BOOKING MAMA
More than 3500 miles into this book tour, and I woke up to read this wonderful review from BOOKING MAMA. With about 3500 more miles to go, it sure was a nice pick-me-up!
Enjoy.
LAND OF WOLFE AND SANDBURG
Carl Sandburg's Home, Connemara, in Flat Rock, North Carolina
I arrived in Asheville on Friday night, just in time for a reading at the new Battery Park Book Exchange, probably the hippest used book store you could ever hope to find, complete with champagne bar. The next night on to City Lights Bookstore in Sylva, North Carolina, a tiny mountain town with a big love of books.
But when I had time, I toured Thomas Wolfe’s home in Asheville and then Carl Sandburg’s in Flat Rock, NC. Thomas Wolfe lived in town, in a boarding house, run by his mother. Apparently he didn’t even have a room of his own because his mother would rent every room in the house when and if she could.
Carl Sandburg’s home, on the other hand, sits on 200+ acres in the beautiful North Carolina mountains. And the house, well, it’s as if the Sandburgs have just run to the store and will be back any minute. Everything is just as it was when the couple lived there. Apparently after Sandburg died, his wife packed up her clothes and a few personal belongings and left the house fully furnished, down to a box of Kleenex by a living room chair.
The setting is so peaceful — words were meant to be born there.
WEEKEND IN ATLANTA
We finally made it to Atlanta after 16 hours in the car! And it was worth every long, tiring, back-aching minute. I visited my good friends at FOXTALE BOOK SHOPPE, twice, once for a reading and then a writers’ workshop. Also made some new friends at A NOVEL EXPERIENCE in Zebulon, Georgia, HORTON’S BOOKS AND GIFTS in Carrollton, Georgia, and THE BLUE ELEPHANT in Decatur, Georgia – three great independent bookstores.
And FYI:
Horton’s is the oldest bookstore in Georgia.
A Novel Experience shows foreign films every other Friday night and is located right down the road from the University of Georgia’s Agricultural Experiment Station where they invented the science of freezing foods — not sure why I find that so fascinating — but I do!
The Blue Elephant wraps their books in brown paper and ties them up with a string — love it — as these are a few of my favorite things. Sorry, raised performing The Sound of Music at home. (I was always Gretel.)
And FOXTALE sales the best t-shirt EVER!
I’ve enjoyed a few days at home, just enough time to pet the doggies, wash some clothes and dust the house. Off again, on Friday when I’ll be heading to Asheville for a little champagne sipping and book signing — details to follow shortly.
See you on the road.
Book Tour Woodstock, GA from Susan Gregg Gilmore on Vimeo.
ON THE ROAD . . . AGAIN
Just a quick hello as we cruise down I-81 to Atlanta. We had a great event yesterday at Dolphin Books on Long Island. Thank you Priscilla for such a lovely evening.
We got up bright and early this morning and sat in traffic! And now it’s gray and rainy (of course) but we’re inching our way to Atlanta. Five events in the next two days. Stay tuned — will write more as soon as I can.
Book Tour from Susan Gregg Gilmore on Vimeo.
P.S. We made it to Atlanta around midnight! Now off to Hortons at noon and the Blue Elephant tonight. Check out my calendar for details.
DQ LAUNCH A BLAST!
Yesterday, the paperback edition of Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen was released (yeah) and appropriately celebrated at a Dairy Queen! And thanks to owner/operator Donnna Albanese of the Plainfield, NJ, Dairy Queen, it was a great success. We had a lot of fun talking to customers, eating ice cream and even raising a little money for Donna’s favorite charity, NJ Sharing Network, an organization that supports tissue and organ donation.
Next stop, Port Washington, New York, and the Dolphin Book Shop. Can’t wait to get there — last summer the staff at Dolphin named my book as their number one summer reading pick! How about this summer too?!
Untitled from Susan Gregg Gilmore on Vimeo.
First Stop!
The first stop on Summer Salvation Book Tour 2009 (my very exaggerated title for this road trip) was great. My daughter, Alice, and I spent the morning with the Friends of the Library in Crossville, Tennessee. The people, the setting, the banana pudding were all wonderful!
Then we raced to Knoxville to do a quick spot on an afternoon television program. Thanks to everybody at WBIR — a
nd finally dinner with old friends from Pasadena. Getting ready to hit the road again. Miles to go on I-81!
PAPERBACKS AND BOOK CLUBS
Preacher's Strawberry Jam Triffle
Since my first novel was released, I have met some of the most amazing readers, people who passionately care about their books. Many of them are, yes, members of book clubs. And when a book club invites me to visit, I do whatever I can to be there. From New Jersey to Arkansas, I have spent time with as many book clubs as possible.
And this is what I’ve learned about these reading groups. Some are more social than others. Some serve wine. Some are single-sex. Some are for couples only. Some are for mothers and daughters — and the girls get to pick the books! Some have a dress code (you come dressed as your favorite character). Some serve a menu based on foods mentioned in the book. Some meet in churches, most in homes, some in restaurants. Some talk about the book. Some talk about their day. Some only read books out in paper, no hardcovers allowed. But all of them READ!
So with the paperback coming out in one week, (Reading Guide included), I wanted to continue the celebration by sharing the ideas of one very creative book club organizer. The excerpt below is provided by Leigh DeFreitas, facilitator of the Riverdowns Readers of Midlothian, Virginia. Leigh, you’re amazing!
While browsing in my favorite independent bookstore, CARPE LIBRUM, in Knoxville, Tennessee, I stumbled upon this, then, newly released debut novel. When I approached the checkout counter, the bookseller exclaimed that I was going to LOVE this book, and no truer words have ever been spoken!
Well, you ask yourself, how does one go about celebrating such a debutante of the literary world? Did I not already suggest a party??? Read on…
Susan’s book mimics Rachel Ray’s list of recipe ideas for party foods. Try some of these tasty tidbits of Gilmore lore.
Recipe ideas from Leigh with book reference pages…
Preacher’s Strawberry Jam Trifle served in jelly jars(found at Kroger)p.66
Layer:
Prepared French vanilla instant jello pudding
Crushed shortbread cookies, graham crackers or GS cookies
Fresh raspberries or strawberries
Extra creamy cool whip (thawed)
Repeat layers and top with cool whip/fresh fruit garnish
PB & Strawberry Star-Shaped Finger Sandwiches p. 60
Spread peanut butter on one slice of bread and strawberry jam on the other piece.
Cut the finger sandwiches with a star-shaped cookie cutter.
Mrs. Gulbenk’s Good Housekeeping Tea served in jelly jars/mason jars (found at Kroger)—see p. 88 for the recipe
I served the tea with 12 oz. of hot water & 2 TB of tea mix.
Dilly Bars bought at a local Dairy Queen p. 8
Finally, for the finishing touches…
Serve your star-shaped finger sandwiches on Strawberry Shortcake children’s character’s plates from Party City, wear the character’s strawberry hat, and dress your dog in her Daisy Mae jean dress with the strawberry design blouse.
Now THAT is a Susan Gregg Gilmore book party!
And…who knows, someone might find salvation as well!
Other ideas: (they keep on comin’)
Bag a few chocolate chip cookies (p.135) and give as a parting gift along with a bottle of nail polish—look for colors like Blossom Pink and Baby Doll Pink
Have party gals bring a bottle of nail polish and present a prize of fresh tomatoes from a local stand for the neatest name of polish.
Have party participants wear hot pink flip flops.
Happy Reading!
Leigh DeFreitas
Thanks Leigh!
P.S. I’m hitting the road this morning so follow me on my blog, Facebook Fan Page (Susan Gregg Gilmore) and Twitter @susangilmore!
FIRST STOP . . . MY DESK
Book Tour Entry #1 from Susan Gregg Gilmore on Vimeo.
Well I was planning on leaving town on Wednesday for Salvation Summer Tour 2009 (my own nickname for this 6-week book tour to celebrate the paperback release of Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen). Unfortunately due to a small family emergency — I say small because everything will be fine — I am going to go ahead and jump in the car today and head on up to Washington, DC.
But stay tuned because I will be back with more video and more fun. This is just a little preview of what’s to come!
NEVER EAT A CONE ALONE . . . TAKE A FRIEND TO DAIRY QUEEN
Today I am officially announcing my SUMMER GIVEAWAY!
NEVER EAT A CONE ALONE . . . TAKE A FRIEND TO DAIRY QUEEN!
That’s right, you can win a cone for yourself and one for your friend simply by snapping your pic in front of your favorite DQ store. And if you’re one of the first, you might even win a free paperback copy of Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen (Three Rivers Press/$14.00)!
Yep, we’re celebrating the June 9th paperback release with some DQ treats. So get your camera out and head on over to the Dairy Queen.
For all the rules and regs, head on back to the Home Page.
And I must thank Nashville writer Randal Patrick for the wonderful slogan. You’re brilliant!!!
IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO LAUNCH A WEBSITE
Three weeks from today the paperback version of Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen arrives in a bookstore near you. And in celebration of the day, I wanted to implement a new, easier-to-read website. Wow, this was harder than birthing a baby — and trust me I know what I’m talking about!
But I want to thank Erin Pfister, the designer, and Brooks Harper at McNeely, Piggot and Fox here in Nashville for some last minute scrambling so we could get things up and running today. Everything may not be perfect quite yet, but you get the idea.
I have a lot more to share so come back and visit real soon!
