The Author Guy Blog by Larry B. Gildersleeve (February 11, 2025)

 

Hello out there, 

Welcome back. I’m “all in” and fully invested in my later-in-life journey as a writer, poet and novelist. That said, I try to do what I can to help fellow authors, such as attending as many events our library hosts featuring visiting authors. And I promote individual authors and specific books I believe are worthy. A case in point will soon occur.

It will be Valentine’s Day the end of this week, and the fully-restored historic train station in my hometown features once/year opportunities with the dining car in the train at the station. This year they have a “Blue Hawaii” theme, and will be showing the movie ahead of each of six dinner settings over two days. I know the RailPark’s executive director, and facilitated an introduction that resulted in an invitation to a fellow author to make presentations and promote her books. Here’s why.

Letetia Henley-Kirk is a dear friend living with her husband Barrey in Memphis. Letetia was a close confident of Elvis and she lived at Graceland for a decade at the height of his worldwide fame serving as his family’s private nurse. Elvis nicknamed her “Tish” and she often accompanied him when he went on tour (her husband became one of Elvis’ bodyguards).

Other than Priscilla Presley, I doubt there is anyone living who knew Elvis better that Tish, and thirty-five years after his death, she wrote the first of two books of remembrances of that decade in her life. There are just a few names inscribed on the eternal flame at Elvis’ gravesite at Graceland, and hers is one of them.

I haven’t seen Letetia and Barrey since pre-Covid, and look forward to the coming weekend.

Until next week … Vaya con Dios

Larry B. Gildersleeve