Some folks have asked me where my column has been lately. Please forgive me.

I took a short vacation to finish up some paperwork, or should I say book work, and also to carefully orchestrate what will be my biggest performance to date. (Remember “Life Is Short”, the play that I did at the Swamp Fox Theatre?

This is slightly bigger.) More on the latter later.

But first on the former. Are you lost yet?

I just sent an e-mail to family, friends and fans about my latest news and now I’m going to tell the entire world via the Georgetown Times. (Drum roll, please!)

I am publishing a new book this fall! I’ve signed the contract and it’s a done deal.

Though I own my publishing company, Goody 2 Shoes, I am working with the local university’s publishing lab and a first-class book printer.

As they say, it’s all good, make that, perfect!

The title is “Life Is Short, I Wish I Was Taller.”

You may remember that was the title of one of my columns a few months back.

When I wrote it, I knew I would choose that title for my book.

It’s been a busy summer finding the right fit (designer, editor, book printer) to complete my trilogy: The first book is “Life Is Short, But It’s Wide.” The second book is “Life Is Short, So Read This Fast!” Of course, I’ll never forget my first book EVER that is now out of print. It’s titled “What Was It I Was Saying?”

For anyone new to my column (I’m going on my twelfth year), Georgetown Times ran my very first column titled “What Was It I Was Saying?” (as a header) in 1998.

Now each column has its own stand-alone title.

From there I self-published a saddle-stitched paperback and I sold close to 3,000 copies, including two printings.

A lot has happened since then, “then” being 1999. “Wide” came out in 2003.

“Fast” came out in 2006. And now “Tall” will come out in 2010.

Here I am eleven years later with what I’d call a “new and improved” book, marketing campaign and even performance.

Yep, it’s true performance. I’m calling my talks a performance (this doesn’t include book signings only) because I’ve hired a dynamic acting coach named Sunnie Pennington. (Check out her web site.)

I’ve mentioned this before, but again, I now live in the third largest movie production city in America, (that being Wilmington, N.C.)

Sunnie lives at the beach and it’s all I can do to not drive straight to the sand-and-sea in her lovely beach-side community, but instead I end up in her charming bungalow one block away, learning all kinds of things: for example, how to use my voice in many ways; both inflection, volume, accents and more.

I’m also learning to use gestures, some sweeping, some gentle and some carefully coordinated.

I have a long way to go and yet, I feel I’ve already achieved so much.

Sunnie is so good at so many things, I often wonder if she is truly human.

She’s a fantastic photographer, artist and advisor.

Her wit and wisdom are priceless.

In her own way, she reminds me that the art of writing and performing are extremely important.

But she also gives me pointers in the art of selling books; and believe me, I have truly come to know that as an art.

Most of all, she has taught me to connect with my audience, to share my heart and to let folks come into mine, as well.

For this I am changed and I am truly thankful.

Now for my big performance: This Saturday I will be one of eight entertainers at “The Best of Our State” in Pinehurst, N.C. Details are on my web site, but suffice it to say that Our State’s magazine (Winston-Salem, N.C. based) has a readership of 750,000.

And they’ve advertised this event for the last five month’s issues.

So, yeah, they’re expecting a crowd and I am honored and thrilled to be a part of it.

As always, I tell my audience all about Georgetown Times giving me my first chance at writing.

I talk about Pawleys Island, Brookgreen Gardens, the beach, Front Street in Georgetown, and the Hammock Shops.

But I have to quickly move on for fear I’ll get too emotional.

Things here are great and I’m happy, but a part of me is always with in S.C.!

Oh, and mark your calendars for August 29th Sunday.

I’ll be doing a book signing at My Sister’s Books in Pawleys Island from 2-4. Y’all come now, y’hear?

Ann Ipock “Life Is Short, So Read This Fast!” amipock@ec.rr.com www.annipock.com