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Doc,
Can't wait to read the book...On the subject of synesthesia...I am curious, do you feel you have this ability or condition and if so, have you always had it or did a tramatic event trigger it? I had a tramatic experience ( or at least to me ) several years ago (7 ) that led to panic attacks and anxiety...Doing much better now.., but during my recovery I noticed certain "things" took on different meanings, at least in my head...but my experince with Synesthesia was mainly in connection with numbers and times or months of the year or how I see these numbers and times of year. Very hard for me to explain and when I did think about "why" I felt this way...I assumed it was due to my tramatic experience or my father passing, or just getting older.... I work in the technical arena and so I work with numbers and calculations and design...Numbers and Time almost have "personalities" to me now. Very hard to explain to others...
Anyway...best of luck with the book and really looking forward to it..
JR
--JR

Dear JR,
I do not have the gift,I simply have an interest in unusual variations in human function, things that don't fit into the regular boxes that we use. I have seen references to what you describe as "adventitious" synesthesia as opposed to "congential" forms of the gift. I think clearly there have beena number of reports of synesthesia like experiences in people on psychedelic drugs and subsquent to strokes. I would refer you to Richard Cytowic's book:Synesthesia, A Union of the Senses and the article in Wikipedia
Good luck,
Sam
--Sam

My wife Motella had a cousin who had a neighbor whose mother-in-law suffered from synesthesia. She claimed she could taste the color blue and that it tasted like "s**t!" Sorry but that's how she always said it, I'm told. I never laid eyes of the woman. Anyway, understand that this guy didn't like his mother-in-law one whit. She was a grouch. Her whole family was. Except her old daddy, who was a Quaker leader and just sat quietly most of the time waiting on whatever they wait on. They say that as he was dying, he told the family, "Well, I waited, but I guess he's not coming." The Quakers were big over in those parts at the time and made it hard for Army recruiters. So whenever this guy had to go to Sunday dinner with his mother-in-law, he wore his bluest shirt. And he always managed to sit directly across from the old lady. She spent the meal with her mouth puckered up and every few minutes she would spit into her napkin. She finally passed on in a fit of apoplexy after a guy hired to repaint her house while she took a trip got mixed up and painted the whole house blue. She started wretching upon arrival and was carted off to the hospital but was recovering until an orderly came in wearing blue scrubs. Her old heart just couldn't take it again. Well, good luck with your book. V. D. M.

Do you have anymore books in the works....or is this your only project..? If you do have more books coming out..when will they be ready, and will they be dealing with this same subject matter of folks with synesthesia?
Best of luck and hope everything is still on schedule for release in late Jan. or Feb.

Thanks for the interest. Yes, I do have several other books that will eventually see the light of day. The key subject that runs through my stories is rural Arkansas but in each of my stories there is at least one character whose life is change or profoundly effected by physical conditon.
Sam
--sam

For any of you who are looking for the book we have had a couple of snafus that have slowed the process down. Most were proofing errors on my part. The publication date for the story was orgininally 1-15-8 and now it is 2-15-08. I plan on promoting the story in the state of Arkansas over the next eighteen starting the First of March.
--Sam

Sam
Looking forward to reading your book... Mom turned me onto your website on my recent visit. Living in Oregon now working as an occupational therapist. Markie and Bill living in Collierville, TN...Give you their best. Maybe you'll see mom out promoting your book.
Good Luck and best regards

--Mark Hamilton
<mailto:hamilton10217@hotmail.com>

Well, the book is now done and is up on Iuniverse, BN.com and Amazon.com. I have given the talk on synesthesia a couple of times and it has really turned out to be rather interesting.
--sam

Uncle Sam,
Looking forward to reading your book..

love and miss you
Ami
--Ami Shaw
<mailto:ami264@tampabay.rr.com>

Finally! I have waited for the book patiently
and am looking forward to reading it. I first
heard about synesthesia in a class at the university when I was teaching gifted education.
It was so long ago that I can hardly remember
what was said. I do know that I have taught
children who claim that they had similar
experiences. I'm looking to March 10th.



--P. Caldwell
<mailto:polly_c@swbell.net>

Dr. Taggart, So glad to get your card. Look forward to the 20th at Dizzie's. I need a "signed copy"!
--Barb C
<mailto:bcarter1106@yahoo.com>

Congratulations Sam! I heard your ad in HotSprings visiting with John Aidan my son this week 3-20. I always knew you would amount to something!! Say hello to Dr. E. Lisa and I would love to read your book
--John Kozlovsky
<mailto:jkozlovsky@satx.rr.com>

I really enjoyed the story, couldn't put it down after I got to the halfway point... It'll take me a couple of reads to get it all in context, but on first pass--it's wonderful.

My favorite line from chpt 13 "Richard, Art, and Joe came in and ordered a round of beer" you won't believe how that hit home...
--Arthur Bowie
<mailto:afbowie@cox.net>

I really enjoyed the story, couldn't put it down after I got to the halfway point... It'll take me a couple of reads to get it all in context, but on first pass--it's wonderful.

My favorite line from chpt 13 "Richard, Art, and Joe came in and ordered a round of beer" you won't believe how that hit home...
--Arthur Bowie
<mailto:afbowie@cox.net>

Sam, Marlene and I are both reading your book at the same time, even though we do take turns. It is a well written, spell-binding book once you get into it. Jack is the type of person whom everyone likes and respects when they take to trouble to really get to know him. Do you have a real person that you used to create Jack? I have known some people that are similar, but without the sense of smelling and seeing colors and shapes.

I can probably find some contacts to help get you psychiatric care when you feel you are ready for it. (Said with kindness, humor and respect - but mostly tongue-in-cheek.)

Best regards and much success with your book....
--Harland Goodner
<mailto:hmgood@yahoo.com>

The book is great. I really enjoyed reading it.
--Sue Keathley
<mailto:skeathleymd@sbcglobal.net>

Bought the book at the Dizzy's book signing, and finished in a week ago. I loved it. A very good read. I will be buying more books for my sisters & friends when you come to Hot Springs Village.
--Molly Crawshaw
<mailto:mscrawshaw@yahoo.com>

Sam,

You have written a masterpiece that should be used for a movie or at least a miniseries. Once you get into the book and learn the characters it is a compelling read. You are indeed a multi-talented man and an excellent author. You make the characters come alive. Other than that it was a ho-hum book. ha! I was serious about the movie or miniseries and Marlene agrees with me wholeheartedly.

Congratulations on a job WELL DONE, I admire your talent and perseverance - it must have been
extremely difficult to write a book like this while carrying on a medical practice, no matter how talented you are.

Harland and Marlene
--Harland Goodner
<mailto:hmgood@yahoo.com>

Dr. T,
Thank you for the entertainment. I loved the book and hope you will be writing more! O – and thanks for the butterscotch. It went good with the first part of the book.
Jonathan Young

Sam, I got an email about your book from a cousin of mine, on my mother’s side. The last time I was in Augusta was for Pop’s funeral, so it has been quite some time ago. For me, just seeing your name brings back many memories of your mom and dad. My families vacations in the 60’s and early 70’s, were our trips to Augusta. Thanks for some memories today. I will look for the book and I am sure it is great. Good luck!
--Michael McAlexander
<mailto:m.mcalexander@insightbb.com>

Dear Sam,
What a geat surprise to read your book and get caught up with you after all these years thanks to a vacation at lake Ouachita with the Watson's (Cuz Gary).Mary sent me your book signed by you,Becky and I both completed it 4 days,(not bad for a Texan).I look forward to being able to see you again and talk over old times and laughs we shared together.Especially the Pear Leaves that you brought to me in a cup after I landed from London with Pneumonia and a tree root perscription giver to me in England by a Dr.from Pakistan working in England. My gosh, we laughed ourselves to death over that, after you let me out of the hospital! I and all the people who have entered your life over the years, thank you eternally for your help, friendship,professionalism and love you have shown us.
Even though i am a college graduate, i know I don't spell like one, at least at 61 years old.
Sam, thanks for everything, now looking forward to the next book and a few words with you.
Dale Wilkins