Last night, my wife and I drove over to Richmond to a book signing by Sheila Adams at the Fountain Bookstore. Sheila's first novel, MY OLD TRUE LOVE, has just been published by Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill. Sheila, along with her husband, Jim Taylor, was there to do some reading, and singing, from her new book.

For those of you who may not be acquainted with Sheila Adams, she is a "seventh generation" ballad singer from Madison County, North Carolina, who grew up in the small mountain community of Sodom Laurel. So, of course, her first novel is full of of ballads and fiddle music. I would go so far as to say that the story itself is like one of the "old love songs". Most appropriately, Sheila and her husband, Jim, have also released a companion CD to go along with her new book, called ALL THE OTHER FINE THINGS, from Granny Dell Records (1222). The CD contains most of the songs and instrumental music referred to in her novel. With the fine help of her husband, Jim, along with Josh Goforth, James Leva, John Doyle, Bruce Greene, Carl Jones, and the The Christian Harmony Singers, Sheila presents these songs as only she can do it. The CD includes the following pieces:

1.        Young Hunting/Elzig's Farewell
2.        Wagoner's Lad
3.        Drunken Hiccups
4.        A Soldier Traveling From the North
5.        Sacred Throne
6.        George Booker
7.        My Dearest Dear
8.        Pretty Peggy-o
9.        Idumea
10.        Little Margaret
11.        Pretty Saro
12.        8th of January/Cumberland Gap/8th Day of January
13.        Windham
14.        Camp a Little While in the Wilderness

Extensive liner notes on each song are included with the CD. This is very exciting music and probably the best work done so far by Sheila and Jim. Even if you never read the book, you should listen to this music. [To be continued, with more details, in another note to follow.]   T.O.M.