A Whirlwind Week

“You’re only here for a short visit. Don’t hurry, don’t worry. And be sure to smell the flowers along the way.” —Walter Hagen

Have you ever noticed how sometimes things seem to happen all at once? That’s how it’s been during release week for Along a Storied Trail. I’m getting to show up along with my book all around the internet. That’s good, but it’s hard to share it all without overwhelming you. And me! So I’m sharing a few of the places here on my blog today.

I didn’t get this post written last night because my husband and I drove to West Virginia to see our granddaughter graduate from high school. Last year I had a granddaughter graduate during the Covid shutdown. She had to go individually without a cheering support group to get her diploma. She had to have a drive through town parade substitution for an in person ceremony. That’s just not the way it’s supposed to be. So it was fun to be able to show up for my 2021 graduating senior this year. The kids all got to be in the same place. Parents, grandparents and friends got to cheer raucously for their kids that made it through. So fun.

But that wasn’t all my busyness for the week. Another granddaughter had a birthday party the same day as I celebrated the release of Along a Storied Trail. And I mailed out a newsletter on Monday. (I will get those e-mails read and answered.) Plus, I’m looking forward to an in-person book signing on Saturday at Tastefully  Delicious here in Lawrenceburg.  Also, later on Saturday we have a family celebration to attend.  Wait, I’m not through. Last, but certainly not least, I am busily doing edits on my work in progress that had a deadline date of June 1, but I was given a couple of weeks breathing room. I am trying to breath with time along the way to stop and smell the flowers. So many good things happening is not a bad thing. It’s a very good thing.

So here goes with snippets of some of my internet visits. You can read the whole interviews or posts at the links I’ve shared and even have a chance to win a copy of Along a Storied Trail if you check out the last one on Simply Susan.

“Behind the Words” on Readers’ Entertainment Magazine

What inspired this book?

A couple of years ago, after I wrote These Healing Hills, which has Frontier Nursing Service history and is set in the Eastern Kentucky Appalachian Mountains, two readers sent me information about the packhorse librarians, suggesting that might be history I could explore for a new book. I delved deeper into the history of the packhorse librarians and loved the idea of writing about a character that loved books and was tough enough to ride through all sorts of weather up and down the hills of Eastern Kentucky to share her love of reading with her neighbors. My publishers agreed a story with that background history might attract readers. I had a couple of other books to work on first, and was surprised when several other writers put out books about the book women before I got my story written. But interesting background history, appealing settings and engaging characters can give rise to many stories.

(Read the rest of the interview Behind the Words on Readers’ Entertainment Magazine)

Tansy’s Interview on Novel PASTimes

But before you have to go, tell us what you’ve learned while riding those rough trails as a packhorse librarian?

Oh, so many things. I’ve had the chance to have many more books in my hands and time to read more than a few of them. I’ve gotten to know my neighbors better and found out that even those who aren’t good at reading still like getting those magazines and books. Sometimes they simply enjoy the pictures in the magazines or they get their children or grandchildren to read to them. I do some reading aloud to people on my route when time permits. I never let weather stop me no matter how bad it is, because I know people are waiting to get those books to bring some light into their hard lives. But I’ve also learned books don’t hold all the answers. Some things you have to figure out on your own such as how the people nearest you can be the dearest. While books and stories are fine, the people you love are what make life blessed.

(You can see the rest of Tansy’s interview on Novel PASTimes.)

“Waves, Air Hugs and Hidden Smiles”

Over a year ago, when Covid19 hit and officials shut down all non-essential activities to try to slow the spread, most of us were thinking things coming to a halt for a couple of weeks wouldn’t be so bad. But then it wasn’t only a couple of weeks or even a couple of months. Normal activities came to a screeching halt. Grandparents were afraid to let their grandchildren visit. Birthdays and graduations were celebrated with drive-by waves. We shared air hugs from a distance and smiles were hidden behind masks. Toilet paper became the most sought after item at the store and grocery clerks looked exhausted from ringing up all the panic buying.

(Here I talk about how the pandemic changed or didn’t change my writing life. See the whole article at Southern Writers’ Magazine.)

Last here’s a chance to hop over to this post on Simply Susan and be in a drawing to win a copy of Along a Storied Trail.

“A Country Girl with a Big Dream” on Simply Susan

Hi, everybody. Susan invited me over to visit, but she said she didn’t want the usual song and dance about writing this or that book, although I do have to mention Along a Storied Trail that had its book birthday on June 1. If you like storytelling, you just might like riding along with my packhorse librarian as she takes books up into the hills.

Okay, that was my book pitch. Now I’m going to tell you a story about a little country girl with a big dream.

Thanks for reading.

Did you learn anything about me or my books you didn’t already know?