This newsletter was sent to everyone on Jim’s email list (4,204) on Friday, Dec. 15, 2017. The state of Alabama plays a prominent role in this week’s newsletter. So does Edgar Allan Poe (again), James Whistler, and the Washington Post. The newsletters this week and next week are a bit shorter than usual because of the Christmas season. Next week I […]
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A ‘day’ becomes a ‘date’; Poe’s rules for detective fiction; a little bit of Henry Fowler
This newsletter was sent to everyone on Jim’s email list (4,140) on Friday, Dec. 8, 2017. Hi, Last week’s question: Were there no Americans before 1776? An answer came in from newsletter reader and good friend Jane P: There were many Americans long before 1776, in the numerous Native American societies and groups across what became the […]
Jean Ritchie and the dulcimer revival — and much more; your pet peeves about English
This newsletter was sent to those on Jim’s email list (4,189) on Friday, Dec. 1, 2017. Hi, Last week’s entry about America’s first published poet, Anne Bradstreet, brought this from one of our newsletter readers, Robin K., who has done a good bit of genealogical research on her family: I thought that name looked familiar – I’m […]
The Puritan woman who was America’s first published poet; another true crime podcast recommendation; expensive misspellings
This newsletter was sent to everyone on Jim’s email list (4,228) on Friday, Nov. 24, 2017. Hi, In America, we have just celebrated Thanksgiving Day with a big meal, maybe a football game or a nap, and (I hope) a thankful thought or two. I am, of course, thankful for all you readers to this newsletter. It’s […]
More about true crime podcasts; Fowler’s English classic; and giveaways galore
This newsletter was sent to everyone on Jim’s email list (4,261) on Friday, Nov. 17, 2017. Hi, The county where I live, Blount (pronounced blunt) is home to a part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Smokies are beautiful any time of the year but especially so during the fall foliage season, which has […]
True crime podcasts; Amazon gift card giveaway ($200)
This newsletter was sent to everyone on Jim’s email list (3,827) on Friday, Nov. 10, 2017. Good afternoon from East Tennessee. I hope you’ve had a good week and are looking forward to a great weekend. Viewing tip: Click the display images link above if you haven’t done so already. Mystery lovers = Fans of true crime […]
Another reader on free expression; Anger as temporary madness
This newsletter was sent to all those on Jim’s newsletter list (3,873) on Friday, Nov. 3, 2017. Hi, Where did English come from? The origins of English are many and varied. If you don’t know much about it, there’s a great sub-five-minute video from Open Culture embedded at the top of the JPROF.com website. Gardening is a year-round activity: I spent […]
More from the Devil’s Dictionary; Where do a fiction writer’s ideas come from?
This newsletter was sent to those on Jim’s email list (3,926) on Friday, Oct. 27, 2017. Hi, This week has blessed me with a wide range of interesting reading — from anger to Anne Bradstreet to an excellent essay on the surprising history of higher education. Each of these topics is likely to appear in […]
Writing and dying, in public view; The Devil’s Dictionary
This newsletter was sent to the people on Jim’s email list (3,988) on Friday, Oct. 20, 2017. Hi, Fence rows, tractor lifts, chainsaws, and hayrolls — they’ve all been a big part of my life lately. The farm offers an endless variety of experiences and possibilities. Don’t forget the victims of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria, and Nate. The wildfires in […]
Two very different books; some free expression discussion; and a new giveaway
This newsletter was sent to Jim’s email list (4,020) on Friday, Oct. 13, 2017. Hi, [FIRST NAME GOES HERE] October has turned into a very busy month. A couple of organizations have asked me for watercolors for fund-raising auctions (see last week’s newsletter), and I have begun clearing some fence-rows on our farm. Then there’s the baseball […]
Free expression – What do you think? And something from the local library
This newsletter was sent to Jim’s email list (3,567) on Friday, Oct. 6, 2017. I am still watching the Ken Burns/Lynn Novick series on Vietnam. It has been difficult and emotional, and I will have more to say about it later. Don’t forget the victims of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, and Maria. Too many people are suffering even though the […]
This week’s Remarkable Woman: Lillian Ross; a new author and a watercolor
This newsletter was sent to all of those on Jim’s email (3,576) list on Friday, Sept. 29, 2017. We are coming to the end of Banned Books Week in the United States. The right to read is important and is always under threat, no matter where we live. Too many people get the idea that if […]
Readers respond with their best reads of the summer; A superb collection of mystery/thrillers for 99 cents
This newsletter was sent to the subscribers (3,582) to Jim’s email list on Friday, Sept. 15, 2017. Hi, Don’t forget the victims of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Many people are suffering now that the storms have passed. My favorite charity is the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR.org). Please make a contribution to yours. I am […]
Best book of the summer? and a chance to win a Kindle Fire
This newsletter was sent to Jim’s email list (3,393) on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017. Hi, Today is International Literacy Day. Too many people in the world today can’t read, and two-thirds of them are women, according to the United Nations. This is too important to ignore. Don’t forget the September sale — reduced prices on some […]
September sale begins now; Max and Woody are back
This newsletter was sent to Jim’s email list (3,070) on Friday, Aug. 25, 2017. East Tennessee survived the eclipse. So did the rest of the world. Glad you’re still here. September sale These titles have been marked down for a special sale that will run through at least the second week in September. Here’s a chance for […]
A riveting one-hour read (free); Max and Woody are back
This newsletter was sent to all of the people on Jim’s email list (2,539) on Friday, Aug. 18, 2017. Hi, Greetings from East Tennessee. I hope your week has been a good one. A riveting one-hour read (free, of course) Virginia King is an Australian author I have been doing some promotion with, and she has […]
Treatment for eclipse fever; a free cozy; and don’t forget to forward this email
This newsletter was sent to subscribers to Jim’s email list on Friday, Aug. 11, 2017. It’s been a busy week here in East Tennessee. James Callan: Cleansed by Fire One of the independent authors I work with, James Callan, has made an offer especially for those (such as you) on my email list. He’s offering […]
The Writing Wright as a free download; more great giveaways with lots of FREE books
Below is Jim’s email newsletter sent out on Friday, Aug. 4, 2017 The work week is coming to an end, and I hope this first weekend in August offers fun, excitement, and relaxation. Giveaways The Prolific Reader Mystery giveaway. This is a terrific giveaway with lots of books in lots of different genres. They’re all free, […]
The free stuff; win a beautiful hand-turned, wooden pen
This newsletter was sent to everyone on Jim’s email list (1,722 recipients) on Friday, July 28, 2017. Hi there, I always like to start with the giveaways — the free stuff: Giveaways Kill the Quarterback is part of a couple of giveaways that I told you about last week, and those are continuing now. You will want to […]
Forward the newsletter email and get a chance to win a beautiful, hand-turned wooden pen
Forward Jim’s newsletter (and include Jim’s email in the forwarding list), and you will have a chance to win a beautiful, hand-turned pen made by the author himself. The more times your forward the newsletter, the more chances you have to win.
In this week’s newsletter
Zelda and Scott Fitzgerald
Read about what has just entered the public domain this month.
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