HoHoHo!

We're running out of shopping time!

My shopping days are numbered! Fortunately, I don't really give many gifts.

But of course, Christmas won't be Christmas without any books, right?

I'm trying to snag a few signed copies of books for those young readers on my list who might appreciate them. (All of the young readers on MY list!)
Often, a writers' website will tell you exactly where to order signed books.
I'm calling Anderson's Bookstore today to order a special book for a 4-year-old I know (Shhh- don't tell him).

A personal note: My own signed books are ready to be shipped from LEMURIA in Jackson or SQUARE BOOKS JR. in Oxford, MS.

If you'd like me to personalize a book to someone you love who loves to read, give my local independent bookstore a call and I'll scurry over there and sign it to your young reader. And I'll add a bookmark or two.
HERE'S THE INFO for Inkwood.

You can support a writer and order a gift made by these talented authors.
LOVE that charm bracelet, don't you?

Give a gift that gives, or even a card that does.
 
If you're like me and cards have escaped you this year, try these lovely e-cards from paperlesspost.com. 

Everything you need to know is right here:  https://www.paperlesspost.com/lp/christmas-cards
(For example, check out this tree -available in paper or paperless!)

Book Party in Pictures

Last night we had a party!

Any excuse to celebrate books, right?

Thank you to all the great people who came. I especially loved seeing the teachers and media specialist on the front row who trekked in from Plant City and made a Girls Night Out of the evening. And bought my books to take back to their school. And to Joan, my friend from last year's school visit to her library.

For those of you who don't know this store,  
INKWOOD BOOKS has been transformed by the amazing owner, Stephanie.

I missed her last night because she was at Winter Institute (a pretty good excuse, right?).
Her daughter, a voracious reader and member of their kids' Book Club, came and told me she loved my book.
Sigh.

Amanda and her helpers ran the show, made the introductions, sold a lot of books.
Thanks, guys!

Somehow I missed a photo of the card catalog display but I did capture the typewriter!














I was surrounded by critique group members, past and present. And fun food and drink.

There were a lot of writerly questions.
After everyone left, I thought of some better answers.
Of course.
Doesn't that always happen?

One question still rattles around in my head.

"Was it harder writing a boy narrating this than having a girl narrate GLORY BE?"

I gave what I thought was an adequate answer.
But here's another thing. I did have to pay attention to what Theo actually sees and notes in both dialog and interior monolog, which is the same thing, kind of, when you're writing in first person. And when I stepped over the line into girlie talk that didn't fit Theo's personality, my writer friends pulled me back.

A boy like Theo might not notice Miss Sister's hair or dress or tap shoes the same way a girl would. He might describe things a bit differently from Glory. But I don't think I can only narrate stories told by girls like me. That's when research and careful reading and writing kick in. So there's a longer answer to that question.

To the person who asked about outlining in advance v. jumping right in, so to speak.

Here are the links I mentioned.

PRE-WRITING WORKOUT by Wendy Mass.
Both my friend Shannon and I can attest to this helpful kickstarter for your plot.
Here's a post I wrote about it. I still love the quote, by the way.

NANOWRIMO= National Novel Writing Month.
November. For all ages. It's fun. But prepare to re-write.   😄

My kind of tongue-in-cheek (but not really) post on TEN THINGS I'VE LEARNED FROM KIDS ABOUT WRITING lists #1 as Put a Dog in Your Book. 

I forgot to say that last night.
I didn't know about that research--really, I heard it on the news-- when I wrote THE WAY TO STAY IN DESTINY, but I did include a bit part for a dog named Ginger Rogers, owned by Miss Sister, the dance teacher.

A truly lovely moment came when Gay, a grandmother who clearly supports her granddaughter's love of reading, came with a large photograph of me and Isabella from my event at the Dunedin library. She asked me to sign it. I was so touched.

At dinner after, my fortune cookie said it all:

Thanks to Jay, for driving us over the bridge to Tampa, and to my friend Kay for manning the refreshments. Here we are at the end of the evening.

Thankfully, Kay made sure we came home with 3 delicious Chocolate Guinness cupcakes.

Who knew beer and chocolate could taste so good together...

SETTING: 101

Today I'm thinking about setting. 

(I'll be musing even more about this topic when I share my new book on Wednesday, Feb. 11, at 7 PM at INKWOOD BOOKS in Tampa. I'd love to see you there!)

When I started writing THE WAY TO STAY IN DESTINY, I had just moved to Florida. I was a total Fish Out of Water. The flora and fauna mystified me!

Can you-- should you-- write about a place you've never visited, never lived, know nothing about? Well, here I was. Surrounded by setting.

I took a lot of walks and lots of pictures. I felt the Spanish moss, the prickly aloe plants, the fat green leaves where tiny lizards hid.

There were many houses that looked just like the Rest Easy Rooming House and Dance Studio!

And there were flowers everywhere.
Take bougainvillea.
On a walk near the library where I was writing, there it was. Gorgeous.

Look at those tiny white centers. Perfect- I'd never noticed them before.

There's a DO NOT ENTER sign at the footpath to this garden.
So at first I didn't see the fig tree. 
Just like the one I grew up playing under, low and bushy. 
Mine was a great hiding place.

But that day I saw figs. Not ripe figs, but figs.

Which reminded me to put a fig tree in something new I'm noodling.
There's already a garden in that story.
Where of course, there would be pots for raising cuttings, starting seeds, Pass-a-long Plants. 
This one's not set in Florida, but in the South where everybody had a garden, many started from plants shared with neighbors.
Perfect.

So work on your settings, writers young and old. 
Add that layer of richness, the color and the smells.

 

And for anyone freezing all over the country today, here's a beautiful Poinciana tree that will bloom in late spring near my house.

I love this picture.When I took it last year, there was a sign next to it saying what kind of tree it was and Please Do Not Pick the Branches or the Blooms.

Shared Links, about setting:

Barbara O'Connor quoting Elizabeth George. What could be better?

http://greetings-from-nowhere.blogspot.com/2008/09/writing-tip-tuesday_16.html

A reminder of how the setting can change your character in this review of a book by Kimberley Griffiths Little, set in Louisiana:

http://www.shalleemcarthur.com/2011/05/book-reviews-for-writers-deepening.html

And okay, I know you can't travel everywhere. 

Or even find pictures of everything. (Hogwarts, anyone?) 

So here are some tips for figuring out setting in Fantasy and Science Fiction. 

http://marissameyer.livejournal.com/244238.html

Looking Ahead

In the spirit of BEGINNINGS (novels, revisions, years), I'm vowing to read more grownup stuff in 2014. I'm embarrassed to say, when friends bring up great new books (and even newish ones), I mostly haven't read them. Yes, I've heard of them, but I read so many middle-grade and even a few Young Adult novels, that my adult reading has gone by the wayside.

So, here's what's up on my Kindle. 
Donna Tartt's new book, The Goldfinch.
(I don't read everything via an ebook, but this one's so huge, I couldn't see toting it around, hardcover.)

I'm also going to read Sue Monk Kidd's new book, The Invention of Wings because I received an ARC from NetGalley. And because I loved Secret Life of Bees AND she's coming to Tampa soon! Inkwood Books is sponsoring her talk.

This morning, I found --totally haphazardly-- a new blog to peruse. 
And as so many blog writers are doing, he lists the books read in 2013. 
(I had a good plan to keep a list of mine, which failed miserably.)

I love the guest post on working with an editor. 
And Flannery O'Connor.
http://davidabramsbooks.blogspot.com/2011/10/my-first-time-elizabeth-stuckey-french.html 

His "Bookstore of the Month" posts are fun, too.  Long, but fun.

If I'd just stop reading blogs, avoid Facebook, etc., maybe I'd find more time to read.

There's a resolution to consider for 2014...

Selling Books is Fun!

Not to mention, hard work

Here I am with Lisa Unger, my fellow Author Bookseller today at INKWOOD BOOKS in Tampa. 

A few favorite books Lisa recommends. And a couple of her own!

 Inkwood was very busy! 

I'll be visiting Melinda's school soon, and she came by to say hello!

Thank you to the kids who came to meet me. And to eat cupcakes. And buy lots of books.

Thanks, INKWOOD, for inviting me to share your Small Business Saturday. I had a blast!

Indies First!

Where better to hang out for a few hours on a Saturday morning 

than your local independent bookstore?

If you're in the Tampa Bay area, that would be INKWOOD BOOKS.

If you haven't been in a while, you may be surprised. 

Lots of fun, new stuff there.

And me. I'll be there on Saturday, November 30th, 11 til 1:00 for 

INDIES FIRST.

Here's a link to all the Inkwood authors, the who, what, where and when. 

Here's a link to check any bookstore, anywhere! 

(All the authors coming to your local indie.)

It all started with Sherman Alexie:

Small business Saturday was founded by American Express in 2010 and is celebrated every year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Show your support for the businesses in your community and SHOP SMALL on Small Biz Saturday.

Indies First is a grassroots campaign spearheaded
by author Sherman Alexie.

Alexie has rallied authors around the U.S. to become booksellers for a day at their local independent bookshop. He'll be spending the day at his local indie in Seattle.

What I'm Reading Now, for grownups

Tonight I'm starting WHERE'D YOU GO, BERNADETTE? because it's a library book and I must read it soon. And it's just been shortlisted for Britain's Women's Prize. Don't really know what that is but if Tampa Bay Times Books Editor Colette Bancroft thinks it's worth mentioning in today's paper, it should be good.

Also because of Colette, I'm going to finish LIFE AFTER LIFE. The Kate Atkinson version. (Already read and pretty much loved Jill McCorkle's new novel of the same title.) But Atkinson is a favorite of mine, so I'll give her new book one more push. Though even Bancroft called it Groundhog Day-ish (as did a New York Times reviewer). It's on my Kindle. Maybe that's the problem.

I also have ORPHAN MASTER'S SON on my Kindle, unfinished. Winner of the just-announced Pulitzer. (Why can't I get past the beginning?)

Oh, boy. And I almost forgot. When I visited the newly spruced-up INKWOOD BOOKS last week, I had to buy Jane Gardam's new book, LAST FRIENDS. Loved the other two novels about these same multi-layered characters. 

Check out INKWOOD's April Picks, many of these new books are discounted in April at Tampa Bay's local independent bookstore. 
Here's the link:  http://www.inkwoodbooks.com/storepicks

Do I need more suggestions? Probably not. But I always love to hear what everybody's reading so feel free to share.

MY TO-BE-READ STACK IS ABOUT TO TOPPLE!

I should call it my To-Be-Finished stack...

Launch Party Recap: It was fun!

 Sharing GLORY BE's big day, in pictures.




 My day started off in the best way. Doorbell rings.
Truly beautiful flowers from my amazing agent,
Linda Pratt, wishing me well and wishing she were here.


(Note: autographing pen at the ready)








We drove to the adorable, fabulous INKWOOD BOOKS in Tampa. Lots of unloading to do.

And there she is! Right in the front of the store!

Inkwood Books sold almost all of their books. I signed the leftover ones.

(I'm sure if you'd love your own autographed copy, you can call them and they'll ship.  ☺)














The table: What's a party without food? Nothing!
Red velvet cupcakes, pimento cheese, drinks.
And note the bookmarks in their Elvis mug.

 

Closeup of the Red Velvet Cupcakes. Remarkably, they survived the drive intact.

(the napkins- HIP HIP Hooray, not just HIP. Though we are certainly that...)

We schmoozed a bit. Celebrated with a toast. Then my writer friend Sue Laneve introduced me. She said a lot of very nice things. 

Thanks, Sue!

As you can see, the room is quite tiny. Seating for 25. Extras sat on the floor, stood in the back, and one special guest sat at the table, offering moral support, guarding the books and the food. 

(Thanks, Evie!)

I read a bit, talked maybe too much, answered questions. 

I think I may have said something funny...

That's my writer friend Greg Neri holding up my book.  And new Scholastic friend Ed Masessa. 

Ed is a really funny guy. Also very nice. 

We're just going to have to do something about his basketball preference. (Duke? Really, Ed?)

Thanks to everyone who came and those of you who were with us in spirit.

A truly great beginning for GLORY BE.