Fundraiser/book signing at Second Annual "Novel" Wine Tasting, Arts and Literary Festival.

I had a wonderful day Saturday October 25, 2014 at the September Oaks Vineyards  for the Second Annual "Novel" Wine Tasting, Arts and Literary Festival. 

I arrived early at the vineyard, a little before 9:00. The drive from Aiken, SC to Ridgeland, SC takes about two hours. The morning was chilly, at least for me when we left home with temps around 36 degrees, and some patchy fog was in the area. 

Of course, you know that I love the fog since I wrote "Whispering Fog" and in my next book "Spirits of Sacred Mountain" the story tells                 •••  Keep reading click read 

---

that on foggy days and nights the spirits are walking. Thus, making me wonder what spirits were out early that morning.

 Along the way, I did enjoy seeing all the cotton plants in the fields bursting with white fluffy blooms looking like a thick snow had fallen during the night. We saw four deer who dashed across the road, maybe being chased by a hunter. 

By the time we arrived at September Oaks Vineyards the temperature had risen and the sun was shining down. The wet grass was glistening with the morning dew and the sun was filtering through the enormous old southern oak trees along the path to the vineyard. 

---

Sons of Confederate Veterans Michael Skinner

The Vineyard was buzzing with people talking, unloading their cars, setting up tents, and the Sons of Confederate Veterans, Colonel Charles Colcock Camp 2100, were preparing food and the aroma of the grill smelled wonderful floating in the air.

---

Diann under the old oak

There was one old oak tree in the center of the vineyard that would have been my favorite spot to sit in as a child, dreaming of my tales of the old south, my southern dreams. 

The old oak reminded me of the twisted old oak in my "Southern Dreams"trilogy.

I acted nice and didn't climb up into the branches of the old oak, even though it was very tempting 

---

Virginia Jennings, Kim Poovery

The day was beautiful and as most typical South Carolina days the sun warmed us substantially as the temperatures rose to the high seventies. 


Music serenaded the grounds by violinist Murphey Alexander and Maggie Rogers, who played the banjo, as the public arrived and conversations began. 

---

Jo Wicker

Once more, I found out that so many people had not heard of Essential Tremor and if they had heard then they believed it was an old people's disorder, and were shocked to learn so many children and young people have ET. 

However, I did talk with many people who had Parkinson's and ET. 


My tremors were milder, maybe because I was staring at the old oak directly in front of my tent or maybe I wasn't paying attention to them, but when I went to sign one of my books,  

---

Tonja Bliss

it become a stark reminder, staring down at my tremoring hand, of why I was out there talking about Essential Tremor. 


 I met many old friends like Shavona Floyd, Kim Poovey, DiDi Hendley, Virginia Jennings, Carl Smith, and Tonja Bliss and many many more. 


I also met many new friends, Jo Wicker, Bernie Schein, pastry Chef Russ Gardiner, and Julia W. I even met Miss South Carolina, Laney Hudson. 

---

Carl Smith

DiDi Hendley

Miss South Carolina Laney Hudson

Chef Russ Gardiner

Cyndi Williams Barnier, Jack Gannon, & Bernie Schein

It was a spectacular day and I want to say thank you to Cyndi Williams Barnier and Jack Gannon for inviting me to the Second Annual "Novel" Wine Tasting, Arts and Literary Festival. 

---