I was hunting in my old posts for something about libraries. I do love libraries and give my local library much credit for nourishing my love of words. I’ve also had some fun talking about new books at my local library. Each year starting with Scent of Lilacs back in 2005 I’ve had a Hometown Book Launch when one of my books came out. That is, until last year. The pandemic changed a lot of things for us last year and it still is now even as we begin to take steps to get back to something closer to what we considered normal before COVID19. I wasn’t able to have a book launch party or even a signing for my 2020 book, An Appalachian Summer. Thank goodness, many of you found ways to read it anyway, and of course, my Hometown parties didn’t bring in thousands or even hundreds. But it did bring in friends. The picture is of one in 2012 when I think I must have been celebrating a Shaker books, The Gifted.
I was blessed to have a roomful of friends show up for that book party. I love the way they are smiling and waving at me. I did ask them to wave when I took the picture and I think it’s funny how the people in the back rows waved big while the people in the front would hardly wave at all. A psychologist might be able to explain that. But at least they were all smiling.
You can’t see me in the picture, but I know I was smiling too. I always have such fun talking about a new book with friends and my hometown reading friends were always good to come out and support me as a local author. Each time a new person came in the door wherever I had a hometown book event, I felt as if he or she had given me a gift. In a way, they did. They gave me a gift of their time. They patiently listen to me talk about how I got started writing and some of them probably heard me tell the same things over again since some stories about my hometown and my books do seem to surface each book launch. Like how I changed the name of Lawrenceburg to Hollyhill in my books about Jocie and her friends because the Heart of Hollyhill series just has a better ring to it that the Heart of Lawrenceburg series. And like how I don’t base any of my characters on real people. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. How my first Shaker book, The Outsider, sat on a shelf for 25 years before it was published. How I love to write. And how deep my roots go in this community.
Along a Storied Trail is about to be released on June 1st, but I’m not sure I’ll be able to have a Hometown Book Launch this year. I’ll wait to see if the library opens up its meeting rooms later in the year and if so, I can still have a party then. Meanwhile, I am having a Hometown book signing at the beautiful store, Tastefully Delicious, here on Main in Lawrenceburg on the first Saturday in June, June 6th, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. If you’re in the area I hope you’ll come see me. I’ve had my Covid shots so I’m ready to do some smiling.
I know some of you have already gotten books, and I’m waiting anxiously to hear what you think about the story. I’ve introduced you to a few of the characters here in blog posts — Preacher Rowlett, Tansy’s mother, and Perdita Sweet. Sunday, if all goes well, I’ll tell you more about my research or about my packhorse librarian, Tansy Calhoun. Meanwhile, you can still get a great deal on Along a Storied Trail at Baker Book House by pre-ordering it now.
But back to 2012. When I look through those faces in the picture of that hometown party now, I see several who are no longer with us. While that makes me sad, it also makes me happy to see their smiles in this picture. Our pastor, Br. Fred Knickerbocker is one of those I’m missing. He was always so supportive of my writing and tried to come to my Hometown parties whenever he could. He’s sitting in the middle of the front row and that little smile is so him. In looking through some old posts I came across this memory of a time I talked about something Br. Fred said in a sermon.
Br. Fred preached on Psalm 107 “O give thanks unto the Lord for He is good.” He told us about a word in that first verse. A Hebrew word ‘hesed’ that is translated in many Bibles as ‘lovingkindness.’ He said there isn’t any good way to translate it word for word into our language but that the closest you might come is a combination of all the good greeting words in the world wrapped together. All the blessings and goodwill anybody might want to wish to you and it’s all coming from the Lord. Hesed.
May you take some time to pause in your busy schedules this week to consider that word and be wrapped in that loving kindness in the sunshine of the Lord’s love.
If you had been at my Hometown Book Launch Party, do you think you would have been too shy to wave for my picture?
This is the last post before I pick a winner of Along a Storied Trail. I’ll draw for the winner Sunday morning and announce it on my Sunday post after sending the winner an e-mail. You can get an entry now (or another entry) by leaving a comment here. I do appreciate all of you who commented on my posts last week.
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I might feel dumb but I’d wave if you told me to!
Author
I love that, Joan. I’d be the same if I was sitting in the crowd and told to wave. 🙂
I was introduced to your books by a relative in Lawrenceburg and attended one of your Library book parties years ago with her on one of our visits from Texas. I am in the picture above and came on my own that time, as we happened to be visiting again. I love that beautiful library in Lawrenceburg! I received my copy of Along a Storied Trail that my sweet husband ordered as a surprise and am enjoying it already. I wish we were going to be in Lawrenceburg for your book signing at Tastefully Delicious!
Author
I thought that was you there on the edge of the front row, Lynda. I did appreciate you coming back to my book party that year and it would be fun if you were in Lawrenceburg this time. Maybe it would be even more fun if I was in Texas for a book signing. 🙂
I do hope you enjoy the story.
I would wave and I’m waving 👋 now. Sounds wonderful as always.
Author
Glad to imagine you waving at me, Lucy. I’m smiling and waving back. Hope you’re ready for a great weekend.
Yes, I would wave in your picture! And, I would love to come to one of your hometown book launching parties sometime!
Author
That definitely would be fun, Linda, to see you waving at one of my book launch parties. Maybe someday. Hope you’re getting ready for a fun weekend.
I received my, much anticipated, copy of ALONG A STORIED TRAIL, yesterday. I only read 62 pages last night….but, so much information and wonderful characters, are in those pages. Can’t wait to relax and read some more tonight.
I sure hope you can have a book launch party this year.
To answer your question….yes, I would wave for your picture, if you asked me to 🙋♀️
Author
Well, good to see you waving at me, Marji. I don’t think I ever asked a group to wave again after so many seemed lukewarm to the idea that time. Smiles were good enough. What I really like for people to do when they come to my book events is ask questions. I love the Q & A part of any talk better than the talk itself since sometimes people can come up with such interesting side questions that we can talk about.
I’m glad you’ve like the story so far and I hope you’ll continue to like it on through the pages.
I am so thankful for libraries & the availability of your books & other authors that I enjoy reading! Hoping you will be able to have a book launching party about your new book, “Along a Storied Trail” very soon!
Betsy
Author
Thank you, Betsy. I do enjoy being part of book events. I wish I could make a tour of libraries and bookstores to meet more readers. I do sometimes get to speak at libraries or take part in book fairs they have. So, that’s fun. I’m glad your library has my books for readers in your area.
Your book–Along a Storied Trail–is next in my TBR pile, and I’m anxiously awaiting reading it! I always love your novels!
Author
So fun to be in your TBR pile and on top! Thank you, Suzanne. I do hope this story doesn’t disappoint and it’s one you can say you loved too.
I love the Hebrew words and hope that once I’m in heaven, I’ll be able to learn to properly pronounce them as well as understand them. I’d also Iike to be able to pronounce all those names in the Bible correctly, and cities, everything.
I always look forward to your books and devour them in nearly a sitting (or two or three), so thank you for writing such beautiful, inviting, and compelling stories. I’ve met you once, would love to see you again, and may make it to your June 1st signing. Congrats on your new book!
Author
Our late pastor, whom I still miss so much, loved sharing Hebrew words with us in his sermons, Amy. He loved preaching from the Bible. Sometimes when he would read a Scripture with one of those difficult names in it, I’d realize I’d been saying it wrong the whole time. But I don’t think the Lord worries too much about us getting the pronunciation wrong as long as we try.
What fun it would be to see you again! I hope you can come June 1st, but I understand if you can’t. Right now they are still hoping to have the Kentucky Book Fair this fall and I hope that turns out to be true. I miss getting to meet readers at book events.
I can’t wait to read Along a Storied Trail on June 1st,Ann! 😊💜Psalm 70:4😊💜
Author
Love the verse you picked, Emily. “Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified.” Psalm 40:4 (KJV)
Amen.
Praying that before the year is out you’ll be able to have that book party for Along A Storied Trail which I will soon be reading! Congratulations, again!!! 🥳
Author
I hope so too, Karen. I always have a great time when I get to talk about books and writing and see friendly faces.