Music Tomes: When did you realize you had a talent for writing?
Patsi Bale-Cox: I’m not sure I ever did on a conscious level. It was something that came naturally. My mother and four older sisters wrote – stories, journals. We were all avid readers, as well. Mother was on the state board that chose textbooks, so every summer vans arrived at our house with crates of books. I’d sit in a chair beside the stacks of texts, devouring everything. I love the smell of new books. I believe that most voracious readers can write if they want to do it.
My first writing attempts were actually re-writes. My mother played piano, mandolin and ukulele. Two of my sisters sang, with big Patsy Cline-type voices. I loved the music, but didn’t really have a talent for it. I hated piano lessons, played cornet and clarinet in the school bands at various times. But – and this is the truth – I was such a bad clarinet player the band director made me a twirler. Since I had no musical talent, in a musical family, I fit in by writing goofball lyrics to replace those of the songs they sang. I was the Homer and Jethro of our family.
MT: You’ve written books with Tanya, Ralph and Wynonna. How
did you first come to be a “with”?PBC: My first writing job was just out of college, for Plaza magazine in Kansas City. I went on to edit a women’s magazine, a film industry trade publication, a regional country music book titled Rocky Mountain Country, and, in 1983, moved to Nashville to write about country music full time. Over the years, I wrote everything from magazine articles to album liner notes to marketing overviews for labels. One of the notes I wrote in the early ‘90s was for Tanya’s box set on Capitol. She loved them, and told me that if she ever wrote a book she wanted me involved. However, she said, she doubted she’d ever do it.
At some point in 1994 Tanya’s father convinced her to sign a book contract, even though she in no way wanted to write a memoir. She insisted that I write it. The original publisher had brought in various writers for the job, but Tanya turned them down. I had written a novel by that time, a mystery titled If Thoughts Could Kill, with my sister. We published it under the pseudonym G.F. Bale, and it sold quite well. (My sister, Gladys, went on to write more mysteries under that name and the name Emma Brookes.)
Tanya’s original publisher finally hired me, reluctantly. They were convinced that I would white wash her life because Tanya and I were friends. And in fact that first publisher ended up turning down Nickel Dreams. They’d hoped for a raunchy tell all – sex, drugs & rock & roll – and that wasn’t something Tanya wanted to do. They also wanted little of her early life in the book. I can’t remember the exact page number they said, but it was something like: “You have thirty pages to get to Glen Campbell.” But Tanya’s early years are crucial to the story. Plus, I felt she was very open about her life, and it was often painful for her to talk about it. We were very happy that Hyperion stepped in and bought the book. They were a wonderful company to work with.
Frequently asked question: did Tanya read the book? Answer: no. I tried to get her to read the book, but she’d just laugh and say, “I lived that life, I don’t need to read about it.”
MT: What is your next project and how did you decide on the topic?
PBC: I have a book coming out in the spring of 2009, titled The Garth Factor: The Career Behind Country’s Big Boom. It is the story of his career, set within the times, the 1990s. I worked with Garth all through that decade and beyond. I worked for Capitol as a writer and in PR, so I saw what went down from both sides. One thing the book will show is that even the biggest superstars have to watch their backs when it comes to contracts, record labels and executives.
The other project I’m working on right now is another mystery/suspense novel with my sister Gladys. She recently spent a couple of months with me, and it was great. We’re about half finished.
MT: What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?
PBC: Typing the first sentence. I’ll do anything to put off writing – stare out the window, decide I need to do more research, eat lunch, make popcorn.
MT: Why do you feel that the topics you write about are important?
PBC: What a great question! My college degrees are in art and history, and for me, writing these books is an integral part of country music history. We have lost so many stories over the years, it makes me sick to think of it. One of my great regrets is that I never wrote a book with my dear friend Floyd Tillman. Two other missed opportunities involve friends, as well. Harlan Howard’s widow wanted me to write his biography, but we couldn’t convince any publishers to do it. The same thing happened with a book of recollections about Johnny Cash from a photographer friend of his. The friend, Chance Martin, has a treasure trove of original photos. In fact, he’s the person who taught Johnny to take photographs. But we couldn’t sell that idea either. I worked closely with both Johnny and Harlan – adored both of them – and so having those projects turned down was heart breaking. If I ever win the lottery I’ll finance both books myself!
MT: Can you recommend a couple of books?
PBC: Just go down to the Country Music Hall of Fame and buy everything in the bookstore! Seriously, here’s a few of my favorites:
Finding Her Voice: The Saga of Women in Country Music by Mary Bufwack and Robert K. Oermann
A Good Natured Riot: The Birth of the Grand Ole Opry by Charles K. Wolfe
Country on Compact Disc, edited by Paul Kingsbury for the Country Music Foundation
Don’t Get Above Your Raisin’ by Bill C. Malone
This Wheel’s On Fire by Levon Helm
You Send Me: The Life and Times of Sam Cooke by Daniel Wolff
True Adventures with the King of Bluegrass; Jimmy Martin by Tom Piazza
The Kingdom of Zydeco by Michael Tisserand
The Nashville Sound by Joli Jensen
The Selling Sound: The Rise of the Country Music Industry by Diane Pecknold
One final note, and some shameless self-promotion. I learned a tremendous amount from the two books I did with Ralph Emery. I was so very proud and happy that he was inducted into the Hall of Fame. He honestly believed he would never live to see it happen. I recommend both books for country history lovers. And another book I’d recommend, especially for baby boomers, is the one I did with Tony Orlando, Halfway to Paradise. Tony’s story included the Brill Building/’50s pop idol world, to ‘70s singles-driven pop to network television. He’s worked on both sides of music, business and creative, as a publisher and as an artist. It’s a very interesting journey through important years in pop culture. (Disclaimer from Patsi– I won’t make any money if you buy any of these books. Just wanted to mention them!)
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