Near Haverhill, Massachusetts? If so, come on out this coming Saturday, August 16, from 1:00-3:00 for the Authors Fair! I’ll be there with THE ART OF FLOATING, along with many wonderful authors. Great fun ahead!
Main Entry: writerhead
Pronunciation: \ˈrī-tər-hed\
Function: noun
First Known Use: circa 1995
1 : a (usually) temporary state of dreamy concentration and fluctuating consciousness during which a writer feels most creative, productive, and artistic < upon waking in the morning, rolling out of bed, gently shushing one’s husband, and settling in at one’s desk: “Sssshhhh, I’m in writerhead” – Kristin Bair O’Keeffe >
Last week a book club in Pittsburgh met to discuss THE ART OF FLOATING. I joined them via Skype. Wonderful conversation & big laughs!
Book clubs, email me if you’re interested in having me join you for a discussion! Details here.
Here’s a great screen shot of some of the book club members:
Guess what, folks? June is Audiobook Month!
Time to celebrate! And to do so, I’m going to give away two—yes, two—audio editions of THE ART OF FLOATING! (Yep, unabridged.)
One.
Two.
Before I tell you how to enter the contest, I have a confession to make.
Ready?
I have never listened to an audiobook. (Well, except for the fantabulous Skippyjon Jones series with my six-year-old. Skippyjon is hilarious!) But in honor of Audiobook Month, I’m going to take the opportunity to change this; I’ll be listening to an audiobook. (Suggestions?!)
Want to enter the giveaway? Here’s how:
leave your favorite sound as a comment right here on this blog entry
tweet me about your favorite sound on Twitter (I’m @kbairokeeffe.)
leave your favorite sound as a comment on my Facebook author page (Just click here.)
The giveaway will run from today (June 3) through midnight (EST) Friday, June 6, 2014.
So…I had an absolutely amazing discussion about The Art of Floating with a book club last Friday night. These women are serious…about books, reading, food, friendship, laughter & fun.
This book club has been meeting for years and years. The women read passionately and voraciously. They’re close friends who laugh and have a deep history that revolves around books, but includes so much more. At each meeting—for each book—they cook up a meal that matches the theme of the book in some way. (Last night’s was, appropriately, beachy food—chicken salad, mozzarella & tomato kebabs, wraps, coleslaw & more.)
The woman who hosted last night went all out. She made piping plovers (wee shore birds that figure prominently in The Art of Floating) from the pages of Homer’s The Odyssey (which also figures prominently).
I repeat: She made piping plovers from The Odyssey. See?
I was floored. I’m still floored. In addition, she printed out quotes I use in the book (those from the sign outside the Unitarian Church) and hung them around the room.
A few more fun pics for you!
Popped into the Barnes & Noble in Newington, NH, this weekend to see if it was carrying THE ART OF FLOATING. I found it on the “New Fiction” table with loads of great company! Delighted! (Stay tuned! There may be news soon of an event there!)
NOTE: Reviewers & book bloggers, THE ART OF FLOATING is available for review. Drop me a note if you’re interested. I can’t guarantee a review copy to all, but I’ve got a few.
The piping plover controversy (featured in my new novel THE ART OF FLOATING) is heating up (once again) in beach towns from Maine to North Carolina. It’s important stuff. Big story in today’s MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM.
Read all about it here!
What do piping plovers on Plum Island, MA, have to do with my new novel THE ART OF FLOATING? You’ll have to read to find out. But for now, here are few photos I took last year when the wildlife refuge beaches on Plum Island were closed for the plover’s nesting season (as they are every year).
Had a terrific evening last night at the Andover Bookstore in Andover, MA! Big, energetic crowd. Terrifically passionate booksellers. A fire in the fireplace. The most awesome bookstore sign on the podium. Smart, creative questions from folks in the crowd. And lots of love for THE ART OF FLOATING.
The only tough part was that just before the event, I heard that Gabriel García Márquez had passed away. I cried a good bit…and have lots more to say about him in a future blog post…but I’m so grateful that I, and the world, had him for 87 years.
Thanks to all!