PEGGY FIELDING'S NEWSLETTER
Volume 8 Number 8 November 2008

LOOK AT THAT! ARE YOU SUPERSTITIOUS?

8 - 8 - 8  in the dateline. Is that lucky? Or sign of bad stuff to come? Well, whatever.

YEAH, THE FOXY HENS GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT

Our new book is now ready for you from Steve’s or any other bookstore in your area. Tell your book person that Ingram is the wholesaler who can furnish the book to their store. Brodart is the wholesaler who can furnish the book to your local library if you ask your librarian. to order our book.

You can order the book from Amazon.com or from AWOCbooks.com as well.

Thanks Jackie, my collaborative friend, for helping me get this book ready for our FOXY HEN aficionados. I hope they are legion.

MY CONNECTION TO LITTLE RHODE ISLAND

When Jack and I were kids, Miss Hazel used to love to tell us about the Baptist connection to Rhode Island. She was so proud of the Roger Williams, Rhode Island story...freedom of worship, separation of church and state, the fact that the English Baptists could be themselves once they came to historic Rhode Island, after their bad treatment in England. She loved that historical stuff. She never met anyone from that beloved little state but she loved the place just the same.

Now I realize that two women who have been important in my life are from Rhode Island. Paula Gorgas, who lives in eerie Poteau is from Middletown, R.I. I've spoken for her Poteau writer's group many times. And, of course, I fell in love with her cat, whom I have heard is now dead. Sorry to have to tell you that lovely little animal is gone.

My other Rhode Island friend was a huge part of my life in Cuba. She was tiny, but I wasn't fat then either. Our friendship was very important to me. Of course, Ray thought she was pretty cute too...and he was right.

In her photograph she doesn't look any different except for the gray hair. But, of course, time has done that for me as well. But my face looks old. Her face looks the same as it did forty years ago.

I wonder if she too is saddened by all the curses lain upon the place where we had such happy lives? When authorities  talk about "Closing Guantanamo," it makes my heart hurt. My ten years there were among the most exciting and interesting days of  my life. When I write my memoirs I know "Gitmo," will figure largely in the book.

STILL MY GUILTY PLEASURE

So far as TV is concerned, Saturday night's "Cops," still amuses me. I even like the theme song,  "Bad boy, bad boy,  whatcha gonna do when they come for you? Bad boy, bad boy."

Watching Cops is still fun. I'm not so crazy about "America's Most Wanted," but I watch it also sometimes.

Boy, I’ve learned a lot about what policemen must put up with in their jobs...even with the bad girls! Some of the women they arrest are tough babes.

AND NOW, MY OWN CONFESSION AGAINST MYSELF

Last Tuesday at Tulsa NightWriters, Jackie and I and Gloria Shirley were telling about our new books. I talked about my favorite of all my novels, Scoundrels' Bargain.

I held up the book and admitted to the TNW members and our visitors that I shot my career in the foot and parted from my good agent, Ethan Ellenberg, through my own stupidity, arrogance and impatience.

It's no lie when I say to my students, "If there is anything that can be done wrong in the writing business, I've done it."

Jackie has been so sympathetic since learning of my amazingly stupid error. She pats me in sympathy now. Of course, AWOC rescued the book from my mistreatment. For me, it's the favorite among all of my novels.

Pat Browning of Yukon, wrote a wonderful review of the book when it came out. I wish Pat would please get in touch with me so I could thank her for that.

GOOD NEWS OF SEVERAL KINDS

My Alumni Association of the University of Central Oklahoma featured me in UCO's alumni magazine, "Old North." Isn't that great? They also featured my book, I think.

Then there is Carol Hittle Snow. When I asked her to let me feature her in my newsletter, she answered with a ton of information...about her husband! I don't even know the guy but he sounds wonderful, loads of degrees, taught overseas, even discovered a hole in the Ozone. No wonder she's proud of the man! But I am  proud of our Carol's acting ability as Aunt Eller in the Discoveryland version of "Oklahoma," every summer. I am also proud of her poetic ability. I wrote a poem today and believe me, that is not an easy task.

CONTEST, CONTEST, CONTEST!

I must have given bad directions for our little contest in last month's newsletter. I will try to explain more clearly this time. Not one single reader entered from last month's offer, so let's try again.

Here it is: The first five readers to send me a copy (typed or handwritten) of the first sentence in "Half Hollow Hill," my novella in The Foxy Hens Go Bump in the Night, with your mailing address and  your choice of any of my books, will receive his or her choice of book by return mail. Send your entries by e-mail or by US Mail (Box 50347, Tulsa, OK 74150). Enter now if you'd like a free copy of one of  my books.

THEN THERE IS SEX AND LOVE

Yes, I fell a little bit in love with a kid at TNW. Clark the lawyer. But no, no sex. The Unit is on Sunday Nights now. I still love the Sergeant. But no Logan arrived from Dusty.

Hey! Speaking of Dusty...he has agreed to write a novella for our new book, Two Foxy Holiday Hens and One Big Rooster which will be out late in 2009. He has chosen to write around the Fourth of July, Jackie chose Thanksgiving, and I'm Christmas.

NOW, PLEASANT HOLIDAY WISHES TO EACH OF MY DARLING READERS,

and hugs and kisses as well.