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Memories, the Beginning
By Cliff Chandler
A few years ago I joined Georgia Writers and it was an exciting influence in my struggle to become an author. I hosted a television show, Art with A Capital A. The television show was the only show of its kind in the Southeast. I worked for the small station as a volunteer camera person occasionally; I had retired recently and decided to donate a little time after being interviewed at the station about my photography exhibition at one of our local museums. It was a challenge because the station wasn't really equipped to produce a major program. I volunteered once a week to help with the station's two talks shows. I had worked in radio in college and advertising was my major and that made me a perfect fit at the station. The station manager called me into his office one afternoon and offered me a job. The function was not mentioned and I told him that I would think about it.
I returned the following week and left my resume on his desk. After work that evening he called me into his office and said, "I can't offer you the job I had in mind, how about a prime-time talk show?" I told him I would give him the answer in a few days. At the time I was enjoying my retirement and writing five hours a day. I discovered my work routine when my CD player stopped and when I checked, it had played all five disk. Well I finally got the message my wife was trying give. I needed to get out of the house, so I agreed to work for the station part time.
I designed a program and presented it to the station owner. He said, "We need a name for the show. I know it is going to be an art show, but what kind of art?" I said the show will be about all areas of art. The design of the show will be art with a capital a."
"That's it," he said.
"That's what?" I said.
"The name of the show, Art With A Capital A. We will put the show on in prime time." We discussed a new set and improvised until I was able to acquire new furniture for my set. And the show began. I contacted the major bookstores, colleges, libraries, museums, night clubs and churches in Macon and offered our new service from the station. The response wasn't as I expected. I had forgotten my southern upbringing; one has to be introduced properly to the community. I had returned to Macon after residing in New York City for forty-five years, and returned to Macon with a New York demeanor. I frightened some people, and there were others that never understood what I was trying to offer. Imagine a person walking into a social setting, introducing themselves and offering you thirty minutes of television exposure. I was a successful musician at the age of thirteen and contacted a well-known performer whom I had performed with as a teenager. I also invited my cousin, another one of Macon's famous musicians to be guest on my first show.
The first show was received with open arms from our community, and to make sure I had a show for the following week we taped a second segment of the first show. I received request from poets, writers, performers, academics, and the social community. I was invited to attend a meeting of Georgia Writers in Atlanta at one of the local libraries. I enjoyed the event and invited the guest author to appear on my television show. The interview was a hit and the word was out, "There's a show on which we can talk about writing." From that humble beginning I met some of America's greatest authors. I never revealed the fact that I was a writer and had attended a hundred workshops, but one does not join Georgia Writers and not get involved in the process. The next thing I knew is I has published a Chapbook of poetry, after which I was offered an opportunity to write a column for Georgia writers; do you remember Cliff Notes?
The rest is history. I have written and published four novels one of which was mystery novel of the year in 2004. I received a trophy and a little cash. What a thrill it was to achieve the recognition and have a trophy that I earned is in a special area of my work-space. I renewed my membership this year and when time permits I hope that I will be able to participate in some minor role in the Georgia Writers program. By the way I was fortunate to be selected as a finalist in the 2007 Faulkner Poetry Contest and that is a great thrill to see my name listed with the finalist and to be recognized as a Macon, Georgia poet. I am pleased to be in the organization again, and to the young author, remember the only way to become a writer is to write. Accept the fact that you are different, that difference is a gift and it should be treasured.
Cliff Chandler
http://theparagons.homestead.com/paragons2.html
http://www.authorsden.com/members/
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