Did you keep a diary while growing up? It’s sort of funny, and I never thought about it until recently, but all the diaries I ever came across (even now) are patterned with the idea of a little girl writing in it. Pink, pastels, flowery designs.
I had a diary for a long time. I wrote in it from the time I was about ten until I was in my early twenties. And then…I lost it, and if I had to guess where it was, I’d say it’s still resting somewhere in the attic of that small ranch house where I used to live with my first husband, in Zebulon, NC.
As we know, Dixie had a diary, and…so did her Mama.
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN
I sat in stunned silence, staring at the last page of Mama’s diary.
***I’m using #FirstSentenceFridays on Twitter and tagging @Kensington Publishing Corporation. Follow along and tweet out/share if you’d like!***
My first diary was either black or navy blue, I think the pattern on the cover was dul-gold diamonds. I sometimes bless the 1970s’ lack of pink-everything for young girls. I still refuse to buy the (more expensive!) pink razor. 🙂
My journaling now is sometimes done on my public blog, occasionally on a private one only Mr. X and I can access, but mostly in my conversations with friends and family. I keep emails, and going back and reading them: that is pretty much my diary now. I think correspondence has always been thus.
As for our young Miss Dixie … My four copies (three for gifts) are waiting their turn to be shipped. The preorder keeps my heart warm until I have the book itself in my greedy paws.
I am nostalgic for the old days, the old ways, Diane. It gets worse as each year creeps by. For instance, my Mom still writes letters. And gets letters. Not Skype. Not emails. Real papery letters in her mailbox from all over. She’ll sit down at the table in the early morning with slips of stationary, pen, cup of coffee at her elbow, and she’ll write to relatives and friends all over the country. Maybe this is why I pop a personal hand written letter into a few of my Christmas cards. I’m trying to hold on to that bit of the past.
This is the ONE thing I love about traditional publishing too. Next week I will get a package from Kensington. My manuscript will be in it with RED PENCIL edits. I told Blaine last night that too is part of the dream, but it’s also like a tradition in publishing, because, haven’t we all read the stories about writers receiving their work with the red marks all over it?
(((((HUGS))))) to you for buying DIXIE. I hope she will creep into your heart like she did mine, all those years ago.
I was always writing as a child and while growing up.But I don’t think there were flowers in my notebooks. Maybe just in the beginning.
When I learned how to write, the first thing I did was to write a song about peace.
Fridays are such a pleasure thanks to you, Donna! And soon I’ll have your book in my hands… YAY! <3 <3 <3
P.S. I deactivated my FB account for a while. But I'll be back.
Awww, you are ever so kind Lilac! You didn’t see any diaries with the covers decorated in flowers? Maybe that’s more prevalent today. My own diary cover was blue/green/ with streaks of gold, almost like a water color type of painting. It had a tiny gold latch, and a tiny gold key. (Just like Dixie’s. 🙂 )
I’m glad you’ve enjoyed the First Sentence Fridays…next week is the last one, and this part of the journey will be over. I’m trying to decide what to do next. I was hoping to have an idea by now, but I’ve been so busy otherwise, nothing has come to me – yet!
((((HUGS)))) to you too, for buying DIXIE. And like I told Diane below, I hope she will creep into your heart too! <3 <3 <3
Yes…I saw your message out there, likely after you'd gone dark, and I think I know why, but it was the smart thing to do. Let the shadows pass, and then light our way again with your kindness! Hope to see you there again, sooner rather than later!
Just sayin’ there’s nothing wrong with abandoning the Internet for a while, either in whole or in part. I once went completely dark for about a year. It was a very good idea.
Ohhhhh you! It’s a good thing the wait is almost over because that sentence is a killer. It’s the definitive first sentence because it does what all the experts say a first sentence needs to do. Leaves the reader begging to read the second sentence. Which is what I’m doing right now. Begging! Yaaasssssssssssssss! I want this book NOW!
That really is a killer sentence. is this the penultimate chapter or the final chapter? I thought it was the finale, but you don’t say so. We, of course, can’t tell if chapter 27 is also chapter the last. Ugh!
Heeeeeehheeeeeheeeee! (that’s my evil cackle sounding out thru the interwebz.)
I’m always intrigued as to what you’re going to say to my sentences, and if you tell me experts would say it’s doing it’s job, then I’m beyond happy!
Next Friday is the last chapter, and I’m going to tell you now, that sentence, as I say in the post, is a doozy.
So! One more! Then, like I told Lilac…I gotta figure out what the heck I’m doing next! I’d like to keep doing something regular on Friday’s. It’s worked out well, but then again, a lot of the work was done ahead of time (the book being written).
He’s quite right, this one is impossibly enticing. And scary. And open-ended, in the best way … What did Dixie just see? Where will she take us now … ?
Won’t be long now, and you’ll know!
WOAH! Why can’t I write sentences like that?
Oh, I’m sure you can – and do!
It’s funny, I’ve looked at/read/worked on this book for so long now, these sentences hit me a bit different. Especially when they’re parsed out in the way I’ve done for the past several months. I’m glad they’re doing their job though!
Fabulous. Just fabulous. This sentence does everything it’s meant to do.
Thanks Micki! Now, if the rest that follow…