Catch a little genius this summer...

There are many good authors out
there, but if you're interested in grabbing a compelling novel to read this summer, consider Catching Genius by Kristy Kiernan. This is a beautifully crafted debut novel about two sisters (one a math prodigy, one average) that will draw you in with confident and evocative prose. I can't wait
to read Kristy's next one!

My office now has permanent summer guests...

Today is the last day of school and when my boys come through the door at 3:30 everything's going to change around here. I have
a great office. It's roomy, inviting, etc., but it has no door. It's just.... part of the basement, and every sound in the house (even one of my cats horking up hairballs on the main floor) travels down here.

My editor already sent me her editorial revisions letter for The Silver Compass (isn't she fast?!) and now I'm back at work again, adding chapters, fully dramatizing those that are weak, nuking unnecessary backstory, etc. Of course, this is a big part of the process, so I knew it was coming, but something else is coming, too -- permanent summer house guests who have the worst time wrapping their brains around the word "quiet".

Yesterday, while acting as a parent volunteer for my son's year-end field trip to a mini-theme park (a commitment I'd made weeks ago) I watched four 8 year olds run from ride to ride, getting sugared up on cotton candy, and as they did, I scribbled notes every chance I got. At one point, beaming, my son gave me kiss to thank me for coming (melt) and then he whispered, "Know what, Mom? I'm counting the hours until school's out."

"Me, too," I whispered back.

New York all wrapped up...

What a great trip! For five days, we had good food & entertaintainment (two, count 'em, two broadway plays), lots of laughs, and the company of other like-minded writers. What more can a reclusive author who works in cave-like conditions ask for for every now and then, huh? I feel re-energized! The shot above is Pat Wood (mid-search for the 'perfect' cheese cake) and John Elder Robison, author of Look Me In The Eye. John met us at Strand Book store one day and for the lunch with
Kim Stagliano the next.

Here's a shot of Kim with Pat.
Kim's agent will be shopping her debut novel soon and I've no doubt it'll get picked up fast. Kim is this little dynamo of a woman, a writer who's also a mom extraordinaire to three beautiful autistic daughters.
I was left humbled by all that she manages to juggle.


John Elder Robison was warm, charming, and instantly likeable without an ounce of arrogance. He took a group shot of us in Central Park (don't forget to email it to us, John) and I not only got my own ARC of Look Me In The Eye, *big smile* but he gave us each autographed 11 x 14 copies of photos he personally took. Talk about multi-talented. This man has an amazing eye with the camera.

Wicked was just that; a great play, delivered with the sort of talent that leaves you shaking your head. I'm so glad Pat talked me into seeing two Broadway plays while I was there. Now I can't imagine returning to New York and not taking one in. And that, folks, pretty much wraps it up until we head back next spring in April or May 2008. See
yah then New York!

Strand Book Store (a little slice of heaven)

I've always wanted to see the infamous Strand Book Store in New York, founded in 1927, and filled with (as they love to promote) 18 miles of books. So today, after lunch with my editor (who is such a doll), Pat and I took a cab over and the moment we walked through the door, all was lost.

Books, books, books! Old books, new books, review copies, ARCs, Strand book bags, and tons of promotional trinkets. Until then, I'd been acting like a grown-up, but *sigh* it somehow felt criminal (and pointless) to hold back my enthusiasm once I was there.

John Elder Robison, charming author of future best seller Look Me In The Eye (due out Sept 25th) met us and we visited in the middle of an aisle until a sour-faced customer walked past and suggested (with a loud cough) that we move to a coffee shop. Always quick with a comeback, Pat snarked, "I thought this was a book store, not a library."

Anyhow, we did manage to avoid a scuffle *lol* and left with lots of good stuff. Pat hopped in a cab to go meet her UK publisher for dinner (which, yes, followed her hours-long 'gush lunch' at William Morrow earlier where they SENT A CAR FOR HER), and John and I headed for Starbucks and had a great visit.

By the way, if you're ever in New York and want to check it out, Strand is located 2 blocks south of Union Square on 12th Street. It really is something to see!

Such fun in New York -- Mamma Mia!

Until today, I'd never been to a broadway play, although I've always wanted to experience one. Pat talked me into going to Mamma Mia tonight. What an amazing show! Did you know (appropriately enough) that they hold a 'lottery' every night, drawing a handful of names from a hat and giving a dozen people FRONT ROW tickets for $25 each?!

I didn't take Kleenex. Why bother, right? Mamma Mia, 'a feel good happy hit' doesn't imply the need. Oh my, how wrong I was. I'm such a sap. I laughed and I cried and I loved the entire production, and now Pat has talked me into going with her to see yet another one -- Wicked -- on Friday night before we both fly home. I can't wait!

Pat's waaaaaay more on the ball with her blog than I've been, have you noticed?! I loved Central Park and am almost certain this is a photo of the bridge from the movie Stuart Little, which my boys loved when they were younger. Pat keeps looking for horses and the M&M billboard in Times Square is soooo cool I had to include a shot for my boys.

I never get out of the house, so this trip has been great. I met my agent for lunch today and it was so good to see her. Liza's such a sweetheart! Over the years, what began as a nice working relationship has evolved into a friendship I wouldn't trade. After lunch, Pat joined us at Liza's office, so she got to meet her, too, and Liza loaded us down with books. Eeeek! How are we going to fit them all in our luggage?!

Tomorrow, I'm meeting my editor, Ellen, for the first time and I'm really looking forward to it. Ellen has been so enjoyable to work with and now that she's got The Silver Compass (gulp!! who wouldn't be nervous about handing over their manuscript, right?!) I'm rolling up my sleeves to learn even more....

P.S. At noon tomorrow, when I grab a cab to Penguin Group (something I'm really not good at here in New York -- polite Canadian and all) Pat will be *ahem* waiting in front of our hotel for THE CAR William Morris is 'sending for her'! They're having what I call a 'gush luncheon' where Pat will meet a bunch of wonderful agents, read from Lottery, and get to wear her best clothes.

Too fun! Check back with us tomorrow....

First night in New York

I landed at JFK airport half an hour before Pat landed in Newark. I got here first. They gave me a nice room with a great view. They gave her the room next to mine. My internet access works, hers doesn't. Take a look at where Pat is now sitting an hour after her arrival - in my room - as I trudge around in pajamas working (yes, STILL) on The Silver Compass.

For the last half hour, she's been playing the broadway WICKED soundtrack from her system - loud. Loud enough to make the couple in the room on the other side of me thump the wall. Slow, deep breaths... Anyone out there know whatever happened to Oscar and Felix? Did they cancel the sitcom or did one of them murder the other one? Just curious...

New York bound...

I love New York! I could never live there, but it's one of my all-time favorite places to visit. This trip, I'm meeting with my agent (who is a sweetheart) and my editor (who I haven't met yet, but who was a joy
to work with on The Penny Tree).

Because of all the buzz surrounding her debut novel, Lottery, Patricia Wood will also be there at the same time, so we decided to stay at the same hotel. I'm not even on the plane yet and she has me exhausted! Between meetings, I plan to drag her over to Ellis Island (which has a walk-on part in The Silver Compass). She wants to explore Central Park (I'm so there for her) and we'll also be meeting a few other authors for lunch (looking forward to it you guys), but more importantly, I can't wait for the break away from my daily grind.

Watch for more posts later this week.

Right now, it's all about the book...

The Silver Compass is on Amazon.com, and has been scheduled for publication 9 months from now on April 1, 2008. I'm flying to New York on Monday to see my agent, editor and publisher, and while I'm there, I'll be delivering the manuscript, and that means it's all about the book right now.

I feel for my family. I really do.
If I could pull a Paris Hilton and find a tiny jail cell to work from,
I would. The idea of building a treehouse-like structure in my back yard has been discussed (equipped with heat, power and a bed for when I get tired). I'm not sure the neighbors would like it, but all that peace and quiet; can you imagine?!

I went to bed at 2:00 a.m. this morning, then got up at 6:30
to make breakfast and lunches before sending my kids off to school -- other than the odd day here and there, this is the pattern I've been following for eight weeks. I'm behind on email, laundry, groceries, and I won't even try describing what my house looks like. My cats suddenly look thinner, my kids have taken to tip-toeing past my desk, and the dog has written me off given how he howls at the window when strangers stroll by walking their pets.

My husband phoned at 7 o'clock this morning to make sure I was up. "How's the writing going?" he asked. A fair enough question (and one best asked over the phone, by the way). We rarely see each other these days. ie., when I fly to New York next week, he'll be flying to Florida and my mom (thank you, God!) will be coming to watch our boys.

Off I went on a mini-rant: "My eyes are burning, my back is aching, and even our coffee pot won't cooperate, because it doesn't make it fast enough!"

Pause. "Have you turned it on?" he said.

Slow, deep breath. I'd forgotten to press the button.

"Still," I complained, pressing the button. "Nothing's going right. I have a character that needs to get nuked out of six or seven chapters because he belonged to an older version of the story, then I printed five chapters last night and - POOF - this morning they're missing! How do five chapters go missing?!

Another long pause. "I saw them in the fridge."

Ever been so stressed all you wanna do is a long slow face plant into your mattress and sleep for days?!

P.S. Yes, the iron dragonfly you see in the photo (known to bring good luck & fortune) is the same one Pat at ORION has.
I gave her one months ago and also have three on order for Jacquelyn Mitchard, Susan Wiggs and Linda Holeman (author friends who have been supportive of my career). When I'm writing like this, my dragonfly never leaves the top page of my manuscript, sort of like how I never leave the house!!

I'll serve Paris Hilton's sentence for her!

So Paris Hilton is in jail, huh?
Isolated from the general population. Spending 23 hours alone every day for the next 45 days. Nobody pestering her. No phones. No email or text messages. No one tugging on her arm demanding food, complaining about their laundry, begging her to referee an argument, asking for help with their homework,
telling her the cat just threw up.

Ahhhh, the isolation. All that quiet time. A bathroom when you need it. Three square meals a day. An hour to exercise. A clean orange jumpsuit to change into every morning. A doctor on hand to over-prescribe if you start having anxiety attacks or your PMS becomes unlivable. Hey, if you're lucky, maybe you'd even get your own pet mouse living in your cell, undetected.

Someone please call that judge and tell him I'll switch places
and serve out her sentence for her! As long as he lets me bring my laptop, I'll be on the next flight. Sigh... Honestly, though, I can't imagine what I'd be able to write if I were left utterly and completely alone for 45 days!

Another fun 'first' to share...

I always have a few rolls of these great Autographed by the Author stickers on hand that I use at book readings & signings. They're classy and much nicer than any of the stickers book stores have offered to use on my novels in the past. By the way, if you'd like to order some, this is where I buy mine at www.waxcreative.com

I carry a dozen in
my purse because I often run into people
in my home town and from the nearby area (at hockey games, soccer tournaments, etc.) who ask if I'll autograph a book for them, and now I'm armed and ready to do so!

That said, last week I went to Wal-Mart in the city to pick up a few things. When I got there, I wandered through the book section and there on the shelf were five copies of The Tin Box and eight copies of The Penny Tree. Better yet, two women were standing side-by-side reading the back flap copy of The Penny Tree when I came down the aisle.

Doing my best not to act like a stalker, I asked if they thought they were going to buy the book. They gave me a funny look and then one of them pointed up to the shelf and said, "There are lots more right there!" Clearly, they thought I wanted their copy. Not so, I said. I'm the author. I wrote the book, so if they were going to buy it, I'd be happy to autograph it for them.

Within moments, they overcame their suspicions about me and
I pulled out my stickers, slapped one on two books (they each wanted their own by then) and we began chatting like old friends. As I autographed their books, a small crowd gathered around us, curious -- and word quickly spread.

Soon a trusty Wal-Mart staffer came skidding around the corner to see what all the fuss was about. Before I could say anything, the eight or ten women gathered around me explained who I was and what I was doing. And you know what happened then? He asked for ID to prove I was the author (remember, neither book has an author photo in the back at my request) and we went through this awkward little "handing over of the drivers license" etc., before his walkie-talkie wielding I think we've got a nutcase on the premises demeanor changed.

Needless to say, by the time I'd finished signing books and left Wal-Mart, wearing my old sweatshirt, leggings and flip flops, there was only one of my books left on their shelves: a lone copy of The Tin Box, autographed, stickered, and ready to be adopted by some lucky shopper another day!

My swiss cheese method of writing...

I often get email from fellow writers but the bulk of them come from readers. To me, there's no higher compliment than having someone read my work and then take the time to send me a note. I always reply, however, depending what I have on my plate, I'm not always speedy about it. Given this, I decided to answer two reader questions on my blog that
I haven't had time to on email.

Do you find it hard coming up with story ideas?
No, ideas are the easy part. It's the writing that's hard.
(ie., I've had three fully formed novels percolating in the back
of mind for a few years now. I just need time to write them).
So far, I haven't had trouble thinking up story ideas, probably because I have an overactive imagination. (ie., When I pull up
to a red light, I almost can't help it anymore; my mind just takes over as I make up stories about the people in the next vehicle. You know... The bald driver is a hen-pecked alcoholic; his wife, sitting next to him, is having an affair with her boss; and their teenage son slumped in the back seat just secretly robbed a grocery store six hours ago. Then -- BOOM -- the light goes green. That sort of thing).

Do you write sequentially?
Almost never, but I do work from a detailed synopsis that lays the story out in advance. My 'writing method' isn't quite so linear, though. Every writer is different, but here's what's
works best for me:

I can't do anything until the first chapter is written (which means I'm the sort of writer who needs to know exactly where the story begins before I do anything else). Then, after the 1st chapter is written, I write the last chapter, which I always know in advance. Following that, I write the turning point, where the main character makes a choice that sends the story in a new direction or something unexpected happens that forces it in a new direction. Next, I write all of the 'big scenes' including anything I wouldn't show my mother. Then I go back to the beginning and start writing the general flow of the story, including the development of sub-plots, the introduction of secondary and/or walk-on characters who help move the story to its conclusion, as well as any bridging that needs to be done between chapters.

And when I'm done, I've got my first draft, with only 3 or 4 or 5 complete rewrites to go!!

Only in Canada...

Here's my lazy post for today before I roll up my sleeves
and glue my fingertips to a keyboard. Thanks for sending these snapshots, Roberta. You made today's blog post a breeze!

Some people build
swimming pools in their
back yards, but outdoor
pools in the town of Fort McMurray, Alberta just
won't work.


One family living on the outskirts of town built a sturdy playground for their sons with smooth stones all around it to avoid knee scrapes and other injuries.


They finished building it
Sat evening and the next morning, as mom woke the boys to let them go out and play, this is what she saw from the upstairs window.

Loved 'Water for Elephants'...

If you want a good book to read, try Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen, the story of Jacob Jankowski's life with the circus, a meticulously researched and beautifully written novel that's been cropping up on bestseller
lists everywhere.

I've had it on my TBR pile for months (along with dozens of others) and finally finished it last week. It is the sort of book a writer reads thinking, Why do I bother? Honestly, this is one of the best books I've had the pleasure of reading all year.

A little help from up above?

Here's a picture of my front
porch taken one week ago today
(I'm not kidding). My kids were building snowmen in the front yard and I had to dig out their winter clothes all over again. I was also listening to Christmas music as I wrote (see earlier post from last week) so the weather conveniently matched my mood.

Here's a photo taken today at the river where I walk our dog. It was so hot I had our A/C on full blast all day. Interestingly enough, I was writing a chapter where my main character's car breaks down in 85 degree heat and she has to change a tire with sweat running down her back. I guess I'd better stay away from floods and tornadoes, huh?

Looking at the big picture...

Yesterday, a writer friend (who will remain unnamed) phoned to vent a bit. "This business is like a slithering, mindless snake that eats you up," she complained. "No one tells you how your book is doing. No one communicates with you unless it hits a list!" On and on she went, making me smile. She's published four novels and is doing well with her career, but she was having a crappy day (which is certainly allowed) and...here I was.

She's right about how tough this business is, though. You can't just write a good story, throw it out there, and expect millions of readers to gleefully buy it. It just doesn't happen that way. You have to write that good story, but you must also be willing to plot and plan and network and self-promote.

Oh, and you have to love writing. Did I mention that?

As fiction writers, we get to invent people and places as we leap and fly and fall. We get to make it up as we go, sending shivers down reader's spines, making goose bumps pebble on their arms, making them laugh or reach for Kleenex as they cry. How great is that?! But here's my favorite part: when we lose ourselves writing a story that won't let go, we don't have time to worry about how we're doing in the big picture, and sometimes that's okay.

P.S. Note to friend - you're doing fine! You're making a living, you've hit a few lists, and you've had your novels published in eight foreign countries. Shake it off and get back to writing that story you told me about :)

A writer can never have enough of these...

Yesterday my sons came down to my office and asked me what I wanted for my birthday. I immediately said, "Band-Aids."

They frowned and asked why.

I turned around in my chair, taking a long look at my normally neat office. Every piece of furniture and every corner of the carpet is covered with chapter printouts. Every printout has something weighing it down in case my cats decide to have a wrestling match in the middle of the night. Every paper weight has a few post-it notes slapped underneath it. Every chapter needs...something. More dialogue here. Less description there. The need to crank up dramatic tension. The desire to ensure less is more in every scene.

If you're a writer, this never really ends, the quest for perfection in your story - no matter what draft you're working on. When you read your work, raising the bar as high as you can, you inevitably see the need for Band-Aids everywhere. It's just part of what we do, but when I tried to explain this to my boys, I got blank stares followed by polite nods.

This morning, though, I found two boxes on the kitchen table wrapped in tissue. One said These are strong. Use on bad days. The other said, These are xtra strong. Save for big riting problims. The first package was a box of cloth Band-Aids. The second was a package of neon orange SpongeBob Band-Aids.

A writer couldn't be better equipped.

A mom couldn't ask for two nicer birthday gifts.

P.S. The birthday card they bought for me said, In dog years, you'd be dead. Sensitive little guys, huh?

Two big books on the horizon...

I’ve been listening to Christmas music all week. Eartha Kitt cooing Santa Baby, Bony M singing Feliz Navidad, Dolly Parton doing her version of I’ll be Home for Christmas. You see, I’m writing, and that means everything (and everyone) takes a back seat to the creative side of my brain. I’m currently working on a chapter with an 80 year old man who listens to Christmas music all year long and it helps when I actually listen to Christmas music, as does the space heater at my feet, because this chapter is set during the month of August.

It sometimes worries me, though, this tendency to lean towards eccentricity when I'm writing (see above) and being reclusive (I haven’t left the house in days) and asking my family to deal with my *cough* mildly temperamental nature (do NOT touch the chapters spread out across the floor, or the charts pinned to the wall, or the notes littering my desk outlining my characters and which one should get sick and/or possibly die to give the story the best possible impact).

As an author running on little sleep,
I’ve been wondering lately if these tendencies will get better or worse
with age, if they lean toward what’s considered ‘normal’ for the creative process, or if I'm genetically predisposed to some sort of mental madness I’m not aware of that runs in my family?

Then, the other day, I read a post on John Elder Robison’s blog titled 'A history of madness in the family' that made me feel much better (just poking a little fun, John).

Look Me in the Eye, John’s debut, will be out in September. Even more interesting, my friend Patricia Wood’s debut Lottery is scheduled for release in August. John’s book is about his life with Asperger’s. Pat’s is a moving story about a cognitively challenged man with an IQ of 76 who wins $14 million in the lottery. John posted a spot-on review for Lottery on his blog titled 'Life at the other end of the IQ range' and Pat did the same for Look Me in the Eye with a post titled 'Look Me in the Eye got me in the heart'.

Better yet, both of these books are creating almost tsunami-like waves in the publishing industry (look out BEA) and have done so from the first day they were respectively purchased. They are being talked about as two of the fall’s 'big books' and I think everyone's right -- they're both going to be huge bestsellers, so if you haven’t already, pre-order a copy of each right now. You won't want to miss either one!

P.S. I have NO IDEA why my links aren't working on this post!! Blogger is making me crazy so I've given up trying to fix them. Here's Pat's URL for her blog - www.pkwood.blogspot.com - and here's John's - www.jerobison.blogspot.com (Sorry everyone!)

Whistling in the Dark...

I've never met Lesley Kagen, although we share the same publisher and her author photo was inadvertently added to the ARC of my novel, The Penny Tree last summer in error -- something we've laughed about via email.

Whistling in the Dark is Lesley's debut novel (great cover, huh?). It was selected as a Book Sense Pick for May and a Featured Alternate by Double Day Book Club, The Mystery Guild and The Literary Guild. Click here to check out her website.

Below is a brief description of the book, followed by an author blurb that mirrors my opinion and will hopefully sway yours enough that you'll rush out and buy it:

It was the summer on Vliet Street we all started locking our doors... Sally O'Malley made a promise to her daddy before he died. She swore she'd look after her sister, Troo. Keep her safe. But like her Granny always said—actions speak louder than words. Sally would have to agree with her. Because during the summer of 1959, the girls' mother is hospitalized, their stepfather has abandoned them for a six pack, and their big sister, Nell, who was left strict instructions to take care of the girls, is too busy making out with her boyfriend to notice that her charges are on the loose. And so is a murderer and molester.

Highly imaginative Sally is pretty sure of two things. Who the killer is. And that she's next on his list. If nobody will believe her, she has no choice but to protect herself and Troo as best she can, relying on her own courage and the kindness of her neighbors.

Funny, wise and uplifting, Whistling in the Dark is the story of two tough and endearing little girls...and of a time not so long ago, when life was not as innocent as it appeared.

"Bittersweet and beautifully rendered, Whistling in the Dark is the story of two young sisters and a summer jam-packed with disillusionment and discovery. With the unrelenting optimism that only children could bring to such a situation, these girls triumph. So does Kagen. Whistling in the Dark shines.
Don't miss it." — Sara Gruen, New York Times bestselling
author of Water for Elephants

Stumbling across story ideas ...

Meet my pal, Sally, VP and Creative Director for an ad agency. To me, she could be Meg Ryan's twin sister, she's that hilarious and quick witted with spot-on comebacks that'd take me weeks to think up. If I'm ever financially able, I plan to beg her to come work for me, that's how business savvy she is.

Getting to the point, though, over the last six weeks, at every single reading for The Penny Tree, I've been asked where I get my story ideas and how I think up quirky little traits for my characters.

This photo is a good example, because the 1/2 mannequin gave me a creative spark, and from that spark I came up with a way to add some 'oooomph' to a secondary character in The Silver Compass who was otherwise... bland. See? Inspiration is everywhere. You just need to open your mind to it and allow yourself to imagine...

A wonderful reading AND a nice review...

Over twenty people came out to my reading at Chapters in St. Albert last night. I hadn't seen some in decades, although there were others I recognized immediately. Cindy & Theresa, thanks for making the long drive from Edson. And Betty, it was good to see you and your hubby. Not to mention Donna, Krista, Erin, Rae, Marge, Tawni, and everyone else I'm forgetting to list...

The crowd was lucky cuz they met my youngest brother -- the one who 'relocates' all of my books onto the Hot Fiction table in every book store he visits! By the way, next time, I promise we'll set up further away from the clerk at Starbucks who seemed to gleefully grind those beans every time I decided to open my mouth, okay?

I spent the night at my brother's and left early this morning to make the 4 hour drive home. And when I finally got here, I found this review of The Penny Tree waiting for me on email. Consider yourself cyber-hugged, Ms. Terri Schlichenmeyer.

Albany Democrat Herald Book Review
‘Penny Tree’ makes cents by Terri Schlichenmeyer

You know how it is. The alarm doesn’t go off, which makes you late. You missed your ride, got a run in your pantyhose, spilled coffee down your front, the boss is peeved and you’re having one of Those Days. Did you ever have a whole lifetime of Those Days? For Annie Hillman, it seems that most of her life has been one big thing-that’s gone wrong. But in the novel “The Penny Tree” by Holly Kennedy, Annie is about to have something go very right.

When she was 12 years old and her sister did some snooping, Annie learned that she and Marina were adopted. While that bothered her, Annie realized that her parents deeply loved her because of a precious gift her father gave her: Her own Penny Tree.As he nailed a one-cent coin to the Douglas fir, Annie’s dad told her that the tree would be hers forever. Whenever she needed comfort, wanted some place to think, craved alone-time, she could come to the tree.The old tree served her well. When Annie’s father died, she sat beneath it and grieved. As her marriage fell apart, she cried below its needles.Now, Annie is back in her hometown, depressed, her life in a shambles, dealing with toppling finances, her younger son’s shaky health and her older son’s adolescence. She spends time beneath her Penny Tree, wondering what went so terribly wrong.

And then the ad appears in the newspaper, right on the front page.“Do You Recognize This Woman?” it said. “She was the first woman I ever loved and I can’t forget her.”As the nation is caught up wondering who the mystery man is, Annie tries to remember the men she loved. Her mind wanders from her childhood friend to an old boyfriend to her almost-ex-husband, Jack, from whom Annie drifted away.The mystery man is surely someone from her past. Could he also be someone for her future?

I usually read four or five books a week; some are okay, some are not-okay, but the ones I’m most delighted with are the ones I look forward to getting back to when I put them down.“The Penny Tree” fits nicely in that last category.

I loved all of the people in this book and I enjoyed the peccadilloes author Holly Kennedy gave them, particularly the quirk that Annie’s mother, Erna, has. And no, I’m not going to tell you what it is. Read the book.Another thing to notice is that Kennedy has a knack for mentioning tiny details and making those little items important later on in the story. I liked that, being surprised over and over. If you want a good novel to tuck in your purse or suitcase this spring, grab this one. Reading “The Penny Tree” just makes cents.

Announcing a reading in St. Albert...

The reading at Redwood House on Friday was great. Approx 50 people came out for it and we started at 7
pm and didn't finish up until well after ten. Thanks everyone! By the way, we're going to schedule another one just like it at Redwood House for The Silver Compass next year. And when we do, on top of draws for free books, we'll also be giving away a few silver compasses, so make sure you join us
if you weren't part of this year's crowd.

Note to Northern Albertans...
If you live in or near Edmonton or St. Albert, please join us for a reading this Wednesday, May 16th, at 7:00 pm at the St. Albert Chapters book store located at 445 St. Albert Road.

Time for a reading for Southern Albertans...

If you live near Calgary, Alberta and can make it out, join us for a reading from The Penny Tree, (followed by an open Q&A about writing & publishing) this Friday. Here are the details:

Where -- Redwood House (Wolf Willow Room)
Redwood Meadows, Alberta

When -- Friday, May 11th @ 7:00 pm

Redwood Meadows is approx 15 mins west of Calgary, near the beautiful hamlet of Bragg Creek, known as the Gateway to Kananaskis. Take the 2nd marked entrance into Redwood Meadows off of Highway 22 and you'll find Redwood House on your right, next to the fire hall.

Snacks & refreshments will be served and there will also be a few fun giveaways as well. Those in attendance could win an autographed copy of The Penny Tree, a first edition hardcover of The Tin Box, or a limited edition tin box with the paperback edition of The Tin Box inside.

Oh, and this last photo?

If you go too far and drive past Redwood Meadows to Elbow Falls, you might stumble across this great little spot. If so, please turn around and come back to the reading. I know it'll be hard to drag yourself away, but you can always flag it as one of your favorite places (as I have) and return another day.

Great writing spot, huh?

One milestone at a time...

Today my husband finished his second marathon in less than five months. He ran his first in Florida in January, and today he completed his second in California.

His running and my writing make for an interesting balancing act in our household. I watch him run 6 days a week for months to prepare for a marathon, including 10-32 km runs every Sunday morning. It takes time away from our family, but it's important to him. He often watches me write straight through most weekends, late into the night, and almost always taking time away from our family, but it's important to me.

He ran his 1st marathon in 3 hours and 51 minutes. Today, he finished in 3 hours and 41 minutes. Better yet, this time he qualified for the Boston marathon, which he'll now run in 2008. I'm not a runner any more than he's a novelist, but when he phoned today, I was as proud of him as I know he is of me when Fedex delivers a nice shiny book from one of my publishers.

Thanks Winnipeg. It was good to see you...

At McNally Robinson's last night there were a lot of faces I hadn't seen in years and a few new ones too! Fellow writer and blogger Seeley Deborn was one of them. Seeley moved from the west coast to Winnipeg just days before my reading and yet she still managed to make it out. What a sweetheart, huh? Check out her blog at http://seeleydeborn.blogspot.com/

As I flew home earlier today, a lot of you were still on my mind, mostly because it was such a quick trip and I would have loved to have had more time to talk to everyone individually.

Thanks to Jim ( my father-in-law) for arranging lunch the day of the reading and to Roberta and Tom, for taking me out for dinner that night. Kendra, I sure hope you're feeling better soon. My heart goes out to you, kiddo. Alle, Brianna and Rayan, I'll be pacing my office trying to figure out how to fit you into the next book as walk-on characters. And, yes, Dean, even though I would have ZERO say in casting or anything else relating to it, I'll pass your name along if/when movie rights are ever sold for any of my books. Leave it with me!

A huge hug for Linda Holeman (one of my mentors and all time favorite authors) for making me such a lovely dinner the night I arrived and for introducing me at my reading the next night. Stop by her website at http://www.lindaholeman.com/ and check out all her work, inc/her internationally acclaimed novel The Linnet Bird (sold in 15 languages) which was was followed by Moonlit Cage, the 2nd in a trilogy set that will be complete in spring of 2008 when Linda's 3rd, titled Chutney Mary, set in 1870s Punjab, will be published.

Two final notes: First, take a few seconds to pop by Mia King's blog at this link http://miaking.wordpress.com/. Mia's debut novel Good Things has been doing incredibly well and she just announced an interesting contest you might want to jump in on!

Secondly, Romance Junkies gave The Penny Tree a wonderful review I had to share -- The Penny Tree is a touching story of a failed marriage and the family involved. Holly Kennedy has done a wonderful job of illustrating the impact a child’s illness can have on a family, and how love isn’t always enough to save a relationship. The mystery of the ad-taker’s identity gives a note of hope and anticipation for something wonderful, keeping the story from being overly sorrowful. Emotional and thought-provoking, this would be a good choice for a reader’s group discussion.

Look! A real penny tree...

I'm leaving for Winnipeg in a few hours, but when I saw this, I just had to share it. A real penny tree! Can you imagine? Wouldn't it be nice to wrap up a bunch and give them to everyone we love?

On a completely separate note, do any of you ever do this?

I took my boys to a movie the other day (Meet the Robinsons) and was so bored I spent the first 1/2 hour making a mental list of everything that was WRONG with the story -- too many characters, not enough character development, etc. However, half way through, I slipped out to go to the bathroom, and my mind wouldn't let go of two elements that did work for me.

End result? Before returning to the theatre, I sat outside the main doors on the rug for a few mins frantically jotting down notes. I filled five blank recipe cards and tucked them in my purse. To anyone else my scribblings might look like gibberish, but to me they are the possibility of a wonderful story, and a writer can never have enough of those.