Book excerpt: Dolly Parton & James Patterson’s “Run, Rose, Run”

Music superstar Dolly Parton and bestselling author James Patterson have teamed up for a novel about an aspiring country singer. “Run, Rose, run” (Small, brown).

Simultaneously with the release of the book is a new album released by Parton, with songs he wrote specifically for the novel.

Read the following excerpt and Don’t miss correspondent Lee Cowan’s interview with Dolly Parton and James Patterson “CBS Sunday Morning” March 6!

It was a night of open microphones at Cat’s Paw, which meant that everyone and their in-laws had gone out to spend their six minutes in the crosshairs. And if Ruthanna Ryder had known in advance, she would have thought twice before introducing herself.

“Boo!” said a voice close to his ear.

Ruthanna placed her guitarist on her arm without even looking. “Ethan Blake, don’t scare a lady,” he said.

“Shh,” he said. “She is activated”.

“It’s a pleasure to be back here,” she said. “I’m AnnieLee Keyes and I’m a little new to town.” He played the instrument he wore on his lap. “This is Cat’s Paw, um, the community guitar. It has old strings and slippery pegs, so it doesn’t always like to be in tune. But the two of us will do our best for you tonight.”

When AnnieLee started playing her introduction, Ruthanna could hear the boring strings sounding and quickly decided to send a better instrument to the bar tomorrow. He was wondering if he should get a Martin or a Gibson, or maybe a Taylor ?, when the girl opened her mouth and started singing. And Ruthanna sat down and began to pay attention.

Dark night, bright future
Like the phoenix of the ashes, I will rise again

The girl’s voice was a honey-colored soprano, clear and bright. Where did this girl come from? AnnieLee Keyes looked barely older than a teenager, but she sang as if she had lived ninety-nine years and seen tragedies in each of them.

When he started a new song at a faster pace, his voice became a roar instead of a trill. Beneath that sweet, doll-faced exterior was something fierce and furious about AnnieLee Keyes. A little dark pain fed those pipes; Ruthanna was sure of it.

I had seen more than a lifetime of brilliant and consummate professional musicians, but this girl was natural.

It took one to know one.

***

When Annie Lee finished her thirst and went to the bar for her party club soda, the waiter told her no. “Someone wants to meet you.”

He gave it a soft push and then they broke a knot of people to find themselves in front of a small, damaged table in the back corner of the bar, where Nashville’s biggest star was sitting, clicking on the buttons. nails. the edge of a martini glass.

Perfumed and painted, with smoky eyes and caramel red lips and her spectacular hair combed with studied and messy curls, Ruthanna Ryder was so dazzling that AnnieLee was stunned.

As Ruthanna stretched out a thin arm, gesturing for Annie Lee to sit down, her pearl dress reflected the colorful lights dripping from the ceiling. “Damn if I don’t look like a disco ball here,” she said, almost to herself.

“Ruthanna,” Ethan said to the bright queen beside him, “I’d like you to meet AnnieLee Keyes. AnnieLee, this is Ruthanna Ryder.”

“You’re a very talented girl,” he said. “I’ve been in this business for over forty years, and I’ve seen more singers than Sundays. But honestly, you stand out, AnnieLee Keyes. You really have something special.”

Annie Lee’s heart swelled with relief and gratitude. “Thank you,” he whispered. “That means the world to me.”

But Ruthanna did not smile. He pointed to a perfect nail and blood red in Annie Lee’s heart. “Here’s my advice for you, AnnieLee Keyes,” he said. “Make the hell out of Nashville while you still can.”

AnnieLee swallowed. “Forgive me?” she gasped.

“It’s a tough, tough business,” Ruthanna said. “Something as small as you? You’ll chew and spit like a piece of cartilage. Sure, you might taste success, but you’re more likely to end up alone and broken. Do something sensible with your life, AnnieLee. Get a “Find a man and marry him.”

AnnieLee had to remind herself to breathe.

Can I fix it?
no I can not
But I’m sure I won’t get it lying around

Strengthening himself, he spoke slowly and quietly to his idol. “I admire her more than anyone in all this green land,” said Annie Lee, “but with all due respect, Mrs. Ryder, you can go to shit.”

From “Run, Rose, Run.” Copyright © 2022 by James Patterson and Dolly Parton. All song lyrics are copyright © 2021 Song-A-Billy Music. All rights managed by Sony Music Publishing. Reprinted with permission from Little, Brown and Company, a division of Hachette Book Group. All rights reserved.

To listen to Dolly Parton perform the song “Dark Night, Bright Future” from the album “Run, Rose, Run”, click on the following player:

For more information:

• “Run, Rose, Run” by Dolly Parton and James Patterson (Little, Brown), in hardcover and e-book formats, available March 7 via Amazon and Indiebound; also available in audio format, read by Dolly Parton, Kelsea Ballerini, James Fouhey, Kevin T. Collins, Peter Ganim, Luis Moreno, Soneela Nankani, Ronald Peet, Robert Petkoff, Ella Turenne and Emily Woo Zeller
• Album: “Run, Rose, Run” by Dolly Parton (Butterfly), available on Amazon
• dollyparton.com
• jamespatterson.com

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• James Patterson