It’s an exciting time of the year. Summer’s here and my coming of age novel, STILLWATER, is launching soon! Believe it or not, I started the book in 2010, ten years ago. The book went through several revisions during that time; I workshopped it twice at UCLA and worked with Jennie Nash’s Author Accelerator program. I learned organizational skills in Dan Blank’s Mastermind Group, read my manuscript in weekly writer’s critique groups, and the book was always on my mind.
I started STILLWATER off with a quote from John Kennedy, “Be aware of the danger—but recognize the opportunity,” to give some foreshadowing to the story and create a little anticipation.
I had no idea that it would apply the book itself, but it does. STILLWATER is coming out in the middle of a global pandemic; the number of cases in California where I live goes up every day. There’s no way I can launch my book at the community room in the library as I had planned and I can’t have a party at a book store and read from my book while people sip wine and nibble on cheese, but I can ZOOM!
I can do ZOOM book discussions, meet with book clubs in ZOOM, and ZOOM with celebrities! It’s true. Colleen Cotter, the Executive Director of the Peninsula Friends of the Library in Palos Verdes, asked Tom Sullivan and me to be co-moderators on a ZOOM meeting with Marlo Thomas and Phil Donahue. (You remember That Girl and The Phil Donahue Show) How exciting is that? They’ll be discussing their new book, “What Makes a Marriage Last,” which is a great read right now because so many couples are staying safe at home and probably could use a few tips.
If it weren’t for the dangerous pandemic, Marlo and Phil wouldn’t be marketing their book all over the country in ZOOM meetings, and I wouldn’t have the chance to meet them virtually. What an opportunity!
The event is happening on Friday, July 24th, at 5 pm, and of course, you can come. Anyone, anywhere, in the entire country can ZOOM in, but space is limited. If you’re interested, email me for more details or check the PVLD website. Don’t miss out; it’s going to be a night to remember.