Ruth Hull Chatlien's Blog, page 16

Review at Jorie Loves a Story

There’s a new review of The Ambitious Madame Bonaparte at Jorie Loves a Story. I couldn’t find a reblog option, so you can get to her blog by clicking here.

Runoff (a poem)

Today’s weather makes it possible for me to post this poem from a few years past because it looks forward to spring.

 

Runoff

Last snowcover

outside my window,

once mounded smooth

as new-spun meringue

and clean as a carton

of unscooped ice cream,

now grainy and brittle

and friable beneath my feet.

It’s melting, melting.

The water flows across

still-hard ground,

and escapes into city sewers,

but in my mind,

I hear the rush of rivers

splashing, foaming,

racing me toward springdom.

We Has a Book Trailer

Check out my new video trailer for The Ambitious Madame Bonaparte. Spread the word!

Review of The Ambitious Madame Bonaparte at I Am, Indeed

There’s a new review of The Ambitious Madame Bonaparte at the blog I Am, Indeed this morning. You can check it out here.

A Cool Milestone

Ok, I know it’s a blurry photo, but I was trying to be low-key about taking it instead of acting like a hyperactive puppy spotting a squirrel. This is what it looks like when your book is featured at your local library in preparation for an upcoming author event. Just one of those things I was never sure I’d achieve.

Book review and giveaway: The Ambitious Madame Bonaparte. I love France #85

Originally posted on Words And Peace:

I LOVE FRANCE!

I plan to publish this meme every Thursday more or less!.

You can share here about any book

or anything cultural you just discovered related to France, Paris, etc.
Please spread the news on Twitter, Facebook, etc !

Feel free to grab my button,

and link your own post through Mister Linky,

at the bottom of this post.

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Ruth Hull Chatlien on Tour: The Ambitious Madame Bonaparte

rhchatlien:

Madame Bonaparte is going on tour. From March 3 through March 12, reviews will be appearing on various blogs. Plus, there will be an interview and several book giveaways. If you haven’t purchased it yet, this is your chance to enter to win a free copy.

Originally posted on France Book Tours:

Author Ruth Hull Chatlien

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The Long Shadow

Once, in a barren strip of land

between highway and train tracks,

a groundhog’s head

popped up from his hole

to survey his rodent kingdom.

He caught my eye as I waited there

for the stoplight to turn green.

Twenty years on, I rarely pass

that still-empty patch of dusty ground

without recalling his grizzled face,

wondering how long he survived

in such a desolate place,

and wishing I could have told him

he left tracks upon my soul.

Tuesday (a poem)

I was looking through a poetry file for something else this morning when I came across this: a poem I wrote during the early days of dating the man I would eventually marry. I’d forgotten about this one. Now, after having been married to Michael for nearly 24 years, I can barely remember ever feeling so insecure about our relationship. For some reason, this sweet relic of our past really cheered me up.

Tuesday

When I come back from lunch

(where I’ve smiled and talked of you)

I rest my hand upon the telephone

wondering, as I do each week,

if librarians ever take flirtatious phone calls.

Or would it make you blush before an ancient

white-haired woman who needs your help deciding

between Jane Eyre and Ben Hur?

By Tuesday I no longer feel

your warming arms around me—

four more days to crawl through

before you hold me once again.

I’d only have to call you,

hear your voice across the wire,

for the memory of your kisses to return,

but I will not dial

for fear of a white-hair woman.

More research photographs

I usually do this on Sunday, but I had something else to post yesterday. (Another review of The Ambitious Madame Bonaparte. Yeah.)

These are more of the research photos I took last summer. I’m not sure I’m actually going to need these in my next novel, but it was too fascinating not to photograph.