Monthly Archives: November 2012
The 6 Stages of Thanksgiving: Race, Stuffage, Shock, Acceptance/Nap, Take-Out, Heave Ho
By now, the Stages of Thanksgiving should not be a surprise. After all, we’ve been through the holiday before. But lest you feel alone in your befuddlement, your sense of what-just-hit-me?, let me let me elucidate a little cycle that’s just played out in our home and share a spark of hope.
Manchester Road Race, 2012, pre-race line up
1. Race
The Race stage includes anything you did to show up where you belonged, whole and alive: plane travel, roadtrip, and pull-out couch included. You made it!… Continue reading
One Dark, Happy Night in Belmont
Leah Cypess and Caragh M. O'Brien at the Belmont Library, November 19, 2012
Last night at the Belmont Public Library, librarian Ellen Girouard provided inviting baskets of oranges for all of us to share, and the happiness expanded from there. I love it when kids show up at a reading and come right to the table with their curiosity and big eyes. (Waves to two charming sisters, M. and S.!) I love when a library event turns into a free-range conversation among the librarian, the readers,… Continue reading
On Hometowns and Travel
The Umbrellas of BDL. I must be home.
St. Paul is a hometown that always welcomes you back as if you’ve just been off on a little jaunt and must surely intend to move back soon for good. Former neighbors, schoolmates, and relatives came out to my reading at the Red Balloon Bookshop last Friday and lingered to catch up. I had the best time.
On three subsequent mornings, I had breakfast with three of my sisters, giving me glimpses into their lives. We had a dusting… Continue reading
Unexpected Gifts
You all know how much I love my editor Nancy Mercado since I babble on about her every chance I get. You may not know that these days, she’s on maternity leave with her sweet and miraculous babe. I couldn’t be happier for her. She gave me a thumbs up and an enormous amount of trust on her way out the door, and now, basically, I’m facing months of no editorial feedback on Book 1 of Project Next.
I have a complete draft, mind you. This novel… Continue reading