Yesterday I wrote a blog in memory of my mom, who recently passed away.
I mentioned hearing a song called, “Right now,” by Van Halen that randomly made its way into a playlist where it didn’t belong, and how I kind of took it as a sign to not take the day for granted. Right now is all we have, and I really want to make the most of my “right nows.”
But before I even heard that song, I knew that I had to start making things happen for myself and for my family.
Yesterday morning, I actually sent in a copy of my children’s book, “Eli The Crawfish in The Night That The Lights Went Out in Natchitoches,” to Pelican Publishing Company here in Louisiana.
It is truly scary, sometimes, to put yourself out there as an artist or an author. “Eli the Crawfish” might be one of my more popular self-published books, but it is not the first book I have written, and it’s not the first book I’ve ever sent to Pelican Publishing.
The VERY first book I wrote was in Ms. Bostick’s first-grade class at NSU elementary LAB school back in 1990. The very first book I sent off to a publisher was “T-Paw Paw’s Tomatoes.”
I wrote it while living in this very house I am living in now, next to my parents. I had just had my second child and felt the feelings of restlessness set in. I knew I wanted to do something BIG and GREAT with my life, and with my family. I have always felt that was a calling for me. And so, I thought I would write a children’s book.
I didn’t know self-publishing was a thing back then. I later would go on to self-publish almost 10 books. They would not make me rich, by any means, but they melt me feel like I accomplished something, and I will never regret trying to make something truly my own.
Even though I took a brave step yesterday by sending in that manuscript, I still admittedly feel a bit lost on how to really act on “right now.” It’s all a bit overwhelming, and expensive lol. Starting a business or pursuing your art and passions is not for the weak. It will consume every single drop of your energy and hope if you let it.
BUT, I am a big fan of the idea, “start where you are with what you have,” So I am going to share with you a very early starting point for me. I am going to bravely share a story I wrote almost 13 years ago…It won’t win me any awards, but I am still so proud of myself for acting on my dreams, every step of the way– even when it has not been easy.
Here is the first ever story I attempt to send to a publisher (as if this blog was not long enough lol):
T Paw-Paw’s Tomatoes
by: Kelly Airhart
In a little town called Natchitoches….
In the State of Louisiana…
Down a little dirt road…
Lived a boy named Alexander.
And Alexander lived next door to his grandfather, who Alexander called, “T- Paw Paw.”
Every summer T-Paw Paw and Alexander would grow tomatoes, blueberries, okra, kidney beans, pecans, and bell peppers!
And every summer they would sell T-Paw Paw’s tomatoes, and other home grown goodies, to the friendly Louisianans who came from all around!
Today was Monday! Monday was a good day to sell tomatoes! And Alexander couldn’t wait to see who had come to buy T-Paw Paw’s, delicious, Louisiana famous, home grown tomatoes!
“Aiee!!!”
Look! It was Alexander’s Paran Donald! He come all the way up, from deep down south in the Swamps of Houma!
“Bonjour Alexander! Bonjour T Paw Paw! I came all the way from Terrebonne Parish to buy some of your delicious tomatoes to put in my Shrimp Creole!”
“Yum,” said Alexander.
“Yum,” said T Paw Paw.
“Yum,” said Paran Donald.
And all their bellies grumbled.
“Thank you,” said Alexander.
“Thank you,” said T-Paw Paw.
“Merci” said Paran Donald.
And they all waved goodbye!
Today was Tuesday! Tuesday was a great day to sell blueberries! And Alexander couldn’t wait to see who had come to buy T-Paw Paw’s delicious, Louisiana Famous, home grown blueberries!
“Howdy ya’ll!”
Look! It was Alexander’s Granny, come all the way down, from a little community in Franklin Parish named Crowville.
“I came to get some fresh plump blueberries from your garden to make Alexander’s favorite blueberry jelly!”
“Yum,” said Alexander.
“Yum,” said T-Paw Paw.
“Yum,” said Granny.
And all their bellies grumbled.
“Thank you,” said Alexander
“Thank you,” said T-Paw Paw
“Merci,” said Granny.
And they all waved goodbye!
Today was Wednesday! Wednesday was a fantastic day to sell okra! And Alexander couldn’t wait to see who had come to buy T-Paw Paw’s delicious, Louisiana famous, home grown okra!
“Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez!” (Lazay Lay Bon Tom Roulay)
Look! It was Alexander’s Nana, come all the way from The Big Easy, New Orleans!
“Orleans Parish is haven’ a big gumbo cook off and I need some of T-Paw Paw’s homegrown okra if I am going to win that first prize sha!”
“Yum,” said Alexander.
“Yum,” said T-Paw.
“Yum,” said Nana.
And all their bellies grumbled.
“Thank you,” said Alexander.
“Thank you,” said T-Paw Paw.
“Merci,” said Nana.
And they all waved goodbye!
Today was Thursday! Thursday was a marvelous day to sell some Kidney Beans! And Alexander couldn’t wait to see who had come to buy T-Paw Paw’s delicious, Louisiana famous, home grown kidney beans!
“Ohhh! Joie de vivre (zhwah duh viv-re)”
Look! It was Alexander’s Maw Maw, come all the way from the Capitol City of Louisiana, The Red Stick, Baton Rouge!
“All the family in East Baton Rouge Parish is gathering at my house for a big helpin’ of Red Beans and Rice! And I could sure use some of Alexander and T-Paw Paws famous kidney beans to make this delicious dish!”
“Yum,” said Alexander.
“Yum,” said T-Paw Paw.
“Yum,” said Maw Maw.
And all their bellies grumbled.
“Thank you,” said Alexander.
“Thank you,” said T-Paw Paw.
“Merci,” said Maw Maw.
And they all waved goodbye!
Today was Friday! Friday was an excellent day to sell Pecans! And Alexander couldn’t wait to see who had come to buy T-Paw Paw’s delicious, Louisiana famous, home grown pecans!
“Yee haw!!!”
It was Alexander’s Mammy, come from a little town in De Soto Parish called Mansfield!
“My sweet tooth was acting up again, and I came to get me some sugars from my sweet Alexander, and some pecans to make a tasty pecan pie.”
“Yum,” said Alexander.
“Yum,” said T-Paw Paw.
“Yum,” said Mammy.
And all their bellies grumbled.
“Thank you,” said Alexander.
“Thank you,” said T- Paw Paw.
“Merci,” said Mammy.
And they all waved goodbye!
Today was Saturday! Saturday was an exciting day to sell bell peppers! And Alexander couldn’t wait to see who had come to buy T-Paw Paw’s delicious, Louisiana famous, home grown bell peppers!
“What ya’ll doin?”
It was Alexander’s Uncle Ambrose come from right down the street in good ole’ Natchitoches.
“I came to see the boy, and get some bell peppers. I’m going to chop them up and put them in the meat pies I’m making for Natchitoches Parish’s hungriest man…me!”
“Yum,” said Alexander.
“Yum,” said T-Paw Paw.
“Yum,” said Uncle Ambrose.
And all their bellies grumbled.
“Thank you,” said Alexander.
“Thank you,” said T- Paw Paw.
“Merci,” said Uncle Ambrose.
And they all waved goodbye!
Today was Sunday! Sunday was a perfect day to…
Wait? What is that heavenly smell? And what is all this Gumbo Ya-Ya Alexander hears comin’ from the kitchen?
Why, it’s Paran Donald, Granny, Nana, Maw Maw, Mammy, Uncle Ambrose, Mom, Dad, baby brother Julien, Uncle Chris, Aunt Amber, Cousins John Ben, John Dylan, Avery, Emily, and even more friends and family!
But Alexander can’t name them all right now because Alexander is too busy enjoying some of T-Paw Paw’s, delicious, Louisiana famous, homegrown tomatoes, blueberries, okra, kidney beans, pecans, and bell peppers in all his favorite Louisiana dishes.
How lucky is Alexander to have such wonderful Louisianans in his life, who love him so much that they would travel to
A little town called Natchitoches….
In the State of Louisiana…
Down a little dirt road…
To buy some tomatoes from Alexander and T-Paw Paw.
I hope you take some time today to follow your dreams. Write the books, paint the paintings, do the things. Even if they aren’t perfect, they can still be wonderful.
Love you all,
Kelly Airhart