{"id":270,"date":"2022-03-08T04:07:13","date_gmt":"2022-03-08T04:07:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/worabia.com\/news\/2022\/03\/08\/book-excerpt-dolly-parton-james-pattersons-run-rose-run\/"},"modified":"2022-03-08T04:07:13","modified_gmt":"2022-03-08T04:07:13","slug":"book-excerpt-dolly-parton-james-pattersons-run-rose-run","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worabia.com\/news\/entertainment\/270\/","title":{"rendered":"Book excerpt: Dolly Parton & James Patterson’s “Run, Rose, Run”"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Music superstar Dolly Parton and bestselling author James Patterson have teamed up for a novel about an aspiring country singer. “Run, Rose, Run”<\/strong> (Little, Brown).<\/em><\/p>\n

Simultaneously with the release of the book, a new album was released by Parton, with songs he explicitly wrote for the novel. <\/em><\/p>\n

Read the excerpt below and Don’t miss Lee Cowan’s interview with Dolly Parton and James Patterson at “CBS Sunday Morning”<\/span> March 6!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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Little, Brown<\/p>\n

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It was a night with an open microphone in Cat’s Paw, which meant that everyone and her in-laws had come out to take their six minutes to the fore. And if Ruthanna Ryder had known it in advance, she would have thought twice about appearing. <\/p>\n

“Boo!” said a voice near her ear. <\/p>\n

Ruthana clasped her guitarist in her arm without even looking. “Ethan Blake, do not scare a lady,” he said. <\/p>\n

“Shh,” he said. “It’s up.” <\/p>\n

“It’s nice to be back here,” he said. “I’m AnnieLee Keyes and I’m a bit new to the city.” She hit the beat-up instrument she was holding in her arms. “This is the Cat’s Paw, um, community guitar. It has old strings and slippery pegs, so he does not like to be always in tune. But we will both do our best for you tonight.” <\/p>\n

As AnnieLee began to sing her introduction, Ruthanna could hear how dull the strings sounded, and she quickly decided to send a better instrument to the bar tomorrow. She wondered if she should get a Martin or a Gibson \u2014 or perhaps a Taylor? \u2014When the girl opened her mouth and began to sing. And Ruthana sat up and began to watch. <\/p>\n

Dark night, bright future
Like the Phoenix from the ashes, I will be resurrected <\/em><\/p>\n

The girl’s voice was a soprano honey, clear and bright. Where did this girl come from? AnnieLee Keyes looked just older than a teenager, but she sang as if she had lived ninety-nine years and seen tragedy in each of them. <\/p>\n

When a new song started at a faster pace, her voice became a roar rather than a trilogy. Beneath this sweet, doll-like exterior, there was something wild and furious about AnnieLee Keyes. Some dark pain fed these tubes. Ruthana was sure of that. <\/p>\n

She had seen brilliant, renowned professional musicians for over a lifetime, but this girl was natural. <\/p>\n

One had to learn one. <\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

When AnnieLee finished her set and went to the bar for her festive soft drink club, the bartender kicked her away. “Someone wants to meet you.” <\/p>\n

He pushed her gently and then broke a knot of people and found themselves standing in front of a small, battered table in the back corner of the bar, where the biggest star in Nashville was sitting, clapping her fingernails. the rim of a martini glass. <\/p>\n

Scented and dyed, with smoky eyes and red lips and spectacular hair puffed with meticulously messy curls, Ruthanna Ryder was so dazzling that AnnieLee gasped. <\/p>\n

As Ruthana spread a thin hand, showing Annie Lee to sit, her beaded dress reflected the colored lights dripping from the ceiling. “Damn if I don’t look like a disco ball in here,” he said, almost inside her. <\/p>\n

“Ruthana,” Ethan said to the glittering queen beside him, “I would like to meet Annie Lee Keys. “Annie Lee, this is Ruthanna Ryder.” <\/p>\n

“You are a very talented girl,” she said. “I’ve been in this business for over forty years, and I’ve seen more singers than I’ve seen on Sundays. But honestly, you stand out, AnnieLee Keyes. You really have something special.” <\/p>\n

AnnieLee’s heart swelled with relief and gratitude. “Thank you,” she whispered. “That means the world to me.” <\/p>\n

But Ruthana did not smile. It showed a perfect, blood red nail in AnnieLee’s heart. “Here is my advice to you, AnnieLee Keyes,” he said. “Get out of Nashville as long as you can.” <\/p>\n

Annie Lee swallowed. “Sorry?” she exhaled. <\/p>\n

“It is a difficult, hard job,” Ruthana said. “A tiny thing like you? Will they chew on you and spit on you like thick hair? Sure, you can taste success, but you’re more likely to end up alone. Do something sensible in your life, AnnieLee Find a job, find a man and marry him “. <\/p>\n

AnnieLee had to remind herself to breathe. <\/p>\n

Can I fix it?
No I can not
But I will definitely not take it lying down <\/em><\/p>\n

Frowning, she spoke slowly and calmly to her idol. “I admire you more than anyone else on this green earth,” Annie Lee said, “but with all due respect, Mrs. Ryder, you can put yourself out there. <\/p>\n

From “Run, Rose, Run.” Copyright \u00a9 2022 by James Patterson and Dolly Parton. Copyright of all song lyrics \u00a9 2021 Song-A-Billy Music. All rights reserved by Sony Music Publishing. Reprinted with permission of Little, Brown and Company, part of the Hachette Book Group. All rights reserved. <\/em><\/p>\n

To hear Dolly Parton sing “Dark Night, Bright Future” from the album “Run, Rose, Run”, click on the player below: <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

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