Mad about the South—that’s me. Other regions hide their oddball relatives in the attic. But southerners are so proud of quirky that we stick them on the front porch.
My parents (Leon country boy + Miss Bunny belle peach = swell!) mated North Georgia twang with Atlanta vowel blurs. And then came moi: a New South product born in Birmingham. Like many southerners, I wandered out of my region. But as of 2018, I live in the greater Atlanta area, where my parents fell for each other—“The Greatest Generation, the Greatest Love.”
From the South, into the World
Back in the day, I signed on as a copywriter with “Mom’s magazine,” Southern Living, and then waltzed through sister magazine Southern Accents. It was a crash course in all things southern: porches made in the shade, lush gardens, blue highways, big city glare, small-town low lights, antiques, blues, the best of American literature, and food, food, food. However, a turn at Cooking Light purged bacon grease from my kitchen.
I took a detour to the Midwest on joining the staff at Meredith Books and Better Homes and Gardens. Iowans are low-key friendly and put on the best state fair. Ever! There you can hobnob with (or flee) any politician flirting with a presidential run. I learned to nibble funnel cakes and turkey legs as big as baseball bats.
After weathering whiteouts, this AL Gal tricky-trotted back South for a while before living in Delaware for three delightful years, with close proximity to two destinations beloved by southerners: Longwood Gardens and Winterthur. What a fascinating history! For instance, Delaware has preserved much of its underground railroad—very much worth a visit to learn about Harriet Tubman and other daring conductors.
I remain an ardent Francophile and adore Paris, Chartres, Flaubert, Verlaine, antique architectural plates, Left Bank baby bistros, a flea market toss, and Kir.
Unpredictable? That’s Okay with Me
My career as a writer and editor is anything but predictable. I’ve covered every topic but porn and physics. By day, I’m a copywriter for a liberal arts college. On nights and weekends, I jump into blogging bliss—experimenting with creative nonfiction (characters welcome), poems, and short reflections.
Since 2020, my poems have appeared in Art Ascent (Distinguished Writer/Portraits Competition and Garden Competition), The Blue Mountain Review, Braided Way, Didcot Writers (Reader’s Choice/Apple-Tree-Woodland Competition), storySouth, The Ekphrastic Review, Eunoia Review, The Orchards Poetry Journal, Pine Mountain Sand & Gravel, Pink Panther Magazine, Sparks of Calliope, Tiny Seed Journal, Vita Brevis, and Willows Wept Review. My creative nonfiction has appeared in the gardening journal GreenPrints.
2022 Pushcart Prize Nominee
Shortlisted: 2021 Lascaux Poetry Prize.
Runner-up: 2020 AWC Natasha Trethewey Poetry Prize
Top 10 (out of 1,220 entries): 2021 Poetry Super Highway Competition
Credit: butter sculpture from the private collection of Pamela H. Simpson and published in “Butter Cows and Butter Buildings: A History of an Unconventional Sculptural Medium,” Winterthur Portfolio 41, no. 1 (Spring 2007): 1-19 (Winterthur/Butter Sculpture)
Ah, we are practically neighbors! Since your map highlights the Shenandoah Valley, I am wondering whether that’s where your abode is now?
City of the Seven Hills! Lunch?
Would that be Richmond?
Lynchburg!
It’s wonderful to meet another Virginian! I live just south of Richmond. My husband was just in Lynchburg on business earlier this week! You have a lovely blog and I look forward to reading it! All the best. ~Karen~
I love your take on “eccentric relatives.” I wish I had those. Mine are way over the line, so much so I finally had to write a book simply to stop everyone who knows my extended family from constantly saying, “You should write a book!” But, I’m following you from here on. I could use a laugh. Thanks.
Thanks, Debby. Great to see you. I will enjoy following you!
Nice to meet you (read your comment on the blog post about “Why you should stop writing blog posts.” Like you, I blog for the creative writing expression of it. I have sold my books through my blog also (but with doing very little marketing of them). I feel comfortable sharing my writing for writing’s sake, not for the money’s sake. Shrug. You have a beautiful blog here.
Thanks for your kind words. A creative blog (no-niche) takes a while to get traction. But you meet a lot of like-minded people.
Catherine, sending you a great big hello from our very own spot right here in “y’all” country. We are truly excited about finding and following you. Your photographs are beautiful and your posts are nothing short of fabulous! We are a wanna-be writer and her better half/blog post editor in chief. 🙂 Our blog is new and evolving. Right now it’s full of all sorts of things from poetry and gardening to recipes and riddles. Stop by and check us out.
Thanks for dropping by. I love the name of your blog. You will have great fun writing your posts!
Thank you! It’s been a great deal of fun so far.
moi aussi j’adore le Kir! your exuberant and prolific writing is a bit daunting for a part-time beginner blogger like me …but you’ve definitely sparked my curiosity., so lead the way!
I just dropped by your blog. I loved the post on past conditional. Truly unique. If I return to the Continent, we shall raise a glass of Kir.
thanks for the encouragement – definitely looking forward to your next trip ! meantime we can just read on …
Bonjour ! Thanks for following my blog 🙂 I am very intrigued by your intro and will definitely be back to read more and more! I’m not too familiar with the South, really, so I think I can learn a lot here! I am Texan by birth… and *West* Texan at that, so I guess that makes me “une étrangère”, non ? 😉
The blog world is boundless and boundaryless–so you are not really “une étrangère.” Lots of common ground. French is my second language!
Catherine;
Thanks for subscription of my blog, I too did the same not as a return favor but you as well as your blog is absolutely amazing, so, by subscribing it I may not miss a single sweet post from you.
Wishing you all the best……………….
I am so touched. The same goes for you. I love and appreciate your content. All best in return, Catherine
Catherine;
I am too touched with your this very sweet comment, love and appreciation, I think we both share common and mutual ground for being friends of each other for very long term, what do you think?????????, by the way, yesterday I made one wise decision to subscribe for your blog and the result is absolutely amazing in the form of your wonderful post
Fortunate Fall: Wings of Desire
Wishing you all the best………………
Let me know what you think of the movie! Many creative surprises–including dialogue in three languages. Visually arresting. Common ground–yes!
I like your style….so organic.
Thanks! It took me a while to let go and let it be–so your comment is much appreciated!
You are so, so welcome.
Thanks for following The Immortal Jukebox Catherine. I hope you are finding lots to entertain you and maybe making some discoveries. If you haven’t visited for a while check it out again – many Southern artists featured. Please feel free to add comments. Regards Thom.
The “fact” that you quote Ken Kesey proudly in your blog’s masthead only makes your site more of a pleasure to read. I enjoyed reading his work, “Cuckoo’s Nest” while studying psychology in college. His story was not your typical “No-Me Me Drama. Good luck with your future posts Catherine.
Thanks for visiting and looking around. I feel the same about your blog. A nice discovery of quality work. I’m too conventional to be a Merry Prankster, though I appreciate the sentiment. ; )
It’s a pleasure meeting you. I am going to explore your blog during the next days, weeks. I like to read blogs first thing in the morning with a cup of tea or my morning smoothie.
Hello, Just stumbled into your storytelling blog; I enjoyed reading a couple of them, just wanted to nominate you for the Blogger Recognition Award. Have a great day; Deb
Hi Deb. Thanks for the follow and the comment. I appreciate the kind offer to nominate me for a blog award. At this time, my blog is award free. I just dropped by your site! Regards, Catherine
Its ok, thanks for letting me know; Catherine;) have a blessed week, Hugs; Deb
I was wondering where I’d seen you before. Then I read to the bottom (saving the best for last, eh?) and saw my friend who Burns Like Fire. Ah, yes.
“Every topic but porn and physics” just about says it all (except of course, porn and physics.) Looking forward to checking out your blog.