Lunching with Joshilyn Jackson & What She Didn't Teach Me

So yes, yes. I lunched with Joshilyn Jackson on Friday. [Brush my shoulder, toss my hair, look smug]

Social Media Waiting to Inspire Us

The power of a name can draw a pretty big crowd, especially when it applies to social media.  Take James Franco, for example: He signed up for a Twitter account and within twenty-four hours had more than 700,000 followers (I know -- I was one of 'em).

In the age where celebrities are twitterin' away at any given moment, we're somewhat immune to the 'awe' we first felt when we had such a personal connection.  In fact, I've already severed most of my celebrity tweetin' connections (tired of the same ol' talk) and most Facebook pages seem to be the same as web sites -- translation: managed by someone else.

But there's still room for a little star power on the world wide web, and I've recently experienced two finds that sent my heart a'flutterin.'

A few weeks ago I discovered that one of my favorite authors Joshilyn Jackson (Gods in Alabama, Between, Georgia, The Girl Who Stopped Swimming) not only has her web site, but a blog!  As a wanna-be-published writer I find her stories about choosing the cover design (or lack of input) fascinating.  I'm amazed at her stories of normal life, because she truly seems to have a "My kids and I are sick with the flu"-kind of normal life.  When I hear her talk at a writer's conference next month (one I'm attending simply for that reason) I'll have stars in my eyes.

The second find came Friday night while reading the newest book of poems by Alice Walker.  In the back of the book I found the usual blurb about Walker and her life, etc. etc., but it also mentioned her redesigned web site.  So of course I pick up my Mac, type in the address, and have an oh-my-lord-alice-walker-has-a-blog exhilarated squeal, which made my husband look at me in all sorts of strange ways.

But it's Alice Walker.  Alice Walker!  The woman who wrote The Color Purple and who I studied in high school and college English classes.  A Pulitzer Prize winner who my daughter will study, and her children's children, as well.  This incredible woman -- already an icon -- has a blog that reveals a side of herself that we would never glimpse in her books, no matter how introspective.

If you're not impressed, I don't think we can be friends.

So I guess the moral to my story is this:  With all the crap that's beginning to infiltrate our social media bubble, there are always the oh-my-lord-alice-walker-has-a-blog discoveries waiting to inspire us.

p.s. If you've had one already, I'd love to hear about it!

This Week's Creative Champs

Who doesn't love a great, FRESH new idea? Creativity is defined as the ability to transcend traditional ideas, rules... and to create meaningful new ideas, products, etc.


(As always, thank you dictionary.com)


So here are a few things I've come across this week that blow my creative mind.  You're welcome.

The House of Mirth by Elizabeth Wharton


Published in the early 1900s, the novel details the trials of Miss Lily Bart as she struggles to maintain her place in the aristocratic New York society in which she's been raised.  Since it follows a truly naturalistic notion, you can probably predict how it ends.  


But what's truly unique about this book is how the author creates the sense that there is no other option.  I found myself wishing that Lily would kill herself and put both of us out of our misery.  Now let's be clear -- I am in no way supporting suicide, only applauding the conclusive means to which Wharton builds both her main character and plot.  

Girl Talk


Ahhh... Girl Talk.  The lovely board game of truth or dare I remember from my youth.  Oh wait, that's not right.  Girl Talk is this fabulous artist I've discovered thanks to my brother Brack and the 2011 Bonnaroo line-up!  Runners, are you looking for something to spice up your iPod? Girl Talk!!!  Cheerleaders everywhere, there's no need to hire someone to mash-up your favorite tunes! Girl Talk!!! 


You've got to experience what Gregg Gillis calls his "pop collages" to get the full effect.  Mixing in a little Ludacris and 'Jesse's Girl' melody... C'mon!  What's not to love?

(I guess here is where I say some kind of disclaimer about explicit lyrics and such)

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

And the best part?  The artist allows you to download his album FREE by visiting his label's web site.  


Girl Talk is definitely on my must-see list for Bonnaroo!

Barbie & Ken's Social Media Escapades 


That's right.  Barbie & Ken have (separate) Facebook pages & Twitter accounts, and were involved in a pretty publicized Valentine's Day reunion this past week.  Seriously.  Read all about it on All Doll'd Up -- Barbie's blog, of course!


That's darn creative publicity -- and if passing the 1-million-fan-mark is any indication of success, Barbie can add advertising exec to her list of careers (unless she's already done that.  Really, who can keep track?)


Now let's just hope Ken isn't tagged in any compromising photos -- because we all know he went a little wild during this last breakup.

A Student, Fulfilled

It seems I'm finally where I'm supposed to be.  With my college major, that is.

Since the beginning of my pursuit for higher education back in 2000, I have perused many a college major.  Although I'm not as scattered as Pauly Shore in Son In Law ("Majored in karate for two semesters...") I've filled out my fair share of 'Change of Major' forms.  What started out in Journalism quickly moved to Advertising, then to Education, followed by Psychology, then finally resting on English.  Hmmm.... I thought there were five so maybe I'm missing one somewhere.  Oh well.

But back to English.  It began as a means to obtain my degree in the quickest method possible -- let's face it, I love to read and to write, so I figured it'd be a cake walk.  But the beauty of it is -- that it is.  A cake walk, I mean.  But not in the way I expected.  I never imagined that I'd enjoy my classes as much as I do.  I don't merely go to make a grade, fulfill a requirement to graduate.  I go everyday because I want to learn! Imagine that!

That's something that's always bothered me before, that I didn't really enjoy learning.  As much as I enjoyed my communications classes (and still do, since it's still my minor), and even though I'm not entirely certain that I WON'T pursue a career in copy writing, I never felt like what I was learning really mattered.  I was learning a process, much like the way I was trained to steam milk in my Starbucks days. Nothing I would ponder over in while driving to class, or in the shower.  I would never open the AP Stylebook with as much zest as I do Henry James' The Spoils of Poynton.

As corny as it sounds, the things I'm learning now enrich my soul.

I'm moved by Percy Bysshe Shelley's Ode to the West Wind from the early 1800's, and in awe that I not only understand why he wrote it but that I feel the same way!

Scatter, as from unextinguished hearth
Ashes and sparks, my words among mankind!
Be through my lips to unawakened Earth


The trumpet of a prophecy! 


These men and women were just like us.  They were funny.  They were embarrassed by their relatives.   They loved other men's wives.  They suffered through depression and addiction.  They questioned human rights. Some fought for their own.  They thought about love and sex.  A lot.   They were awestruck by the nature around them.  They worried about money.  Some were celebrated for their ideas, and others shunned and exiled.

They rejoiced when citizens overthrew a dictator.  They celebrated their own government.

They questioned their ancestry, themselves, their friends, their gods -- and tried to make sense of it all.

Just like us.

And so many struggled to do what mattered to them most, which was to write.  Just like me.  Which is why I'm where I'm supposed to be.  Among very good company.