  It’s
hard to believe that Mother’s Day is just
around the corner. I know this because my sons have
been conspiring not-so-secretly as to the perfect
gift. Jewelry? (Dad says she has too much.) A new
CD? (Think she’ll like my favorite rapper?)
Maybe dinner at her favorite restaurant? (Doesn’t
she always say pancakes are just fine?)
Little do they know that my favorite gifts from
years past are hidden in a secret drawer which I
visit from time to time. Truly, it’s the macaroni
necklace that brings tears of joy to my eyes. And
don’t forget the love note with lots of misspellings
which often makes my heart skip a beat. These are
the gifts I will always treasure. Don’t we
all know…life goes by way too fast.
It only seems fitting that Gayden Metcalfe
and Charlotte Hays stop by and
chat with us this month. Their latest release,
SOME DAY YOU’LL THANK ME FOR THIS…The
Official Southern Ladies’ Guide to Being a
“Perfect” Mother is full of hilarious
anecdotes every mother must read. Whether you live
north or south of the Mason Dixon Line, it doesn’t
matter. This book is for everyone.
As part of the column, Hyperion Books has generously
donated five copies for you, my lucky readers, to
win. So, don’t forget to look for the trivia
question at the end. And as always, thanks for making
Jen’s Jewels a part of your reading adventure.
Jen: I think it would
be fair to say that you two talented ladies epitomize
the true meaning of the term “Southern belles”.
So that my readers may get a better understanding
of the women behind these delightful books, please,
as Southerners would say, “tell us where
you’re from and who your people are.”
Gayden: I’m not sure I qualify
for a belle at this tender age. But, I am alive
and well as something here in the Mississippi
Delta (with my people). At best, we’re elder
belles—bellelders!
Charlotte:Gayden epitomizes the belle.
I’d love to be one, but I’m just not.
My wonderful mother was (as was Gayden’s
very dear mother). I think Mama’s last words
on her death bed may have been, “And my
stag line stretched around the ballroom floor.”
That is the belle.
Jen: As far as your educational and professional
background, how did it prepare each of you for
a career in publishing?
Gayden: My Mama and my life in the Delta prepared
me as much as anything…besides alcohol.
Charlotte: I like to describe myself as a recovering
gossip columnist. Gossip is a trade I learned
at my mother’s knee. Also, Greenville has
a literary history, and I think we all grew up
with the notion that you could become a writer.
Gayden and I were good friends of Kate Keating,
a talented contemporary who died very young. Her
father was Bern Keating, and we knew that Bern—or
Mr. Keating, as we then said—earned his
living by writing. I always loved to read and
wanted to be a writer.
Jen: In terms of collaboration, how did the idea
of teaming up to write these delightful books
come to fruition? (I’ve read all three and
love them!)
Gayden: I could never have done these books without
Charlotte. I might remember a story or two that
she doesn’t but as far as the writing is
concerned…it’s all Charlotte.
Charlotte: It was totally Gayden’s idea.
She called me with the idea for Being Dead. I
knew it was a brilliant idea, but I felt I had
a plate full. Fortunately, I mentioned Gayden’s
idea to a friend of mine, Sandra McElwaine, who
currently writes for The Daily Beast and other
outlets, and she mentioned it to Susan Mercandeti,
who was then at Miramax. To make a long story
short, Gayden and I went to New York and pitched
the idea at Miramax. They bought it. We couldn’t
believe it. We worked with
E-mail. We could never have done our books if
there were no such thing as e-mail.
Jen: Your latest release,
which is a lovely gift for Mother’s Day,
is entitled SOME DAY YOU’LL THANK
ME FOR THIS The official Southern Ladies’
Guide to Being a “Perfect” Mother.
How did you arrive at the premise?
Gayden: My Mother constantly reminded me, “You’ll
thank me for this.” Yes, when she was switching
the backs of my legs. And another, “You’ll
miss me when I’m gone.” She was right
one more time!
Charlotte: Lordy, I also heard, “You’ll
thank me for this” from my mother. Odd,
I never expected to find out how right she was.
Jen: Since you do not live in the same part of
the country, how does the actual writing process
take place?
Gayden: Well, these books jerked us right into
the twenty-first century. We learned a lot quickly
about the computer world as opposed to Ma’Bell.
We e-mail constantly.
Charlotte: Yes, the wonders of modern technology!
Jen: The book is divided into seven chapters.
Although in my opinion, it feels more like seven
hysterical vignettes woven together by one common
thread…motherhood. A question I just have
to ask. Are the women you depict in these tales
actually real people? And if so, how did they
feel about being mentioned in the book? (Most
of these stories are absolutely laugh-out-loud
funny! Others are very endearing.)
Gayden: Thank the Lord, we altered most of the
names…just enough. But they know who they
are! It’s the people we left out that really
complain.
Charlotte: When the first book came out, Gayden
sent an advance reading copy to Shelby Foote.
He asked why we changed some names and not others.
We explained that, if you’d given us a recipe,
we didn’t change your name. But, if you’d
done something socially awkward, such as hacking
your mother to death with the garden shears, we
did. Yes, these people are all real. We often
have people tell us they know them—if not
the very same people, the very same types.
Jen: At times, I found myself underlining some
very useful etiquette tips. (My own mother will
be so proud.) Let’s take one example from
the book. Why should one never reply to a formal
invitation in blue ink?
Gayden: Blue ink. Why in the world would you not
use black?
Charlotte: Blue ink on a formal invitation! It
just isn’t right. My mother talked about
an otherwise perfect cousin who did this for years
on end. You can use blue ink for many things,
but not a formal reply. The rule is “reply
in kind.” I suppose if—God forbid!—you
received a formal invitation with blue ink, you
should reply in blue ink. Please, I hope I don’t
live long enough to see this!
Jen: I especially liked the comments by Gayden’s
nephew, Hugh Dickson Gayden Miller, peppered throughout
the book. I had to chuckle when he mentioned the
one about having to clean up before the housekeeper’s
arrival lest she would quit if it were known how
messy things could be! How did Dickson become
involved with this project?
Gayden: He offered and of course, I remember my
Mother saying, “Ask a lazy person to do
something and they will find an easy way. I was
lucky that my nephew expressed an interest. He
has the gift of gab. I think he is very talented…and
funny!
Charlotte: Dickson became involved because he
is brilliant—and we adore him. And, as Gayden
says….
Jen: Besides the wonderful stories throughout
the book, each chapter contains to-die-for Southern
recipes. Have you tested each one? And if so,
which is your personal favorite and why?
Gayden: Being a Delta person, I must say the tomato
aspic is absolutely to die for (don’t forget
BEING DEAD IS NO EXCUSE)
Charlotte: Gayden’s husband, Harley, deserves
a medal for all the pimiento cheese he ate when
Gayden was testing recipes. She tested them, I
don’t cook.
Jen: In fifteen words or less, what’s your
definition of the perfect Southern mother?
Gayden: The perfect southern mother worships kindness
and good manners and is determined to hand on
her religion. (Also, if you ask her to say something
in 15 words, she takes 17, if not a book!)
Charlotte: She loves you dearly and devotes her
life to ensuring that you never sit on a strange
commode seat.
Jen: What’s next on your agenda? Are you
at work on your fourth guide? And if so, what
can you share about it with my readers?
Gayden: A brief rest.
Charlotte: Ditto.
Jen: Well deserved! Thank you so much for taking
time out of your busy touring schedule to stop
by and chat with my readers. It has been such
a pleasure getting to know both of you! Best of
luck with your book!
Gayden and Charlotte: Thank you!
I hope you have enjoyed my interview with the
ladies. Please stop by your favorite bookstore
or library branch and pick up a copy of SOME
DAY YOU’LL THANK ME FOR THIS The
official Southern Ladies’ Guide to Being
a “Perfect” Mother today. Better yet,
would you like to win one? Be one of the first
five readers to e-mail at jensjewels@gmail.com
with the correct answer to the following trivia
question and it’s yours!
Who is Harley?
Next time, I will be bringing to you my interview
with Nicole Seitz, South Carolinian low-country
author and artist. You won’t want to miss
it.
Happy Mother’s Day!
Jen
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the Author: featuring Jen's Jewels