Backyard Interviews with PEN, author of Nero's Fiddle

Meet Pen,the author of twenty-one books, including Nero's Fiddle. Pen is the creator and  host of Backyard Interviews and talks about her passion for writing. She is interviewed by fellow writer Connie Spruill. A native Georgian, Pen has been daydreaming since the age of four and writing since the age of ten. Visit her website Pen's Pen . If you are an author and would like to be interviewed contact Pen and she will get back with you quickly! Learn more about Nero's Fiddle on Amazon and check out Pen's author's page on Amazon. You can see the full interview below. Pen lives in Stone Mountain, Georgia.

Author KT Ashely on Backyard Interviews

Author KT Ashely

 

Meet author KT Ashely on Backyard Interviews, a new site for authors by PEN
Ashely discusses his novel The Pool.

Click below and see full interview.
 

Author KT Ashely is an American writer from the South whose genre is Historical and Realistic Fiction. A native of Louisiana, the writer also grew up in East Texas and lived several years in northern New England.

Much of his writing is influenced by historical events from contemporary to ancient. The human condition and it's affects on society are often the theme. Plot lines involving prejudices, indifference, wealth disparities and military service are common. Visit his Amazon author page.

Backyard Interviews with PEN A Place For Authors To Share Their Books on YouTube

 

 

 

Home Page for Backyard Interviews.

Click here to go to the website to see all the features.

Contact PEN if you'd like to be considered for an interview!

The Backyard Interview tab at the top of this blog will have an ongoing list of links to all interviews.

 

 

 

 

 

Author PEN (Nero's Fiddle) is interviewing authors on YouTube.  Want to share your book? It's free for now and fun. Don't miss the opportunity to participate! Currently most interviews are being done in a lovely backyard in Decatur.

 

Below is an excerpt from PEN's Backyard Interviews website.

 

 

Backyard Interviews is the brainchile of writer, Pen. As a self-published author, Pen knows how difficult it is to promote and market her work. And getting an interview . . . almost impossible! By interviewing other writers and artists, she's helping them promote their work and themselves and making a name for herself. Without access to an actual studio or expensive equipment, she decided to give these interviews a more "homey" touch. What's better than being interviewed in the backyard? Relaxed, fresh air, a glass of iced tea (the House Wine of the South) and two creative people discussing creative endeavors. Perfect!

 

We are not professional videographers here at Backyard Interviews; I'm sure that much is evident (I'm using the "royal we" as in me, myself and I). And heaven knows, my face isn't meant to be on camera (I kind of resemble a turkey, don't I?) But I have a vision and a dream: to help other self-published and independent authors get the word out about their works.

 

Ergo, I will gladly put myself out there for that purpose. And hope those viewing enjoy the effort.

Tomorrow meet KT Ashely, author of The Pool, and watch his interview here!

 

Drink to Your Health A Quick View of Indian Springs State Park by PEN

 

I would warn you not to drink the water. But, if you visit Indian Springs, chances are the water is the reason you came. 

Before white man even considered setting foot upon this land, Native Americans benefitted from the proposed healing waters of Indian Springs. More than likely, though, those Native Americans – Creek Indians, to be precise – knew it by some form of the word Okfuskee; a word which, apparently, only the Creek Indians know the meaning of. 

Indian Springs is one of the oldest – if not the oldest – park in the Georgia State Park system. Sadly, it became the first as a result of an act of treason by Creek Indian Chief William McIntosh. 

On behalf of the Creek Indians, McIntosh signed a treaty which deeded a good deal of land between the Flint and Chattahoochee rivers to Georgia. He was assassinated a few short months later. 

Little time was wasted in creating a state park of Indian Springs. Rumors of the healing properties of the water were a fascination for people and drew visitors from all around. The ghastly smell and taste of the water – a sulphuric, “rotton egg” aroma and flavor – doesn’t deter those seeking its supposed healing properties. Visitors from all over bring gallon and five-gallon jugs to fill with the water from Indian Springs. 

The unique aroma and flavor of the water is a result of minerals from rock being picked up by water flowing through. The mineral-laden water eventually ends up collecting in pools until pressure forces the water to the surface via the spring. 

During my own childhood, my father would rouse the family early on Sunday mornings to head down south for the day. First, we’d visit peach orchards to pick some fruit to take home. Then we’d visit Indian Springs for a swig or two of the water. After that, we’d head over to Jackson, Georgia for Fresh Air Bar-B-Que. (See PEN's post June 22, 2015)

 

Tasting the water isn’t the only thing to do at Indian Springs. You can wade in Sandy Creek or swim in McIntosh Lake (named for the aforementioned traitor). There are also a museum and campsites, hiking and a ¾-mile nature trail. 

If you want to experience any water activities on Indian Springs Lake, go prior to September 2015. The lake will be drained to replace a gate valve and will remain dry through February 2016. 

And if you do visit Indian Springs, raise a glass to your health. 

Park Hours: 7 a.m. – 10 p.m. 
Office Hours: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. 
$5 parking. Annual passes available.

Indian Springs State Park

678 Lake Clark Rd,

Flovilla, GA 30216

(770) 504-2277

 

To learn more about Indian Springs State Park and see a list of events, visit http://www.gastateparks.org/IndianSprings.

 

 

vintage postcard

 

 

 

 

Pen is a native Georgian and self-published author. Visit her website or check out her latest novel Nero’s Fiddle. 

Good Ol' Barbecue by PEN

 

 

Nothing Fancy. Just Good Ol’ Barbecue 

This restaurant has no fancy slogan. No hype, no jingles, and nobody in a clown suit. What it does have is the best, melt-in-your mouth bar-b-que to be found in the South. 

Called, simply, Fresh Air Bar-B-Que, the restaurant is a little off the beaten path in Jackson, Georgia.  

Established in 1929 by Dr. Joel Watkins, the restaurant was purchased by George W. “Toots” Caston upon the death of Dr. Watkins in 1945. It remains in the Caston family to this day. 

One of my most fond childhood memories is of my Daddy, waking everyone early on a summer Sunday morning (and I do mean early…about four a.m.) to get in the car to drive down south a ways to pick peaches. 

You may think peaches have nothing to do with bar-b-que, but stay with me on this. 

You see, Daddy liked to make a day of it. Get up early and head down to the peach orchard first thing to pick peaches while it wasn’t so hot. Then on to Indian Springs for a nice drink of that mineral water.

By that time, it was lunch time. Time to head over to Fresh Air Bar-B-Que. The establishment itself doesn't look like much more than a shack by the side of the road. But that is the beauty of its appeal: simplicity. The Caston family focuses on the bar-b-que.

That is not to say the place is a shambles. Far from it. The interior is clean and well-organized. And the tangy smell of barbecue will have your stomach grumbling before you even walk in the door. 

The menu is limited. They do, after all, specialize in barbecue so you won’t see a variety of foods to choose from. Brunswick stew and cole slaw, along with drinks and deserts are pretty much all you’re going to find. Make no mistake, it’s all delicious and all very filling. 

As far as my father was concerned, that barbecue was well worth the drive down south. Heck, the vinegar-based barbecue sauce alone is worth the drive. 

So if you find yourself with a hankerin’ for some good ol’, award-winning southern barbecue, head out to Fresh Air Bar-B-Que. You won’t be disappointed. 

They also have a location in Macon, Ga.

 

 

The original Fresh Air Barbecue in Jackson, Georgia, is the oldest pit-cooked barbecue restaurant in Georgia still in its original location. Visit their website for more information!

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Pen is a native Georgian and self-published author. Visit her website at www.penspen.info or check out her latest novel Nero’s Fiddle at http://bit.ly/1rsEQFX .