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It’s been several months since The Sweet By and By was published, and happily, I’m working on the next novel. One of the greatest surprises so far has been finding out that several gerontological nursing programs are using The Sweet By and By as a teaching tool for caregivers. Thanks to everyone who has written to me; your letters help me learn more about what I’ve done as well as what I hope to do.
On the personal front, with the book tour behind me, I went on vacation in France, specifically to the Gard, a part of Provence I had never visited before. Loved the Gorges de l’Ardeche and also caught up with friends there. Back home in Connecticut, attempts to breathe life into the vegetable garden were basically futile. As with much of New England, it was just too wet this summer for much to happen. Thankfully, there are nearby farms with greenhouses (and much greater skill on the premises), so I was still able to buy fresh and local. I’m far from perfect when it comes to that commitment, but I try. The other big news is that I have a horse. Ever since moving out of NYC, I’ve been riding. Fast-forward now to Shane, a four-year-old paint gelding who is my Zen master.
This fall, I made a trip down to the Decatur Book Festival where I sat on a fun panel with two of my friends, Susan Rebecca White and Kathryn Stockett, and then headed up to speak at the North Carolina Literary Festival in Chapel Hill, where the big highlights for me were hearing Elizabeth Strout deliver the keynote, followed by an amazing evening of Southern story and song featuring Jill McCorkle, Lee Smith, Marshall Chapman, and Matraca Berg, the “Good Ol’ Girls.” Early in 2010, I’ll be speaking at the Southern Voices Conference in Alabama; I’d love to meet you in person if you’re in the Birmingham area. Also, when the paperback comes out in April, I’ll be doing more events, all of which you can find here on the website.
The end of 2009 will be dramatic here in the Berkshires – first the leaves, then the snow. I’m ready – I had the first fire in the fireplace on August 28! My year-round advice is that if you’re headed this way, bring a good sweater.
Thanks, and all my best,
