Learning From Aesop @learningfromaesop - Tumblr Blog

Rivendell Writer's Colony : Fellowship

What a gift to spend two weeks, in the Tenneesee woods, writing new words to a new novel. 2018 is already looking beautiful.

#amwriting #Austin writers #author #writing

11/22/1963 Lyndon Johnson's Day 1

52 years ago today we lost and gained a President. An unimaginable amount is still unknown about the events. I know some hope the US government will open an investigation with new evidence that's been uncovered by "citizen journalists." But, I doubt this will happen.

I suspect we will come closer to the truth through the long tradition of literature and the arts. (But this might just be the hippe artist in me.) My hope is the manuscript I've been working on will add to this tradition and provide a fictional window in which to view different aspects of the story. LBJ was a titan of a character. He was there the days leading up to 11/22, that day, and for the next one thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight days as POTUS.

lbjlibrary

July 16, 1960. At 6:00 pm LBJ makes his acceptance speech before the convention. He will be the Democratic candidate for Vice President.

LBJ Library photo 60-7-171. The Johnson Library has no information about the original source of this item.

lbjlibrary

March 1961 - President Kennedy walks with Vice President Johnson and members of the Dept. of Defense down the West Wing Collonade, to sign a bill restoring the rank of 5-star general to former President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

From left to right: President John F. Kennedy; Secretary of the Navy, John Connally, Jr.; Secretary of the Army, Elvis Jacob Stahr, Jr. (in back); Deputy Secretary of Defense, Roswell Gilpatric; Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson.

John Connally was an old ally of LBJ’s, having started as an aide to him in 1939 and playing a role in many of his campaigns after that. Connally served as Kennedy’s Secretary of the Navy from Jan-Dec 1961, when he left to run for Governor of Texas, a position which he won.

Photo via JFK Library.

lbjlibrary

June 3, 1967. LBJ watches his three television sets in the Oval Office. According to various sources (like this one and this one), LBJ’s three TVs inspired Elvis Presley to have the same at Graceland.

Photo C5602-28, LBJ Presidential Library, public domain.

lbjlibrary

Sept. 28, 1967. 12:47 PM. LBJ has an off-the-record meeting with columnist Drew Pearson, who does not appear to be enjoying this variation of the Johnson treatment.

LBJ Library photos 6766-20, 24, 25, and 28, public domain.

learningfromaesop

#TexasTwist

It'd be difficult to write a story about LBJ and not have come across a Drew Pearson article or two. Pearson's articles ran nationally and were often very critical of Johnson.

lbjlibrary

Oct. 20, 1967, LBJ and Yuki share a moment in the Oval Office.

LBJ Library photo A5010-10, public domain.

“Guys, guys! I wrote the 1st draft to a novel. #firstmountain #longwaytogo #makingdreamsreal #amrevising”

Forgot to post this here months ago. Whoops.

2nd draft nearly complete!

#ltd 1stdraft revise

coverspy

All the Light We Cannot See, Anthony Doerr (library copy, F, 20s, lime green scarf, PATH)

bookgeekconfessions

I think the day I stop doubting is the day I start sucking.

Gayle Forman at LA Fest (via bookgeekconfessions)

triforce-princess

samishoward

A male author can write about unlikable male characters. They’re called anti-heroes and it’s called a novel.

Gillian Flynn on people calling her writing misogynistic in Glamour magazine, the October 2014 issue. The level of sass and taking no shit from both her and Rosamund Pike-who Flynn interviews in this article-is strong and gives me life. (via samishoward)