Bett Norris
Author
NEWS
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.
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 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.
Bett Norris
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 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
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, 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.
2/23/08: Okay, I got the url for the GCLS wrong. It is 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 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:
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?)
| Books > Nonfiction > Social Sciences > Special Groups > Lesbian Studies | |
| Books > Gay & Lesbian > Literature & Fiction > Fiction > Lesbian |
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.
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?
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)
Popular in these categories: (What's this?)
| Books > Nonfiction > Social Sciences > Special Groups > Lesbian Studies | |
|
Books > Gay & Lesbian > Literature & Fiction > Fiction > Lesbian |
All I know is they make me feel good. Maybe they mean that someone bought a book.
In other news: I met with one of the publishers of Bywater Books yesterday and had a wonderful time. I realize that it is rare when a writer gets to meet face to face with people like publishers and editors. A writer works alone, sends off manuscripts, is contacted by phone, most often through email, and the book gets edited and put into print, and maybe the publisher is in New York or Chicago or California, and the writer is at home in Tennessee or Minnesota, Oregon or Arizona, and they really never see each other. Maybe they both attend the same literary conference once a year.
What an imagination I have. Wonder why it doesn't show up when I'm trying to write?
1/13/08: Lori L. Lake included Miss McGhee in an article she wrote for the Quatrefoil Library newsletter about historical novels called "Writing Ourselves Back into History." If you are in the St. Paul area, please visit the Quatrefoil, at 1619 Dayton Avenue, ste 105. Their mission statement reads:
The mission of Quatrefoil Library is to collect, maintain, document and circulate gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer materials and information in a safe and accessible space, in order to promote understanding, an appreciation of diversity and history, and the value of communities.
I am thrilled that Lori chose Miss McGhee for mention in her article, but I am even more pleased to learn of the existence of a lending library for GLBT writers and their work, a place where books, DVDs, videos, and sound recordings are collected, catalogued and preserved.
Visit their site at www.quatrefoillibrary.org to see what they do and to make a donation of books or money.
1/3/08: 8pm: Finally, sucess. I just added a picture! This is a great accomplishment for me. It's the whole gang at Thanksgiving, the matriarch looking particularly festive. Nobody told me I was supposed to wear red. Go to photos and see.
1/3/08: at 6 am, Miss McGhee's sales rank on amazon.com:
Amazon.com Sales Rank: #68,460 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
Popular in these categories: (What's this?)
| Books > Nonfiction > Social Sciences > Special Groups > Lesbian Studies | |
| Books > Gay & Lesbian > Literature & Fiction > Fiction > Lesbian |
Now, I have no idea what these numbers mean. They are updated hourly, and rise and fall very quickly. But I do enjoy seeing the numbers jump up there. It is exciting.
Other news: The temperature this morning in Florida is 30 degrees. This number alarms me.
1/1/08: I've been at this for hours. Trying to upload new photos, trying to edit some of the pages here, so you'll have something new and exciting when you visit. No luck.
I did manage some few changes to the page dedicated to What's Best for Jane.
Why am I up at 4 am on New Year's Day? Because the car alarm went off at 1:30, waking me up. So I am up.
I promise, as soon as I figure out what the problem is, I'll add some new pictures. Got one of the family taken this past Thanksgiving, and my little mother was looking particularly festive.
12/30/07: I was fooling around and accidentally wiped out everything on this page. So this is really new news, if you get what I mean.
Marianne K. Martin's newest book is out, and it's wonderful. I read it twice. For Now, For Always tells the story of a family and what it means to be a family, what love and loyalty and responsibility mean. You can purchase it directly from Bywater at www.bywaterbooks.com.
Two books I read recently and highly recommend are Piper's Someday, by Ruth Perkinson, and Furthest From the Gate, by Ann Roberts.
11/28/07: Miss McGhee has been nominated for two Lambda literary awards! This is thrilling.
11/12/07: There is a wonderful review of Miss McGhee just posted on GaydarNation.com.