Photos from Book Events & Other News

Hi, all. Happy Thursday.

During football season, which always makes me think of being back in college as an undergrad, I can’t help but remember that Thursdays were huge social nights on campus. Everyone went out on Thursday nights. In fact, I can remember getting ready with my roommates to head into Clemson’s little downtown or to one of the many parties across town, and leaving the house at 10 p.m.

I could still do it.

Ha. Bah ha. Ha ha ha!

Okay, that’s over.

Just wanted to share a new web site page of photos I’ve posted from the many Keowee Valley events I’ve attended since the novel was published in September 2012. There are definitely some I’ve missed, so if you happened to attend a reading, book signing, book talk, book club meeting, history lecture, party, literary festival, writer’s conference or anything else with me, I’d love to see them. You can email them to me at thewritingscott@gmail.com. Do let me know if they’re okay for me to post.

And let’s all remember, as we peruse these photos, that I was pregnant. In fact, I grew increasingly MORE pregnant as the year went on. Thank you.

* * *

In other news, I’m packing my bags and readying myself for the fabulous Carolina Mountains Literary Festival in Burnsville, N.C., tomorrow through Saturday. Because of this, there’ll be no “Show & Tell Friday” post this week. I’ll try to pick back up next week.

Some time this month I plan to celebrate Keowee Valley’s one year birthday. Not sure how. Now sure when. Not sure what. But it’ll happen, so be on the lookout.

My Appearance Schedule at the Carolina Mountains Lit Festival

Hey, all. Hope you’re having a lovely Thursday so far! It’s a bright, sunny day here in the mountains of Western North Carolina. Hard to believe it’s not raining, as we’ve had monsoon-like rain (or least it’s felt like it) these past several weeks.

Just wanted to share my appearance schedule for the 2013 Carolina Mountains Literary Festival in Burnsville, NC, coming up September 12 – 14. I’m thrilled about being part of this festival, as it’s got a wonderful tradition of truly bringing readers, writers, history lovers, and fans of Appalachian history and culture together. Not to mention the lauded authors who’ve participated over the years, including Ron Rash, Tommy Hays, Robert Morgan, Lee Smith, and so many more. This year I’ll be joining Elizabeth Kostova (the Keynote Speaker and author of The Historian and The Swan Thieves), Keith Flynn, Fred Bahnson, Stephanie Powell Watts, Abigail DeWitt, Dale Neal, and many more.

The full schedule will be available at the festival website on August 1st. But for now, here’s the information regarding my appearances:

Friday, Sept. 13
2:00 – 2:45 p.m. “Off the Beaten Path” SESSION 1
5:00 – 5:30 p.m. Town Center Legacy Room – BOOK SIGNING
7:00 p.m. Town Center Legacy Room – ART & THE STORIES BEHIND IT

Saturday, Sept. 14
2:00 – 2:45 p.m. “Off the Beaten Path” SESSION 2
5:00 – 5:30 p.m. Town Center Legacy Room – BOOK SIGNING
7:00 p.m. Banquet with Elizabeth Kostova

Other than these scheduled events, I’ll be attending sessions and readings, and hearing from the authors and historians that I admire.

Can’t wait! I hope you’ll join me: this truly is a fabulous festival.

Festival Weekend & New Books for the Shelf

Back from the 2012 Dahlonega Literary Festival down in lovely foothills of Dahlonega, Georgia! Though we (my family and I) were only there for a night and a day, we got a great taste of literary fun in a fabulous small town.



Our hotel room view

The hotel room where we stayed--all three of us--was a bit sparse (one of those where you drive up to your door), but we had everything we needed, and something unexpected: a gorgeous view of the North Georgia mountains.








Her daddy promised her lots of "jumping on the bed" on the ride down.

My 3 year-old adored the king-sized bed, and she and my husband had a giggle-fest building pillow forts and "bear caves" on top.

Bears in the bear cave

The fun she had in the hotel room almost made up for the fact that we all slept in there together, and she was up from 2 - 5 a.m. that night. Which meant, of course, so were we. God bless concealer, and the fact that I'd remembered to bring make-up at all.

Gold Rush Museum

The Festival was held on the beautiful campus of North Georgia College & State University. The buildings seemed so new, fresh and modern. I was especially impressed by the Library Technology Center, where I served on a panel of Appalachian writers during a session called "Appalachia in Fact and Fiction." With enormous windows facing all directions, high-beamed ceilings and wonderful natural light, it's just the sort of study spot I'd gravitate to were I student there.

But I spent most of my time in the Regional/Local Authors area of the Festival, held in the giant first-floor room of the Continuing Education Building. Tables were set up in racetrack style around the room, and organizer Ken Smoke did a great job of helping us authors find the perfect spot and get set up. On advice from my publisher, I brought copies of Keowee Valley to sell, a handy-dandy display of my book cover that I've been toting everywhere lately, postcards, and a huge bowl of candy. I am not above bribery.

I also decorated my little table with a long scarf made in the Crawford tartan. I wanted to give a little shout-out to my main character, Quincy's, Scottish roots.

With author Janie Dempsey Watts

It was my first time running a booth at a festival, selling my own books. And it was definitely a learning experience. My favorite part: meeting other authors, visiting, and just talking about the writing life. I also had a chance to make new author friends, like 2012 Georgia Author of the Year  Ann Hite (Ghost on Black Mountain), Mary E. Kingsley (Angel), YA novelist Akaeda Flame (Champion), and so many more. I also got to "officially" meet other authors and writers I've been connecting with online and over social media, including the fabulous Kimberly Brock (The River Witch) and Alison Law, publisher and editor of Southern Spines.

Add to all that a quick visit from my sister-in-law and favorite niece who drove up from Atlanta, and it was a jam-packed and thoroughly enjoyable couple of days. I left exhausted, but happy, and ready to add so many great books to my to-be-read pile.

Including Ann Hite's Ghost on Black Mountain, which I loved hearing her talk about, and is set up in my neck of the woods. Can't wait to get started!

Writing is often such a solitary pursuit. It's so nice to know there are other folks on the same journey, all struggling with time management, with the juggling act that is work-family-writing, with issues with the publishing industry--and who wouldn't change any of it for the world.

P.S. A couple more shots:

Historical marker on Dahlonega's truly cool Public Square.

And, Marilyn Monroe cowgirl boots, just sittin' in a shop window on that same Public Square. Awesome.

Down to Dahlonega

I’m thrilled to be headed down to the Dahlonega Literary Festival in lovely Dahlonega, Georgia.

Tomorrow, I’ll run a booth for Keowee Valley, and will speak at 2 p.m. as part of a panel of Appalachian writers in a session called “Appalachia in Fact and Fiction.” Also on the panel: authors Ann Hite (Ghost on Black Mountain), Walton Young (A Gathering of Eagles), Nick Wynne (Flighty Jo Jones), and Mary E. Kingsley (Angel).

I’ve never been to Dahlonega before, and I always look forward to spending time in cool little mountain towns. The weather is supposed to be gorgeous, and the literary line-up a real treat! Some of the other authors appearing include Karen White, Kimberly Brock (another Bell Bridge Books author, like me), Mark Warren, Cherie Priest, Carole Townsend, A.J. Hartley, and more–including keynote speaker Barbara Brown Taylor. I had the pleasure of hearing Brown Taylor speak at the Southern Women Writers Conference earlier this Fall, and she’s wonderful–witty, smart, souful and refreshing.

Even better, I’m being joined this time in my book travels by my husband and my three year-old daughter, who plan to roam the Festival and enjoy the kids’ events while I do my thing. Lately I’ve been traveling alone, so this’ll be fun! (Look for a tall man chasing a little blonde blur.)

If you’re in the area, I hope you can join us!