Entré: Hearty Meal spiced with nostalgia
Flavored with herbs, bitter and sweet
Available for take-out: September 14, 2019
Amazon and other retailers
Events:
Book Launch, Saturday, September 14 in Jacksonville, Florida, hosted by Judy Davis “a Southern Lady Friend,” Deerwood Country Club, 2-4 pm
* * * * *
Lancaster County Tour
Monday, September 23 Landis Homes near Lititz, PA, sponsored by the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society, Community Room West, 7-9 pm
Tuesday, September 24 Aaron’s Books, 35 East Main Street, Lititz, PA, 6:30-8:30 pm
(This listing does not include engagements with writing groups or other private events.)
You can receive autographed copies of my memoir at times and places listed above.
Book back cover
Coming next: Memoir Marketing, Part I, My Story in Pictures
Yay! It sounds like you’ll be busy, Marian. I’m happy Dorian isn’t going to spoil the celebration.
At this moment, Dorian is passing by Daytona Beach, about 100 south of here; by noon we’ll feel the full effects. As I type at 9:00 a.m., I hear breezes blowing through pines and oaks and wind whipping up the lake. So far, it looks like a tropical storm. It could have been SO much worse. Thanks for your prayers and concern, Jill.
I’m happy to see all of this come to fruition, both an ending and a beginning. You understand the whole process completely. Thank you, thank you for all your support along the way! 🙂
Good morning, Marian. How exciting to have a real book launch! And you have a bunch of book-related events, as well. I’m so happy for you. Wishing you all the best. I’m looking forward to reading the finished book.
“Real” is the operative word here. For so long, the book launch has been in my imagination, in the future. Now, it’s just around the corner. Thanks for supporting me every step of the way, Merril!
You are most welcome!
Not long now! All the best with launch!
Fatima, I appreciate your good wishes all along the way!
Wonderful headline Marian! Jolly good flavors there! Am sure you’re getting excited as are all of us – good luck with the build up 🙂
Thanks for your good wishes, Susan!
Yay!
Will get questions to you soon
Thanks for helping to spread the word, L. Marie. I’ll look forward to hearing from you!
I sent the questions over the weekend. I hope you received them. 😄
I don’t remember receiving them. But now I’ll go check my inbox. I get so much mail, but I wouldn’t overlook your message, that’s for sure.
So excited, Marian!
Thanks, Linda! It’s good to hear from British Columbia on this gray, stormy day.
Woo Hoo!! You go, Marian!
I value your support ever since we met in Chincoteague, VA, when Scattering Ashes was merely a manuscript on your desktop (via Scrivener).
Congratulations! I love book events, but I will be on a trip to Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard that week. That photo on the back cover looks familiar!
Verna
Obviously, you were the photographer, Verna. Who else would have access to the women’s dorm at LMS in 1963 – ha! Many thanks to this and other pics from our experience there.
I’m sorry we can’t connect in Pennsylvania; I’ll miss seeing you. Have a great trip to Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard. 🙂
Marian — love, Love, LOVE how you’re marketing your memoir. You’re rockin’ it!
You are my inspiration, Laurie! You have preceded me elegantly with a route to follow, examples to emulate. Huge thanks! 😀
What a creative way to introduce your book, Marian! Love it, and can’t wait to read it!
Elfrieda, I borrowed the book “entre” idea from Shawn Smucker, who has launched another book in July, Light from Distant Stars. So, the delectable dish idea not original with me, but it certainly suits my message. Thank you for noticing!
Enjoy every part of this journey, Marian. You have reached my favorite part — sharing the book with friends, family, and new readers, all of whom have stories of their own. And some of whom will have epiphanies while reading your story. So glad you do not have to spend your launch day removing sand bags or worse.
I know this will be my favorite part too. At this point, I’d like to observe others being transported as they relate to my tales with memories of their own. Amen and hallelujah!
As I type this, Dorian is passing by our latitude with drippy skies and a whipped up lake. Last week the hurricane was predicted to proceed through Florida’s spine as a Category 4 or 5. So, the entire city was super prepared. Now, we are suffering from hurricane fatigue: I’ve turned off weather news, listened to Beethoven for awhile, and have landed on the Country Hits channel.
Thanks for following me the entire length of the journey, Shirley!
Marian, can’t resist this Mennonite pun: “Can’t wait for your book “launch”! Get it? “Lunch” pronounced the Low German Mennonite way!
Clever, Elfrieda! I hope Low German people (and others) with find a literary lunch in my book launch. 🙂
This is a very satisfying meal! Just finished the main course the other day and will soon be sharing a blog post and review of course. That’s the final course! Ha. Your country club launch looks to be an ooh la la, sparing future hurricane blasts–we hope!
If you end up having any private meet ups here in H’burg, do let me know. Our September is very busy with my sister coming for 5-6 days so I cannot travel to Pa in Sept. like I maybe hoped. Plus Lions Club and family birthdays. We will meet someday, of that I am pretty sure!
Well, I’m not a country club type of girl, and the hostess is not the least bit uppity. (I know her from church.) It was a place of easy access for many around town.
About contacts in the Harrisonburg area. A few months ago I emailed Donna Witmer Souder, my contact from 2013 and our 50-year-reunion. She did not respond, so I don’t know whether she is still at EMU. (The message did not come back “undeliverable” though.) Sorry, but right now I have no other contacts in your area. Maybe I’ll make it to Homecoming next year.
Thanks for reading and reviewing, Melodie. You have been with me for most of this long, long journey, including with your reading a very rough draft. Your bit of advice about using the “Bishop” story as bookend was very helpful. 🙂
I’m thinking residents at VMRC would enjoy hearing your story and tales. I could check on the activities director there. There is a mix of residents there–some plain background, many non-Mennonite who might be interested in the book. Follow up by email with me if you wish.
Well this is exciting. You’ve come a long way with this book and to think you already have places to go to promote it. Good job, marian.
Promotion is Part II (or III) of the book writing process, depending on how you look at it. I think I shall enjoy closing the door of my writing and pressing the flesh, so to speak. 🙂
Wonderful! I’m marking September 14 on my calendar.
Dear memoir mate, thanks for marking your calendar. We have a few similarities in our heritage, but you are a West Coast woman now with a different perspective, so I’ll be interested in your opinion of my book. Thanks so much, Dolores! 🙂
I’m extremely proud of your five-year writing journey sharing parts of your life Miss Marian the Writer, now Author. I now look forward in hearing from others how they enjoyed their verbal meal.
And, you, for our wonderful visual contributions both in the book and in the marketing. Bravo!
Yay for you Marian! Enjoy all your new author moments! And lol, to Cliff’s comment. 🙂
Thanks for noticing Cliff’s comment. Quite a character he is. LOL!
Lol, his pride for you exudes in his comment. 🙂
;-D
Congratulations to you, Marian, on completing the writing and publishing components of your memoir. Now comes excitement and hopefully fun as you travel to various places to read from your memoir, talk with readers of your book, and perhaps find old friends and some new ones along the way. You and Cliff have done a beautiful job with your book. So happy for you!
You summarized it well – fun and excitement in the journey ahead. Thanks (again) for the compliment on the book, which I’ll have Cliff read.
Lest you think it’s fun and games from here on, I just got notification that the files for the e-book are in. The good thing is that they’ll be in color. The problem: I have to proof them. What! This strikes me as hilarious right now because today I got a shot in my right eye and am too tired to see straight. (Things will go better in the morning, I’m sure.)
It’s always nice to see your smiling face here. And I’m so glad you’re back in the game with pithy posts. 🙂
Congratulations Marian and looking forward to promoting on 18th.. hugs …
Thanks Sally, Super-Mega Promoter. I’ve made a note of this. Very appreciative! 🙂
If I lived closer you know I’d drive over to PA and get my special book autographed. I know you will love meeting your reading public – who will absolutely adore your book, as I do.
Of course you would! And some day we WILL exchange autographs. I feel it in my bones.
And, yes, I look forward to pressing the flesh, as they say, meeting new faces and encountering old acquaintances. You understand exactly how I feel, and I’m so glad to have you in my cheering section. Yay!
I do know how you feel. But I wonder if you get nervous like I do before meeting readers/potential buyers of your book. If so, my observation is that as soon as a reader looks you in the eye and says, “you’re an author! how wonderful. Would you sign my copy?” the nervousness leaves, and the joy takes over.
Yes, I feel some apprehension. Many of the people who indicated they are coming I haven’t seen in eons, but (as you say), I’ll soon get caught up in the moment and “go with the flow.”
I know I’m getting to the Good Part. Thanks, dear Pam, for cheering me on as I race toward launch. I think you are anticipating my thoughts and emotions, having been there several times. It is a new experience for me, but I have spoken to groups when I did training for the College, so I’m hoping I’ll relax into “the familiar” very soon – ha!
You have done it! Hurray and well done!
Thank you, Lady Fi!
I can’t wait. You’re about to have lots of fun talking about your book to people who’ve been anticipating its birth. Have a wonderful time introducing everyone to your new progeny.
I like the idea of progeny other than a son and daughter. You know the feeling, which seems to me like entering a strange zone I’ve never visited before.
Learning something new at 78 is lots of fun; I just wish I had more energy . . . To which Elaine might say, “Seeing your readers will energize you!”
Thank you for adding your own brand of wonderful to the conversation here.
Very excited to read your book! Hope to be at one of the Lancaster Book Signings. Thank you for the inspiration to share experiences! Ann Lizette Bomberger Watson
Ann, welcome back! You introduced yourself a few years ago, in 2016 I believe on the “dandelion” blog post. (Yes, I checked!) How wonderful that you can come to a book signing in the Lancaster area. Meeting you will be a highlight of the tour, that’s for sure! Thanks again for reading and commenting here.
It´s almost launch time!! You must be so relieved. All the best.
I’m slowly catching up on my blog reading, as we’ve made a one-day pit stop in Maine, before returning to Quebec. It’s so nice to see this professionally done and thought-out post, Marian. You have your act together and I’m so excited for you about your upcoming release and book tour. All the pieces have come together. Fantastic and kudos to you!
Thank you, Liesbet. 😀