Happy New Year! I certainly hope that you received a great book as a Christmas gift, and that you have taken some valuable time to read that book! I think talking about the book with others is very healthy! Not only does it help us share and challenge ideas, but it keeps supports a reading community.
I read Frankenstein the past couple of weeks, and I must say that I am taken (!) by this book, by the ability of Mary Shelley to write this at such a young age. I find when I read a book, I generally wonder "how did that author write that," and as I write this my mind has remembered how I wondered that when I read George Saunders' book Lincoln in the Bardo.
Writing a book is not easy, at least it was not for me. It was hard word, but take a mental tour of libraries, look at all the written material there. Writers did that! Amazing. I am thankful for writers because I know that if they didn't write, I would have nothing to read. So thanks to all the writers.
I did go to the National Book Festival in September in Washington, DC. A marvelous experience meeting people, listening to authors speak, and feeling honored to be one of 112 authors featured in the Great Reads from Great Places list. Because of that, I am speaking in 12 North Dakota libraries in the next two and a half months! We call them book talks . . . and they take many forms depending on the audience. Some attendees have read the book, some have not. It's important to check in with the group to see exactly where to focus the message. I do enjoy meeting the attendees and hearing their stories.
Here's a list of the libraries and the dates/times. If you are in the area, please come and introduce yourself!
January13, 6:00 pm Griggs County Public Library, Cooperstown, ND
January 14, 10:30 am Maddock Community Library, Maddock, ND
January 14, 6:00 pm, Lake Region State College, Devils Lake, ND
January 17, 2:00 pm, Rolla Public Library, Rolla, ND
January 22, 10:00 am, Kidder County Public Library, Steele, ND
January 22, 5:00 pm, Barnes County Public Library, Valley City, ND
February 21, 10:30 am, Halliday Public Library, Halliday, ND
February 21, 4:00 pm, Bismarck Veterans Memorial Library, Bismarck, ND
February 23, 6:00 pm, Fargo Public Library, Fargo, ND
February 24, 6:30 pm, Mayville Public Library, Mayville, ND
February 25, 6:00 pm, North Dakota State College of Science, Mildred Johnson Library, Wahpeton, ND
March 24, 2:00 pm, Minot State University Library Minot, ND
Each of these book talks is special to me. I look forward to sharing the story, the process, and your stories at these events.
Hope to see some of you there!
Keep reading!
Barb
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