Beth Kephart's Blog, page 281

Gratitude to recent reviewers of Dangerous Neighbors

On this brilliant, beautiful morning I stop to thank three special reviewers of Dangerous Neighbors.  A writer is grateful, always, for those who take the time to read her books—who sneak them out from the tower of abundant choices and settle in.



My thanks this morning to reviewers who helped me think newly about this book that was so many things and represented so many dreams before it became Dangerous Neighbors:   Caribousmom, Amy's Book Obsession, and Reading, 'Riting, and Randomness.
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Talking books online, with Penn alumni and parents of Penn students

The fearless and fabulous Al Filreis, who (with his finely chosen cohorts) makes the world of the Kelly Writers House (at the University of Pennsylvania) turn, has recently posted this year's roster of online book discussion groups, which are conducted for Penn alumni and the parents of Penn students.  Those of you who might fall into either category should take a look at what is being offered here, which, in Al's words, "include a month-long group led by English professor Jim English on K...

The flowers are ready (for the DN Facebook Party)

If much is unknown in my life at the moment, here are some of the facts:  A breeze blows in through my window at dawn.  I'll be joining a classroom of younger readers at a local school tomorrow, which must mean that school is back in session.  And flowers can get me through most anything.  These (now) virtual flowers are in honor of my virtual Dangerous Neighbors book party, which is happening tonight on the Beth Kephart author page of Facebook, 8:30 PM eastern time (see the sidebar tab on th...

I have finished and my vision's blurry

the first full draft of a book I have utterly rewritten (my longest novel ever, by several thousand words).  I have finished, and my eyes are blurry.  It's lack of sleep. It is emotion.  I need to print this book now, hold it on my lap, pay careful attention to each sentence, track the days to make certain that the day by day action is calendared right, pay careful attention to character diction.  That's the fun part.  The delicious part.  The work without anxiety part. 



But I need some slee...

My conversation with My Friend Amy

Amy Riley has been a force for good in my life since she mentioned my little blog on her very big blog and introduced me to her wide circle of friends.  She has known me through three books now, has generously supported each one, has taught me many things about books and life, and once I even had the chance to meet this book angel here, at the site, of the first-ever Book Bloggers Convention, which she, but of course, helped organize. 



A few weeks ago, Amy and I began an e-mail conversation ...

The story unfolds

but it only unfolds after you have lived with it for a long time, bargained pieces of it away in exchange for new space, new possibilities.  A story I have now written four times has, at last, lost its tenuous webbing and false bridges.  It has come unto its own.  I traded a 40 year old woman for a 14 year old girl.  I took retrospect and made it present time.  I took two elderly women and gave them a boy to raise.  I took darkness and pierced it with light.  I have thirty pages yet to write....

We're having a party (on Facebook, with a great giveaway)

We waited a few weeks, until Mockingjay grew just a tad quieter, to celebrate the launch of Dangerous Neighbors with a Facebook party.  I say "we" here, but in fact I refer to none other than Amy Riley and Nicole Bonia of Winsome Media, without whom I look tres retro (or is the word old-fashioned?) when it comes to celebrating, via social media, a new book.



But I digress.  What is happening is this:  On this Thursday, September 9th, from 8:30 to 9:30 PM eastern standard time, we'll be talkin...

Dangerous Neighbors, Bookstack, and the review that filters in

I have learned, through the years, to step lightly in the weeks following the release of a book—to not search for reviews, to not hope for big things, to let the world find me, when the world is so moved.  I live this way knowing that I risk the possibility of failing to thank a good heart who has taken the time to read my book, and if I have failed to do that, I apologize.  But I cannot otherwise find the proper emotional balance to accompany the launch of a book.



This morning I've been at ...

On the matter of acknowledgments

Yesterday, my copy of Jay Kirk's Kingdom Under Glass arrived, a book I'll be eagerly delving into later this long weekend.  I've known Jay through much of this book's creation, have been privileged to read a long, early chapter, and have been astonished (and been made grateful) by the research-inspired stories that he tells.  In a few days, once I've finished reading, I'll be able to report on the book here in greater detail.



But for now, let me say this:  I may stand in the minority with th...

Still smooth sailing

I am happy to report (at 5:16 AM) that I have successfully awakened from the dream (nightmare) in which I arrived at a conference to give my Dangerous Neighbors talk with only my The Heart is Not a Size notes in hand.  One should be able to speak off the cuff about one's own books, you say?  Tell that to Beth, the nightmare dreamer.



Sidenote:  Melissa Firman, you may find it interesting that you were the one tasked with introducing me.  You did an excellent job.