Prior to March 24, 2024, my only time participating in The Book Lady’s and the Flannery O’Connor Childhood Home’s jointly-sponsored Local Author Day event was back in 2022. I was as amazed on that occasion at the way Savannahians and visitors alike flooded downtown’s Lafayette Square in support of the event as I was, and remain, this time around. Dozens of authors enjoyed greeting some familiar readers while happily welcoming new ones, and, simultaneously, lending support to the O’Connor Childhood Home just across the street. Many of us (as seen in the photo slideshow) also got a chance to meet and greet each other. Moreover, while I have commented frequently over the past few months on the fact that 2024 is the 100th anniversary of James Baldwin’s birth, this year also happens to be O’Connor’s 99th. So yes, in addition to the autographing of books and exhibition of art, there were appropriate speeches, costumed characters, a mini-parade, and lots of festive music. Noting the levels of dedication and concentration it took to organize such a cultural arts triumph while the world steadily wept for lives lost in warzones or mass shootings or climate catastrophes, one becomes obligated to “give props” where they are due: such as to The Book Lady Bookstore’s Joni Saxon-Giusti, and Ariel Felton, president of the Flannery O’Connor Childhood Home Board of Directors. SAVANNAH MOSSMy own corner of Lafayette Square was one dappled with sunlight and the shade of leafy spring-green trees, so photographs of my books-and-art installation reflect that visual vibe. I can’t claim that any single one of my book titles outsold the others but was particularly glad to see the investments made in my newest: These Black and Blue Red Zone Days, Dreams of the Immortal City Savannah, and, of course, Greeting Flannery O’Connor at the Back Door of My Mind. Art-wise, this was my first opportunity to showcase a selection of my framed art-pieces along with the 2022 Flannery O’Connor Review, which features one of my images on its cover and a large section of my work titled “When Passion and Hunger Collide” inside the journal. Of the artwork, the FO Review and different-sized print editions of Johnny Mercer in Savannah Sunlight seemed to generate the most excitement. The focus on the Mercer pieces reminded of a 2006 poem, by one Jerry P. Bolton, which helped inspire them, so I will close with it. But fair warning here: please be advised that Mr. Bolton is from a school of poetics closer to that of a hard-hitting no-tongue-biting Charles Bukowski than a mildly-caressing Emily Dickinson or Langston Hughes: Savannah Moss (by Jerry P. Bolton) entering Savannah I stop to stare rich history here writers write poets compose history’s prosperity for filthy lucre and because they cannot do anything else they sing about the town like she was a two-bit whore Hard-Hearted Hannah… you know the rest to some she is molasses-and-biscuit southern belle so I stopped to stare if a stranger looks hard enough at a place concentrates completely on the stare things others don’t see come into view like a hunchback way of looking at things hunchbacks look at things different than you and me so, you concentrate when that level of awareness comes you are hunchbacked look around people are laughing downtown dandy’s and back alley girlies laughing their collective asses off rube huge oak trees strange fruit grew there silver tears dripping from them fretting and whining about lost confederate glory moss hanging like women’s tresses like pubic hair in spots yesteryear things just ain’t the same Savannah Mysterious city Old Town Trolley take your coins tell you about Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil bullshit and reality all mish-mashed together lot of history here people live on history can’t do without history history can be good or bad what the hell’s so grand about shit in the past when the present is thrilling Aberjhani the new Savannah has a hero a poet laureate, maybe a poet hero they respond to this poet awards, honors, galore ever sat down and read Aberjhani’s stuff mean really read it cause the guy lays on you so damn much to mull read and shake your head damn you say that’s some good shit Savannah spawned something here Johnny Mercer meet Aberjhani ring that bell, that bell in the tower down at the Savannah Cotton Exchange ring it I’ve always been a great believer in the power of the creative arts to inspire solutions to our world’s most challenging or destructive issues and, when needed, provide shelter from them. To my particular way of thinking, 2024 Local Author Day was a great example of that concept and hopefully I will be able to continue joining the festivities in the future. Aberjhani author of These Black and Blue Red Zone Days co-author of Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance creator of Silk-Featherbrush Artstyle
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AberjhaniContemporary award-winning American author of classically-styled works in history, poetry, creative nonfiction, speculative fiction, and journalism. Archives
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