Tag: Alabama

Adult Fiction · Queer

#LazyLambs Book Club: Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg

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This time around, Lazy Lambs Book Club decided to take a break from the Christopher Moore books we’d chosen before and read Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg. Here’s the description: Folksy and fresh, endearing and affecting, Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe is the now-classic novel of two women…… Continue reading #LazyLambs Book Club: Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg

Adult Fiction · Queer · Writing

Author Hunter Murphy on Gay Southern Characters

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Three weeks ago, I reviewed the new book Imogene in New Orleans by Hunter Murphy — a cozy mystery about Jackson Miller, his partner Billy, and Billy’s mother Imogene. I don’t see a lot of Southern fiction with gay characters, let alone central characters in relationships, so I was more than thrilled when Hunter agreed to write…… Continue reading Author Hunter Murphy on Gay Southern Characters

Adult Fiction · Queer

Review: Imogene in New Orleans by Hunter Murphy

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Yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting Hunter Murphy, author of the gay Southern cozy mystery Imogene in New Orleans! “What in the world is that about,” you ask? Here’s the description: Imogene Deal McGregor has lived nearly three-quarters of a century in Alabama. She has a penchant for following her own instincts, as well as more…… Continue reading Review: Imogene in New Orleans by Hunter Murphy

History · Other Stuff

Report from the Alabama Museums Association Annual Meeting

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Yesterday I attended the Alabama Museums Association Annual Meeting, my first industry conference! (I only went for the sessions during the day Monday, but the festivities extended before and after that). It wasn’t a large group in the first place, but I was one of only a few students, and I think the only one not…… Continue reading Report from the Alabama Museums Association Annual Meeting

Adult Fiction · Children's & Middle Grade · History · Other Stuff · Picture Books

Banned Books Week: “The Most Famous Challenged and Banned Books” Event

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In the interest of time, instead of a book profile today, I’ve got an event to talk about! “The Most Famous Challenged and Banned Books” was a talk given by Dr. William Hutchings of the UAB Department of English at one of my local libraries. The audience was about twenty to twenty-five people of mature years. I was…… Continue reading Banned Books Week: “The Most Famous Challenged and Banned Books” Event

History · Other Stuff

Museum Visit: Lethal Beauty at the BMA

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“Lethal Beauty: Samurai Weapons and Armor” is a temporary exhibit at the Birmingham Museum of Art. You guessed it — it’s samurai weapons and armor! That stuff is also combined with some Japanese art. The exhibit will be on display at the BMA until September 21, but if you can’t make it, take your own…… Continue reading Museum Visit: Lethal Beauty at the BMA

History

What’s a Toothbrush Drill?

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What is a toothbrush drill, and does it hurt? That was my question, anyway. I volunteer at the Tannehill museum. One job, from a while ago now, was to catalog sixteen boxes of old photographs of Alabama mining communities. These pictures were taken by the Land Department of the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company,…… Continue reading What’s a Toothbrush Drill?

History · Other Stuff

Museum Visit: Iron & Steel Museum of Alabama

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Okay, this one’s kind of cheating. I volunteer here several times a month, so it’s not like I’m going in as a newbie. However, it’s a pretty cool place and it’s worth a visit if you’re interested in the area or any of the topics it covers. The museum focuses on 19th century iron making…… Continue reading Museum Visit: Iron & Steel Museum of Alabama

History · Writing

Geography, History, and Fictional Worlds

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My friend Rose B. Fischer recently posted about how to use history to fix a stuck writing project. Today I’m going to jump off her reference to geography, and give some examples of how important geography is for understanding history and for creating a fictional world. The topics are remarkably similar. Ancient Egypt This is…… Continue reading Geography, History, and Fictional Worlds