It is always a pleasure for me to hold in my hands any book published by the University Press of Mississippi,but the publication of William F. Winter and the New Mississippi:  A Biography by Charles C. Bolton gives me particular satisfaction.

In 1993 I wrote to Governor Winter saying that I thought that it was important that he write his memoir and that I wanted the press to publish it.  He said that he too had been thinking about this and was gathering material in preparation.  Periodically, I would remind Governor Winter that he really did need to focus on telling his life story.  He would agree–and that would be that.

In the early 2000’s in a conversation with Chuck Bolton, who at the time headed the University of Southern Mississippi’s fine Oral History program, I mentioned my interest in the Winter project.  Chuck said that he had interviewed the governor in 1979 and had done a follow-up in 2001.  Concerned that Governor Winter’s innate modesty would keep his memoir from  being completed, I suggested to Chuck that he conduct one more interview with the governor, weave it into as coherent a narrative as possible with the previous two, and write a contextual introduction.  Chuck thought he could make this work, and Governor Winter was amenable.  The plan was stymied by the difficulties of scheduling the interview.  And the governor was still working on his memoir.

By spring 2006 Governor Winter seemed to realize the need for help and asked Chuck Bolton if he would assist him in writing his autobiography.  Chuck said he would be pleased to do so.  A year later, Chuck Bolton became Governor William Winter’s biographer, and the rest is truly history.

Seetha Srinivasan, Director Emerita
University Press of Mississippi

Charles C. Bolton and Governor William Winter will be signing tonight at 5:00 and reading at 6:00.

I was first exposed to William Winter when he ran for governor in 1967. My father was a friend and a supporter. I remember going to hear him speak at a political rally at Highland Park in Meridian. Even at age 15, I recognized a voice and viewpoint that were different and promising.

Years later, Governor Winter had an important impact on me. He was the thoughtful, progressive voice for a new Mississippi as our governor. His continued idealism and hope – and those of his staff, “the boys of spring” – caused me to assess my own life and priorities (I was a self-serving lobbyist for a Mississippi industry). It was out of the light that was shed from his hopeful view that I turned toward service to my fellow Mississippians as an ordained minister. I doubt he is even aware of the impact he had on me and, likely, thousands of other Mississippians.
The Reverend Canon David H. Johnson
Episcopal Priest

Gov. William Winter and Charles C. Bolton will be signing on October 9, 2013 at 5:00 pm and reading at 6:00 pm at Lemuria Bookstore.

If you would like write a guest blog on Gov Winter please click here.

A little while ago, we posted a call for guest blogs about Gov. Winter in honor of the new biography, William F. Winter and the New Mississippi by Charles C. Bolton.  Almost immediately, an email appeared in my box from Dewitt Spencer in Vardaman, MS with this reminiscence of Gov. Winter.

Our great Vardaman friend Earl Gilder went to Jackson in the late 60’s, early 70’s and landed a job at the State Treasurer’s Office. On every occasion he was home, we heard about his boss William Winter, about what a great man he was both personally and professionally. Even though Mr. Winter was from neighboring Grenada County, and, I think, had relatives down around Big Creek in Calhoun, we’d never heard of him. I can’t remember when my wife, Zilla, and I first met Mr. Winter or even if it was Earl who introduced us. From the moment we met, however, we were staunch supporters and friends. What Mr. Winter would think became–and really still is–a standard by which we try to gauge our actions.

Even in those hard old days, Mr. Winter stood out as a “moderate” on issues, especially race. Moderate back then meant flaming liberal, and his stance gave us the courage to speak out too. He influenced a generation of young people for the right values and kept it up with succeeding generations. Our two daughters revere Mr. Winter as much as we.

What can you say about such a man? I’ve often thought of writing him and trying to express the thanks in my heart for what he’s done for our state and nation and for us—Zilla, our girls and me– but it never can be enough. What wonderful people he brought into government and public life: Dick Molpus, Ray Mabus and on and on. I’m also thinking now of the local people he influenced in government, politics, and business. What a difference they have made just in good ole Calhoun County!

Well, I can’t begin to sum him up, just in my little corner of Mississippi, but the thought that keeps coming to mind is a paraphrase of the poet’s: “Here is a Man.” It seems so trite and falls so far short of what should be said but “Thank you, Mr. Winter, from Dewitt and Zilla Spencer of Vardaman, and Leah Spencer of Pittsboro, North Carolina, and Morgan Spencer Cutturini of Oxford. Thank you, and we love you.”

Dewitt Spencer

Vardaman, MS

Gov. William Winter and Charles C. Bolton will be signing on October 9, 2013 at 5:00 pm and reading at 6:00 pm at Lemuria Bookstore.

If you would like write a guest blog on Gov Winter please click here.

We’re so excited about Ree Drummond’s visit to the bookstore today!

Here’s everything you need to know.

At 5:00 Ree will sign her new kids book Charlie Goes to School in the bookstore. She will also sign any of her Pioneer Woman books which we also have for sale.

At about 5:30, she will read Charlie Goes to School in our Dot Com events building (adjacent to Banner Hall). You can also get your books signed after the reading/talk.

This month marks the release of Robert Khayat’s memoir The Education of a Lifetime. To kick it off, we’re having a little fun with this quiz. Anyone who answers every question correctly will be eligible to win an Advance Reader’s Copy of The Education of a Lifetime, as well as a copy of the brand new photo book, Ole Miss: A Photographic Essay (on sale October 5).

Submit your answers in the comments section below. We’ll notify the winner via e-mail.

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1. What grade did Robert Khayat’s receive in Chemistry (his first class at Ole Miss) in the Summer of 1956?

a)     A+

b)     B-

c)     D-

d)     F

2. After the 1998 President Clinton’s Initiative on Race Town Hall Meeting at Ole Miss, Robert Khayat invited renowned African-American History Scholar John Hope Franklin back to the Chancellor’s home for a late-night snack. What did they eat?

a)     Toast

b)     BLTs

c)     Cereal

d)     Steak

3. What did Coach Johnny Vaught call Robert Khayat?

a)     Bob

b)     Robert

c)     Bobby

d)     Eddie

4. When Chancellor Robert Khayat told Governor Kirk Fordice that Ole Miss had orchestrated a $42 million sale of land to the federal government (land which the government had given Ole Miss), the governor replied —

a)     “Where’s the check?”

b)     “What’s my commission?”

c)     “No wonder our damn government is broke.”

d)     “Any more land left?”

5. What happened the week before the 2008 Presidential Debate at Ole Miss?

a)     John McCain threatened to cancel

b)     3000 journalists descended on campus

c)     A construction crew severed Mississippi’s one high-speed, fiber optic cable.

d)     All of the above

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Submit your answers in the comments section below.

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Robert Khayat will be signing The Education of a Lifetime at Lemuria on Tuesday, September 24 at 3:00. A reading will follow at 5:30.

If you can’t make it to the event, you can call the store and reserve a copy for pick-up. You can also have the book shipped to you by calling the store (601.366.7619) or by placing your order online here.

Introduction to the Cereus Readers Book Club

We call ourselves the Cereus Readers in honor of Jackson writer Eudora Welty and her friends who gathered for the annual blooming of the night-blooming cereus flower and called themselves “The Night-Blooming Cereus Club.” This book club meets in this same spirit of friendship and fellowship.

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A Night-Blooming Cereus Flower at Eudora Welty’s House on August 28, 2013.

The goal of the Cereus Readers is to introduce readers to the writing of Eudora Welty–her short stories, essays, and novels–and then to read books and authors she enjoyed herself or were influenced by her.

We meet at noon in the Dot.Com building adjacent to Banner Hall. Feel free to bring your lunch. All books are available at Lemuria, and be sure to ask for the “Cereus Reader” 10% discount when making your purchase for the book club. Please e-mail Lisa if you plan on attending or if you have any questions: lisa at lemuriabooks dot com.

This is a reading group open to all level of readers–anyone interested in learning about Jackson’s most important writer. Eudora Welty considered Lemuria her bookstore, and we want to honor her by discussing her books and authors she loved–meeting in the store where she shopped and signed her books.

After reading many works by Welty, we will read authors and works she herself enjoyed: Jane Austen, Virginia Woolf, E.M. Forster, Chekhov, and mysteries. Finally, we thought we would read authors who have acknowledged Welty as an influence and inspiration such as Ann Patchett, Anne Tyler, and Clyde Edgerton. It’s a bold undertaking, but we plan to be meeting for a while!

Cereus Readers is led by Carolyn Brown (author of A Daring Life: A Biography of Eudora Welty), Carla Wall, Freda Spell, Lee Anne Bryan, and Jan Taylor.

Fall Schedule

Thursday, September 26 at Noon in Lemuria’s Dot.Com Building (adjacent to Banner Hall)

We will be listening to an audio recording of Miss Welty reading “Keela, the Outcast Indian Maiden” courtesy of The Welty House and the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

(You might be familiar with an audio of Eudora Welty reading that is still for sale. I never knew the history but I recently ran across a neat article on NPR about those Caedmon recordings here.)

Thursday, October 31 at Noon in Lemuria’s Dot.Com Building

Hunter Cole, friend and scholar of Eudora Welty, is our guest speaker.

Saturday, November 16 at 2:00 in Lemuria’s Dot.Com Building

This unique event will open with a talk on collecting Eudora Welty’s work. Lemuria will display a special collection of Eudora Welty books—from trade to fine first editions.

As with all of the Cereus Reader events, everyone is welcome.

December

No meeting. We will resume meeting on Thursday, January 23 at Noon. Reading list to be announced.

Please follow this link to see what we’ve been reading since our beginning in January 2013.

Written by Carolyn Brown and Lisa Newman