![\"If-trouble-final\"](\"http:\/\/www.squealermusic.com\/madclips\/wordpress2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/If-trouble-final.jpg\" "\\"If-trouble-final\\"")
<\/a>Today is the official release date for If Trouble Don’t Kill Me<\/a>, the true story of musical brothers Clayton and Saford Hall. Ralph Berrier, Jr.<\/a> used to tell stories about his Papa Clayton and Great Uncle Saford when I sat next to him at the Roanoke Times<\/a>. My desk is nowhere near Ralph’s anymore, but I can hear his voice in every page of this book about the Hall twins’ rise to almost-fame and almost-fortune, a rise that was interrupted by their call to serve in the war to end all wars. In case you’re prone to motion sickness, I’m not taking you through all of the turns here; suffice it to say this is a great read. I interviewed Ralph for the September issue of Bluegrass Unlimited. Meanwhile, let’s welcome his journalistic memoir with “Don’t Let Your Sweet Love Die<\/a>,” recorded in 1940 when the Halls were with Roy Hall and His Blue Ridge Entertainers. You should probably also go listen to “Cool Water.<\/a>” This version is by the Sons of the Pioneers, but the Halls sang it, too, and I still remember the first version I<\/em> heard, with Ralph’s voice joining Clayton’s and Saford’s at a packhouse party at the Berrier family apple orchard. Congratulations, Ralph!<\/p>\nNote to readers: the above book, released by Crown Publishing, is not for kids. The below book, from Scholastic Book Clubs, is.<\/p>\n
To welcome Never Ever, I give you Don’t Talk to Strangers<\/a>, by Rick Springfield. Because even though I didn’t go see him when he played in Rockville last summer (or was it the summer before?) I know that women of a certain age have an appreciation for Springfield that decades of quality music-listening just can’t cure. No matter how many Johnny Cash albums I listen to, no matter how much Gillian Welch or heck, Bach, I still know every word to Jesse’s Girl. And yeah, I used to watch General Hospital. If I spent a little time on the TiVo, I’d be watching it again, though not for Rick this time; for James Franco.<\/a> (Whose mother is a kidlit author<\/a>, in case you’re one of those people who needs a legitimate tie-in.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Clearly this blog went on vacation along with me, but I had to come back this week to welcome two new books. Today is the official release date for If Trouble Don’t Kill Me, the true story of musical brothers … Continue reading ![\"30117_420259684178_757129178_5241820_7497534_n\"](\"http:\/\/www.squealermusic.com\/madclips\/wordpress2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/08\/30117_420259684178_757129178_5241820_7497534_n-120x150.jpg\" "\\"30117_420259684178_757129178_5241820_7497534_n\\"")
<\/a>I haven’t actually read this one yet, but I’m giving it a grand welcome anyway. With balloons and cake and party hats. The book is called Never Ever Talk to Strangers and it’s the first of what I hope will be many books by Anne Marie Pace<\/a>. I met Anne Marie years ago through SCBWI<\/a>. Not to get too misty-eyed here, but she’s taught me a lot about generosity and support. (If support hose hadn’t already been invented, believe me, Anne Marie would have invented them.) The book is only available through Scholastic Book Clubs fliers — the firefly ones. If you have a preschooler who needs to learn about stranger danger, this is the way to go.<\/p>\n