews summed up as "a little bit redneck and a whole lot of charm"! And for the record, I loved that line. Here are several pics. My fine husband

I've spent the day alternating between packing everything but the kitchen sink in the black ride I fondly call the Bookmobile in anticipation of the long awaited Sue Ellen's Girl Ain't Fat, She Just Weighs Heavy Tour that starts TUESDAY (yikes!), doing interviews and guest blog posts, and reading/staring at the mounting Facebook birthday wishes in pure-dee amazement. However does a girl go about thanking everyone who took

Hi, y'all! They call me the Sweetest Czar of All Things Southern. I get to spend the whole day with my Keggie. Right now we're having morning prayers on the back porch and I am loving it!

He hasn't been far from my thoughts all day, not since early this morning when we danced. I was there to pray, to make petition, but my prayers kept turning into songs until at last, I gave up my cause for His. And we danced

Benjamin shivered in the morning air, a grave expression deepening the lines around his eyes. He was not an old man, although years of labor under the hot sun had weathered his face prematurely. A closer look at the firmness his square jaw retained gave a better indication of his true age. His dark brown eyes were troubled; it was all so confusing. Young Ben stood

This is Carey the communication czar

I hope y'all won't take offense to that hog calling reference once I tell y'all what's on my mind. It's just that I thought, being southern and all, y'all would undertstand hog calling contests, and chicken calling contests, and husband calling contests, and well-- y'all get the point. We do a fair share of calling around here, don't we, now? I'm crossing my fingers that y'all might