Lovely and Amazing

The lovely and amazing Tayari Jones read to a bumper-crop crowd at the Great Plains Art Gallery last night.  One hundred and seventeen people turned up on a windy, rainy, cold night to hear her read from The Untelling (the prologue, pp. 1-11, and the costume/pumpkins scene, 95-top of 104, if you're curious) and give thoughtful, witty answers to the several smart questions the audience posed.  Then an endless line of folks waited to have their books signed. 

And would you believe that the caterers included tiny red velvet cupcakes with the desserts?  I did not plan that.   How did they know? 

I still remember the homemade red velvet cake Tayari sent me after she visited Wabash College.  Nice and moist.  The woman can bake.  The woman can write.  The woman can give a great reading.  I'm predicting more great things coming soon!

The painting is by singer-songwriter-musician Gillian Welch.  Such a cheerful embrace of the deep end seemed just right for a Friday.  (Thanks, Maija, for the link!)