Hello friends,

Greetings from the road. I’m thrilled to announce that the book just moved up the LA Times Best Seller list to #10! I was recently in Jackson, Mississippi to do the keynote address for the Mississippi Manufacturing Association’s Convention, and to host VIP Magazine’s Philanthropist of the Year Awards.  We just visited Mary’s hometown of Beaumont,Texas where I spoke to the Beaumont Rotary Club, and where Mary and I both appeared at a benefit concert to raise money for the Betty Greenburg Community Theatre.  Mary sang a selection of standards from her Concord Records album, “Inspired”, and I did selected readings and told stories from Promises I Made My Mother.  We had a sellout crowd and we donated all of our proceeds from book and CD sales to the Community Theatre.  It was great to spend a couple of days in one place.

Mary’s Mom, Shirley Donnelly, and her sisters Leslie Wilson and her husband Bill, and Pride Parr and her husband Richard were all there to celebrate with us.  We then drove to Monroe, Louisiana for a special event to kick-off the 2009 Miss Louisiana Pageant.  Dewanna Little and Darris Warren hosted a wonderful fundraising dinner for the Miss Louisiana Scholarship Organization, and I donated all proceeds from my book sales in Monroe to them.

Mary rejoined me on the tour Thursday, and we headed to Birmingham, Alabama for the Miss Alabama Pageant, a signing at Books A Million, and three appearances for Riverchase United Methodist Church.

Then we fly to New York for me to appear on MSNBC’s Morning Joe Talk Show starring Joe Scarborough.  I’ll get in touch will you again next week!  Love, SAM