GAZEBOS, BOOKS, A MUG OF COFFEE AND A GIANT PIECE OF THE PIE!

Sometimes it's hard to get into the writing (and reading) mode in the heat of summer, hot weather being less conducive to concentration and atmosphere. I can't seem to find the perfect place to do what I love doing best. I never had that problem in Carolina with its beautiful mountains and greenness, waterfalls and gentle breezes. Guess I'm going to have to retreat to Howard Park Beach (is that what you call that place? not sure). 

I have far too many friends now at Panera. Can't get a thing done except talk a blue streak! I do love those people, though. So, I go there first, get that done, and try, try, try to find a place to write that makes me feel good. 

I did find Longleaf, a community that will take you back to the thirties or forties when bungalows were built on alleys out of necessity while now, for effect. They all have proper porches with banisters; they're painted different colors and have slightly different designs—colors and designs of an era that we, who were born in the early forties, like to think were our kind of houses. 

I remember photos of a house we lived in in Detroit that looked exactly like these only much more authentic with oldness. Here it is! Though all you can see is the banister. That's my cute big sister with the curly hair and I'm sitting on the banister with the chocolate face.

At Longleaf, there is a village at the front with a gazebo, an Italian restaurant, a proper consignment shop, something like a cigar store, and a great coffee shop that serves a nice short menu. Over the row of stores are condos or apartments designed same as the houses in the—let's call it—neighborhood.

Now, back to writing. The gazebo is quite like the one in Sound of Music, but much smaller, of course, another little area with Adirondack chairs sitting on white pebbles and outdoor tables and chairs along the front of the village stores. I think this will be a great place to write (and read). 

Oh, I must get to the reason for posting. I DID IT! I hit the final button last night, having talked the prior thirty minutes to Jordan at Barnes & Noble in Clearwater. He's the one who encouraged me to put my books on NOOK. I'm so glad I listened to him, and when I had some final questions, my friend Dale Caperell (yes, he's the professional photographer; we've authored two picture books together) helped with my questions, explaining where things go that seem to be going into the black hole. I thank God for Dale! He knows everything I never thought to learn about computers. He should know it all. He has seven of them, all in use in his photography studio.

Back to Jordan. He explained how I was to get my download of the manuscript to NOOK for PC so I could review it properly before whacking the final key to publish. And then with uncontrollable reflexes in my fingers, I hit that button and if I could have gazed into a mirror, I'm sure I would have seen shock on my face. I sat there dumbfounded that I would do such a thing, and in two seconds this little box pops up that says, Congratulations, your book is published. Give us 24 to 72 hours, we will announce it to you; you can announce it to your friends and family. 


So it's done! The Mississippi Boys can soon be read on NOOK Book. On NOOK for iPad, for iPhone, for Android, for PC, for Mac! I think I'm immersing myself in electronic reading and writing and I know absolutely nothing about any of it! 


You know, that's quite like enjoying electricity. We can easily flip the switch and the lights come on. But that doesn't mean we understand all that went on behind that wall to make the lights come on.


And it doesn't matter that we don't understand the wind, but we certainly enjoy the breeze on a hot summer day.


I don't have to have seen the God of Glory to believe he exists. And even better than that, I don't have to be able to see him to know how much he loves and cares about me. Enough said?


I'll let you know when my title goes live on Barnes & Noble NOOK! By the way, if you want to, you can download NOOK for PC and all those other gadgets FREE! I did. It's really quite exciting to read from an electronic device. I hope I'm not totally conforming!


God Bless!
Jane Bennett Gaddy
The Mississippi Boys