Nashville music publisher Robert Hicks and Justin Stelter talk about the new book they edited, *A Guitar and a Pen*. The book presents, for the first time, the literary work of some of the best storytellers in the world: the songwriters who cut and polish tales down to sparkling three-minute gems. A blend of fiction and nonfiction, humor, and poignancy, these tales range from Kris Kristofferson's charming tale of how an explicit natural rock formation causes chaos in a small farming town, to the true story of bluegrass founder Bill Monroe's first visit to the White House, as told by Hazel Smith. Other contributors include Hal Ketchum, Janis Ian, Mark D. Sanders, Tom T. Hall, and Marshall Chapman.
Robert Hicks, the author of THE WIDOW OF THE SOUTH, was born and raised in South Florida. In 1974 he moved to Williamson County, Tennessee; in 1979 he moved to 'Labor in Vain,' a late-eighteenth-century log cabin, near Leiper's Fork, Tennessee. Working both as a music publisher and in artist management in both country and rock music, Hick's interests remain broad and varied. A partner in the B. B. King's Blues clubs in Nashville, Memphis and Los Angeles, Hicks serves as 'Curator of Vibe' of the corporation. [Source: http://www.bookreporter.com/authors/au-hicks-robert.asp]
Justin Stelter has always had his hands in the dirt. From his early years of playing with Tonka trucks in his parents' garden to planting heirloom peonies last spring at Historic Carnton Plantation, he remains a hands-on gardener. Justin has spent his entire working career, both sides of his university years, within a garden. In July of 2003 he became head gardener at Historic Carnton Plantation. This garden is reconstructed from the bones of the original 1847 kitchen/ornamental garden and its evolution from 1847 through 1869. While head gardener, Justin has installed one of the largest historic daffodil displays in the country, a species hosta collection, and is currently installing an heirloom peony collection consisting of varieties available prior to 1869. He is a member of The American Horticultural Society, Southern Garden History Society, American Rose Society, Middle Tennessee Daffodil Society, Middle Tennessee Daylily Society, Middle Tennessee Hosta Society, Nashville Rose Society and the Tennessee Native Plant Society. He is also the co-editor with Robert Hicks and John Bohlinger of *A Guitar and a Pen*. Currently, he is editing a guide to historic gardens in North America.