A Southern Missive

Pelican Publishing has accepted my children’s book, The Faerie Flag of the Clan McLeod and they are seriously looking for an illustrator for it. If you are an illustrator of children’s books and are interested in doing the artwork for a HARD working author who knows how to promote a book, you need to apply. Here’s what you need to do if you are interested:

1. Don’t submit a request to me, or leave a comment about it on my blog as it won’t be responded to. I’m not the one who will make a decision. Pelican, the publisher, will decide. You must follow their submission guidelines which you can find here: Don’t waste your and the publisher’s time by not following those guidelines.

2. You need to have not only good English, writing and research skills, but you need a good grasp of the nuances of the English language, especially in regards to the Scottish culture. Loving Scotland, its culture and history would certainly be a plus.

3. You’ll need to know the legend and details (some historical) associated with the Faerie Flag of the McLeod’s.There’s tons of info about it on the Web.

4. You should be willing to utilize your present network and develop a larger one to help market the book.

In other words, being a children’s illustrator requires more than just being able to draw.  Go to the Pelican site and apply. I need a good artist on this one.

It’s All About a Story: A Review of the Music CD of Hanna Rector

When I was in Hot Springs in July, I encountered a beautiful young folk singer by the name of Hannah Rector.  I purchased her CD for the purpose of reviewing it and finally got around to it. With the exception of two tracks,  Hannah wrote the music of the CD. I felt the CD reveals real talent, and she certainly has good things ahead for her. Her music was certainly enjoyed at the Sons of Confederate Veterans 2009 National Convention in Arlington Hotel in Hot Springs.  Her music touches loss and learning in live, as well as her faith.  The lyrics are mature, solid, moving at times, and generally well-crafted and the music varies in tempo and style.  If you like blues, you’ll like her “Guitar Station.”  I think my personal favorite of hers is “Mirror, Mirror.” I’ll post some of her lyrics in another post. Her voice is excellent. If you’re interested in hearing some of her music, and learning more about her, you can and should explore her MySpace page here: http://www.myspace.com/hannahmaerector

For a first CD of it is really a decent effort. If you like acoustic guitar joined with the beautiful female voice, you’ll enjoy her CD. If you’re a Confederate, her version of “Dixie” will bring you to tears. Here are the song titles for It’s All About the Story:

1. “It Was You”
2. The Next Thing They will See
3. With a Leaf in Her Mouth
4. Down in the Valley
5. Don’t Give Up
6. Guitar Station
7. Mirror, Mirror
8. Cheat
9. Angel in Disguise
10. Save Me
11. Don’t Leave
12. Grains of Sand
13. My Children
14. Dixie

Hannah Rector

Hannah Rector

Hannah Rector at Hot Springs, Arkansas 2009

I discovered Adrienne Young some time ago. Here website is here: You can find photos and Young’s bio on her site.  She performs with a group called Old Faithful.  Here are the lyrics to a song from her CD, Plow to the End of the Row. It’s called “Lonesome Road Blues” and I liked it so much that I added it to my Americana show.  If you need to know the chords she uses, I’ll be happy to send them to you. Just email me or post a comment.

Lonesome Road Blues (Traditional, performed by Adrienne Young)

I walked on down that lonesome line
hung my head and I cried
I wept and I cried under a willow tree
out by the deep blue sea.
my mama, my dear papa can be found,
And my brother on a county road
Now I been down that long plank walk,
I’m on my way back home.

You cause me to weep, you do cause me to moan,
You cause me to leave my home,
I cried last night and the night before
I swear I won’t cry anymore.

Your fast mail train comin’ round that track
killed my brown-eyed boy
they took him down that smokey track
brought him back on a cooling board.
Now I’m looking down that lonesome line
just as far as care to see.
I have no money lost my brown-eyed boy
these blues won’t set me free.

you do cause me to weep, you do cause me to moan
you cause me to leave my home
I cried last night and the night before
I swear I won’t cry anymore.

Adrienne Young plays guitar and banjo and has one of the finest and most stirring voices you’ll ever hear. I encourage you to check out her music. Here is a photo of her and her banjo. I found that photo here:

Adrienne Young