Al Gore Rhythm

Maryann, a very good friend of mine, whom I contacted very shortly after transforming my thoughts about leaving The 11th Hour into word and deed, told me that things would be alright. Though I don't recall the words exactly, she even insinuated that things would be better than I imagined, that the stars would line up, that opportunities would come my way.

It was if I'd jumped in ice water and she reminded me to breathe. That was why I wrote and then called her. I needed help breathing and she'd jumped in that ice water before me. She knew what it was like.

Today, I accepted an offer to become the co-publisher of Georgia Music Magazine. Without getting into detail, I can tell you that the offer was a complete and total surprise to me, but after that first meeting, talking with Lisa Love, my new boss and the director of the Ga Music Hall of Fame, I couldn't stop thinking about the opportunity.

This is not a job that will make me rich; that isn't why it's such a great opportunity. But it is a new set of challenges and hopefully a chance to make an impact.

In short, I'm being asked to help GMM reach its potential, to help it grow by focusing on non-editorial aspects, namely ad sales, distribution, subscriptions and marketing. Considering how solid the writing and art direction is, I believe most of my job will simply be letting people know what it is, where they can get it, and how they can become a part of it.

If you've ever had a conversation with me, you realize that I'm a little nutty about Macon trivia. It's gone from a curiosity about my hometown--not knowing anything of its history until after I left--to a point of pride. It will be very similar for me thinking in a broader sense, Georgia vs. the World. We're awesome and everyone else is merely okay.

Right now, I'm just getting my feet wet, going over the materials, researching the world of glossy magazines, gathering my thoughts. In the interim, I want to say this: I'm glad that it isn't a writing job. I've been enjoying writing more as a personal hobby, a conversational means via blog or email, and I hope to continue that way. I think a large part of that means not writing for a living. At least until I write the sequel to the movie novelization of the Great American Novel.

Either way, as I hung out with Maryann today and told her the news, hearing her remind me that she was right about everything, I couldn't help but think: Wow, Maryann sure was right about everything--it is all going to be alright.