Front Porch Bookstore Opens in Winterville, Georgia

I'm a native of Athens, Georgia, but for many years I've lived in nearby Winterville, a tiny municipality of approximately 1,200, located in Eastern Clarke County. We've had a branch of the Athens Regional Library in Winterville (115 Marigold Lane) for a very long time.

Today, I'm happy to announce that the Friends of the Winterville Library are launching a new venture, Front Porch Bookstore, in the quaint, newly renovated old Town Hall building (which was formerly used as the Winterville Volunteer Fire Department and is located near the library at 102 Marigold Lane) on December 4, 2009, which also happens to be the date of this year's Winterville Christmas in the Park event (more on that in a future post).

Front Porch Books is 100% non-profit. All proceeds will go toward purchasing books, equipment and literary programs for the Winterville Library. At the December 4 grand opening, the bookstore will be open 5 PM until 8:30 PM. After that, the bookstore hours will be the same as the Winterville Library's hours: Monday and Tuesday and Thursday, 3 - 7; Wednesday, 9 - 12; Saturday, 10 - 2, and closed Friday and Sunday.

This new bookstore needs both donations of books and vounteers to staff the store. If you're interested, stop by the library or the bookstore or email fow11012@yahoo.com or call Jan Mazzucco at 706-742-7090. Leave your name and number and the shift desired.

See you at Front Porch Books!

Gone From These Book Signing at Athens Borders a Success!

I had my first bookstore signing event at the Athens Borders, Sunday, August 30, and by all accounts it was a great success. We SOLD ALL THE BOOKS! I suppose that's the ultimate test of any book signing event.

Of course I was a bit nervous when the event first began. But soon I was reading from GONE FROM THESE WOODS and answering questions, then signing books and visiting. I stayed there over two hours, chatted with everyone, signed probably 100 books, if you count the ones brought in from other places, and enjoyed every minute.

Afterwards, we headed out to the historic Winterville train depot on the square for cake and food and more visiting. I couldn't have asked for a better day and I really appreciate everyone who was a part of it.

Gone From These Woods is on the Way!

The projected date of arrival of actual hardcover Gone From These Woods books in Random House's warehouses is July 6! Hopefully, pre-ordered books will begin shipping soon after that.

Of course I'm excited about actually seeing my book in person. The advance reader's copy is not the actual book.

Here's some history on the creation of this novel. First, I spent about two years writing and rewriting the early drafts. During that time, I debuted the first chapter at my writers' group's annual joint meeting with the Augusta Writers in Washington, Georgia. There, Elise Weston, author of Coast Watchers, read the beginning of Daniel's story in her rich, southern accent, even pronouncing his last name correctly. (Sar-tain, rather than the quicker Sarten).

The last week of February, 2007, I attended the SCBWI Southern Breeze SpringMingle writers conference in Atlanta, Georgia. I listened to editors there read my first page and comment. It was Michelle Poploff's comments on that beginning, plus her presentations that weekend, that put the idea in my head to mail her the first few chapters.

After requesting the entire manuscript, Michelle bought Gone From These Woods on Friday the 13th, 2007.

Rewriting followed. And followed and followed. Yes, the saying "writing is rewriting" is so true.

Then production. Copyediting. First Pass. And more "passes."

The result is my debut novel, Gone From These Woods. Let's hope it's also gone from those bookshelves and in readers' hands soon.