Tayari's Blog: In TN, "Race" Means NASCAR
Posted by TayariJones on March 24, 2007 08:46 AM
Filed under
Book Tour
Last week, I went to Johnson City, TN to give a reading. I spent a year at East Tennesee State University in 2003, while finishing up The Untelling. I may have told you all this story before, but ETSU saved my book. 
Imagine this, I had just finished what I thought was a good-looking draft of the novel and was eagerly awaiting the payment that comes upon acceptance of the manuscript. I wasn't planning on buying a porche with the money. It was more like there were some very tasty items on the shelves of the local grocery store that I was hoping to stock my freezer with.
Well, my editor looked at the manuscript, sort of hated it, and gave me a really really disturbing talking to. She gave me some suggestions that went against everything I believed about the story. Well, what to do? I had no job and was counting on that book check.
Just then, I received a "magic email". Would I be interested in teaching at East Tennessee State University for a year? Oh yes, I would. During that year, I met the most wonderful students and colleagues, too. AND, I finished the book the way I wanted it finished.
So, on to the present. Of course, I was delighted to receive an invitation from Women's Studies to read and sign. There is a very nice hotel in Johnson City, and I was looking forward to curling up under the duvet and watching some cable. About three days before, I got an email. There was a problem. The Carnegie Hotel was booked solid. (Huh??) It was race weekend? (Huh? I was thinking race, as in racial.) They meant race as in NASCAR!
Never fear, alternate lodging was arranged and the reading went really well. I reading from The Untelling and you know the character Hermione has something of a potty mouth, but I cleaned it up for the 7-year old on the third row.
On the way to the airport, we stopped at Waffle House. The waitresses (and lots of other folks) were all decked out in NASCAR Tshirts and such. I felt goofy in my Ann Taylor twin set, but everyone treated me just fine. (I love Waffle House, y'all. Really really love it.)
So that's it from JC, TN. Of course there are pictures. I took snaps of everything from the Waffle House to the antique shop that sold my lovely photo. But before I go, I have to share the most colorful bit of dialogue I picked up on my trip to Appalchia:
On George Bush: "That man is as dangerous as a monkey with a machine gun."
I am trying to figure out how to work that into my next book.
![[divider]](http://www.tayarijones.com/images/divider.jpg)
There are 2 comments on "In TN, "Race" Means NASCAR". If you'd like to leave a comment, click here to jump down to the comments entry form.
Comment #1, by Tara Betts ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.tayarijones.com/blog/nav-commenters.gif)
teeheehee. A monkey with a machine gun. I love the Southern sense of hyperbole and metaphor. Ain't nothing like it, girl.
March 26, 2007 02:27 AM
Comment #2, by rebecca
i'm glad you had a good time. too bad about the duvet. i try to stay at home when it's race weekend. sorry i missed you!
March 26, 2007 03:31 PM