A Band of Writers (or Where Snobbery Turns to Dust)

A most recent Saturday found me doing something I don't actually like doing - shopping. I know, I know - some women and men LOVE TO shop for everything from ratchets to shoes to thingamajigs but I'm not one of them. Color me tired the moment I think of stepping into the mall with a do or die shopping list involving something to wear. On my body. Immediately. And that's what Saturday found me doing. Wandering confusedly through stores filled with too many choices. With lots of sale items and lots and lots of women very serious about bagging a great deal the way some men might want to bag big game. I accidental wandered into the Dillard's LAST DAY SHOE SALE, and was caught in the crush and shoved forward until I was staring at a row of shoes two sizes too large and do you know I ALMOST put a pair on because I caught that IT'S THE LAST DAY OF THE SALE FOREVER AND EVER mentality until I thought STOP THIS. WAIT JUST A SECOND I know -I just need a BREAK to rest from all this pressure. I'm alone. I'm at the mall. I know where to go to calm my rattled nerves.

A few minutes later I stepped across the threshold of Davis Kidd Book Store and my heart rate began to find it's way to a more normal pace. There was the lovely fresh scent of story wafting through the air, the low hum of booksellers recommending their recent reads, of customers in line discussing what their book clubs were reading. Now, this is more like it, I thought, and then pleasantly took my time wandering the aisles, viewing the great tables of recommendations, new releases, local authors, and one of my favorite displays - If you Loved THIS book - try THIS book. I'm on a natural high going, ummm, yes, I loved that book. Ohhh, I loved that book too. Now, here's where if I had already picked up my zippy new Droid phone I would have been uploading great photos of those tables laden high, displayed with a lovers touch, and downright intoxicating with all their book cover flavors but for now you'll just have to close your eyes and imagine what it was like to be in the company of readers, silently moving incognito though the aisles, touching covers and spines with delight.

I'm so happy to be a reader's writer. That is - my love for story, my love for reading, is more than a foundation. It's really my snob repellent and yes, I use it on myself on occasion. If we've ever been snobs (we have) or been touched by snobbery (we have) or just cast out into the outer reaches of not being with one particular clique or another on any given day snobbery (want me to name them?) then having a little snob nob repellent goes a long way. And the Love of Sheer Story in ALL It's glory does just that. I mean do any of our old opinions or anyone else's hold value under the light of our LOVE for the written word? Of great literature that reminds us of what it means to be fully human, of stories that make us laugh and forget our troubles, of kick down the door heroine's that carry us through the night fighting battles and solving mysteries so we feel vicariously brave and strong. Writers are some of the greatest readers of all time, quick to champion another story, to promote a new book, to share a bit of great news. It's who we are in the wonderful great scheme of things. It's why this blog was created. To celebrate story writers, to share how-to's with those struggling and wanting to be published, to give a sense of belonging and community to those of us wild enough to keep at this thing in spite of the lonely miles we cover on the road year in and year out to connect with readers and each other. To give us a place to share funny stories of what has happened on that very road, how we've navigated and orchestrated with or without agents, and our behind the scenes survival stories of our sometimes not so private lives.

The greatest fraternity, sisterhood, organization- whatever you want to call it - that I've ever joined by default has been this jangled, tangled, strange, witty, talented, original band of writers. Those of us who meet on the road, at festivals, at bookstores, and events where we've been somehow finding each other through the written page ever since. And that's what I was thinking as I considered JT Ellison's new release The Cold Room and the great reviews she has received. (Like a proud buddy - sharing her bookmarks at the nail shop where I had drafted her saying - Look here, my friend JT. She works hard she does.) Or the ladies in line behind me where I clutched a copy of The Book Thief in my hand because, yes, it had been highly recommended to me by another writer friend who emailed me TWICE to make certain I would read it. So there I stood in line at Davis Kidd, two ladies behind me talking book clubs. One says- I love to read about characters from Japan and such because it seems so exotic. The cultures are so different. And I turn, never once mentioning that I'm an author, that my books can be found on the shelves of Davis Kidd. It just wasn't that kind of moment. What I did say was - If you like that book you should discover the wonderful warm, Jamie Ford and The Hotel at the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. (An author I met on the road because of that other author champion Pulpwood Queen author, Kathy Patrick) Then I go on about the book what I hope is enough to intrigue them.

I made my purchase and went to lunch alone, opened the first page of The Book Thief and fell into the story, forgetting all about shopping deals and deadlines.

River Jordan is the critically acclaimed author of three novels, The Gin Girl, The Messenger Of Magnolia Street, Saints In Limbo and a collection of essays, The Deep, Down, & Dirty South. Her forth novel, The Miracle of Mercy Land, arrives September 7, 2010. Hew new work of non-fiction Praying for Strangers will be published in 2011. The author lives in Nashville where she produces and hosts River Jordan Live, a literary jam session on the radio. On rare occasion she buys new shoes.