Books of Old and New

When I have time to wander through a book store, I always walk through the kids’ section. It’s a happy place filled with new worlds, adventures, and colorful covers. And, invariably, I pass a display with a few of the books I loved as a kid, myself (Cat In The Hat, Giving Tree, Cordoroy, etc). Or books I read with my girls (Mr. Brown Can Moo, How About You?, The Best Nest, I Love You More, andthe list goes on…).

You know, books that instantly transport me back to a happy time. A peaceful, contented time.

So tell me, what are some books that you adored as a child (a pre-reading child)?  And, if you’re a parent, books that your children adored?

~Elizabeth

The Seeds of A Story

Over the weekend, Jenna Kernan–my friend and fellow author–and I gave a talk on promotion via the internet. We talked about Facebook, Goodreads, Twitter, About Me, and our personal websites.

While Jenna was talking about her website, she showed us a page where she shares a little behind-the-scenes aspect of each book she’s written (where the idea came from, research, that sort of thing). As both a writer and a reader, I found that fascinating.

As a writer, stories start in the oddest of places. As a reader, I find the insider information to be an added bonus.

Anyway, it got me thinking about the behind-the-scenes of some of my books–the little nugget that springboarded an entire novel.

In the case of REAP WHAT YOU SEW (book # 6–which released last month), the entire book came into being after a seemingly normal conversation with a friend who happens to be a special education teacher. Her stories about a student who happens to be a kleptomanic hoarder were the early seeds of the book.

In LET IT SEW (book # 7–which will release on November 6th), the seed came from a curiosity about Alzheimer’s and what part of a person’s memory is/isn’t affected. That curiosity led to an email to my neurologist and his answer was the water my seed needed to grow.

For me, the seed is just that. A seed. Careful thought, along with my imagination, grows it into a book.

Kinda neat, isn’t it?

That said, now it’s your turn (as a reader) to share a book you’ve read that’s made you wonder about the seed that started it off for that particular writer…

~Elizabeth

Glory Days

Today’s Bits & Pieces has us going back…

To high school.

1) Did you get a class ring? Do you know where it is?

2) A school activity you were involved in (either athletic or otherwise)?

3) Class you despised the most and why?

4) Most beloved class?

5) A major history event that occured while you were in high school?

~Elizabeth

One Man’s Trash

Writing exercise time!

Anyone game?

Here’s what you do:  I give you three simple facts. You spit them out in an opening paragraph that can be a) funny, b) scary, c) deep.

Ready?

1) Tim

2) 16 years old

3) Due to a recent accident, Tim is unable to walk.

~Elizabeth

Memories

I love making memories. In fact, if given the choice between a new “thing” and a new “experience,” I’ll chose the latter every single time.

I suppose the reason for that is simple enough. A “thing” only has luster for a short time. Within a few days, it’s no longer new. Yet an experience is something you carry with you for years…giving you memories and, sometimes, shaping a little part of you forevermore.

Like the time my new blended family went to Branson together–fabulous bonding/fabulous memories.

Like the time I flew to California last year to accept my first ever writing award. Sure the award was a “thing,” but the part that I think of most was the room where the ceremony was held, and the screen that had my picture on it, standing in front of the podium and giving a quick little speech, and then sightseeing the rest of the time with my husband. Do I still look at the award? Once in a while (I would look at it more if my office was clean). But I travel back to that whole experience all the time.

There’s not a whole lot of moments in Dear Daughter # 1 and Dear Daughter # 2′s lives that I don’t revisit. Often. The smiles, the sweet expressions, the fun we had, and the things we did. Sometimes that fun was had around a particular toy, but most of the time it was just because we were together.

So tell me, what’s a special memory you’ve made in the past year? Something so tangible you can close your eyes and remember sights and smells and all those wonderful aspects that make a memory so wonderful?

~Elizabeth

Love You More

by Lynn Cahoon

What would you do for your child?  And if you had to choose between your child and your spouse, which one would you choose? Who do you love more?

In this thriller (LOVE YOU MORE), Lisa Gardner examines the lives of two women.  DD Warren – the detective who thinks she’s pregnant at forty with her first child and Tessa Leoni who finally found family and is now accused of killing her husband and child.

As the author, Ms. Gardner leads us through the evidence, all the while, the reader is hoping the evidence is wrong.  That the police are wrong.  Because we know who we like, and Tessa Leoni doesn’t feel like a murderer. Or does she?

While the main plot – finding a missing six year old and solving a murder is tightly written and a good mystery, the two female main characters ask a more personal question.  Can a woman be a great detective, great police officer, great anything in the career world and still be a great mom?  Or do we ultimately have to choose one world over the other?  Or worse, be mediocre at both?

Who do you love more?

This is the second DD Warren story I’ve read from Ms. Gardner and I really enjoy the character.  Especially now that I’ve seen a layer of vulnerability under the cloak of tough macho police detective.

I’m looking forward to the next book.

And I’m left wondering, can we be great at more than one thing?  Can a man serve more than one master?

 *               *               *

BIO – Growing up in the middle of cowboy country, Lynn Cahoon was destined to fall in love with a tall, cool glass of water.  Now, she enjoys writing about small town America, the cowboys who ride the range, and the women who love them. Contact her at her website – www.lynncahoon.wordpress.com

Best Word Ever

I love Mother’s Day. I love spending the whole day with the kids and not having to worry about errands or chores or who needs to be where/when.

I remember my first Mother’s Day with Dear Daughter # 1 (she was just 4 months old) and then with Dear Daughter # 2 (she was 7 1/2 months) like it was yesterday. And bits and pieces of each and every Mother’s Day since then is tucked away in my heart. Sometimes, I pull those memories out when I’m feeling blue or facing a test at the doctor’s or whatever. When I do, they make me smile. For as much as I always wanted to be a writer, I’ve wanted to be a mom even longer.

The early Mother’s Day celebrations were sweet–filled with lots of wet kisses, squeezes, and happy squeals when it came time for me to open their presents. These days, the kisses aren’t as slobbery (miss those) and the squeals not as loud…but the smiles are just as precious. And now, they plan the whole day. You know, what I might like to do, what I might like to eat, etc. 

No matter what they plan, they’re always spot-on with what I’d like to do. Because if they’ve planned it with me in mind, I win right there.

Mom.

It’s a beautiful word, isn’t it?

~Elizabeth

Spring

Despite the fact that we’re caught in a weather pattern that seems to be resisting spring more than not, I’m ready.  So I’m going to live my needed spring vicariously through today’s Bits & Pieces…

1) When spring first arrives to wherever you live, what’s one of the first things you always want to do?

2) Favorite spring  flower?

3) Is there a food you equate with springtime?

4) Favorite bird?

~Elizabeth

A Hint of Christmas…in May

Oooh…   The cover of LET IT SEW (Christmas in Sweet Briar) is here!

Isn’t it gorgeous? Once again, my cover artist, the uber talented Mary Ann Lasher, has outdone herself in capturing so many clues (like the sketchbook–with the actual sketch referenced) from the story in her illustration. Love it!!!!

Ho, Ho, Ho…LET IT SEW will be out November 6th and is now available for pre-order!

~Elizabeth

A Pinch-Me Kind of Day

Yesterday was one of those pinch-me kind of days. You know, the ones you dream about and then, when they happen, you wish you could freeze them in time.

I rode the train into the city and took the subway down to Penguin Publishing’s main office. The building, itself, houses more than just Penguin and has a very Devil Wears Prada (fancy) kind of feel. I checked in with the very efficient looking security guard behind the desk who, in turn, checked to see if I was on the admit list (I was!). Then, armed with the required badge, I boarded the elevator, rode up to the correct floor, stepped out of the elevator, and came face to face with the Penguin sign. Let me just stop here a moment and say, wow.

Wow.

My editor met me in the waiting area and brought me to a conference room where they had the huge carton of books (very early copies of HEARSE AND BUGGY–the first in my new Amish series written as Laura Bradford) they needed me to sign in advance of next month’s release date. So there I was, in Penguin’s offices, signing lots and lots of copies of my new book (which I held for the first time in my hand right there in that conference room. )

Surreal, I tell you.

Once the books were all signed, it was off to lunch with my fabulous editor where we caught up on all things book-related.

When our afternoon was over, I hopped back on the train and rode home with a big goofy grin on my face.  There is no doubt this day will stay with me for a very long time!

~Elizabeth