04May
Early May marks six months since "The Shopkeeper of Alsace" was released. The past half year has been more amazing, exhausting, exhilarating, and wonderful than I dared imagine.
(Launch event with NHPR at Concord's BNH Stage. 300 seats sold out!)
And it's all because of you: my smart, curious, kind, and yes - sometimes critical readers...whom I've met at libraries, bookstores, book club meetings, online events, community spaces, and so on.
(At North Conway's Pope Memorial Library, with Laura Cummings/White Birch Books)
(More than 100 people at the Keene Library, on a snowy Saturday in January.)
I'm so grateful you chose to spend some of your valuable time with my novel. And I LOVE your questions!
At every single book event, someone poses a question that I've never been asked. For example, at a recent Balin Books in Nashua event, an audience member wanted to know, "What exactly was on those cassette tapes that the Seibert family shared with you?" (It's a long response, perhaps shared in another post).
(At Balin Books in Nashua, on Independent Bookstore Day, April 25th)
Another unique question came up during an online book club meeting in February, as I shared some photographs as part of my talk: "What type of uniform is Melach (Sarah's husband) wearing in that picture?"
Great question! I don't know the answer, but I will ask his grandchildren.
(Photo from 1939, Courtesy of Brigitte Aumont)
One more question that I thought I would be asked a lot more, but has only been raised once: "How much are you like Sarah?"
The answer: hardly at all. Sarah Seibert was far braver, cleverer, and more generous than I am. I admire her so much. She's a role model for me, and I think for many readers as well. In fact, during a recent online book club meeting, whose members come from around the world, a reader from Goa, India, said that Sarah's courage and perseverance had helped her get through a hard time recently. Now THAT was moving for me, as the author, to hear.
Finally, here's one question that I get every single time I speak:
"When is the audiobook coming out?"
(I have fears like everyone, but they do not include microphones and public speaking!)
Oh, dear readers. I know I need to do this, and I want very much to do it. Obviously, I won't have to hire a narrator! But I have been overwhelmed with book outreach, publicity, scheduling events, social media...all the things I feel I must do to give "Shopkeeper" the attention it deserves. Also, I still have other work obligations and a family. However, I do have the names of several reputable audiobook producers. It's just a matter of contacting them and finding the time. I will do this - I promise.
Meanwhile, readers, keep being awesome. Keep sharing your insights, your questions, your curiosity. Keep sharing "Shopkeeper" with your friends and family...like my family, pictured below! And stay in touch!
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