28 NOV 05: SORROW CITY?

Georgia Public Broadcasting radio presented its program taped in Columbus Sunday night. The topic on "Cover to Cover" was a novel called "Where the River Runs." So why was this program taped last Sunday at the Columbus Public Library? Was the RiverCenter reserved for SOA Watch protesters?

"Where the River Runs" is the second novel by Georgia author Patti Callahan Henry. One member of the audience praised her for writing in a Southern style - but was amazed she was born near Philadelphia. It could have been SOUTH Philadelphia, you know....

Patti Callahan Henry explained in response she moved to the South when she was 12. She read plenty of Southern authors, and learned their sense of "melancholy." After 140 years, you'd think they would accept the outcome of the Civil War.

Another member of the audience revealed he's a historical writer, who's working on a book about Columbus called "Sorrow's Kitchen." Somehow, I don't think the Columbus Chamber of Commerce will give a book with that title much promotion and publicity....

I didn't catch the name of the author of "Sorrow's Kitchen," but he said he can't publish his historical book quite yet. "I'm waiting for all the people to die," he explained. Hmmmmm - what does he know about Dick McMichael that isn't in HIS book?

Back on stage, Patti Callahan Henry talked about how she writes novels. She admires authors who can write three or four books a year, because she says she needs time to "let my characters grow organically." I guess the alternative is to throw
fertilizer on your word processor.

Patti Callahan Henry says when it comes to promoting a book nowadays, a web site is "non-negotiable." She has one, which receives visitors from all over the country. Why settle for the "Amazon" when you can have your own virtual three-acre wood?

(But Patti Callahan Henry admits she finds it "really scary" that people can look up her name on Google to learn about her. I'm not sure why that's a scary thing - unless someone somewhere has nude pictures of her.)

Patti Callahan Henry's latest novel "Where the River Runs" is about a woman who moves to Georgia from South Carolina's "Lowcountry" region. For those of you who don't know geography - this is the area near the coast, not a region filled with factory outlet malls.

Patti Callahan Henry's biography says attended Auburn University, and now lives along the Chattahoochee River in Atlanta. The better to have close-up views of sewage spills, I guess....

But seriously: Patti Callahan Henry explained her home fulfills her "deep need to see the natural world outside my window." Huh?!?! Plenty of Atlanta homes have backyards - and even some condos have views of Piedmont Park.

From the applause at the end of the hour, "Cover to Cover" seemed to attract a large audience at the Columbus Public Library last Sunday night. And amazingly, no one interrupted the program and uttered the word "WHINSEC."

Now let's return to the present, and topics from Sunday's news:

+ By order of Georgia's Governor, it was "Drive Safer Sunday" across the state. For about 75 percent of Georgia's drivers, there's an easy way to accomplish this. Consider the posted speed limit the law, instead of a suggestion.

+ A new commercial for Gold's Gym claimed Columbus Chamber of Commerce President Mike Gaymon lost 33 pounds there. This may mark the first time Gaymon is happy about the city losing something in double digits.

+ WXTX "News at Ten" reported Bo Bice of "American Idol" fame has opened his home near Birmingham to a family which fled Hurricane Katrina. It's a house he reportedly had on the market - so does this mean he's fleeing Alabama for Hollywood?

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