Meet Betty Mae Tiger Jumper. Like fictional Ma-Ki Ebbing in my story, Betty was was mixed race, half-Caucasian and half-Seminole.

Betty was instrumental in the organization of the Tribal Government. She was on the first council that helped establish federal recognition of the Seminole Tribe of Florida in 1957. She was also the first female chairperson (1967-1971) of the Seminole Tribe. In 1970, Betty was one of two women appointed by then- President Richard Nixon to the National Congress on Indian Opportunity. She was a founder of the United South and Eastern Tribes, which became a powerful lobbying force for Native American interests.

A tribal storyteller, she authored several books, “And with the Wagon Came God’s Word” and “Legends of the Seminoles,” and narrated the video, “The Corn Lady.” Betty also received an honorary Doctorate degree from Florida State University in 1994.

How do you like her sawtooth blouse?

The post “Porch Music” Tidbit: Betty Mae Tiger Jumper appeared first on Kathy Maresca's Site.

Creating a fictional antagonist can be a lot of fun, a bad man or woman who terrorizes others in the story. In real life as well as novels, villains are often “hurt people” who hurt other people. Because PORCH MUSIC has so many women characters, I wanted one of the story’s troublemakers to be a woman, too. In the book, Maggie is known as the prettiest woman in Bradford County.

Have you ever known a beautiful woman who wrestled with inner demons? I had a classmate who was drop-dead gorgeous, part Native-American. She caused heads to turn and jaws to drop, just by walking into a room. But her beauty was only external. I do not know what was tormenting her, but she could become cruel. Brutal. Scary. She was my inspiration for Maggie. Wherever she is, I hope she has worked through her emotional pain.

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What does the cart represent? And what does the song say about romance?

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~ Kathleen M. Rodgers, author of The Flying Cutterbucks, a 2121WILLA Literary Award Finalist in Contemporary Fiction.

You can find Kathleen’s WONDERFUL books on Amazon. Lately my days have moved at a rapid pace, but at night, I love curling up with one of her novels. She’s one of those authors who writes in a way that you feel she knows you. How comforting that is in today’s world. Thanks, Kathleen!

The post “Porch Music” Tidbit: Praise for “Porch Music” appeared first on Kathy Maresca's Site.

Do you judge a book by its cover? The metaphor became an adage long ago, reminding people to look beneath a surface, to consider a hidden story. But when I shop for books, the cover is what grabs my attention. I am grateful for compliments on Porch Music’s cover, and I would like to share a little bit about the artist. Designer David Ter-Avanesyan works his magic on stock photos like the one on the cover of my debut novel as well as the one below, a photograph taken by Annie Leibovitz. Next to a cover featuring the beloved Queen is David. He knows how to take an excellent photo and make it into a picture that tells a story. Thank you, David. Thank you, TouchPoint team.

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