Bett Norris

2/3/10: Check out Bywater Books' new web site. It looks very pretty, and it has lots more information. Browse around, there are videos and reviews, news, bios of the authors and photos.

 http://www.bywaterbooks.com.

1/21/10: You can also find me at this link, where I created a fan page:

Bett Norris Fan Page

Taking the title literally, it should be a page for all of you. You can post comments, start discussions, load photos, ask me questions, anything you like.

Okay, I admit I really dislike the name "fan" page. I don;t consider the people who look in on me here as fans. I think of you all as readers, who liked my work and want to keep in touch. I think of that as a high compliment, I really do, and I appreciate it so much. It keeps me going. 

So go to the fan page and post away. It may turn out that I am a big fan of you! 

1/15/10: A Message from Bywater:

We love good books, just like you do

Dear Readers The holidays are over.  The new year has begun.  And there's no getting away from it--this is winter. Can you think of a better time to curl up with a book? We thought we'd pick out a few of our titles that we reckon make for really good reads.  Enjoy!

Dance in the Key of Love by Marianne K. Martin Paige Flemming is on the run. From the police, from her history, and from love itself. After sixteen years looking over her shoulder, she realizes it's time to run again. But when she pauses in her headlong flight to catch her breath with old friends, she crashes straight into another ghost from her past. And this time, it's not one she can easily escape. Marissa Langford is a woman living with the wreckage of her dreams. A dancer deprived of the dance by a tragic accident, she is struggling to rebuild her life when Paige's appearance rekindles bitter memories of what she has lost. For both women, their meeting asks more questions than either can readily answer. As they struggle with the turbulent emotions each provokes in the other, the net is closing on Paige. But cops are human too, and the hunter who has Paige in his sights has his own harsh emotional lessons to learn. As old secrets emerge from the darkness, this finely drawn cast of characters search deep inside themselves for the resources to battle their demons. Desire walks hand in hand with betrayal, love is held hostage by abuse, and shadows threaten dreams every step of the way. In this long-awaited sequel to the best-selling lesbian romance Dawn of the Dance, Lambda Literary Award finalist Marianne K. Martin reminds us that there's no footwork fancy enough to dance out of the shadow of the past. $12.95 Lesbian Fiction  208pp  ISBN 1-932859-17-9 At fine bookstores everywhere or order directly from Bywater Books. Miss McGhee by Bett Norris Two women find love amid the stifling intolerance of a small southern town. When Mary McGhee moved to a small Alabama town shortly after the Second World War, she was sure she could change her life for good: a new job, a new place, a new life. But then she met Lila Dubose, the wife of her new employer, and it seemed that she hadn't really left anything behind her at all. They were still there--desires she couldn't escape, fears she couldn't control, and attitudes that threatened her every chance of happiness. Yet, Mary McGhee dared to challenge the belief that women had no place in business as she took over the operational reins of a neglected lumber empire and brought it into the new era of profitability. And in the face of homophobia and racism she dared to love a woman and openly provided jobs and financial aid for the blacks of her southern community. A true heroine of her time, Mary McGhee quietly faced her fears and the prejudice and ignorance around her to make a difference. Set in the shadow of the civil rights movement, Miss McGhee is a sweeping tale of forbidden love in a turbulent time. First-time author Bett Norris portrays one of the darkest and most troubling times in American history with exceptional skill and sensitivity. $13.95 Lesbian Fiction  296pp  ISBN 978-1-932859-33-1 At fine bookstores everywhere or order directly from Bywater Books. Greetings from Jamaica by Mari SanGiovanni Warning: This book may make you laugh out loud in public. Marie Santora has always known her Italian family is a little crazy, but when she inherits her grandmother's estate, they now have a million more reasons to act nuts. It soon becomes clear that the amount of money Marie needs to live comfortably will be decided by her family--if they don't get enough of her money, she won't live comfortably. Marie plans her escape. She'll give her family a parting gift and then move to Hollywood to chase her dream of writing film scripts. But with millions at stake, it will take more than a free vacation to Jamaica to get the erratic Santora family to toe the line. And the timing couldn't be worse when her hot pursuit changes from screenplay to foreplay. Now she has to stop her loud-mouthed clan from spilling her secrets as fast as they're swilling Jamaican rum. Climb aboard this hilarious rollercoaster ride where Marie is left wishing "out" was the new "in," and where every lounge chair is a hot seat when the Santora family ventures this close to the equator. The island of Jamaica just may not be big enough ... $13.95 Lesbian Fiction  264pp  ISBN 1-932859-30-6 At fine bookstores everywhere or order directly from Bywater Books.

As always, we at Bywater strive to bring you the best in lesbian romance, mystery, and literary fiction. Till next time!   Kelly Smith Marianne K. Martin Val McDermid

Free shipping On orders inspired by this newsletter. Orders must be placed by telephone or mail to qualify and you must mention this e-mail. Order by phone: 1-734-662-8815 Order by mail: Bywater Books, PO Box 3671, Ann Arbor MI 48106 Or order online: http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102933577312&s=16&e=001s5ZCNIdQ-revSlecgqnZprcnpsQ5oFaYGSrIy2j3bCS3VqBpa7g5VVLi2DrVxvg5QBQiNmQJDi7_XUlEfhCTe-9RuiqHKPEFyZ8nc7NkTDarXP_EI1UoUg== Offer Expires: January 30 2010

1/01/10:  Happy new year! Looking ahead to 2010, events, happenings, appearances:

Saints and sinners literary conference:  May 13-16, 2010: New Orleans, Bourbon Orleans hotel. http://sasfest.org

June 3-6, 2010: GCLS conference, Orlando. http://www.gclscon.com

October 13-16, 2010: Atlanta Queer literary festival, Atlanta. http://www.atlqueerlitfest.blogspot.com

October 8-17, 2010: Women's Week in Provincetown. http:// womeninnkeepers.com/womensweek

12/29/09: New release date for What's Best for Jane: October, 2010! Yea!

 12/02/09: The December newsletter from Bywater is out. For those of you who don't subscribe, here's a link:

http://bettnorris.wordpress.com/2009/12/

If you want to sign up to receive the newsletter, go here:

And if you want to join Bywater's facebook fan page, go here:

 http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ann-Arbor-MI/Bywater-Books/170005616289

 12/02/09: The December newsletter from Bywater is out. For those of you who don't subscribe, here's a link:

http://bettnorris.wordpress.com/2009/12/

If you want to sign up to receive the newsletter, go here:

I posted a new photo album.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/bett.norris?ref=name

Ya'll know that I am on Facebook, right?

Only four weeks until Women’s Week in Provincetown. I’m getting excited, folks. It’s going to be fun. Lots of things happening. Great entertainment lined up. And Bywater Books will be there to provide you with chances to meet some of its authors. Bywater has several book signing events scheduled at Womencrafts. They are also hosting a wine and cheese party on Thursday night, October 15, from 6 to 8 pm at Womencrafts. This sounds like a nice, relaxing atmosphere, a great chance to actually meet and talk to some of your favorite writers.

On Saturday, from 10:30-11:30, Bywater is presenting an interesting panel discussion in the Paramount Showroom at the Crown and Anchor, and the fabulous, funny, articulate and intersting Kate Clinton will join us to discuss writing, the history of our literature since Stonewall, what influenced us as writers, how we define family, our writing processes, and you’ll get the opportunity to pose questions too.

                                  Please join us. 

                                     

 

 

Back from New Orleans, safely, after driving twelve hours through thunderstorms. Tired, but energized and eager, as these conferences always affect me.

Friday Master classes: I first sat in Jess Well's class about writing credible, creative historical fiction. (I am thinking about my next book already, which may return to the civil rights era, or be set in the 1920's-1930's.) First, let me say that Jess Wells is a brilliant writer. If you haven't read The Mandrake Broom, and you are considering historical fiction, you really will enjoy this book. It could be used as a template on how to write historical fiction well. Her class was tremendously helpful regarding research, how to make it come alive in the story, how much is too much, and she provided a gold mine of useful tools.

Next I sat in Ellen Hart's class on the art of revision. Ellen teaches writing, and she is good at it. I took notes. I consider myself the queen of revision, but torturing a good story through endless revision that is not producing a better manuscript also tortures the writer, and Ms. Hart gave detailed instruction on specific goals to be accomplished through revision, so that one is not simply spinning wheels and getting nowhere. (Kelly Smith of Bywater Books asked me to type up my notes on this class, as a means of future torture methods she can perhaps inflict on me and other writers. Let it be known that some editors do have a sadistic streak, which combined with the power they already hold over a writer's lifeblood poured onto paper, is a nasty mix. This is a joke, people!)

Saturday panels: I sat in the audience as Ellen Hart, Anthony Bikula, Jeffrey Round, and Gary Zebrun discussed the mystery novel. Even if you don't write mysteries, there is a lot one can learn from masters of this genre regarding plot and pacing and tension, which all good books need. These writers are also very charming and witty, so it was a delight to hear a group of mystery authors talk about their craft.

Next, I attended a discussion of  groundbreaking lesbian literature, which was a look back at the beginning of lesbian fiction, and the panelists were Radclyffe, who has an extensive personal library of many of the early works and is a walking encyclopedia about them, Elana Dykewomon, who wrote a couple of those groundbreaking novels herself, and accepted an award at the conference because of her contribution to the literature, JM Redmann, whose award-winning Mickey Knight series has just added a fifth installment, and the afore-mentioned Ellen Hart, author of 25 books. The panel was moderated by Fay Jacobs who asked some pointed questions, and classics of our body of literature were discussed, and Elana Dykewomon made a poignant and eloquent plea for us not to forget those early writers. We must keep their names and their work in our mouths, she said.

Next I attended a lively debate on art and entertainment in fiction, which was the old, never-resolved arugment between popular fiction, genre fiction, and "literary" fiction. Canadian writer Peter Dube spoke most to the point about this, when he said the whole proposition is moot, good writing is good writing, whether it is found in erotica, the mysery novel, science fiction, poetry, or in the literary novel. The distinction is, he said, and the other panelists agreed, a false premise. categorizing work is a neccesary shorthand for bookstores and readers, so they can find what they want to read easier, but the argument has no place is discussing quality. Jane Austen wrote genre fiction. If she were writing today, you'd find her work in the bookstore next to Danielle Steele. And fifty or a hundred years from now, some of our work may be found in the classic literature section, if we write well enough. It all comes down to the work.

Sunday: I attended a very informative workshop on the art of self promotion, got a ton of helpful information from panelist Michele Karlsberg, a working publicist, on what to do, and what not to do.

Finally, I attended a panel discussion about capturing the past in prose, during which panelists Jess Wells, Justine Saracen, and Jim Duggins totally enthralled me about why they write historical fiction, and why I should too. Lively conversation about combining research with imagination.

I skipped the discussion of the realities of the market in these economic times, by publishers Linda Daniel and Kelly Smith. I didn't want to hear bad news. For that, I have royalty statements.

 Today I leave for New Orleans and the Saints and Sinners conference. I love the place and I love this writer's conference, which serves as a fundraiser for NOAIDS. I'll be meeting with my publishers, Bywater Books, and that's always fun. A writer doesn't normally get many chances to meet face to face with editors and publishers.

I'll also get to meet up with some friends from my Montgomery days who I haven't seen in many years.

I'm excited about some of the panels and workshops, so I thought I'd let you know some of the ones that particularly interest me. Writing Credible Historical Fiction, a master class taught by Jess Wells, who certainly knows what she's doing. The Art of Revision, taught by the extremely talented Ellen Hart, who has written 24 books and won 5 Lambda literary awards, so she ought to know something about this.

There's a panel discussion called Art and Entertainment, delving into the timeless question of literary fiction versus genre writing. There's a panel called Tales of the New Depression, with various publishers, including Kelly Smith of Bywater Books, talking about how thw economy has affected the book market, as well as online vendors who offer used copies for sale right along with new. Not naming names. Mid-Career Blues, with Elana Dykewomon, who has a new book out called Risk, which I highly recommend. A panel discission of the origins of lesbian literature, discissing the sixties and seventies and those great early books and writers that began our canon of literature.

I'll be busy, totally immersed in conversation about books and writing. What could be better? Drinking and talking about books and writing, at the opening and closing receptions, of course.

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Bywater Books (June 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932859691
• ISBN-13: 978-1932859690

  Red Audrey and the Roping
I am so pleased and excited that Jill Malone's first novel, already the winner of a Bywater Prize for fiction, is a finalist for a 2009 Lambda literary award. I can't remember the last time I was so happy about a debut novel. Malone truly is a remarkable writer. The novel is funny, serious, and tackles some complex issues. It reads like a piece of jazz.
I quote my own review of this book below:

If the gods of literature exist, they are smiling right now. Jill Malone's debut novel has certainly made me smile. I've just had the pleasure of reading an advance copy, and I feel like an explorer who has just discovered a wondrous territory, and I can't wait to tell everyone, show them this miraculous landscape that Jill Malone has created for us.

The blurb posted mentions Sarah Waters and Margaret Atwood. Throw in any author whose skill and maturity and dexterity with language makes you happy, and it won't be overkill. Joan Didion's novels. Jane Rule. Jane Smiley. Jane Hamilton. I am not overstating when I say that Red Audrey and the Roping measures up, more than meets that standard.

Honestly, I got chills reading this novel. It's that good. It's not often that a writer of such skill, such ease with tone, style, dialogue, setting, comes along.
Set in Hawaii, the story moves with Jane Elliott through a series of failed relationships, a series of disjointed scenes that all have to do with Jane's inability to trust herself and trust that anyone can love her. She struggles to come to terms with her dissociated life.

"The fire flickered without much warmth or enthusiasm. Emily rubbed her hands against the outside of my legs like a trainer. Her hands burned the surface of my skin. I shivered into a towel, her body bright and warm against mine as if I still shielded the match in my palms. I name that moment, I name that place, as the one that moved beyond what I could handle. As the one that moved."

What Jane can't handle is the crux, the heart of this novel, set in rich language, lush descriptions of both physical setting and the emotional geography of Jane's constant attempts to break free of the scars left by her mother's death. Until her repeated efforts to feel something lead to jumping off cliffs, until she can't feel anything. Hurling herself at challenges, at walls, at lovers, at anything she thinks will break her, Jane finally finds that, like Icarus, brief moments of flight that bring her closer to destruction don't just burn away her wings but burn scars that begin to show on the outside as well as inside.

Tethered to the ground, tied to the thing she would throw herself against, Jane breaks.

This is a novel of such depth and skill and beauty that I can only record my awe at Malone's immensely engaging, readable, memorable first novel.

3/9/09:  My talk with the women's book club of OutLoud Books in Nashville yesterday was great, a lot of fun. They asked some interesting questions, and it just so happened that it was the 44th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, the very day that ends Miss McGhee, so we talked about that. Great group. They asked about What's Best for Jane, and I talked about that a little. Hope I didn't give away too much plot! Thanks so much for inviting me to ramble on about writing.

www.outloudonline.com

I posted another video. Jon Stewart is so funny.

3/1/09: I've added a couple of videos. For some reason, you have to click on the gray area to make one of them work. Enjoy!

2/22/09:  

We have a couple of new members who just joined the site. That makes it more important that I post here more often and give you all something new to read. (I'm sorry, did I increase the font size a tad much?) Listen up, everyone. I actually got to meet these two new members. In person. Yep, talked to them. Liked them. I wish I could meet you all. It was fun.

I am making plans for the release of What's Best for Jane, some sort of party somewhere. You can tell that I am good at planning things, right? In addition, I want to conjure up some sort of contest so that one or two of you members can win a copy of the new book, absolutely free, signed, shipped, delivered. So, if any of you have any ideas, let me know. Of course, it should be an easy contest.

I added a link to MySpace because yesterday, I figured out how to add pictures and music to my page there. I think I also added a video. I think. Check it out.

2/17/09: I have seriously neglected posting here for a while. I've been working very hard, finishing What's Best for Jane. Weekends are reserved for complete concentration, but this past Sunday, I took myself off to Java Nirvana in Gulfport to see three authors handle reading, book signing, and conversation with fans and readers. I had a great time, and it was educational to see these very professional writers interact with people. It was like sitting in someone's living room discussing our favorite books. None of the three exhibited a bit of the nervousness I always feel when doing these things. Ruth, KG, and Lee were gracious to introduce me, and several people there told me they read Miss McGhee and had posted on the web site here, or joined as members. It's wonderful to be able to put faces to names and actually meet some of you. Shout out to Ann, Diane, and Mercedes.

I am resolved to hold a book release event when Jane comes out, which hopefully will be in June. I'll keep everyone updated. Maybe some of us will get together and sit around talking about Jane and Miss McGhee, just like in someone's living room.

Speaking of doing just that, a book group in Nashville contacted me, and they're reading Miss McGhee. They asked me to do a phone-in question and answer thing with them on March 8. Thanks to Brenda for setting this up. I'm really lookng forward to it. It will be fun.

Note: I added some photos of this event. Check out the photo gallery.

1/30/09: Three great authors will be appearing locally. On Feb 15, from 10 am till 2 pm, at Java Nirvana in Gulfport, Florida. Ruth Perkinson, KG MacGregor, and Lee Lynch will do readings, sign books, and engage in conversation. I'll be there too, in the audience, because these are 3 of my favorite authors.

12/03/08: Finally, some good news! Go to this link:

http://browse.barnesandnoble.com/browse/nav.asp?visgrp=fiction&exp=900002&N=712556+907132&Ne=900002+712556+907132&z=y

and you'll see that Miss McGhee has hit the top ten bestsellers list at Barnes and Noble, or today. Hurry, they refresh the numbers every twenty four hours.

12/01/08: Miss McGhee has jumped up to # 16 on the Barnes and Noble best seller list in the lesbian fiction category. This is thrilling news.

16.

This is always exciting for me. To all those out there purchasing copies in these hard economiic times, I can only say thank you, and I believe that books are a sensible purchase that can give many people hours of pleasure.

11/30/08: This is really exciting news. Bywater Books is releasing Last Chance at the Lost and Found, by Marcia Finical.

This novel was the winner of the very first annual Bywater Prize for fiction, and its release has been delayed, until now.

Bunny LaRue was young and beautiful and living in LA in 1972. Sex, drugs, and fun were plentiful. Working as a model for a lingerie catalog with a body that got her everything she thought she ever wanted in life, Bunny moved from one party to the next and one photo shoot to the next. The future was not her concern.

Then Bunny meets political activist Sunshine Lindstrom, falls in love, and begins to see that life is more than one big party. But when Sunshine leaves her and Bunny loses her job, the world is no longer such a friendly place. As the years slip by, life isn’t easy, and Bunny must find the strength to confront her past and create a new future.

Last Chance at the Lost and Found is a story of personal growth, of choices made—good and bad—of how to live and love. It’s also the story of the lesbian and gay community from the 70s through the 90s. A story of friendships and lovers and alcohol and recovery and turmoil and, finally, peace of mind.

10/29/08: I am so happy that this novel, the third in the Cat Rising series by author Cynn Chadwick, is finally here. The first two, Cat Rising and Girls With Hammers, were wonderfully funny, touching, and real. Chadwick has created her own quirky community of family populated with delighful characters. Can you tell I am a fan? Get your copy now, and if you haven't read the first two, get those as well, because the whole thing is just great. Good, strong, clear writing. Iam still caught by the opening paragraph of Cat Rising. I don't know why.

This book, by Z Egloff, the current winner of the Bywater prize for fiction, is due out in February, 2009. I read an early version and found it captivating in style, tone, theme, setting, character, you get the idea. I like the way this person writes. I think you'll love this book.

Do any of you fall in love with books like I do? Well, maybe not exactly as I do, because I go a little nuts.

These two books are just great. I highly recommend both.

10/01/08: I'm back. In a very real sense, I have been away for most of the summer. Usually, I try not to get very personal here. On this web site, I want to talk about writing and books and my novels. But those of you who have been kind enough to keep checking in with me here feel like friends, and you've all been so supportive of my work that for this once, I'd like to talk about what's been happening in my life this summer.

I have been traveling back and forth from my home in St. Petersburg to my mother's house in Alabama. Her health started going downhill. She was hospitalized in May, and again in August. Following her wishes, we took her home, where she passed away on August 8, 2008. All of her eight children, two of her sisters, and many of her grandchildren were there, in her room, for those last two days, long hours of sitting with her, holding her hand, helping, willing her, to breathe. We sat vigil through that long last night, all of us crowded into her small bedroom around her bed, watching, waiting, and toward the end, praying for her suffering to end.

She is gone now. She is free. I know that, and yet I still mourn. I still hurt. I still want my mother.

This picture was taken on May 14, 2007, on Mother's back porch, when I gave her the first copy of Miss McGhee. I was so proud to be able to put that book in her hands. I remember her hugging me and whispering, "I've always been proud of you." That was the best day of my life.

Since Mother passed away, I have been dealing with a whole spectrum of emotions. I have been trying to accept that she is gone. I have been dealing with the shock of learning the terms of her will and the fact that we will lose her house, which she always said she wanted kept in the family. It feels like losing her all over again.

Some of this information really has no place on this web site, but readers of my book, and those who will read the next one, feel like friends and great supporters to me.

I hope you all understand and will be patient and wait for What's Best for Jane. It will be finished and it will be released. That is a promise.

8/12/08: Hey, some wonderful news. Miss McGhee got a great review from Heather O'Neil, who writes the Across the Page column for Afterellen.com web site. if you haven't visited this site, I recommend it for keeping up to date on everything about lesbians in entertainement, from television, movies and books. for the review I mentioned, here's the link:

http://www.afterellen.com/books/2008/8/acrossthepage

Afterellen.com has thousands of readers, so maybe a few more will pick up a copy of Miss McGhee. That would be fantastic.

7/20/08: Bywater Books is having a contest. You can go to their web site and nominate your choices for the best lesbian books of the twentieth century.

http://www.bywaterbooks.com/

Beginning on September 1, you can then vote for your favorites. Voting will stay open until October 15th.  The most popular books, as chosen by you, will be announced during Women's week in Provincetown.

I already picked my choices.

7/11/08:   

Miss McGhee has been named a finalist for the GCLS Ann Bannon Popular Choice Award. I don't know whether I'll be able to attand the awards ceremony at the conference (July31-Aug 3) in Phoenix, but it is an honor to be included in the finals with such well0established writers as KG MacGregor, JLee Meyer, Therese Szymanski, and Radclyffe, along with another first-time novelist K. E. Lane.

6/9/08:I've added a couple of new photos. go to the photos page ( you didn't really think I could paste them here, did you?) They were taken by niece Stephanie Bayles, who is an excellent photographer, and she is making quite a name for herself, taking photos for our hometown newspaper.

Well, I suprised myself. Here they are:

       Photos by the aforementioned and much-loved Stephanie Bayles.                  

I am working on the rewrite of What's Best for Jane. Really, really hard. I promise. I'll have some official news for you about it and and some appearances in connection with its release soon. Really.

The kitchen remodel is coming along so nicely and so well, thanks, many thanks, to the skill and expertise of Cliff and Kelly, the dream team. I'll post some before, during, and after photos soon. Really.

5/16/08: Okay, I'm back from New Orleans and the Saints and Sinners conference. We had a great time, the workshops and panels were wonderful, as always, and I learned a lot, as always. I highly recommend this conference to all of you out there, readers and aspiring writers, established writers, anyone.

And here's the big news. After a long meeting with my Bywater editor, we decided to delay the release of What's Best for Jane until September. It just isn't ready, folks. I take all the blame for this delay. I need to rewrite and make some changes, which I hope will make it a better book. My apologies to those of you who are waiting for this followup to Miss McGhee. It's coming, I promise. Rather than rush it to the printer in order to keep to the original release date, I decided that better is better than faster. I really appreciate Bywater's understanding this.

4/21/08: It's time to get serious. Yes, occasionally, I do that. Go over to the Musing and Muttering page to commence.

In other news: we started this past weekend on remodeling the kitchen. Whew! What a big job, ripping out the cabinets, counters, applainces, even the floor. This is going to be a total makeover, with new tile floor, new everything. This morning, the space is an empty shell. Many, many thanks to the Ciff and Kelly dynamic duo team. They are the best.

We have a new kitten. Her name is Scout and she is a mess. We love her. And thankfully, Sketch seems to have taken to her, because she is totally fascinated with him and wants to play constantly. He tolerates this as long as he can, then we have to shut him in a room by himself so he can get some sleep.

I am taking pictures of both the before and after kitchen and of the cats. I'll post them soon.

4/18/08: Okay, here it is. The panel discussion I'll be sitting on at the Saints and Sinners conference.

Sunday, May 11
11:30 A.M.
FIDDLE-DEE-DEE: CHARACTER AND THE ADVANTAGES OF GENRE WRITING
Sam Spade, Scarlett O’Hara, and Harry Potter are literary icons that came from the much-maligned world of genre fiction. Join these genre writers as they explore how they create multi-dimensional characters in the world of genre fiction, and how genre can be used to  discuss social and political issues.
Panelists: Timothy J. Lambert, Greg Herren, Marianne K. Martin, and Bett Norris.
Moderator: Becky Cochrane.
Upstairs at the Bourbon Pub/Parade

Now, if you can tell me a few points that you'd like me to make, go right ahead.

4/14/08: In an effort to turn your minds away from taxes, here's some news. As you may know, I'll be attending the Saints and Sinners literary conference in New Orleans, May 8-11. Panels and workshops are still being firmed up, but it looks like I'll be doing a reading. I mentioned to Marianne K. Martin, one of the publishers of Bywater Books. Bywater will have a strong showing in New Orleans this year, with six or seven of its authors there, and that Bywater could holding a reading that showcases Bywater authors. I don't know yet if that will happen, but we will certainly be there in force.

Here's the bio posted in the program for yours truly.

Bett Norris

<>

Bett Norris graduated from the University of Alabama with a BA in history and a burning desire to write, having grown up just down the road a piece from Harper Lee. She drew heavily on her Alabama roots for her first novel, Miss McGhee, a runnerup for Bywater Books prize for fiction, set during the civil rights movement of the fifties and sixties. She dutifully set her second novel, What's Best for Jane, in the South as well, certain that the well of rich material to be found there will never run dry.

3/22/08: It's time to welcome a new author to Bywater Books. I am very pleased to announce that Cynn Chadwick and all her novels are joining Bywater. Her latest, Babies, Bikes, and Broads, will be released in October. Go to http://www.bywaterbooks.com/ and check out her bio and her books. If you haven't yet read Cat Rising or Girls with Hammers, get your copies now.

I've just learned that Cynn Chadwick will be attending the Saints and Sinners conference in New Orleans in May.

For more on Ms. Chadwick's influence on me, read the page titled A Few Notes.

3/20/08: Big News! Two Bywater books have been shortlisted for Lambda awards! 

Congratulations to Mari SanGiovanni, whose Greetings From Jamaica, Wish You Were Queer is a finalist in the women's fiction category.

Congratulations also to Marianne K. Martin. Her novel For Now, For Always is a finalist in the women's romance category.

The awards dinner is May 29 in West Hollywood, CA. I think this is just the beginning for Bywater Books. Look for more accolades next year. Bywater has an amazing list of books coming soon.

3/17/08: This was so funny that I have to share it.

http://www.theonion.com/content/news/novelists_strike_fails_to_affect

The Onion is a satirical, diabolically funny thing. I hope you all enjoy this tongue-in-cheek report. Here's my reply:

2/28/08: You can now go to a new site for authors, http://www.redroom.com/, and see an author page dedicated to yours truly. Any suggestions for improvements will be appreciated and promptly acted upon, depending on the nervous twitches I call technical ability in doing all things computer-related.

2/24/08: Okay, I realize that I am a nut about books. I've often urged you to read books I thought were good, books that I read and loved. This is different.

I got chills. Honest to God, reading this advance copy of Red Audrey and the Roping, by Jill Malone, made the hair stand up on my arms, and I got goose bumps. She is the winner of the Bywater prize for fiction, and her novel is due out in April. Run to the nearest bookstore and order your copy now. This book is brilliant, this first-time author is brilliant.

It's not often that you get to feel like you're in at the beginning, like you've discovered something unique, someone destined for greatness. If there is justice, then this book will be on the New York Times best seller list.

http://www.amazon.com/Red-Audrey-Roping-Jill-Malone/dp/1932859543/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1203880562&sr=1-1

2/23/08: Okay, I got the url for the GCLS wrong. It is http://www.gclscon.com/. Thanks to Bev for pointing it out. I've corrected it in the announcement below.

2/18/08:  I've just been told that Miss McGhee has been nominated for an award in the GCLS Debut Author category. I am so excited! Go to http://www.gclscon.com/ and you can see all the nominees. The annual GCLS literary conference will be in Phoenix July 31-August 3, at the Sheraton Wildhorse Pass Resort.

The keynote speaker will be Katherine V. Forrest. 

2/14/08: Happy Valentine's Day. The interview is already posted for The Wry Writer, so you can go there and read all you ever wanted to know about me:

http://www.wrywriter.com/

Maybe more than you want to know, like how I play music and sing along while adding my own special interpretations. In my socks.

2/12/08: I just love doing this: I check the sales rank of Miss McGhee on amazon.com every day. This morning, at 6 am:

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #22,521 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

I admit that I have no idea what these numbers mean, but this has to be better than not being # 21, right? And it sure feels good. Somoene out there is buying my book. Thank you.

Other things: I reconnected to an old friend, someone I hung out with in high school and college. I hadn't heard from her in, well, many years. That's thrilling, and a benefit of having a published book and more exposure on the internet becasue of that book.

I completed the interview for The Wry Writer. They tell me it should be posted this Friday, and I'll put a link to the article for you here. (If I figure out how, that is. You people know me. I am the most technically challenged person I know.)  The questions posed to me for the interview really got me thinking about writing.

2/7/08: I've been asked to submit to an interview for The Wry Writer, a new web site for new short stories about strong women adn with lesbian characters. The web site also includes news and interviews, reviews, and other interesting things. I've added a link to the site. Check it out. And I'll let you know when they post the interview with me.

http://www.wrywriter.com/

2/4/08: This has nothing to do with books or writing, but I want to use whatever tools I have to encourage everyone to vote tomorrow. Please.

1/30/08: I don't get into politics. But yesterday, I participated in the so-called meaningless Florida primary. You can see what I have to say about this day on my MySpace page. What, you didn't know I have a MySpace page? Don't worry, I like you guys here the best. If you were told you could vote, but it wouldn't count, would you do it anyway?

www.myspace.com/bettnorris

1/27/08:  Folks, I confess that I have no idea what these numbers mean but I check them at amazon.com every so often, and this morning, here's what they are:

  (10 customer reviews)

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