Susan Wiggs's Blog, page 29
February 25, 2013
dedication
Today is the official pub day of Return to Willow Lake. I’m so grateful to all the readers made it a bestseller in hardcover. Now, paperback fans will find it in stores. You can also find the book in audio and digital formats, and in lots of different languages.
The hardcover edition was published during an exciting time in my life.
And I’m excited about the paperback, but for me, there’s something bittersweet about the publication of this particular book. When I first conceived the story, I knew I would be dealing with some big issues
Just out in paperback
. However, I didn’t know how personal the central issue would become for me.
One of the storylines in the novel involves a young woman returning home to help her mother through the ordeal of breast cancer. Now, on the eve of the paperback publication, I’ve discovered that one of my best friends has just been diagnosed with cancer.
Loretta is a wife, a mom, a sister, a friend. She’s facing the fight of her life.
So in addition to the dedication in the printed book, I would like to unofficially dedicate the paperback edition to my beloved friend, Loretta. She’s sharing her journey on a blog, and I’m so proud of the courage and humor in her writing, and in the responses from her friends and family. Here’s a link to her most heart touching post. Keep the Kleenex handy. You’ve been warned. http://blog.lorettastanton.com/?p=114#comments
February 22, 2013
practical advice
no tilting
[photo source unknown, sorry]
February 11, 2013
February 5, 2013
This is why I write.
Flashback. While organizing files on my computer, I came across this special letter from “navywife@…” who wrote to me ten years ago. Her words are such a beautiful reminder of why I write. I wonder how she and her daughter are doing now. I’ll bet they’re just fine.
How do you stop and say thank you? At the beginning of the summer my older daughter (18) at the time and I were not getting along so well. I suppose with my health and the stress of being old enough to go it alone yet not ready made for not such nice chat times. So on the night we sat to have our open table chat, I suggested she and I read the same book taking turns when time allowed and then have coffee to talk about what we thought. (image source http://ravynlarue.blogspot.com/2010/12/mother-daughter-moment.html)
And you were the author I chose. your books have brought us closer and we laugh about everything. Our most fav is the Summer by the Sea. We are trying to cook with your recipes and to our surprise not so bad. I hope to read more of your books. There is not a great deal of choices here in our town, but will keep an eye out for a new one to arrive. Thanks for taking time to express all you do in your books, even though they picture a perfect world, it is nice to have in this not so perfect life we all lead. So my daughter and I want to thank you for bringing us closer with words.
Sincerely,
NG
January 30, 2013
January 29, 2013
January sunset
…and that’s the View from HERE.
January 28, 2013
January 25, 2013
by popular request
…I am re-posting this guest blog post. The other reason is that this hellacious deadline is keeping me from writing more on the blog. So: One of the most frequently-asked questions is "Where do you write?" So here you go!
My writing spot isn’t a particular space so much as it’s a state of mind. I have to get quiet in my head and step into the world of the story, and I’m there. This can happen at home in my favorite chair, seated in a waiting room or airport somewhere, on the ferry, on the patio or at a friend’s house. It often happens on vacation, when I’m not supposed to be working at all.
I had The Goodbye Quilt mostly written in my head by the time I’d dropped my daughter off at college back in 2002. All it took was to transcribe those thoughts and emotions into the shape of a novel, and the story of Linda and Molly emerged. That’s oversimplifying the process a lot, I admit, because I’m not one of those writers who sets down words as if taking dictation from God. I tend to ruminate, rewrite, throw things out, regret the things I’ve thrown out, talk to myself, get frustrated…The process is hugely entertaining to me, but never easy.
In my fiction, I seem to return to life’s deepest themes again and again, whether I’m writing about a mother and daughter on their final road trip, or a couple falling in love…or falling apart. The stories that emerge celebrate all the loves that fill a woman’s life–family, friends, lovers, children, even pets.
The Goodbye Quilt is a deeply personal book, but Linda isn’t me, and Molly isn’t Elizabeth. Real people are too messy and random to make for good fiction. Linda is every parent who has ever said goodbye to a beloved child, and Molly is every young person who has ever struggled with finding her own way in the world.
The Goodbye Quilt is my gift to readers. There’s lots more for readers on my web site. Click to view a lovely song by Alice Peacock and slide show with images that inspired the book. And subscribe to my e-newsletter here.
January 18, 2013
raptor
Looming in the yard. Lenny and I hope he’s not hungry.
January 7, 2013
the year in review
This is pretty much it. Awesome.
And the walking-in song:
