Night of the Wolf Moon

The January moon was extraordinary in the night sky over the bay on the 25th. The full Wolf Moon sends those who cherish freedom singing and dancing. So it was a day filled with magic for the Gypsy Queen Cab.

Here' s an excerpt from the poem "Luna" (copyright C.S. Friedman--this may not be reproduced, even electronically, without the poet's permission which I did receive for this post.) The poem captures the night:


Wolf’s lover, Gaia’s guardian
Rides the tides of night’s magic
And shares music with the ones
Who run for love of freedom:
Wolf’s Moon

Copyright C.S. Friedman

Quoted with permission

Over The Transom...Jim Gilbert's Night in the Spotlight

The day's rain didn't dampen spirits at Over The Transom last Thursday evening where friends and writers gathered to celebrate Jim Gilbert's appointment as Editor-in-Chief of River City Publishing in Montgomery. Those of us who live down here on the bay will miss quiet Jim and his wry sense of humor.

A Posturing of Fools

Greetings from the bay, and a special hello to Miss Charlotte who is on R & R in Key West. Her husband, author Brewster Milton Robertson, flew back to the third coast for a special reading of his new novel A Posturing of Fools. Now he's heading back down to the Keys to watch sunsets with his beloved. Miss Charlotte says this Gypsy Queen Cab needs to be driving down Duval Street for R & R as well. You know that's right!

Arts & Artists...Bound for New York

Good morning!

It's foggy here on the bay and visibility is limited. However, the Gypsy Queen Cab is gearing up for a road trip to NYC in April when American artist Nall, his wife Tuscia, and Alabama Writers' Forum Executive Director Jeanie Thompson visit 55 Water Street downtown with an incredible lineup of Alabama artists and their work.

For those in the know, 55 Water Street is home to peregrine falcons , and while the falcons are not on live cam at the moment, this Gypsy Queen Cab promises to divulge more later about rare birds, birds of prey, and folks who feather their nests in downtown Manhattan.

More Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder, Please...Richly Satisfying Theatre

Elyzabeth's mama warned me under threat of slashed tires not to spill the beans about her daughter's next project. So this Gypsy Queen has taken a temporary vow of silence about the muse and Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder, a young writer, whose play Fresh Kills wowed London audiences at the Royal Court Theatre this past November.

Elyzabeth was working in LA as a writers' assistant on last fall's CBS/Icon Productions television series Clubhouse when she took a brief sabbatical to London to produce Fresh Kills with Director Wilson Milam.

Back in the good ole days, when this Gypsy Queen roamed the streets of New York and Los Angeles, the publishing and entertainment industries used to profile the young turks--those up-and-coming success stories of talented under 30's. Well, riders, Elizabeth is a member of Youngblood, the Ensemble Studio Theatre's program for writers under 30. Elyzabeth clearly knows how to put the pedal to the metal--just the way I love to operate the Gypsy Queen Cab.

Every Shut Eye Ain't Sleep -- Elvis, where are you?

Even the Gypsy Queen Cab has to go to the shop for repairs from time to time. My apologies to those riders who have been left at the curb, so to speak, for the past few days.

There's news about Elvis... just check out Ron Kattawar's blogsite, In Search of Robert Sillerman, for his good news about Saturn Film's (Nicholas Cage's production company) interest in his novel Tupelo Sunrise.

I put Ron in touch with my screenwriting coach/Emmy award-winning producer Kate Wright in LA. BTW, Kate's new book Screenwriting is Storytelling is a must for anyone who is serious about writing. And, for those of you who are interested, mark June 13, 2005 on your calendars, as that's the date for the American Classic Storytelling Festival at the Directors Guild of America in LA.

Sleep in Heavenly Peace -- Galle, Sri Lanka

Just a short ride tonight, folks.

I have been haunted throughout the day by "Silent Night." It all started with NBC's TODAY SHOW, live from Galle, Sri Lanka. News Anchor Ann Curry, who is the most compassionate of the NBC Family, visited a hospital where some 700 bodies were lined up on the floor. The hospital staff photographed and finger-printed the bodies (total: 1200) for identification before they were buried in a mass grave. That image stuck, and at the same time, I began hearing the words from the song...always concluding sleep in heavenly peace.

Love Song...

Must be the rare spring weather in January here on the bay! Two posts in one day. It's 73 degrees and the sap is rising.

Just knew that those of you who have joined me for today's ride in the Gypsy Queen Cab would want to know about the recent release of a wonderful film, A Love Song for Bobby Long, based on Fairhope author Everett Capp's novel Off Magazine Street (MacAdam/Cage Publishing ) and featuring the sensational songs of Capp's son Grayson Capps who is not only easy on the eyes, but plays a heartbreaking blues guitar. Grayson lives in New Orleans where the film was shot; and, his father hides out on the edge of a swamp near Fairhope.

John Travolta stars in A Love Song for Bobby Long, along with Golden Globe nominee Scarlett Johansson. Grayson taught Travolta to play blues guitar for the movie, and it's Grayson's songs that headline and punctuate the film.

I found Off Magazine Street reminiscent of Bukowski, and I'd be interested to know if any of you folks out there waiting on the Gypsy Queen share my thoughts.

Literary Glitz & Big Hair

Good morning, Gypsy Queen readers/riders!

Here's a heads up for those of you on the trail of literary glitz, glamour, and big hair. Beauty and the Book, the only hair salon/bookstore in the nation, hosts its annual Girl Friends Weekend January 14-16, 2005 in Jefferson, Texas. Kathy Patrick, owner/stylist, heads the tiara-wearing Pulpwood Queens who gather to celebrate reading. Singer/songwriter and just-plain dynamite Marshall Chapman, author of Goodbye, Little Rock and Roller, entertains on Friday night.

Carolyn Haines, author Touched and Summer of the Redeemers as well as the Mississippi Delta mystery series, brings the Mississippi Delta mysteries to the Pulpwood Queens.

Might just be time for a road trip...whadda' ya think?

Hoppin' John & Turnip Greens -- Happy New Year!

Just got back from Tootie's (my 86-year old neighbor) where we feasted on Hoppin' John (black eyed peas) for luck and turnip greens (for prosperity), along with the Mexican cornbread and honey cornbread I cooked for the New Year's Day celebration. Tootie called me this morning to tell me that my butt had been dragging too long and we needed to party with the other neighbors.

Put my new lucky bamboo on the table in the kitchen and reminded myself that change is on the way, because I am making choices for change. Hope to find inspiration from other blogs, the Porch, and friends, and to be bold in my choices.

Happy New Year, all! Tootie wants a younger man in her life. She thinks I need an older man in mine. She wanted to ride out Hurricane Ivan under the grand piano in her living room with a martini and her pup Percy. Tootie is an excellent role model. Here's to Tootie, her martinis, and a new young man in her life!