A little over a decade ago, the book Greeting Flannery O’Connor at the Back Door of My Mind began forming as a strange conversation I imagined having with the great author after attending a lecture about her. That conversation over the next few years evolved into enough pages to form the nucleus of a book and that book finally neared completion in 2019. None of the those with whom I shared early excerpts were any more astonished by the final contents of the volume––which spotlights experiences with authors James Alan McPherson and John Berendt as well as O’Connor––than this author. It was also interesting to note how the title prefigured renewed controversies over O’Connor’s depictions of race. 

As it turned out, the book stands as one crucial central component of an entire Greeting Flannery O’Connor (GFO) project which came to incorporate it and: a growing collection of visual artwork (some of which may be viewed online at Fine Art America); a poster-poem titled “History and Prophets’ Prerogatives” donated to the Flannery O’Connor Childhood Home in Savannah, Georgia; and, an extensive lecture on “Reconciling Flannery O’Connor’s Literary Legacy with Contemporary Times.”

The planned lecture was cancelled by the COVID-19 pandemic’s total disrespect for human intentions. Virtual presentations of it have been delayed by other personal matters. With all of the above being the case, the following is presented a directory of links to pages featuring writings, artwork, and criticism related to Greeting Flannery O’Connor at the Back Door of Mind (please click here to view the title on AuthorsDen):  

Official Greeting Flannery O’Connor Website:

Greeting Flannery O’Connor at Bright Skylark Literary Productions

Greeting Flannery O’Connor Book Excerpts & Blog Posts

• Talking about Race & Racism: A Friendly Chat with Flannery O'Connor 
•  Back Doors and Racial Inequality Prior to the Age of Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• Invitation to a Bob Marley Rock-Steady (Excerpt)
• Take the Greeting Flannery O'Connor Book Quiz on Goodreads
  

Greeting Flannery O’Connor Conversations with the World Series

• Democracy, Personal Whims, and Accountability: Conversations with the World 101
• Encouraging Conscious Coexistence: Conversations with the World 102
• A Global Passion for Rainbows: Conversations with the World 103
• More Thoughts Unspoken on Flannery O’Connor: Conversations with the World 104

Greeting Flannery O’Connor Themed Art for Sale:

• View the Flannery O'Connor and Converging Grace Art Collection

• Emerald Rose of the Heart (On Flannery O'Connor and Jalaluddin Rumi)
• Sublime Creative Passion of a Purpose-Driven Soul
• The First Breathed Light of Stars in the Sky (Bob Marley Tribute based on section in GFO)
• The Rose that Blossomed at Midnight
• Johnny Mercer Cool in Summer Summer Shade Number 1
• Johnny Mercer in Savannah Sunlight
• Breathing in Love and Breathing Out Light
• Glorious Morning in the Garden of Justice and Mercy

More than anything else, this project is dedicated to encouraging the development of cultural literacy and harmonious coexistence at a time when America and the world clearly need the advantages they provide. Because it is an ongoing one, subsequent editions of the book are likely, which makes the current first volume with its original cover art and antique photograph section highly collectible.

Aberjhani