Shelley Shepard Gray's Blog, page 15
February 5, 2013
CELEBRATING
Today is my daughter’s birthday. 20 years old! I no longer have teenagers…what a milestone. She came home last weekend for a very brief visit-long enough to get dressed up, go out to dinner with us, and take her chocolate cupcakes with coconut filling back to college.
I’m also celebrating that DAYBREAK is just one week from its release date! Next Tuesday will be the book release party at the Barnes and Noble in West Chester, OH. We’ll be having coffee and lemonade and cookies…all sorts of things. If you live in the area, I hope you can make it!
If you ever visit me on FB, I hope you’ll stop by my page today. My publisher is offering a contest for a free signed copy of Daybreak. I’ve also posted the recipe for those cupcakes.
For now, it looks like I better get to work!
January 31, 2013
Chatting with Suzanne Woods Fisher Today
I’m a guest on Suzanne Woods Fisher’s internet radio show, Amish Wisdom, today! The time is 5:00 pm, EST.
We’ll be chatting about my new series, Amish reality shows, dogs, and who knows what else! Suzanne is just terrific. The link is below!
January 29, 2013
Seattle
I arrived home last night from a whirlwind, three day trip to the Midwinter American Library Association Conference in Seattle. I’m so glad I got to go! I had a great time sitting in the Harper Collins booth on Sunday afternoon and signing advanced copies of Daybreak.
The folks from my publisher made me feel so welcome, and I was in awe of their exhausting schedule. I was one of six authors signing on Sunday, and I can only imagine the amount of organization it took to keep us all in line!
As I’ve said before, I have a great fondness for libraries and librarians. I rarely turn down an invitation to talk at a library, and I was delighted to sign some early copies of Daybreak for the librarians. Two of my favorite ladies to meet were librarians from Queens, New York. They knew my books, had read them, and had recommended them to their patrons. So often, I hear that only folks who live in the Midwest read Amish fiction, but those ladies reminded me that there are Christian fiction and Amish fiction fans all over the country.
When I wasn’t at the Harper Collins booth, I wandered around downtown Seattle a bit. It was a little rainy, and I was pretty tired, so I didn’t do much besides window shop. Next time I visit, I definitely plan to take more time to explore the city!
Below is a photo of me and Jen Hart, SVP Associate Publisher and Group Marketing Director, William Morrow. I’m so thankful to her and to everyone at Harper for inviting me to be a part of the ALA Conference!
January 22, 2013
It’s Cold Outside!
Happy Tuesday!
It finally feels like winter here in southern Ohio. Yesterday, the temperature hovered around 25*. Today, it’s not supposed to get above 16*. Brrr!
I don’t mind too much. I love to sit in front of the fireplace, and we’ve been putting it to good use. Yesterday I finished up some work on the couch, and I had to say it almost felt like I was taking the day off! The fire was going strong, both dachshunds were sleeping near me, and we had snow flurries. It was a very nice change from my windowless basement office.
Today, I’m back in the basement, working hard on PEACE, October’s Christmas book. I’m also blogging over at www.notquiteamishliving.com. I happen to be chatting about something that a lot of people have strong feelings about, too: Jello Salads. If you have time this week, please pop over and share your opinion. I’d like to think that I’m not the only person who likes them…but my husband says I might be wrong. 
I hope all of you are staying warm, too!
Blessings,
Shelley
January 21, 2013
Hope To See You In….
Happy Monday! We had a relaxing weekend, filled with catching up with some good friends…and sleeping late! Today, though, I was up early. I’m looking over Ray of Light for the very last time, writing Peace, and trying to get organized for my upcoming trip to Seattle.
I’ve also been addressing lots of invitations to my book launch party in West Chester, OH on February 12! If you live in the area and would like an invitation from me, please email me privately, it’s not too late! And, just as a reminder, you certainly don’t need a formal invitation to come a book signing. Please simply show up!
I thought I’d quickly highlight my upcoming events…
Sunday, January 27. I’ll be signing books at the American Library Association in Seattle, WA. I’m sorry, but this is not an event that is open to the public. However, if you are a librarian who will be attending the conference, I hope you’ll say hello!
Tuesday, February 12. 6:30pm. BOOK LAUNCH PARTY for DAYBREAK! 9455 Civic Centre Blvd. West Chester, OH
Saturday, February 16. 1:00 pm. Book signing at Page & Palette Bookstore, Fairhope, AL. 32 South Section Street
Sunday, February 17. 2:00 pm. Book signing at BOOKS-A-MILLION, Orange Park, FL. 1910 Wells Road.
Monday, February 18th. 12:00 noon. Luncheon, speaking, and signing at Fiction Addiction’s Book It Luncheon at the Lazy Goat! 170 River Place, Greenville, SC. *this is a ticketed event*
Tuesday, February 19th. 6:00 pm. Signing and Speaking at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, South County Regnional Branch. 5801 Rea Road, Charlotte, NC
Wednesday, February 20. 7:00 pm. Signing at Barnes & Noble @ Vanderbilt University. 2501 West End Avenue. Nashville, TN.
Hope to see y’all soon!
Blessings to all of you, Shelley
January 17, 2013
Settling In
It happened just yesterday. There I was, happily typing away on my book, when I noticed Butch was doing something special. Butch, our little rescue wiener dog, was happily chewing on a pencil. I took it away, of course. I don’t want him to get splinters! But before I did that I had to smile. See, Butch was finally becoming a dog.
I’ve had dogs all my life. A pair of Yorkshire terriers when I was little, Irish setters when I was a teen. Since I’ve been married, we’ve had a beagle and a miniature dachshund named Suzy. And, then, of course, we’ve helped out with Rudy, my son’s bulldog/beagle mix. They’ve all been, well, dog-like. They barked at UPS men. They’ve eaten shoes and toilet paper rolls and dug in the trash when no one was looking. We’ve bought more raw hides, squeaky toys, and tennis balls than I can count.
Maybe it’s because we didn’t train them all that well? Maybe I just have a high tolerance for doggy-behavior? Or that I kind of like chaos? Whatever the reason, we were used to dogs being…dogs.
And then we got Butch.
Butch is five years old and we got him from Dachshund Rescue of Ohio. When the representative brought over two dogs for us to see, one grabbed a squeaky toy, took it to a corner of the room, and growled at us every time we tried to get near him. Butch? He hopped up on the couch next to my husband and watched the football game.
Obviously, he was the dog for us!
Since then, Butch has settled in nicely, and is as sweet as can be. But he’s been decidedly un-dog-like. He ran from squeaky toys. He looked at his little rawhide bones in confusion. He never barked. When Suzy burrowed under a blanket, he looked very concerned! He doesn’t beg for food, and won’t even walk out the door unless he is leashed.
We loved him right away. But, well, we were a little concerned. See, Butch was once an elderly lady’s dog…right until she went into the nursing home and he went to the shelter. We’re no dog psychologists, but we started thinking that poor Butch had never really had the opportunity to be a silly wiener dog.
We think Suzy, our 11 year old dachshund, felt the same way. From Day 1, she’s been nudging him to be like her. After two weeks, he started burrowing. After the first month, when she barked at the UPS man at the door, he, too, gave a little timid bark. And though the ‘squeakers’ in squeaky toys still scare him, he’s recently started to carry around the stuffed toys that Suzy has already destroyed.
That’s why, when he hopped off his little bed in my office, found a dropped pencil, then started happily chewing, tail wagging fast enough to beat the band, I was kind of happy.
It’s now obvious that Butch has become a part of our family. And the best part? He’s still always up for another football game. The minute he hears one on tv, he hops right on my husband’s lap.
Which makes me think he likes us, too.
Butch’s Pencil
January 14, 2013
Memories From NYC
I spent most of last night on the living room couch watching Downton Abbey. About three weeks ago, my husband and I became fans, and we’ve spent many evenings since then watching season 1 and 2. Last night, we finally made it to the Season 3 premier, so now we’re just about caught up. It is sooo good!
Before we became couch potatoes, Tom picked me up from the airport. When we got home, he had soup, salad and a loaf of Rosemary bread all ready to go for dinner. He almost always makes Sunday dinner, and last night was one of my favorites-Tom makes a great navy bean and ham soup! I put on a pair of old gray sweats, we chatted, and caught up on news, and watched Downton. It was wonderful and relaxing.
And just about the complete opposite of my time in New York!
Last Thursday morning, I flew to NYC. I stayed in a hotel at Times Square with my good friend Mendy…and we kept very busy. We had a lot of good times, and laughed a lot, too. Here’s a few of the highlights…
1) Mendy is a subway pro. So after she coaxed me down to the subway station, off we went to Chinatown and Little Italy on Thursday afternoon. It turns out that neither of us can read a map very well, so when I was noticing all the people around a detention center and correctional facility, it was a sure sign that we should have turned left instead of right! Before we knew it, however, we were sitting in the window of a fifty-year old Italian restaurant eating gnocchi and watching the sun go down. That was awesome.
2) On Friday, it was ‘Shelley Shepard Gray Day’ at Harper Collins. It wasn’t really,of course! Actually, I found out that’s what they call days when authors visit their offices. My editor treated me to a wonderful lunch, then we had a meeting with lots of folks who work on the books and the promotion and marketing and sales and cover art. It really does take a small village to publish a book! One of the highlights of my visit was my long awaited tour of the offices. It’s like a very big maze inside there! (thank goodness no one asked me to go anywhere without an escort~I’d still be wandering around the sixth floor!)
3) On Friday night, Mendy and I got a cab to a wonderful seafood restaurant, and then got stuck in the rain. It was pouring rain after dinner, and we had 25 minutes to get to our play for the night, The Lion King. After waiting at a nearby hotel for 10 minutes, trying to get a cab (all were full, of course!) we had to walk to the theater. Yes, I was in heels. Yes, I had left my umbrella in the hotel room. No, I didn’t have a scarf or a hood on my coat. We made it to the theater on time, but just barely. I was so wet, water kept dripping down my neck for the first fifteen minutes of the play! Mendy said I looked like a wet rat. Once I got a little warmer and drier, I forgot about everything but the play, though. It was excellent!
4) On Saturday, we slept in, then headed over to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I love art museums, and we spent four hours wandering around and enjoying our favorite paintings. Saturday night, we (okay, I) decided to make sure we were in walking distance of everything! We went to an old Italian restaurant, then went to Phantom of the Opera. It was so wonderful. I really do love that play.
So, those are the highlights! We walked a lot, ate too much, had a few tiny adventures, and generally had a wonderful time! Today, it’s back to work. And laundry. And cooking. And errands. I’m okay with all of that, though. There’s something to be said for being home in an old pair of jeans and the opportunity to give thanks for a wonderful trip with a really great friend.
Shelley
A quick photo from my phone of Little Italy at Night. I loved the lights hanging over the streets!
You’re Invited!
Do you live in the Cincinnati, OH area? If so, I’d love to send you an invitation to the book launch party for DAYBREAK on February 12! All you have to do is privately send me your address, and we’ll mail an invitation out to you! If you have some friends who you think might be interested, please feel free to send me their addresses, too. We’d love to have a nice turnout!
January 9, 2013
The Book Tour
Tomorrow, I’m headed to New York City! I’m going to meet a girlfriend, and we’re planning to see two plays, walk a lot, and just catch up. I’m sure we’ll also eat out a bunch, too…and probably manage to even go shopping! It’s sure to be a great time.
But the main reason I’m heading to New York is to meet with folks at Harper Collins. The Days of Redemption series is my fifth series with Avon Inspire! DAYBREAK is book #16! Every time I think of all the opportunities the folks at Harper have given me, I shake my head. I am so thankful and feel so lucky and blessed.
Anyway, about once a year, I put on a dress, head to their offices, and look forward to seeing everyone in person. We talk about my books, plans to market them, and plans for future books, too. I get so excited to actually talk to everyone I usually only exchange emails with. It sounds silly, but I always walk away thinking that I really am part of a team, which I love.
This Friday, we’re also going to be talking about February’s book tour. I can’t believe February 12th is just around the corner! While on tour, I’ll be signing books in 6 states! I’ll start here in Cincinnati, head to Fairhope, Alabama, to to Jacksonville, FL, then Greenville, SC, Charlotte, NC, and finally finish in Nashville, TN. Many of the exact locations are already posted on this website. I’ve convinced my husband to come along (it actually didn’t take that much convincing) and he’s looking forward to the tour as much as I am.
The photo above is my book tour folder. Joanne, the lady who’s been arranging everything, is far more organized than me! But I have been trying hard to keep up with everything that she’s been planning. I can’t wait to see her in person and figure out our logistics.
Just yesterday I ordered lovely invitations for the Book Launch Party for Daybreak on Tuesday, February 12, at 6:30 pm. The party will be at Barnes & Noble in West Chester, OH. If you live in the Cincinnati area, and you’d like me to send you a personal invitation, please contact me privately with your mailing address. I’d be so happy to send you an invitation, and hope you’ll be able to come to the party. We’ll be serving coffee and lemonade, cookies and brownies. I’ll have bookmarks and pens and a really special giveaway. But most of all, I’d love to meet you in person and thank you for reading my books.
Thanks for stopping by, and I’ll try to say hello from NYC!
Shelley
Guest Blogging today
The Secret Ingredient Blog invited me to be a guest blogger today! In today’s post, I’m talking about New Year’s Day, books, and black-eyed peas. Please stop by if you enjoy black-eyed peas…or you would like to know more about this year’s Days of Redemption Series!
http://thesecretingredientblog.com/2013/01/08/a-new-year-recipe-from-shelley-shepard-gray/
