Talking with Red Bird
by Joseph Ball

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This collection of essays will carry you to another place, another time. You will sail The Juneberry Raft, while trying not to be boring. You will meet The Consecrated Dog. Aunt Mildred and the Travelling Door-to-Door Algebra Salesman may take you to a moment of Churn Pickles and Why Celery. You may feel the rustle of a baby green water turtle nestling in your shirt pocket while you save him from a world of sin. You will enjoy a lipsticky aunt and another aunt who closed down the post office. And you will read about the Muddy Creek That Drank Tommie Jean Wilkins, one hot summer day. This will not be a boring book!

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"Tender and evocative, the world of Joseph Ball shimmers with an endless summer filled with birdsong and sweet tea memories. His voice, mellow as sorghum, escapes the page and lingers like the soft afterglow of sunset." —Esta C. "Joseph Ball speaks with an original voice that exudes the charms and universal lessons of southern country life. In contrast to our frenetic, technologically fraught world, these brief essays touch the heart with nostalgia for a simpler time when there were dusty dirt roads, green baby turtles, children playing in bare feet with a daily curiosity and delight in nature, mom making speckle butterbeans, dad arranging for a mysterious possum, and memorable characters such as lipsticky lips Aunt Edith and silent Uncle Jeffie. There is a philosophy of life in these essays, tempered by humor, that calms the soul. The prose has a unique rhythmic and poetic quality. This is a wonderful book that you will happily return to time and again for its beautifully written perspective on the human condition." —Larry M. "Joseph wonderfully crafts his words to magically transport the reader into his story, where they join in hearing, seeing, feeling, smelling, and tasting all that he portrays." —Sue G.

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Joseph lived in several southern states. Several southern states live in Joseph today. Joseph received his BS in Zoology from University of Arkansas, followed by an MBA from George Washington University. He can tell you all about turtles. Don’t get him started about turtles. For five years, Joseph served at sea on active-duty US Navy. Seemed like 20 years. Don’t get him started about seasick. Then he served several years in university administration as a business manager. Don’t get him started about boring jobs. Florida’s citrus industry then hired him to manage a large trade association and trucking company. Don’t get him started about fun jobs. On evenings and weekends, he remained in service to the US Navy Reserve. After many years in the Navy Reserve, he retired as a US Navy captain. Don’t get him started about the Navy. Once married for fifty-seven wonderful years (until his wife’s death), he has two sons and one grandson. Don’t get him started about his grandson. He now resides in Florida, where he writes daily. He lives with a great woman, who is his inspiration and companion stargazer. Don’t even ask. Joseph listens to tall trees, walks dusty roads, and whistles with songbirds in a life of daily wonder. Ask him about this. He’ll have you chasing doodlebugs. Please address any questions or other inquiries to author@shoelessdreams.com. For information about other works in progress, visit shoelessdreams.com.

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Contributors

Author

Joseph Ball

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