Good Reads from Goodreads!

Goodreads asked Ramey Channell:

What’s the best thing about being a writer?

   I've found that the best thing about being a writer is the connection to the reader, and to people who respond to the stories I'm telling. My poetry, short stories, and my books, Sweet Music on Moonlight Ridge, and The Witches of Moonlight Ridge, evoke an emotional response from the reader, and create a common ground for communication and sharing. I love the feedback I get from readers.


   

Where did you get the idea for your most recent book?

My own childhood is the basis for the Moonlight Ridge series. As a small child, I lived in the most magical, enchanted, and sometimes frightening place imaginable. And I had my best friend along for the adventures: my crazy cousin Willie T.!

What are you currently working on?

   I'm currently working on book three of The Moonlight Ridge Series. Book One is a summer mystery, Book Two, an autumn mystery, and Book Three is all about a cold, cold winter on the mountain and a Christmas mystery. If you enjoyed Earl Hamner's "The Waltons", Mark Twain's "Tom Sawyer" and "Huckleberry Finn", and Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird", you'll be a fan of Lily Claire and Willie T. and their adventures on Moonlight Ridge.

goodreads

A good place to meet your favorite author and your next favorite book. 

When the Wind is In the Trees . . .

     "As the story goes," Erskine told us,"Uncle Jasper says there was a famous robber that hid out in these woods. He robbed the stage coach on several occasions, and always got away with it. Rode a beautiful Andalusian horse he'd bought from the Moor, the inn keeper. For years he pestered travelers on this road, stole gold and silver coins and jewelry.
     "But, he finally got caught. A troop of soldiers was layin' for him out here in the woods, one night. Shot him right here, in front of the inn, with his sweetheart lookin' on.
     " They called him the Highwayman."

                                                     - The Witches of Moonlight Ridge

Bringing Witches to Moon Lake Library

  And still of a winter's night they say

When the wind is in the trees . . .

The perfect pre-Halloween gathering: Monday night, October 29th, I read from "The Witches of Moonlight Ridge" to a wonderful audience gathered at the Moon Lake Community Library, on a dark and delightful night in Mentone, Alabama. Thanks so much to library staff and visitors! 

Evy, the beautiful witch of Moonlight Ridge

There she stood right before us, almost close enough to touch. And she was beautiful. She wore a long black skirt and a ruffled cotton blouse. Her black hair was tied with a red ribbon. And she wore one red earring.

"Who are you?" Erskine breathed, sounding like he couldn't find his voice.

There wasn't a sound, except the wind rustling through the dry autumn leaves.

“My name’s Evergreen,” she said. Her voice sounded like music. “Folks calls me Evy.”

Willie T.’s face broke into a wide grin, and he stepped toward the strange girl with his hand stretched out like he was going to touch her to see if she was real.

Willie T. couldn’t take his eyes off the pretty girl, whatever she was: ghost or human, one or the other.

“Do you live around here somewheres?” he asked.

She tipped her head slightly toward the woods and added, “Over on Cat Bluff.”

“Gyaah!” he exclaimed. “Up there with the panthers and the bob cats, and whatever and all? I didn’t know nobody lived up there! You ever seen a panther?” he asked, narrowing his eyes at the strange young woman.

“I seen plenty,” she answered. “They ain’t bother us none. We ain’t bother them.”

Happy Thanksgiving from Moonlight Ridge

Thanksgiving Day came, cold and bright. Our little kitchen was crowded and cozy, everything smelled right spicy, and everybody was in a holiday mood, talking and laughing over the delicious feast.

Recipes from
"The Witches of Moonlight Ridge"

Hoppin’ John

½ pound bacon, diced

1 medium onion, chopped

2 stalks celery, chopped

2 cloves garlic

1 tsp chopped parsley

Black-eyed peas, cooked and drained

Salt to taste (1 tsp salt for 2 cups dried black-eyed peas)

Cooked white rice

Sauté diced bacon, chopped onion, and chopped celery until onion and celery look translucent. Drain grease. Add garlic, parsley, and cooked black-eyed peas, simmer until peas are tender but not mushy.

In a large pot or bowl, gently combine peas and cooked rice, or serve peas separately over mounds of cooked rice.

Note: Before cooking dried black-eyed peas, sort through them thoroughly for tiny pebbles or other debris, then rinse and drain.

Note: Cooked ham, chopped, can be used in place of bacon. 

Raisin Biscuits

2 ½ cups unbleached self-rising flour

1 egg (optional)

Small pinch of salt

1/3 cup butter

¾ cup milk

1 tbsp unbleached sugar

1 ½ cups raisins

Preheat oven to 450°.

Sift together flour, pinch of salt, sugar. Cut butter into the flour mixture. Beat egg and add to the milk, stir into flour/sugar mixture. Add raisins. Turn onto well floured board, knead gently, using more flour if necessary for a smooth dough. Cut with small biscuit cutter and bake at 450° for approximately 15 minutes.

Persimmon Pudding

3 cups persimmons

2 cups buttermilk

1 stick plus 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

1 ½ cups unbleached sugar

3 eggs

1 ½ cups unbleached all purpose flour

½ tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp cinnamon

½ tsp nutmeg ½ tsp ginger

Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease a 4 x 8 x 12 inch pan with 1 tbsp butter.

Puree 3 cups persimmons, which will yield 2 cups puree. Combine puree with buttermilk. Beat stick of butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time. In a large mixing bowl, stir the puree into the butter/sugar/eggs.

Sift all dry ingredients together and fold them into the persimmon mixture. Fill baking pan with mixture, place the pan into a larger pan and fill the larger pan halfway with warm water.

Bake uncovered for 1 ¼ hours or until the pudding is firm in the center and has pulled away from the sides of the pan, and a knife inserted into the center of the pudding comes out clean.

Serve hot with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

How to puree persimmons: Remove skins from ripe persimmons. Persimmons can be mashed through a colander, and seeds will be removed and left in colander. If using a food processor, remove seeds before processing.

Moonlight and Witches at North Shelby Library

October 24th at the North Shelby Library

On Tuesday evening I was honored to present a Moonlight Ridge program at the beautiful North Shelby Library. We had a lively discussion about magic, mysteries, childhood adventures, and Halloween happenings. It's always such a pleasure to connect with readers who find delight in Lily Claire and WillieT.'s extraordinary escapades and recall unique childhood memories of their own. 

Thanks to Michelyn Reid for inviting me to North Shelby County, for the warm hospitality, and the enjoyable get-together.

Goodreads Witches Giveaway

Are you a member of Goodreads? You can enter the Goodreads Giveaway for a chance to win a free copy of The Witches of Moonlight Ridge.

Contest runs from February 28 to March 14, 2017.

           Mr. Erskine straightened up and looked around. We heard old Bu, the hoot owl, calling from somewhere far out in the woods, and a flock of big black crows flew over and landed in a tree beside us.

            “It’s gettin’ late,” Erskine told us. “I’d better get you young people home on this Halloween night.”

            Witch Boy chose that quiet moment to let loose a loud, nerve shattering series of barks. The crows left the tree with a noisy flapping of wings, their harsh raspy voices cawing and fussing as they went.

            “Look here, it’s about to get dark on us,” Erskine announced. “We’ve stayed too long out here tellin’ tales. We best hurry on down the mountain while there’s still light enough to navigate.

            “Come on, dog,” he commanded, but Witch Boy ran off into the woods.

            “He’ll foller us,” Willie T. assured our teacher. “You don’t have to call him.”

            Erskine grabbed hold of our hands in an exuberant grip, me on one side and Willie T. on the other, took a deep breath and broke out singing the end of the Highwayman song in a strong and surprisingly pleasant voice.

            “And still of a winter’s night, they say, when the wind is in the trees …”

            And that’s the last sound we heard before the ground disappeared from beneath our feet.

A Festivity of Witches

Me talking.

I had a spectacular book event today, hosted by a delightful group of book-loving friends. at the home of Nell Richardson, one of our hometown leading ladies. After my book presentation, reading, and discussion, we listened to Phil Ochs' (on CD) sing his very passionate and moving version of "The Highwayman," a song taken from the poem written by Alfred Noyes in 1906. This song, the tragic story of Noyes' poem, and local legends of romance and tragedy, are featured in The Witches of Moonlight Ridge, my second book of the Moonlight Ridge Series.

We talked about funny family stories, grammar school memories, and favorite teachers. Erskine Batson, the fourth-grade teacher in Witches,  inspired us to recall many of our own memorable and sometimes capricious school teachers from the past.

After our book discussion, we were served a fabulous lunch: tasty items provided by the ladies attending the meeting and an impressively delicious Lane Cake, baked by the multi-talented Bill Richardson.

I enjoyed this get-together immensely, and a good time was had by all! Thank you, Nell, thank you ladies, Susan, Ellen, Carole, Joan, who provided such excellent food, and thanks to guests and everyone who contributed to a delightful event.

Delicious Lane Cake!

Find out what's happening on Moonlight Ridge when 

"the witchin' season" comes around!

The second book in the Moonlight Ridge Series follows the adventures of Lily Claire Nash and her cousin, Willie T. Nock, two precocious children in the woods of 1950s Alabama. Ghosts, hauntings, scary tales told 'round the evening fire, witches, and famous legends weave a story of mystery, romance, and tragedy.

Paperback and Kindle edition available now from

Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.com.

Happy Reading!

The Witches of Moonlight Ridge

In the second book of The Moonlight Ridge Series, Lily Claire and Willie T. are back and as spunky as ever! With seasons changing on the mountain, the two intrepid kids venture into new territories, meet surprising new characters, and learn that the mysteries and magic on Moonlight Ridge continue to lead them into new adventures.

Just in time for the holidays, The Witches of Moonlight Ridge is a terrific gift for all book lovers. 

"The first days of autumn on Moonlight Ridge felt like a kind of paradise. The mountain and everything on it, including the people, seemed to relax and breathe easy. After the raging heat and humidity of summer subsided just a little, we were left with gentle warm days when the air around us and the sky above us became crystal clear and expansive. Days were fragrant with the spicy scent of leaves changing colors on sweet gum, dogwood, and maple, mixed with the sharp green scent of tall pines and flourishing cedars. Nights were cooler, the mosquitoes had pretty much decided to call it quits, and dreamy sleep beside an open bedroom window was blessed by gentle, friendly breezes. . . But, as my granddaddy always said, when the witchin' season comes to Moonlight Ridge, there's just no telling which way the cat will jump!

And then, there was that dog!"

 

Moonlight Ridge Series: Volume Two

Exciting things are happening this month on Moonlight Ridge. Volume 2 of The Moonlight Ridge Series will be here soon! Watch for The Witches of Moonlight Ridge from Amazon Books, Barnes & Noble, and local book stores. Book signings and events will be announced online, on this blog, and on Facebook.

Get ready for mystery and a few spooky surprises as Lily Claire and Willie T. find new adventure this autumn 'out on the mountain.'

The Witches of Moonlight Ridge

Halloween is almost here, and witches are out and about on Moonlight Ridge.

Check back for updates and publications news as the witching season draws near!

The Witches of Moonlight Ridge

a novel

Coming in October, 2016

Typing, typing, typing! 

Book Two is coming along with quite a few surprises! Spring is here, and we're having stormy weather, but I'm tucked away, with a nice cup of coffee and a view of the green woods outside my back door. The Witches of Moonlight Ridge continues the story of Lily Claire and her crazy cousin, Willie T., out in the 1950s Alabama woodlands they call home.

In Sweet Music on Moonlight Ridge, (St. Leonard's Field 2015) the intrepid pair discovered a treasure map, solved a mystery, executed a daring rescue, and saved the day! Now, Lily Claire and Willie T. are once again exploring Moonlight Ridge and finding themselves up to their eyeballs in strange and wondrous adventures.

I'll post news and updates here, as the witching season, autumn 2016 approaches, and publication of The Witches of Moonlight Ridge draws near.

You can visit Moonlight Ridge on Pinterest.
www.pinterest.com/rameyc/moonlight-ridge

Moonlighting With Marsupials

I recently had the pleasure of attending the first annual Local Authors' Book Signing Extravaganza at Bessemer Public Library in Bessemer, Alabama. What an enjoyable day it was!

Couldn't take a live marsupial into the library, so here I am with Pascal the Possum, from my extensive collection of possumables.

I'm looking forward to an exciting autumn season and all the fun holidays ahead of us. Now is a perfect time to get your copy of the newly issued edition of Sweet Music on Moonlight Ridge, and get ready for the sequel, The Witches of Moonlight Ridge, full of surprises and coming soon!

Sweet Music - Volume One of The Moonlight Ridge Series

What kind of music drifts across the mountain ridge above the tiny rural Alabama town of Eden, and what are the secrets hidden on the mountain paths, under the ancient trees, and under the mysterious moon of Moonlight Ridge?

Discover a family history filled with a legacy of curiosity, courage and delightful eccentricity, in a setting where the natural fauna and flora of the woods of Alabama create a wonderland for two unusual children.

Can you hear children's voices, singing and laughing as they dance beneath sweet gum, dogwood, and sycamore trees, with the gentle Alabama breeze murmuring leafy music around them?

Wouldn't you like to see what these two precocious cousins see, hear the whispery secrets, and feel the ancient magic in the deep woods and on dusty red-dirt trails, as they look for answers and follow their hearts 'out on the mountain?'

.

All these secrets and mysteries come to life on the pages of

Sweet Music on Moonlight Ridge

Read it and discover an enchanted world you'll not soon forget.

Sweet Music on Moonlight Ridge
A Novel

by

Ramey Channell

Those Kids Are Back! Lily Claire and Willie T. on Moonlight Ridge

I'm so happy to announce that my debut novel is now Book One of the Moonlight Ridge Series, in a beautiful new edition and available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kindle. 

Pick up my new edition from Amazon here 

and from Barnes & Noble here

and from Ingram Books for retailers here

I'll be announcing upcoming book signings here, so stay tuned.

And, Book Two of The Moonlight Ridge Series is on its way.

The Page 69 Test

Marshall McLuhan, the guru of The Gutenberg Galaxy (1962), recommends that the browser turn to page 69 of any book and read it. If you like that page, buy the book. I applied the Page 69 test to my novel, and found that it works! Browse powerfully and read page 69!

                                Sweet Music on Moonlight Ridge - page 69
                                                                       .

I woke up gradually, drifting in and out of sleep, the afternoon heat on me like a heavy wool blanket. My mouth was dry and I drowsily tried to remember the last time I’d had a drink of water.“Mama,” I mumbled, wanting to ask for a glass of water. But my lips barely moved and my voice didn’t work right because my mouth and throat were so dry.

My eyelids were heavy and hard to open, but finally I was able to focus my eyes on my mama. She was standing at the screen door with her back to me. She was talking to someone standing on the other side of the screen, and as I became fully awake I saw the uniform and heard the gravelly voice, and I recognized Clyde Tucker, the chief of police.

My mother’s hand was on the screen door, as if she intended to keep the tall, pot-bellied policeman out of her house.

“Well, Clyde, she’s been right there asleep in that chair all afternoon, right there where she is now,” Mama said.

Officer Clyde Tucker leaned a little to one side so he could get a better look at me, I guess. He looked right at me, his forehead wrinkled under the bill of his policeman’s cap.

“Don’t your sister have a little boy about that same age?” he asked, leaning a little further, his fat red face right up against the screen.

“My sister’s little boy is quarantined with the whooping cough! Clyde Tucker, don’t you come around here asking questions about our children! It sounds like you’ve got plenty to keep you busy without scaring our children to death. What in the world made you come here asking questions?”

*

Autumn on Moonlight Ridge

Ramey and all the Moonlight Ridge Possums have been very busy during this changing of seasons. With speaking engagements, book signings, and book talks in Vestavia, at the Mountain Brook Emmett O'Neal Library, and with The Pensters of Fair Hope, Alabama, we have met so many sweet folks who are interested in the magic and music on Moonlight Ridge.

Hope to have pictures posted soon, and good news is just around the corner! The second volume in the chronicles of Moonlight Ridge is in the works! News about the upcoming sequel will be posted here.

Wishing everyone Happy Reading for the holidays!

The Songs of Moonlight Ridge

A few weeks back, I hosted a contest here on Moonlight Ridge. Originally, I asked three questions about some of the songs featured in Sweet Music on Moonlight Ridge, with a free copy of the book, like a carrot on a stick, to the first person to get all three answers!

Then, upon considering the possibilities of short-term memory loss and the possible unfairness of excluding those who had not yet read the book, I changed the rules (It's my contest, I can do that) so that anyone who left a comment was entered in the drawing for the free book.

Shelley who blogs at

http://bookfare.blogspot.com/

was the winner and has received her copy of SMOMR!

So, for anyone who may still be curious about the songs in question, here are the answers.

1- After chasing the hunting dogs, Rich Man and Poor Man, out of the house, what song did Great-granddaddy W.T. Greenberry sing to his marsupials?

Great Granddaddy W.T. sang Dona Nobis Pacem,
but in his version the words were "Oh, don't I know this possum?"

.

2 - What is the origin, title, or some of the words, of the strange song the children heard while they were in the woods near Grind Rock Spring?

Lily Clair and Willie T. heard somone singing Desdemona's Song, also known as Willow, Willow, from William Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice.
.

3 - What song did Willie T. sing when he was in the hole?

Willie T. sang Au Clair de la Lune, (to the tune of Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms) as it had been handed down from Paw Paw Jack Levert, a Cajun from South Alabama who played poker for a living and made homemade fiddles on the side.

So, as Heny Hope would say, there you have it. If you want to find out more about these, and other alluring tunes from the mountain, get yourself a copy of Sweet Music on Moonlight Ridge, and join the fun!

Sweet Music at Springville Road Library

This is your personal invitation to join us at the

Springville Road Regional Library

Sunday March 27th at 3:00 PM

for a special book program, discussion and booksigning.

Check out the announcement on the

Birmingham Public Library's Latest News, Reviews & Info

http://networkedblogs.com/eEZfM

Thanks to all my special friends and fans of Sweet Music on Moonlight Ridge.

I look forward to a fun afternoon with lots of smiling faces and maybe a few surprises.

Merry Christmas From Moonlight Ridge

Christmas is coming

The possum's getting fat!

To order copies of

Sweet Music on Moonlight Ridge

please contact me at
ramey2001@aol.com

Merry Christmas!