Driving Naked is now an audiobook read by the author, Katherine Vaccaro.
Preview and order it here – and spread the word!
It’s 1980 in Orlando, Florida.
Kathy, a recent college grad, drives to a Fourth of July barbecue. She’s scared because she won’t know anyone. Her host, Eddie, soon becomes the love of her life.
They set off on a road filled with quirky people, nude beaches and pocket-rocket cars. Along the way, they encounter plenty of twists, turns and detours.
And one big stop sign.
We’ve got news! Kathleen Shelton-Gilmore is the new Director of JaxbyJax XI.
One thing to love about the Jacksonville writing community is the way its members step up to serve the community when needed. Life happens, and recently Brooks Decker (after working hard to make sure the applications for the 2024 JaxbyJax Literary Arts Festival were solicited, received, and in the hands of capable anonymous judges, plus coordinating the venue location plans) has made the difficult decision to pass the torch to another young, energetic Jacksonville writer – Kathleen Shelton-Gilmore.
Kathleen Shelton Gilmore began hosting and organizing poetry open mics in the spring of 2017. She has been an active member of the literary community, hosting events at venues such as Chamblin’s Uptown Books and Rain Dogs. She is the founder of the spoken word poetry open mic What’s in a Verse (formerly Kes Poetry Night) and the creator of Blue Monday Literary Zine. She worked for Hope at Hand facilitating workshops for teens, and assisted in the 2019 Jax Poetry Festival. Kathleen studied English and Creative Writing at the University of North Florida. She is an avid reader of poetry, inspired by Anne Sexton, bell hooks, and Denise Levertov. She is happiest rummaging thrift stores, estate sales, and hanging out with her family. Kathleen just completed her first chapbook titled Sticks, Stones, and Charlatans, which is set to release at the beginning of October 2024 by local independent publisher, City Bus Print.
With many thanks to prior directors Tim Gilmore, Jo Carlisle, Brad Kuhn, Darlyn Kuhn, Erica Saffer, and Brooks Decker, Kathleen Shelton is eager to make the 11th annual festival fresh and exciting for writers, readers, and lovers of literature alike. Stay tuned for updates as they happen.
Kathleen can be reached via email at jaxbyjax@yahoo.com
Check the website for updates: https://www.jaxbyjax.com/
Ever cried over a tomato plant? You will. And you’ll love it!
French Dirt is now available as an audio book from Audible.
A story about dirt–and about sun, water, work, elation, and defeat. And about the sublime pleasure of having a little piece of French land all to oneself to till.
Richard Goodman saw the ad in the paper: “SOUTHERN FRANCE: Stone house in Village near Nimes/Avignon/Uzes. 4 BR, 2 baths, fireplace, books, desk, bikes. Perfect for writing, painting, exploring & experiencing la France profonde. $450 mo. plus utilities.” And, with his girlfriend, he left New York City to spend a year in Southern France.
The village was small–no shops, no gas station, no post office, only a café and a school. St. Sebastien de Caisson was home to farmers and vintners. Every evening Goodman watched the villagers congregate and longed to be a part of their camaraderie. But they weren’t interested in him: he was just another American, come to visit and soon to leave. So Goodman laced up his work boots and ventured out into the vineyards to work among them. He met them first as a hired worker, and then as a farmer of his own small plot of land.
French Dirt is a love story between a man and his garden. It’s about plowing, planting, watering, and tending. It’s about cabbage, tomatoes, parsley, and eggplant. Most of all, it’s about the growing friendship between an American outsider and a close-knit community of French farmers.
©1991 Richard Goodman (P)2024 Ascend Audio LLC
Good news, Jacksonville writers: The JaxbyJax Literary Arts Festival has extended the application deadline by two weeks, until August 14, 2024.
In addition, application fees have been dropped for this year’s festival! Prior applicants will have their fees refunded.
Can’t wait to see what other great surprises the new director, Brooks Decker, has in store for us….
Apply today! https://www.jaxbyjax.com/application