First – apologies for not posting in the past week. Things have been crazy, wonderful and busy.
Second – thank you, Garrison Keillor!!! I have been a huge fan of his forever and a long-time follower of his daily Writer’s Almanac feature. So you can imagine my thrill when I woke up this morning and found out that Garrison featured my birthday!!!! (Ahem, yes that is today.) And as if that wasn’t enough – HE PRONOUNCED “HALSE” CORRECTLY!!!!
(Pardon me while I do a few cartwheels!)
The other author mentioned today? Some dude named Michael Crichton. What Mr. Keillor probably doesn’t know yet is that YA authors Alex Flinn and Gordon Korman were also born today.
How old am I today? 49 years old. Which means that now the two-year celebration of my 50th can begin!! (I am not one of those people who freak out about getting older. I figure the alternative is to be dead, and I’m not ready for that yet.)
What am I going to do today? The Book Tour Gods kindly arranged things so that after I spoke at the English teacher’s conference yesterday, I was able to go HOME, which means I woke up in my own bed this morning (awesome!) and started my day with a mug of tea brewed by my Beloved Husband. Right now I’m hanging with my dogs and replaying Garrison Keillor’s thrilling pronunciation of my name over and over again. Might have to turn it into my ring tone.
In a couple of hours I am headed west to Rochester, NY, where I will be speaking at the Pittsford Barnes & Noble at 3 pm today. Care to join me?
In other news, FORGE has hit the streets and Week One of the Book Tour is officially over. Here are some highlights:
The Texas Book Festival in Austin was a blast.
I visited a couple middle schools and was cheerfully greeted. Thank you, ladies!!
Also got to hang out with friends and eat Mexican food at a kidlit party. From the right in this photo: David Weisner, Tony DiTerlizzi, some guy I don’t know, and Varian Johnson.
The Fryhover family currently holds the “Drove The Farthest To Laurie’s Event” award. They drove 9.5 HOURS to see me in Austin. They are totally getting Mad Woman in The Forest tee-shirts.
Along with visiting schools, libraries, and book stores, I spent several mornings on the phone doing interviews with radio stations all over the country. Anytime you can do an interview in your pajamas it’s a good thing.
Must get ready for my event now. More later, I promise!!
Congrats on the Garrison Keillor / Writer’s Almanac mention! I’ve subscribed to that e-mail for years, and to see oneself listed there would definitely induce cartwheels.
And congrats also to the Fryhover family! Such dedication deserves a shout-out (and lots of books to read along the way).
Happy birthday! This has got to be one of the best lines ever: “I am not one of those people who freak out about getting older. I figure the alternative is to be dead, and I’m not ready for that yet.” I want this on a t-shirt!
Happy Birthday! The other reason to celebrate 50 is that life does get better, and seems to continue to do so. This year’s birthday was my 53rd and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Here’s a book tour question for you: What do you take with you for reading during flights and down time?
Very fun to see a bit of your tour online like this. I am writing to say happy birthday and YAY for being featured by Garrison. He is one of the major reasons I began writing.
Go, Laurie! Many happy returns of the day, as Pooh would say, and full steam ahead for the fabulous 50s! Congrats on Forge, and on snagging a shout out by Garrison. How cool is THAT?
Happy Birthday! and WOW on Garrison Keillor’s mention. I’m with you on birthdays. I havent looked back since hitting 40.
hi,
i have a very bright 14yo daughter who will not read. hates reading, never let me read to her. but she loves to write. writes very well in fact. i wonder if i could entice her to read one of your books since based on the range of your topics GK described, there might be some interest. which of your titles would you recommend i start with?
thanks
guy
Happy Birthday! We’re the same age. I’m a little freaked about turning 50 next year, so I’ll remember what you said! And congrats on Forge. I can’t wait to read it.
And today Keillor’s featured Sarah Josepha Hale! I wonder if he got the idea when reading up on that Anderson lady.
Too cool!