Morgan Murphy and Melinda Rainey Thompson will sign their book, "I Love You, Now Hush," at Davis-Kidd Booksellers on Thursday.
Memphis native Melissa Anderson Sweazy can explain why she wrote a book that focuses on weird things about weddings. It all began when her heart was broken.
Sweazy had a long-distance relationship with her college sweetheart during a nine-year period when she lived in Los Angeles.
"I'm embarrassed to admit that gave me plenty of time to daydream about our eventual wedding," she writes by e-mail. "We did get engaged, the dress was purchased, and the date set, when the groom to-be suddenly bailed and literally left the country."
Devastated, she worked through her grief by poring over 19th-century etiquette books and sociology records at the Los Angeles Public Library. She learned about courtship rituals, ghost brides, wife-carrying competitions, sacrifices for love.... Grief works in mysterious ways.
"Because of my broken heart, the darker, stranger aspects of weddings were that much more appealing," she says, "and I knew nothing would make me happier than filling up a book full of weird wedding tales."
So she wrote "Veiled Remarks: A Curious Compendium for the Nuptially Inclined" (Dang Creative, $21.95). "It's the kind of book I wish I could have read while going through my breakup," she says.
Book agents suggested she include her own tale of woe in the book, but she was too honorable to demonize her ex. Still, she adopted the idea of an illustrated story about a jilted bride, with each chapter of that sufferer's tale serving as a category: "Finding a Mate," say, or "Love is a Battlefield." Illustrations were done by local graphic design company Harvest Creative.
Sweazy will be reading and signing her book, in addition to serving wedding cake, at Davis-Kidd Booksellers on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
And yes, reader, the author says she found "the right Mr. Right."
For a different take on romantic love and its consequences, turn to Melinda Rainey Thompson and Morgan Murphy, who will be signing their new book, "I Love You, Now Hush" (John F. Blair, $16.95) at Davis-Kidd on Thursday at 6 p.m. It's described as a "pithy, gleeful take on 'Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus,' with a Southern slant."
Thompson, who lives in Birmingham, Ala., is author of "SWAG: Southern Women Aging Gracefully" and "The SWAG Life." Murphy, who lives in Mountain Brook, Ala., has written for Southern Living, Forbes, and Vanity Fair.
At 1 p.m. Saturday, Thomas Ruffin arrives at Davis-Kidd with his collection of poetry titled "Sideways Train" (CreateSpace, $14.99). The author was born in Hattiesburg, Miss., and has served in the Army, as well as on the police force in Clinton, Miss., and as an FBI agent in Newark, N.J. He currently teaches at Mississippi College in Clinton.
Davis-Kidd is at 387 Perkins Ext. Call (901) 683-2032 or visit daviskidd.com.
Poems on the Keys
Burke's Book Store will host the poet Danielle Sellers signing and reading from her book "Bone Key Elegies" (Main Street Rag, $14 paperback).
Sellers is originally from Key West, Fla., a place that serves as inspiration for these poems. She has a master of fine arts degree from the University of Mississippi, where she held the John Grisham Poetry Fellowship. She is founder and editor of The Country Dog Review and teaches at the University of Mississippi.
Burke's Book Store is at 936 S. Cooper. Call (901) 278-7484.
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