On the Southern Literary Trail discussion

I first read "All Over but the shoutin", years ago, and have been a huge fan ever since. He has a great voice, and his Alabama relatives could easily be my North Carolina ones. I recently read his essay in Southern Living on the fine art of "just piddlin", which seems to be a fine southern talent, and one of my favorite things to do. I heard him at a reading once tell a lady who asked him if he felt traumatized by his childhood, "Lady, we didn't have time to be traumatized. We were too busy just trying to get by". One of my favorite Southern authors.

Diane - mine too. He is featured in Southern Living every month and the essay is always top drawer!

Diane wrote: "I first read "All Over but the shoutin", years ago, and have been a huge fan ever since. He has a great voice, and his Alabama relatives could easily be my North Carolina ones. I recently read hi..."

Diane,

My sincere thanks for adding the post on Rick Bragg. I'm blessed that he lives here in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, my hometown. He's writer in residence at my alma mater The University of Alabama. I highly recommend his essays in Southern Living Magazine that fellow member Kathy mentioned.

As you know, a killer Tornado cut a swath across the State of Alabama on April 27, 2011. Bragg's neighborhood was in the path. His story of how the people in his neighborhood came together following the storm, which devastated a good portion of the street is one of bravery, generosity, and the best of what makes each of us human.

Sincerely,

Lawyer Stevens