Kristin Hannah.com Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin Hannah) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 19:56:00 +0000

Hello book fans--

I am sitting here on my back deck, under gray Pacific Northwest skies, trying to get everything ready for my upcoming book tour and the release of FLY AWAY on April 23rd, and I have to say, man the job of writing has become so much bigger in these wired-in, dialed-up, tuned-in social media days. I remember when all I had to do was write a book and pretty much walk away. :) Now, it seems that there's always more to do. I need a Kristin Hannah clone to do all the promotional duties that I am no good at. All of this t is my way of saying I'm sorry I've been gone for a while, and I can't tell you how much I appreciate you waiting for me. As a little treat, here's a copy of a scrapbook I made and narrated that tells you a little bit about the new book--and the book that started it all, Firefly Lane. What do you think? Are the places what you imagined?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XrBC2pGvOA&feature=share&list=UUUamFyjQIKBzPwXpPyBBmNw

As many of you know, Firefly Lane is the book that changed my career. Before it, I had already written eighteen novels, and really, I thought I knew who I was as a novelist. Then along came Tully and Kate. Following their story changed the way I saw my work. For the first time, I wrote a novel that spanned decades and touched on popular culture and delved into the relationship between best friends. The only viewpoints in the novel were the women. Sure, there was a love story in Firefly, but that was secondary. The real heart of Firefly Lane was the friendship between the women. The story incorporated a huge amount of my own life and my own history. It took me several years to write the novel, and when I finally finished, I was honestly exhausted.

But I always knew there was more to the story. It’s the first and only time I’ve ever felt that way after finishing a novel. Usually, when I come to the final edit, I am ready to let the characters go into their happy endings world. Firefly Lane was different. Tully and Cloud, in particular, haunted my thoughts, tugged at me. I couldn’t quite let them go, even when I went on to write other novels.

One day, I just knew it was time to go back to Firefly Lane and check in. You’d think it would be easy to step back into a world you’d created, but it was surprisingly difficult to find my way back to this story and these characters. I should have seen the troubles coming. We all know how tough it can be to come home after years away, and that’s what I found when I began Fly Away. There were too many stories to tell, too many ways for the characters’ lives to go. It really threw me off my game. I tried draft after draft, story after story. I wrote so many versions of Tully and Cloud and Marah and Johnny that my head couldn’t hold them all. I felt lost in the forest of too many choices. Every road I chose ended up leading me in the wrong direction. And then I realized what was missing: Kate. I simply couldn’t write about these characters without Kate. In her life, she had been the glue that held them all together; without her, there was no way I could revisit her world. Of course, that presented a bit of a problem, since she died in Firefly Lane.

Fortunately, I am a spiritual person and I believe in much more than what I can see. So, once I realized what was wrong, I knew how to fix it. Even if it was a little…unorthodox, even if it asked my readers to accompany me on an extraordinary journey. In that moment, Fly Away took shape in my mind. It became a novel about what happens when the one person who matters to you—the person who holds a whole family together—is lost. The funny thing is that I should have known it all along. After all, I wrote Firefly Lane as a tribute to my mom, who died of breast cancer when I was young. In Kate, I found a way to remember my mom. So, of course, I should have known that the sequel was about how you go on when the one you love is lost. When I found that theme, and the structure that accompanied it, I was able to do what I really wanted to do: write an emotionally powerful novel about familiar characters that stands on its own as opposed to a pure sequel. I don’t think you have to read Firefly Lane first, but if you do, I think Fly Away is that much richer and more compelling.

To be honest, the biggest challenge in Fly Away came because of you, my readers. I have been blown away by your support of Kate and Tully and the world I created on Firefly Lane. I thought of you all the time while writing this book. It was so important to me that I not disappoint you--and I also needed to write a novel that would completely stand on it's own. I look forward to your comments about the book. It's always fun to hear what you think. That's the best thing about all this social media. It's great to get know my readers. We always have so much in common.

Here is a link to the Fly Away tab on my Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/AuthorKristinHannah/app_465047440203515
You can find my tour information there. I hope to see some of you next month. Until then, please come onto my facebook page and keep in touch! I try to answer as many of the comments as I possibly can.

And have a great summer!

Aloha,
Kristin

FLY AWAY available 4/23/2013

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin) — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 19:00:00 +0000

Hello everyone!! First and foremost---drum roll please---here's the new book! It will be available on April 23, 2013!!! I know you've been waiting a long time and I appreciate your patience. Here's the link if you'd like to preorder it. http://on.fb.me/SwMUnSI'm What do you think of the cover? And maybe you'd like a little scoop of what it's about...

There's a conversation going on about it on facebook. Join in! I'd love to hear your thoughts. http://www.facebook.com/#!/AuthorKristinHannah?fref=ts

I'm sorry it's been so long since I was here---so long in fact that I had to scramble to find my password! It has been a wild and crazy year for many. In some ways crazy-good and in some ways not so good.

I'll start with the easy stuff. After twenty years in the same house, my husband and I decided to move. We didn't plan this. Honestly, we fell in love with a house we weren't even looking for, and suddenly it was a go. I spent most of the spring packing and throwing away (note to self: don't collect stuff you don't need). My library was the hardest part. I simply didn't have room for all of the glorious books I have read and collected over the years, so I had to find them good homes. :)

And then there was the book. This book. FLY AWAY.

It was a strange journey with this novel from the very start. For the first time in my career, I made the choice to revisit characters I'd created before. In this case, characters you may have met in Firefly Lane, five years ago. The simple truth is that these characters, more than most, stayed with me. I often found myself wondering what had become of them, and so I decided--at last--to find out. Turns out Thomas Wolfe was right. It's not so easy to go home again, or to turn back the clock, or to revisit the people and places of one's past. And so it was the the book that I thought would be easy, turned out to be the most difficult and trickiest of my career.

Why? Because of the characters. I loved them, quite simply, and I know that many of you do, also, and this became a pressure I didn't anticipate. I felt an incredible burden to accomplish what began to seem impossible--a great story that felt fresh and original with characters that made you laugh and cry and think. And it had to stand alone. It had to resonate and make sense and sweep you away even if you've never read Firefly Lane. Yikes. No wonder it was susch a tough year.

But the good news is this--after a long and creatively exhausting journey through words and lands and people, I am really happy with FLY AWAY and I can't wait to share it with you all. I can't wait to hear what you think about what has happened to Tully and Marah and Johnny and Cloud in the past few years.

Again, thanks so much for waiting for me--and for this book. I have gotten thousands of emails and letters asking for it, and I really hope you love it as much as I do. :)

With aloha,

Kristin

Home Front pub day 1/31!!!! It's almost here...

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:49:00 +0000

Happy January, fellow readers! This is a big month for me, as many of you know. It generally takes me about fourteen months to write a novel, so to have two books out in the same month causes quite a stir around the Hannah household. My Home Front tour is coming up fast. I'll be in the following cities between Jan 31 and Feb. 17: Seattle, Poulsbo, Santa Monica, Pasadena, San Diego, Washington DC/Bethesda, Raleigh-Durham, New York, New Jersey, Long Island, Miami and Vero Beach. You can find exact times and dates for these events at Kristinhannah.com or on the events tab on my facebook page. I hope to meet a lot of you!

For a homebody like me, the tour-a-palooza is a big undertaking. I'm supposed to be preparing for it, and I guess I am. As I sit here, in my cozy living room, sipping a cup of tea while I talk to you, I have a pile of clothes and shoes that need to be gone through. I make it a firm rule to take only carry on luggage on tour--so yes, this means that many of you will see me in the same outfit, but it also means that its easy as pie to move through the airports and there's no waiting for luggage when I land. I guess we all have to prioritize, and for me, I pick time over fashion. :) This will come as no surprise to any one who knows me...

I'd like to thank all of the book clubs who have read and embraced Night Road. It has been so much fun to hear from you--both here and on facebook. The book seems to be doing exactly what I'd hoped--sparking lively debate and conversations. It's so cool when a book can make a group of women come together to share their feelings and opinions and thoughts.

To everyone who bought Night Road and read it and told their friends, I want to say thank you so much. Your support and enthusiasm helped propel the novel onto the New York Times list and to keep it there. You rock!

And now, on to Home Front. Drum roll, please, this is my newest novel, and it will be available for sale on Jan 31. If you want to get it on day one, you can preorder your copy on Kristinhannah.com today.

As you all know, I have written a lot of books, and many of those books have touched on some powerful, emotional themes. I can honestly say that this one, Home Front, has become my favorite. There are probably a lot of reasons for that--it's a timely, provocative story about a husband and wife who have stumbled into hard times in their marriage and just as they're trying to decide what their future holds, the wife--Jolene--is deployed to Iraq. Her husband, Michael, is left at home, waiting for news, and must handle fatherhood in a whole new way. This is not a story you've read before--I promise you. I truly fell in love with my heroine this time. Jolene is a true hero, both at home and in wartime. I won't say any more, because its more fun to discover a book's secrets for yourself. But be sure and let me know what you think!!!

And now, I guess I better haul myself back over to that pile of clothes that need to be sorted through. Anyone on my tour route--tell me what the weather's like in your neck of the woods. :)

Thanks again for joining me here. I'll be sending out a newsletter next week with all kinds of cool interview links. So, I hope you're on my mailing list. If not, you can go to my website and sign up.

Man, I wish I knew how to post a link here... :)

Sending you sunshine and aloha on this rainy January day. Hope to see you soon!

Kristin

Free Thank You gift to readers...

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin) — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 19:06:00 +0000

Hello friends---

As many of you know, my upcoming novel, HOME FRONT is about a couple whose marriage is in crisis...and then the wife is deployed to Iraq and the husband has to stay home and become the kind of father he's never been before. It's about the price of war on a single, ordinary American family. It's about going to war, and coming home, and the challenges inherent in both.

I am really proud of this novel. I learned a lot about myself writing it, and a lot about the world, and about the sacrifice our citizens make on a daily basis to keep us all safe. I can't wait to hear what you think about it. I'll be touring in early February--hope to meet many of you then.

As a thank you to all of you, my faithful readers, and in honor of Veteran's Day, I'd like to offer you all a FREE downloadable copy of a short story I wrote several years ago. (I'm sorry that it's not available in print--maybe another time; I hope). Along with the short story, you'll receive an excerpt of Home Front. I hope you enjoy both. And thank again for all of your support over the years...

Let me know what you think!

Aloha,

Kristin

Aloha again to my blog friends---

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin) — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 00:55:00 +0000

Aloha my blog and firefly friends---

It has been far too long since my last post, and for that I am really sorry. It's not that I haven't thought of you all, or that I've had nothing to say, it's simply that for the past few months I've been inundated with life. Work, friends, family, travel, reading, social networking---I honestly adore all of it, and yet I find that I can't keep up with everything that I want to do. There just aren't enough hours in the day. I'm sure you all know what I mean. We women are movers and shakers--we get a lot done. A super human amount, actually, but every now and then the To Do list overpowers the available time list. That is where I've been. Tell me I'm not alone. Has this summer been crazy for you, too?

Although I've clearly fallen into the deep end of the blogging pool (help, I've fallen and I can't get up!!), I really truly haven't forgotten you all. The conversations we've all shared over the last few years and the e-friendships we've made have meant something to me. Which is why I wanted to check back in and let you know that I'm still here.

The biggest piece of my lost time puzzle has definitely been the new book. HOME FRONT is coming out Jan 31, 2012, and I can tell you that I've never had such a difficult time writing a novel--at least not that I can recall. The only upside to all of this hard work, all of these extensive edits, is that I'm really proud of this book. You all know me well enough to know that I don't say that lightly or often. It is, hands down, the most honest and real novel that I've ever written. I can't wait to hear what you all think of it.

For months now, I've been keeping the story under wraps. Maybe that's because the book feels so special to me...or maybe I've been scared. Who knows what goes on in the minds of a nervous writer? Only the Shadow knows. :) Anyway, (with a drumroll, please), here is the first tidbit about the story:

Like many married couples, Michael and Jolene Zarkades have to balance the pressures of everyday life--children, careers, bills, chores--even as their twelve year marriage is falling apart. Then an unexpected deployment sends Jolene deep into harm's way and leaves defense attorney Michael at home, struggling to care for his frightened, worried children. At once a profoundly honest look at the landscape of a disintegrating marriage and a dramatic exploration of the price of war on a single American family, HOME FRONT is a story about love, loss, heroism, honor, and ultimately, hope.

For the next few weeks, I'll be talking about the book on my facebook page. I know that most of you are already there, and I encourage the rest of you to please join us. I'll be giving out all kinds of information and answering questions and doing a few giveaways as we get closer to publication. I look forward to seeing your posts both here and there. But I won't give up blogging--honestly.

Thanks for still being here---

aloha,

Kristin

Summer Aloha Slowdown...

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin) — Fri, 20 May 2011 20:43:00 +0000

Aloha to all my web friends!

As you can see from the following photos, I am back in my favorite place in the world: Hawaii.
(This first photo is sunset on the night my girlfriends showed up!)

Although the weather has not been quite as good as I would have liked, it's still a LOT better than the gray and rain in my beloved Washington State.

As most of you know, I was touring with NIGHT ROAD for much of March. I was flying across the country, touching down here and there to meet you, and what a blast I had. Thanks so much to all of you who took time out from your busy lives to meet me. I was thrilled to talk with each and every one of you! (Above is the photo of me and good friends, Megan Chance, Jill Marie Landis and Jill Stadler at my favorite tiki bar in Hawaii--girls just wanna have fun!)

I thought you'd like to see this photo of Megan Chance and me (below). I'm sure I've mentioned her on this blog before, over the years. Megan and I met twenty-three years ago. It was kismet, really. We were both young, unpublished writers at a day long workshop. We met, decided to become critique partners and have worked together ever since. She's my first reader, always, and one of the people with whom I brainstorm ideas. She has a book coming out in June--City of Ash, which just received a starred review from Publishers Weekly. Woo hoo, Megan! And this was her first trip to see me in Hawaii. What a blast we had...

This is the three of us---me, Jill, and Megan, at a beautiful hotel on our last night in paradise. We had delicious drinks and pupus on a lanai, and watched the sun set into the Bay. Can't say a better aloha than that...

And now, all of my guests are gone and it is just me and my books and my husband and the island...

Right now, as I write this entry, I can hear the trade winds blowing through the coconut palms in my yard. I can also hear birds, and children laughing down on the beach, and the waves rolling in. It's absolutely perfect--the perfect place to rest, rejuvenate...and think of a new idea.

Yes, sports fans, it is that time again. I need a new idea. And why? Because my book for 2012 is an eyebrow hair away from finished. Yay!!! I am awaiting word from my agent and editor, but the great news is that I really love this book. I may have to do some more work on it, but I'm thrilled at the opportunity to roll my sleeves up and edit AGAIN because I really want to make this book even more special. I can't wait for you to read it!!! I can say with confidence that it has the best heroine I've ever written. I know I'm being a little mean, even saying anything, but I wanted you all to be the first to know how happy I am with the book. Soon--hopefully in a month or so--I'll feel comfortable releasing some more information about this novel, which has a MOST unusual setting for me. I really walked into a world I know nothing about for this one...

In a way, I wish I could keep working on it forever. Anything is better than trying to come up with a new idea. That is definitely the hardest part of the whole process for me.

Finally, I want to thank you all for your support of both NIGHT ROAD and WINTER GARDEN. Winter Garden has spent twenty weeks on the NYT bestseller list. Wow. That is absolutely amazing and humbling, and I can't thank you enough. I have also been blown away by your love of and support for Night Road. You guys rock!!!

And now, I guess I'm going to take my book down to the beach. In the past weeks I've read Harlan Coben's Long Gone, Lisa Gardner's Love you More, Discovery of Witches, and the Paris Wife, and Water for Elephants (I know, I know, I was the last person to read it, but I ADORED it). What have you read? What's on your summer TBR pile?

Aloha for now---

Kristin

tour 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin) — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 22:57:00 +0000

Aloha everyone!

As you know, I always like to begin my posts from magical Hawaii in the same way, with an e-gift of flowers from my yard. So here there are. I'll admit it's a small bouquet, not exactly stunning or eye catching, but these are among my favorite plants over here. And well, not eveything has to be top drawer, does it? Sometimes the very best things are those that are more often overlooked. Not that I mean to get philosophical. Frankly, after the last two weeks, I don't think I have enough brains cells left to philosophize well. :) For those of you that have been following me on facebook, you know how crazy busy I've been. What was it eight cities in ten days? For a girl who spends most of her life in sweats and flip flops, it was a blistering pace, that's what I know. The good news, no, the GREAT news is that I got to meet two Fireflies--Patricia and Linda. It was so great to meet them; after all the exchanges on the blog over the years, I felt instantly as if I'd know them forever. Thanks for showing up, girls! Patricia---post a pic on facebook!

Here are a few photos from along the way. This shot to the left is from Anderson's Book store in Naperville, Illinois. As usual, I had a wonderful time at this store. The staff is fabulous and so supportive, and of course, my good buddy, Susan Elizabeth Phillips lives not too far away, so she and her charming husband took me in and fed me until I couldn't eat another bite. Spending time with her was really one of the highlights of the trip. This is me at the Margaret Mitchell House in Atlanta. How cool is that? Me...at the Margaret Mitchell House. Like most of you, I grew up with Gone with the Wind. It was one of the most influential books of my teen years, and the movie was equally special. My mom took me to see it when I was thirteen--we had to drive over two hours to see it on the big screen. Of course, because I was a teenager, I'm sure I complained the whole way... She knew, as always, what was best. I know that somehow, she knew I was there...

This was one of my favorite stops. Raleigh Durham, North Carolina. First off, it was the first place I saw sunshine (maybe the ONLY place I saw sunshine) for the whole tour. But even more than that, I experienced a ton of good old fashioned Southern hospitality. The crowd was lively and friendly. We had a great time. At least, I did! Here I am in the Big Apple. As you all know, New York is one of my favorite cities in the world, and I had an absolute ball here...

Especially because I got to see my wonderful, darling, beloved agent, Andrea Cirillo (left), and her partner, Meg Ruley. What book signing event isn't just a little more fun after a glass of nice champagne with girlfriends?

And now, after all of that travel, I am back in paradise. I just finished reading Harlan Coben's new book, LIVE WIRE, which, of course, I loved. He just never disappoints.

Tonight I have a luau/birthday party to attend, and then it's back to work. I have--hopefully--one more draft to do for the 2012 book. (I say hopefully, but in fact I have no hope at all--it will definitely take two drafts at least). The good news: I heard back from my agent and she loved it. The bad news: she could like it better. :) I can't wait to dig into her edit letter and get started. I think this really has the potential to be a special book and I don't want to let you all down!

Thanks again to everyone who visited me on tour. You can't know how much I love meeting all of you, and hearing from you. And to those who lived in places far from where I landed--I hope to meet you next year. Keep posting here and on facebook!

Aloha and all my best,

Kristin

Publication Day survival and contest news!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin) — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 16:10:00 +0000

Hello everyone!!! Well, I did it, I survived the publication day craziness for Night Road and my first book signing and pre-event. And, of course, it was all absolutely wonderful. I have said

before that I love meeting my readers and it's just so true. For so many years of this career I was a recluse. To meet so many of you at Third Place Books in Seattle was a blast. And standing room only! I'm so sorry they ran out of books.

But before I talk more about me, I know you want to hear about YOU. You want to know who won the contest. I should have announced it yesterday, and I'm sorry I didn't. I fell into the getting-ready-to-tour pit and couldn't get up.

Without further ado, the winners of the NIGHT ROAD advance reading copies are: ANITA, KARI SIMONSON, and TRACY LYNN HALL. I know I said there would only be one winner, but I am simply so touched by all of you who stick it out with me on this blog, that I am giving away almost everything I have. :) ENJOY. Please contact Kim Fisk on my website and put contest winner in the subject line. She'll make sure you get your copy. She's MUCH more organized than I am.

Now, I guess I need to get moving. :) I have to put the finishing touches on my packing--btw what is this with the changeable weather? I'm packing for spring, I'm packing for winter...snow...sun...snow...sun. This is not an easy thing when you are determined to travel with a single carry on bag. And I am. If I could do Italy for a month and Africa for five weeks with one carry on bag, certainly I can tour for a few weeks with one. The biggest problem is the shoes, but I'm sure I'll figure it out. :) Again, I hope to meet as many of you as possible. You know you can check the tour schedule on my website. KristinHannah.com. Hope to see you!

Last but not least, I'd love to know where you're finding Night Road, where it's available in your town, so let me know.

Talk to you all again soon. Aloha,

Kristin

NIGHT ROAD ON SALE MARCH 22....

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin) — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 00:55:00 +0000

Here's a snippet from my favorite review of Night Road!

“Hannah effectively builds tension as the novel moves towards the pivotal tragedy and maintains suspense afterward not only with several surprising twists but, more subtly, with the way she limns the grief and eventual healing of her appealing characters. A breakout for popular novelist Hannah.”--Booklist

A breakout. Woo hoo!!!

Hello to everyone from the rainy, gray Pacific Northwest. It's funny, I always hear from readers that they love the local settings of my book--well, let me tell, you, mid-March in my backyard is a dreary place. When I look out the window, really all I see are shades of gray. I love it! Why? What's better on a rainy day than to read--or write--a book? Which reminds, what are you reading right now? We haven't done a reading shout out in a while...

The rain means spring, and spring means that I have a new book out. NIGHT ROAD, like Firefly Lane, is a book that comes from my own life. It’s about the best, worst, most stressful, most frustrating, most wonderful year of my life: my son’s senior year of high school. I don’t know about you, but I remember senior year as the best of times. Believe me, it’s a whole lot different on the other side of the fence, when you’re the parent, worrying constantly. It’s all very natural—kids trying to test their wings and fly; parents trying to keep them safe. Senior year these days is a dangerous time of testing limits, parties that spring up in the dark like mushrooms, and the kids think they’re invincible. That’s the setting for Night Road—the push/pull between parents and kids in that last, most important year of high school. I think you’ll find a piece of your own life in there, whether you’re a parent of small children, of high school students, or even if you’re a teen, in the middle of a time you don’t quite understand. Most of all, I hope the book sparks a dialogue between parents and kids about how to be safe in a dangerous world. I talked to the good folks at Barnes and Noble about the book. If you’d like to watch the interview, here’s the link: http://media.barnesandnoble.com/index.jsp?fr_story=80ae78d309887165ffbdd36abf44a2700965330d&cds2Pid=29166&linkid=1690678 Although, I have to be honest, I haven't worked up the courage to watch it yet. :)

If you're on my facebook page, you probably already know that I'm getting ready to go on tour again. In between drafts of my new book, I'm fervently searching the web for clothes. It's not fun, but I like it better than "real" shopping. :)

I will be coming to a city—hopefully-- near you. (If it’s not near you, please don’t blame me. We authors are mere pawns in the game of cross country touring). Between March 22 and April 12th, I’ll be in Seattle, Poulsbo, Redmond, Portland, Beaverton, Chicago, Naperville, Dallas, Atlanta, Raleigh-Durham, New York City, Red Bank (NJ), and Columbus. If any of these cities are close enough, I’d love to meet you! In several cities, I will be hosting special book club oriented “pre events.” If you belong to a book club—big or small--or you’re thinking of starting one, this is your chance to come and talk to me for tips and/or advice, or just to say hi. If you can make it, please send an RSVP to Sarah.Goldstein @stmartins and tell her you’ll be there. That’s all you need to do, but please RSVP quickly—some locations have limited admission. I look forward to meeting you and signing your books. Check out KristinHannah.com and/or my facebook page for dates and information. (Also, if you live in any of these areas, I'd love to know what the weather is like now...)

Don't forget---I'm giving away a copy of Night Road. Comment to this blog entry and you'll be entered. The winner will be announced on the 21st of March.

Also, just fyi, I often run contests on my facebook page, so if you haven't checked it out, don't be shy, join me there, too!

I have had so much fun talking to book clubs in the past few years. If you’d like to talk to me about Night Road, just fill out the form on my website Kristinhannah.com and I’ll do my very best to be available via speakerphone on your meeting day. I know you’ll find a lot to talk about in this novel—it’s about such a timely subject and the choices these characters make are sure to spark some animated conversation.

THANKS SO MUCH to all of you who supported Winter Garden in trade paperback. It is currently on its TENTH WEEK on the New York Times best seller list. Sales have exceeded my wildest expectations—and best of all, I am hearing so much wonderful feedback. It’s been especially well received by book clubs, and it’s been a pleasure to talk to so many of you about it. I appreciate all of your support for this novel that is so near to my heart.

Hope to see many of you on the road---

All my best,
Kristin

First Night Road ARC giveaway--you heard it here first!

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin) — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 04:05:00 +0000

Check out these early reader reviews on NIGHT ROAD!!!

Hello everyone!

Well, the official countdown has begun. Night Road comes out on March 22--those of you who have been following this blog for a while know that this is earlier than previously announced. That's right, the publisher has moved up publication to MARCH 22. That's less than six weeks away. That means spring is just around the corner.

I can't believe how fast time is moving. Are you having the same sense? I mean, wasn't it just 2010?

I've been so busy working in the past few weeks that I've hardly come up for air. My husband went to Hawaii for a much needed boys' week. He and a good friend spent several days working in the yard (at least they tell me that some work was going on), and sitting on the beach and visiting old friends. While he was enjoying the sunshine, I was holed up at home, working on the book for 2012. I hate to admit it, but I love working like that---when my husband's gone, I work 16 hours a day. Write, write, write. And thanks to all of that work, I am officially one scene from the end. One half a scene, maybe. Woo hoo!!! :)

Now, those of you who have read the blog for a long time know that I go through a lot of drafts--finishing once or twice or even three times, doesn't mean a whole lot in the end, but it darn sure feels nice now. Next step, I give it to my critique partner, Megan Chance, and she tells me where I went right and where I went wrong. I pray for more right than wrong. :)

I'm also gearing up for the Night Road tour in late March and early April. Here are the cities I'll be visiting: SEATTLE, PORTLAND, CHICAGO, DALLAS, COLUMBUS, RALEIGH-DURHAM, ATLANTA, NEW YORK, and RED BANK, NJ!!! Here's the link to my website where you can find dates and times and events. http://test.kristinhannah.com/content/about_kristin.php?id=Tour+Dates

Who can join me???? I hope some of you can find time in your busy schedules to come and meet me on the road. It should be a lot of fun!

And now, without further ado, here's the first official--and as yet top secret--NIGHT ROAD advance reading copy giveaway. I am going to give away a copy to one of you, my regular blog readers/posters. It's my way of saying thank you all of you who have been so supportive from the beginning. All you have to do is comment to this blog. On March 15th--one month from today, I'll pick one lucky winner to receive a signed copy of a collector's edition ARC of Night Road.

If you want to double your chances of winning, check out my facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/AuthorKristinHannah I'll be giving away an ARC on there, too!

Good luck to all of you!

And now that my first draft of the new book is done, what should I do? Run? Sleep? Go to the movies? No...READ!!! I can't WAIT to curl up with a good book. I'm busy collecting books (real books and ebooks) for my upcoming trip to Hawaii. What should I read next??? I'm looking for suggestions.

By the way, THANK YOU TONS AND TONS to all of you who bought Winter Garden in the past few weeks. To my awe and amazement, the trade paperback version hit NUMBER ONE on the bookscan bestseller list for several weeks in a row. On top of that, WG hit the NY times, Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly, Bookscan, Barnes and Noble, and USA Today bestseller lists. I am so so grateful. Thanks! You guys rock!

Don't forget: I want to know who can meet me on tour! Let me know...

With aloha,

Kristin

Secret Winter Garden giveaway--hush: don't tell

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin) — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 02:37:00 +0000

Happy New Year to all my friends on the firefly blog!

First, let me say that WINTER GARDEN IS FINALLY OUT IN PAPERBACK!!

Now, that I'm done with that, I know what you're thinking: I've been gone too long. What can I say? You're absolutely right. These past few months have been a real roller coaster ride. As many of you know, my son came home for Thanksgiving, and as always, we had a great time together. This year was a big one at my table--lots of cousins, aunts and uncles, and friends. I was especially happy to host my brother and his family (whom I adore). All of that cooking and shopping and table-setting paid off big time. For those of you who are interested, I stumbled across a KILLER sweet potato recipe. If you're interested, I'll be happy to share.

Then, of course, in the blink of an eye, it was December. You know what that means: the holidays. More cooking, cleaning, shopping, wrapping, and planning. My immediate family spent the holiday--as usual--skiing in Northern Idaho. The weather was flawless--bluebird skies, feet of new snow, and short lift lines. We had an absolute dream of a time. The only problem was that I spent most of the week trying to keep up with my twenty-three year old son (until his friends showed up en masse). I don't know if you've ever tried to ski all day (and I do mean all day) with a twenty-three year old who got new skiis for Christmas, but I can tell you it is HARD work. One steep black diamond run after another. I would just catch up with him and he would take off again.

Advil became my best friend.

Finally, his friends showed up and my role changed. I didn't have to keep up with the kids anymore, I just had to feed them. And feed them. And feed them. And oh yeah, mom, Ryan is a vegetarian. :) What can I say? It was crazy and madcap and I loved every minute.

Now, though, the holidays are over, and life is coming slowly (or not so slowly) back to normal. We are home again (nice title, don't you think?), our son is flying back to sunny So Cal even as we speak, and I have control of the remote again. :) I am back to work, writing. Or, well...kind of writing. I'm actually editing. I read the 150 pages I had written (the fourth draft) of the book for 2012, decided it was BORING, and threw most of it away. So, yes, I'm starting again. Sigh.

The biggest news is that Winter Garden is finally coming out in trade paperback. I'm really excited about this, because I know how many readers--and book clubs--have been waiting for this day as much as I have. As you know, I talk to book clubs via speakerphone, and I can't wait to start hearing from clubs who have chosen Winter Garden in paperback. Don't be shy.

And now, for the secret part of this blog. I do a lot on facebook these days, but this blog will always have my heart, so here it is: a secret giveaway. On January 6th, I will give away a signed copy of Winter Garden to someone who comments on this blog. I will close my eyes, pick a number and choose one of you to win a copy of the book. Good luck!

Winter Garden Giveaway!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin) — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 01:40:00 +0000

Hello everyone---

For a homebody, I sure have been traveling a lot lately. This past week saw me hurtling across the country to one of my favorite cities in the world. New York. Honestly, I adore this glittering, elegant, everybody's rushing around city. You may remember that last February, when I was in the Big Apple on tour, the weather was awful. Snowy and cold and ugly. I spent hours on edge, waiting to see if I would even be able to make my flight.

Not so this time. Last week, after a long and thankfully uneventful flight, I
I checked into my midtown highrise hotel and woke to a flawlessly blue day. And they were beginning to put up the Christmas decorations. I even got to see the tree being delivered into Rockefeller Center! I stood there like a classic tourist, mouth open in awe, watching the tree go up, with the brightly colored skaters gliding to and fro beneath it and the flags flapping in the breeze. It was a magical, Home Alone moment.

As many of you know, I went to NYC for a cocktail party. How cool is that? I mean, who would think a person would get to fly to NY for a party? It's all very Jennifer Aniston/Cameron Diaz, don't you think? And guess what? I wore big girl shoes. :) It sounds crazy, but as a writer who lives in a small town, I spend most of my time in sweats and Uggs. Heels are about as much a part of my life as high chairs are these days. But the cocktail party was in my honor, so I wanted to look my best. After much dithering, I ended up wearing a dress that I found at a small boutique in Italy, along with a handmade necklace that I bought from the same shop. And then there were the shoes--I bought them online from Nordstrom and failed to actually look at the heel height. When they came, I thought--no way. I can't walk in these. And then I thought, what the heck. I'm going for it. :) I practiced and had an absolute blast. The photos above are from the interview I did with WABC TV prior to the party--and yes, that's Night Road that celebrity interviewer Sandy Kenyon is flipping through. He was an absolute doll and made the interview a ton of fun.

But now it's back to real life. Like you, I'm gearing up for Thanksgiving (getting recipes together--thanks to many of you for ideas), re-working the first two hundred pages of the 2012 book, and beginning to contemplate Christmas shopping. How about you? What are you all doing these days? When do you start your holiday shopping?

Thanks to the many of you who voted for my tour stops this April. We were literally overwhelmed by the number of votes. My publisher is busy interpreting all the data and using it to figure out tour dates. I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible. Keep checking the blog and facebook for more information.

Finally, I'm doing a Winter Garden Giveaway on December 10th. There are two ways to enter. The easiest way is to go to my facebook page and "like" it. Anyone who likes the page is automatically entered. But of course, I want my firefly blog friends to be a part of the big giveaway, so if you can't join me on facebook, please email me through the website and just say enter me!

Good luck to all of you and here's to a wonderful Thanksgiving week for all of us. If anyone would like to share recipes for side dishes or desserts, please do. I LOVE collecting recipes and seeing what everyone else eats on the big day.

Aloha for now,

Kristin

Happy Halloween!

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin) — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 04:05:00 +0000

Happy halloween, friends--

How can you not love a world which offers you a view like this on an autumn evening? As you know, I just got back from Italy, and it's easy on a trip like that to be seduced by all the beautiful places in the world--the historical sights and museum pieces and strangers-who-become-friends. But what's really magical is remembering how special it can be in your own backyard.

October has always been one of my favorite months. I love the crisp, cool air, the return of the deep green grass, the gilded sunsets, and the multi-colored leaves. But mostly, I love the last, heralded day of the month. Halloween. I love driving down the streets of my small town at five p.m., seeing the pint-sized ghouls and goblins and Harry Potters walking down the streets with their plastic jack-o-lantern candy carriers, clutching their parents' hands. I love the parents who walk these same streets in haphazard, hastily thrown together costumes, standing back while their kids go from door to door. It all reminds of the days, long ago, when my own little Batman held my hand and laughed at the door of every neighbor's house.

I also love Halloween because it is the beginning of the holiday season. I know, I know, we don't want to rush the chaos that's coming, and we all have huge holiday to do lists, but just now, in October, we can stand back and gaze with starry eyes at all the family moments and memories that are just beyond our reach. I can think about what my Thanksgiving menu will be, gather recipes, consider place settings, and imagine that the big day will be exactly what I want it to be. Of course, there's all the cooking, cleaning, shopping, planning, baking, etc. yet to come; but that's all in the hazy future. Today, I can think about how wonderful the holidays will be and how excited I am to get together with the people I love. And, best of all, I know my son will be coming home and for a little while, we'll all be together again...

All this holiday talk reminds me. What are some of YOUR favorite holiday recipes? What are the "must haves" on your holiday table? Maybe we could all share some recipes on the blog. I'm especially looking for an exceptional sweet potato recipe. Got one? Share it!

As you probably know, Winter Garden is coming out soon in trade paperback--perfect for the book clubs that have been waiting for it. I'm gearing up to do a big giveaway in December, and--drumroll, please, I'm also going to give away a few precious copies of my new book, Night Road. I'd like to give away some on Facebook and some on the blog. I'm just wondering--how many of you are on both the blog and my facebook page? For those of you who are both, which do you prefer and why?

Finally, don't forget that my publisher is currently planning my April book tour right now. I'll be hosting a book club in some city--and it could be your city. All you have to do is vote--and maybe I'll be coming to a book store near you. I'd LOVE to meet some fireflies on the road. The voting lasts for 10 more days, so let your voice be heard and VOTE! Here's the link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/3XMHKQ7

Hope you all have a fabulous Halloween and an even better November...

Arrivederci--

Kristin

Hello from Italy!

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin) — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 08:41:00 +0000

Hello everyone from beautiful Italy! It has taken a long time for me to find a good enough internet connection to update the blog, but don't think I've forgotten about you! I've been trying and trying...although I have to say, on my big birthday tour of Italy, I've found myself so busy that it's been hard to find time to sit down at my laptop. :)

This has truly been a magical trip--it's really taken the sting out of getting older. No, not really, I don't mind getting older. Don't get me wrong--I don't love some of the changes I'm seeing--but I really do like growing older. Wiser. Stronger. Bolder. Honestly, a lot of the things that bothered me when I was younger don't bother me now. But I digress.

The point is Italy. What a country. Like many of you, I have dreamed of seeing this countryside for years and years. When I was busy raising my son and building my career and being an important part of my community, I couldn't even think of taking a vacation this long. Now, I am loving it. I have finally found the one thing I love as much as writing--seeing the world. Experiencing new places and people and customs.

As you would expect, the food is remarkable. (Can you say elastic waistband??). And we have been enjoying it! I even took a cooking class and learned to make homemade pasta, among other things. It was wonderful.

Of course, I've been reading here and there---reread Harry Potter 7 in anticipation of the movie (as good as I remember and perhaps better), Fragile by Lisa Unger, a few research books, and the entire Hunger Games series. For those of you who have read the HG books, what did you think?

And now, for a little top secret news. My publisher is planning a promotion for Night Road. I'm going to be hosting a book club party in a city somewhere---and it could be your hometown!!! All you have to do is go to this link http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/3XMHKQ7 and vote for your city and club! Good luck!

Well, I'm off to see Michaelangelo's David! Only waited a lifetime for this...

Arrivederci,
K

Drum roll please...

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin) — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 03:37:00 +0000

Well, book fans.....

Here it is! This blog is absolutely the very first ever glimpse of the cover for my new novel. Night Road will be available for sale in late March 2011. Who wants to guess what it's about, based on the cover???

What do you think?

Can wait to hear...

Aloha for now,

Kristin

Danskin triathalon!

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin) — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 22:16:00 +0000

Hello everyone!

Well, here's team Firefly on the day of the big Danskin triathalon. That's Emily on the left (she was the team swimmer, who started the whole thing), Lisa (the bicyclist) in the middle, and yours truly, the runner, on the right.

How many of you have been to your local Danskin triathalon? I had never been to Seattle's before, and I'm thrilled to be able to tell you all about it. First of all, like a lot of triathalons, the Danskin is a charitable endeavor. All of our entry fees on Sunday helped out our local foodbank and--one of my favorites--Susan G. Komen. The money raising is fabulous and makes it all that much easier to donate one's time. I have to tell you, though, it may have been the connection to Susan G. Komen that got me to run, but once I got there, it was about something unexpected. Girl Power.

I can hardly find the words to describe how moving and powerful this event was. There were five thousand women competing in the triathalon--which was a half mile swim in open water, a twelve mile bike ride, and a 5k run. Some, like us, divided the work and formed a team, and some brave souls did it all by themselves.

Here's what was so amazing and moving. During my run, there were always women in front of me. (No jokes about it being a reflection of my speed). We all started at different times---whenever the bike ride was done, the runner started--so it wasn't really a head on competition with any other woman. It was really a personal thing. You against the clock, the weather, the fear, the hope, everything. All along the route, there were people cheering you on, clapping, telling you to keep trying. Anyway, the point I was going to make was about the women in front of me. Time and time again I found myself looking at the back of a pink t-shirt that read: The miracle is not that I finished...the miracle is that I began.

I kept staring at those words, all day. I saw the t-shirt on young women, old women...women wearing large sized t-shirts and ones so tiny I couldn't have worn them at twelve. We "triathletes" came in all sizes and shapes, all levels of fitness, all ages. There was even a blind woman running the course with me, using her cane. What we had in common was that we were all women, sharing this special day together, doing something that we believed in. We were probably all afraid that we weren't going to finish or that we were going to embarrass ourselves or let our teammates down, but we did it anyway. It was so amazingly empowering. I was so proud to be there, even if I wasn't doing the "whole" thing and even though my time was hard competitive (I came in at #1600). The point was, ultimately, exactly as the t-shirt said: I began, therefore I won.

It's an important life lesson, that's for sure. The miracle is not that we finish something that scares us; the point is that we begin it. So that's my little soapbox for the day. It's never too late to try something new, to reach out and embrace a challenge.

And speaking of challenges, I am thrilled to tell you all that on Friday, I started the book for 2012. I wrote five pages. That probably doesn't sound like much, and in the great scheme of things, it certainly isn't. Over the course of writing and re-writing a novel, I usually rack up at least 1500 pages. I write, delete, edit, prune, re-do, move around. There is endless putting together of words. And five pages is a drop in the bucket.

Except for the first five pages. Those are a triumph somehow. I don't know if other authors feel like I do, but every time I set out to start a new novel, I wonder if I will be able to do it again, if in some way I have been lucky before, divinely gifted, and now the real world will settle heavily down on my shoulders and trap me. I wonder if I have the ability to tell the story that's in my head...or worse yet, I discover that there is no story in my head. I panic and flail and pray for inspiration, and when it comes, it is slow and unsteady and uncertain. I research and write synopses and pray some more. I obsess and bother my girlfriends, pitching endless story ideas, until one by one they throw up their hands and say "I give up."

And then, one day, it is just there. The seedling. I nurture it and baby it and draw it out of the dark ground until finally I can see the whole thing. But even so, it is scary to begin. I pace and avoid and do laundry and run. Then I remember that my deadline is approaching and I throw in the towel. I get out my yellow legal pad, my favorite pen, and I write the first sentence. By the end of the first page, I am myself again. Words are an extension of my soul, and as they flow, I find myself smiling; happy, hopeful. I realize that I CAN do it again. At least this once.

That's worth a mai tai on the beach, don't you think?

Now, I have a question for you guys. I have been wondering how many of you are also on facebook. It's obviously a lot less personal than the blog, but it's also a lot more interactive. So which is it, ladies? What is your favorite way to stay in touch with your favorite authors?

Well, that's it for me today. But I will tell you all to check back to the blog--or facebook--in the next few days, because I'm going to post the cover of my new book. But just for you, here's a sneak peek: the title is NIGHT ROAD. What do you think?

Aloha,

Kristin

Holy summer coma, Batman, I haven't blogged in a month!

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin) — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 00:01:00 +0000

Holy summer coma, Batman, I haven't blogged in a month!
How did that happen, friends? Honestly, I cannot say. In the dim recesses of my (obviously addled) brain, I thought I hadn't visited with you all in a few weeks or so. Yikes! If not for the date posted on my last blog, I would have sworn it was only last month that I checked in. My only excuse is that summer finally--finally--came to the Pacific Northwest. In classic sun-in-the-green-darkness-world, of course, it stayed for less than a few days, but it was here for a few glorious hours. So, I guess I should tell you all what's been going on.

Hmmm...let's see. In May, I told you all about my son's college graduation--what a lovely and proud moment that was for all of us. Then, only a few days later, we took him to the airport and watched him board a Virgin Atlantic plane bound for London. I did not worry about him. Really, I didn't. Not even with the riots that were going on in Greece and the volcano that was spewing ash into the sky. I watched him (and his lovely girlfriend) board the plane and fly away with that same mixture of pride and emotion that came to me as he accepted his diploma. In the blink of an eye, I was transported back three and half decades (yes, Virginia, it was that long ago), to the day I went to Europe on my own. I was nineteen years old and scared and thrilled and certain I knew what my future held. It was pure magic hearing his stories of traveling, both to places I had been and to places I still dream of going. Yes, it was a little irritating to hear him talk about Florence and Corfu and San Sebastian and know that my twenty-two year old had beaten me to the punch, but that was handily overtaken by the joy of knowing that he was as dazzled by Europe as I had been. Honestly, every morning, I raced to my computer to see if there was a new message or a new photo. What fun! And now he is back, safe and sound, and embarking on his next grand adventure--getting a job and finding a place to live. It is so exciting to watch him spread his wings. I can't wait to see where he goes next...

After the rather lengthy celebrations in Southern California--the grad, the party, the family fun--my husband and I came back to drizzly Washington, where I found my latest manuscript waiting for me yet again. Copy edits. I don't know if I've described this process for you all, and you may have heard about it from other writers, but for those who are blessedly in the dark about this necessary evil, it is the last time a writer gets to view a novel before it gets typeset. It is also the time when someone with a keen eye and a sharp red pencil has gone through every word, looking for errors. And they find them, believe me. We want them to find those pesky mistakes so you don't have to. What's more irritating than finding a mistake in an otherwise wonderful book? It jerks you out of the story like a bungee jumper. In fact, I'm so keen on copy editing that I don't trust an editor who doesn't find A LOT of things to question. It makes me think he or she is watching tv while reading. :) Anyway, what it means for the author is that you have to read a book that, really, you're bored with. Of course, you're not really bored with it, but it sure as heck feels as if you are. By copy edit, I have probably written minimum twenty drafts of the book, and most of the paragraphs are practically memorized, so it's a real chore to read it all so closely again. One is sorely tempted to breeze through, but that would be a mistake. So, anyway, that fine-print read took me the first two weeks of June. And at the end of it, I was still waiting for the sun to show itself.

But it didn't, so what is a girl to do? Well, there I was, between books, with no idea in sight (got one, by the way? I'm looking--just kidding), and I thought. Wait a second. I have a big birthday coming up this year, and so does my friend, Megan Chance. http://meganchance.com/. As many of you know, Megan and I have been critique partners for more than twenty years. Wow, that sounds like a long time. In all those years, we have brainstormed together, edited together, laughed and drank wine together. Twice a year, we go away to focus on the books, but we have never, in all those years, just gone somewhere because we felt like it. So I thought, this is the year. I surprised her totally--told her to pack a bag and I'd pick her up. She's so cool, she didn't even ask where we were going...which was to Los Angeles, btw. We stayed in a gorgeous little bungalow on Santa Monica beach. We talked endlessly, watched movies, walked along the beach, and sat by the pool. We had an absolute blast. It was especially nice to put on bathing suits and sit in the sun. It was my very own Firefly lane Girlfriend hour. :)

Back at home, only a few days later, I started pacing and sweating. That's the usual routine when I need a new idea. Nothing came to me. Nothing. So I thought: I need to visit my dad and Debbie and my brother in Alaska. Why not? Within moments of the decision, Ben and I were on a plane again, heading North to the Future, to the Land of the Midnight Sun, where a great time was had by all. Above, you can see the photo of the eagle, sitting on eggs in her nest. Is that cool, or what? The lower pic is of the view from my dad's lodge, the Great Alaska Adventure Lodge. We sat around the fire and fished until one in the morning (easy to do when it doesn't get dark), and re-connected. I even visited with a wild and crazy book group. It was awesome!

The trip served several purposes: I got to see a state I love, visit with my beloved family, commune with nature. Even better, I had so much fun, I stopped thinking that I needed an idea, and as usual, that's when the magic happens.

Now I have a kernel of a thought that could grow into an idea. At least it feels right. Yippee! now, I just need to relax enough to let it grow. Wish me luck! I sure wish I were one of those writers who have a lot of ideas and can make anything work. That's not me, though. When you spend fourteen months writing a single book, you have to really love the idea. At least, I do.

While I was hanging out in the past month, I've also done a lot of reading. As you know, The Passage and Dark Places and Still Missing are all out now---books I loved. I also read The Descendents (a tragicomedy set in Hawaii), which I really liked, and The Wolves of Andover by Kathleen Kent (if you liked the first book in her Salem Witch Trials book, you'll want to read this one asap), the Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton, and (yes, finally), the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I have to say that Lisbeth Sander is probably one of the coolest characters I've read in a decade. What about you? What have you all read lately? What did you all think of Dragon Tattoo??

That's about all the news that's fit to print right now. I should have a cover for the new book in a month or two, and in September, we'll probably have an advance reading copy to give away. Any ideas on what kind of contest to run?

Thanks again to all of you who read this blog. I really love hearing from you!

Aloha,

Kristin

New cover for Summer Island

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin) — Sat, 29 May 2010 16:14:00 +0000

Here's the new cover for Summer Island. This is the mother/daughter book that started it all for me. What do you think of the cover?

It's coming out June 1st!

Milestones

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin) — Wed, 26 May 2010 18:36:00 +0000

Hello everyone!

I'm baaaccckkk!!! What an amazing, wonderful, emotional past two weeks it has been, too. As you can see from the photo, I've been in sunny Southern California, watching my son and his friends graduate from college. A few of you have probably been hearing about him for years and years---I started my first novel when I was pregnant. And now here he is, twenty-two years old, advancing confidently in the direction of his dreams. (After a trip to Europe, what a lucky kid he is). I should have known how emotional a time it would be, but as usual, real life surprised me. I thought about all the details of his graduation--the accomodations, the flights, the coordination of family, the gifts, etc. All those details kept my mind off the big picture. But I saw it all as I sat there in the stands with my husband and my dad and his wife and my son's girlfriends' family--the future was down there, standing tall in a black gown, showing a thumbs up to the crowd. The future and past become one in that beautiful moment; I really felt the whole of our lives coming together. Thank God someone had a Kleenex is all I can say. :) People often ask me if writing my books make me cry, and the answer is "only once." But boy, real life gets me every time. I cry at acceptance speeches, a good Hallmark ad, triumphant sports moments. And graduations. You name it.

I have to say, it really got me thinking about milestones in women's lives. There are so many big moments along the way. For me, the past few years have been chock full of them. My son's graduation from high school...starting college..and now graduating from college. Each of those beginnings was as meaningful for me as for him, and offered as big a life change. Then there is my approaching birthday (fifty, but don't tell anyone, please), and my upcoming twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. Yikes. 2010 is a big year for me. I am going to make a commitment now to take the time to really celebrate all of these special moments, and I hope you'll all do the same. So much of our crazy, hectic, whirlwind lives seem to be about other people. I say we should watch each other's backs--girlfriends uniting to make sure that we stop every now and then and smell the roses.

Of course, maybe I'm saying all of this because of another, smaller milestone. As many of you know, I finished the book for 2011 recently. It was a long haul and took a LOT of rewrites and re-thinking to get this one right, but it's finally tucked into its little bed with the high thread count sheets. The cover is well on it's way to done and the slow-going publishing process has begun. That's good news, right?

Right. It is...good news, I mean. I've done the lion's share of my work on the content of the book. Sure, there are still things to do--copy editing, galley reading, flap copy writing---but those are manageable tasks. Mostly, now, I just wait to hear what industry people think of the book. You might think that would be a stressful time, but it's not. Compared to the Herculean task of writing a book, getting reviews are nothing. You can't survive long in this business if you let yourself be bothered by professional reviews. Readers are who I care about, and I won't hear from all of you for a long time. So in a way, this is the halycon days of a book--I can sit back and dream that everyone will love what I've done. :)

No, the stressful time now is the perennial question. You hear it almost instantly, the second your book is done. What's next?

AAAAGGGHHHH. Honestly, it makes me want to call me editor and ask for another crack at the "finished" book. At least I know what that one's about. Now I am faced with the daunting challenge of finding another idea--and not just any idea will do. Sadly, I'm picky about my ideas. They have to sweep me away, scare the heck out of me, challenge my abilities, and fire my imagination. I have to love an idea so much that I will live, eat, breathe, dream it for the next fourteen months. And right now, I have only the barest glimmer--a seedling in a damaged shell. I'll plant it and stand back and pray. I hope it grows into something great...

While it's growing, I'll research endlessly--nothing coherent, mind you, just a collection of things I've found "interesting" enough to compile. They will seem to have nothing in common, but somehow, a few will begin to braid together. In Winter Garden, all I had in the beginning was a fascination with Leningrad in WWII. In True Colors, there was an injustice that nagged at me. This time, all I have right now is a very special time and place. Wish me luck.

When I'm not researching (and praying--a lot of desperation is involved in this process--my girlfriends will soon stop taking my calls), I'll be reading. Emily Giffin's latest is on my tbr pile, as is a YA novel, Before I Fall, and I'm currently finishing my first Jack Reacher novel. And there's the television, of course. The last episode of American Idol. (GO CRYSTAL!!!)

I am still a little melancholy over the end of Lost, which I will miss tremendously. The finale was really emotional in places. Juliet and Sawyer!! Claire and Charlie!!! Locke getting out of the chair and forgiving Ben!! Loved it all. Yes, I would have like a little bit more intellectually satisfying conclusion, but they hit all the emotional moments and I loved them for that.

Although I do have Fringe, which is deliciously bizarre and wonderful...

So, send me some book suggestions. The more obscure the better. I feel like a juicy, emotional roller coaster that is impossible to put down. Something like The Passage. Oh, wait, I already recommended that to you all, but I guess it bears repeating.

And let me know what milestones you all are celebrating this year. Let's raise our cyber glasses together!!

Aloha,

A big aloha to my e-friends around the world---

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin) — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 02:09:00 +0000

Aloha friends and readers!

It feels as if I've been gone a long time, and I want to thank you for your patience in sticking with me. I am finally finding the time to slow down a little, take a deep breath, and relax with you. I am back in my beloved Hawaii, and you all know what that means to me. Long, lazy days in a beach chair, reading other people's books, mai tai Thursdays, watching one of my best friends dance the hula, morning runs along the shoreline, and hats. Lots of hats for a girl like me who shouldn't be in the sun as much as she is.

I have been waiting for a sunny day to write this post, actually. I've been on island for almost a week, and I wanted to take the perfect picture for all of you, to let you share my golden island. Unfortunately, it's pretty much been raining and cold--yes, cold, even for a northwest girl--for most of the trip so far. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind the cooler weather, but I wanted to show you some sun. I even considered dredging up an old photo of warmer days. But then I thought--what the heck. Life is full of rainy days. As we say here in paradise, "no rain, no rainbows." Sometimes we have to make our own good weather to bring to the luau. So here's my shoutout from less than perfect Hawaii. I took the above picture last night, at a break in the rain. The gardenias are from my garden.

So, what have I been doing, you'll want to know. Boy, do I wish I could say "nothing." That's what I WANT to be doing. The truth is that I've been working like this is a real job. :) Just kidding; I know it's a real job, and in the last few months, it's been especially so. As most of you know, I finished the first draft of the book for 2011 in early January and sent it off to my editor. It came back like a boomerang with a lengthy revision letter. Between then and now, I have been revising...and revising...and revising. Which makes this a good time for a little chat about my wildly ineffective process. If I could go to the writer's process store and get another one, I certainly would. Sadly, for now, I'm stuck with the one I have.

It's not exactly productive, my process, and on the friendliness scale, I'd rate it somewhere between a serial killer and mad dentist. In other words, it can really bite me, and it does. Why is that, you ask? Here's the answer in a nutshell: I love to change things. For me, no paragraph or character or plot point is ever set in stone, not really. In any given book, I usually have one or two salient points that I want to make (in Winter Garden, it was all about Leningrad during World War II and the terrible cost of war on women; in True Colors, I cared about a particular injustice in DNA testing; in Firefly Lane, it was about a long term friendship and IBC) but beyond that particular point, I will consider any and all options. I will change lead characters drastically in the sixteenth draft, I will eliminate or change back stories, I will throw out whole plot lines. And as much as I often complain about my willingness to start a book over, it's the thing I love best, because every time I start over, I have a clearer understanding of what it is I'm trying to do. I honestly believe that when I begin a book, it is complete in my subconscious. My job, therefore, is to get out of my own way enough to uncover the story I want to tell. Picture me as an anthropologist with a tiny brush trying to expose the skeletal structure of the body in the dirt.

Lately, I've been brushing away a PILE of dirt. For some reason, this new book has been challenging. Honestly, I think it's because I loved Winter Garden so much. This is the first time in my career that I've had trouble following up a novel. But I can finally say--thank Heaven--that I'm closing in on the final draft. I better be. At this point, I've been editing for months and months. We even have a stunningly beautiful and different-looking cover, which I can't wait to show to you.

A few other things. I have been doing a fair amount of reading lately. Yes, when I'm stuck on my own book, I sometimes like to escape. A reader is a reader is a reader. Anyway, I'm thrilled to tell you all that I have read an absolutely PHENOMENAL book. It's called The Passage by Justin Cronin. Ballantine books is publishing it in June. I don't want to say too much--I'm no reviewer--and I wouldn't want to diminish anyone's enjoyment of this remarkable book. I'll just say that if you liked The Stand or Lord of the Rings, run don't walk to buy this book. It's a big work, but honestly, it's the best bit of commercial fiction I've read since Shadow of the Wind.

Well, I guess that's it for now. It's Thursday night, so I better get ready for my round of music and mai tais. Thanks again for sticking with me and I promise not to be such a stranger anymore.

Aloha--

Kristin

Heading East of the Mountains...

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin) — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 17:27:00 +0000

Hey everyone---

I'm sorry that I've been a little AWOL lately. I'm working HARD to finish the book for 2011 (I know, I know, you've heard that before). The problem is that books are never done. I think I'll share a bit about my less than straightforward process when I get home. For now, I'm off to the mountains for a speech and book signing.

Talk to you all when I get back!

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 02:32:00 +0000

Hello everyone!

Spring has finally come to the Pacific Northwest. To celebrate the sunshine, I'm sending you a favorite photograph from my very own yard. To the right is my driveway, full of flowering plum trees.

The good news is that it's stunningly beautiful this time of year--the bad news is that it turns out I'm allergic to these very same gorgeous trees. I guess it's sort of like wearing high heels to a cocktail party--sometimes you just have to pay the price for beauty. For me, that price is sneezing. :)

Here are some of my favorite signs of spring: my plum trees, the first green bulb shoots peeking up from the rich, dark earth, robins, the frogs chirping in my pond, pink lillies of the valley...and the Oscars.

You know me, I'm a popular culture junkie. I love books, tv, movies, and music. All of it speaks to me when it's done well, and the Oscars are the pinnacle of pop culture. Every year, I have a party with my closest girlfriends. We do what a lot of you probably do--we critique the dresses, the make up, the jewelry. We listen to every word and cry at an acceptace speech every year. I love every moment. This year, here are my favorites: I LOVED Jeff Bridges--the big Lebowski and Starman--finally taking home the golden statue. I LOVED Sandra Bullock for the same reasons that you all did--she seems to be a gracious, intelligent, funny, talented, down-to earth woman. But what I really love is that, after all these years and all these fab films, she was an underdog. Many of us who write novels for women about women know what it's like to be taken less seriously. So I say, go Sandra! Win for every woman who was not taken seriously enough. Also, I love any woman who can't avoid crying when she mentions her mother...

Gotta love Kathryn Bigelow, too! I've loved her since Point Break. And we love to see a woman finally win--and for a "guys" film. Woo hoo!

What were your favorite Oscar moments?

And now that the Oscars are over, I'm back to focusing almost entirely on Lost. I'm obsessed, what can I say? I'm also watching American Idol, as usual. What do you all think of Ellen?

Thanks to all of you for your support of Winter Garden. Already, it's success has been AMAZING. It's currently on it's fifth week on the NYT list. Honestly, I can't believe, and I am so incredibly grateful. What else have you all been reading? I'm still reading City of Bones and looking forward to Heart of the Matter by Emily Giffin. But I'm looking forward to spring in Hawaii, and I totally need some book recommendations, so let me know!

Aloha for now--

Kristin

I will never complain about weather here again...

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin) — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 01:58:00 +0000

Hey everyone!

I'm home from what my husband and I are now calling the "winter storm tour." You thought it was the Winter Garden tour. Oh no. Everywhere we went, it was cold, cold, cold. Honestly, I started to think I was bad luck. We landed in Chicago, and the snow immediately started to fall. If that wasn't enough, there was an EARTHQUAKE. Really. I'm not joking. The great news in Chicago was that I had an absolutely wonderful signing at Borders--and met some fabulous women for a little party before the signing. Thanks so much to the women who drove all the way from St. Louis for the event. I was worried about you driving home, and I was seriously impressed that you dared the road trip with snow falling.

From downtown Chicago, I headed to Naperville (which, I discover now is the hometown of Evan Lysacek--as a major Olympics junkie, I find that very cool). One of my favorite independent bookstores in the country, Anderson's, is on one of the most beautiful little suburban streets I've ever seen. The Anderson employees are really special to me--they embraced my books years and years ago, well before most people even knew who I was. So, thanks to Anderson's for a fun-filled event and a great crowd. And thanks to my Anderson's mystery guest--the fabulous, generous, talented Susan Elizabeth Phillips. I have discovered that Susan can literally make a booksigning fun just by showing up--I really think we should tour together. I have never laughed so much in a single day...

Then is was off to sunny Atlanta, where I had a TELEVISION interview. I should have brought my camera--that would have been the smart thing to do--but, of course, I was too nervous about the whole thing to think ahead. It wasn't just any tv, either--it was a network early morning show. Good Day Atlanta. I was worried about all of it--where to look, what to say, how to respond...oh, let's face it, I was worried about how I'd look at eight in the morning in High Def. :) Thank God, there was a make up artist who worked some early morning magic and even better, the host of the show, a lovely woman named Karen, actually GUSHED about the book. She immediately put me at ease by saying that she intended to skim Winter Garden and ended up reading it all at one sitting and crying... Phew!

By the time we left the tv station, the radios were started to predict snow. That's right. Snow in Atlanta. The storm of the decade was the line passed around. Again, we were bad luck. By the time I went to the signing, the predictions had increased, and once again, I want to thank the gutsy women who dared to drive into town. I'd especially like to thank my Mystery Guest--Emily Giffin. It was incredibly cool to get to meet her. She was great! If you haven't read Emily yet, look for Heart of the Matter coming soon...

They closed the Atlanta airport about thirty minutes after our plane took off...

From Atlanta, we were off to one of my favorite cities in the world: New York. There, I got to spend some time with the fabulous, talented, passionate, intelligent people who publish my novels. I am so lucky to be a part of this team, honestly. I've been in the business a long time, and I can't tell you how rocking it is to be published by people who love books as much as I do. I also had one of my best ever event signings on Long Island. A big crowd, great women, unusual questions--lots of fun! And yes, it was snowing!

After New York, my husband and I went to the airport again. Once again, we were seconds ahead of a storm. It was snowing in Detroit and Ann Arbor, but by now we hardly cared. We had a fun lunch with the "team" from Borders--and what's better than a bunch of women talking about the books we love? I had a blast. I also had a GREAT signing at the Borders in Ann Arbor. So thanks to everyone who showed up!

When we got home, it was sunny and 57 degrees. Let me say that again: sunny! I will never complain about our weather again. Okay. That's probably a lie. I no doubt will complain again--when the mist and rain and gray go on forever, but I hope I remember that its COLD in the rest of the country during the winter. But even with all of the bad weather and delayed flights and shivering moments, I have to say that it was so fun to meet so many of you. Honestly, I have the best readers in the world. We're so much alike. So often, I could talk longer than we actually have. I guess that's what the blog and facebook is for. Many of you mentioned on the road that you read the blog but didn't post. Dive in, I say! Join the firefly conversation. :)

Those of you who read this blog enough to know me, must know that I was on tour during a terrible time for me. LOST was on. Survivor started. And the OLYMPICS. Am I the only one who is an absolute Olympics junkie? I literally love the show and can't get enough of it. I laugh, I cry, I dream. Mostly, I cry. When Shaun White did his amazing, unbelievable "victory lap" with his secret jump--cried. When Apolo talked about the hard time he put his father through--cried--and then he skates like a champion--cried. Lindsay Vonn, fighting past pain to kick ass--cried. Johnny Weir, skating the program of his life, to music that moved me--cried. Yeah, you don't want to watch the Olympics with me. :)

In a stream of consciousness way, here are my pop culture thoughts for the missing two weeks. The survivor "heroes" are disappointing me...LOST is exactly what I expected and I LOVE it. I don't worry at all that they'll screw it up and I am willing to follow them anywhere, because they're telling a killer story and originality takes a commitment...I can't wait to watch Apolo skate again tonight...I totally love the Alice in Wonderland trailer and will be first in line to watch the movie...and just for the record, my personal choices for Best Pic for the Oscars are District Nine and Inglorious Basterds. Both were original, different, and relevant. What are your choices?

Finally, thanks to all of you who bought, talked about, blogged about, and/or recommended Winter Garden and True Colors. In all my years in this business, I have never felt so...embraced by readers. It's awesome to see how much people are loving Winter Garden. As you know, it's my favorite book so far, and I love discovering that I'm not alone in feeling that way. Thanks to all of you, I currently have three books on the New York Times list. At once. I still have to pinch myself when I hear that news. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

Now, I better run, because the Olympics are starting. :) In the words of the great Aerosmith, I don't wanna miss a thing.

One last question---what are you reading now?

Aloha---

Kristin

BREAK OUT THE CHAMPAGNE!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 18:45:00 +0000

While Kristin's away...Kim will play (with the blog, that is!)

A huge, HUGE congrats to Kristin and Winter Garden for debuting on the NY Times at #4!! NUMBER FOUR!! And for True Colors five weeks on the NY Times paperback trade list. FIVE WEEKS!!

AND...If all that wonderfulness wasn't enought, Firefly Lane is back on the NYT!!!!!!

All those exclamation marks, all those reasons to celebrate. :) I'm so happy for your, Kristin! Could not happen to a more talented author or a nicer person! (But now come home, I miss you!)

Aurora T. & Jonelle W. meet up with Kristin

in New York. Thanks, Aurora, for the great pic!

Winter Garden on sale!

noreply@blogger.com (Kristin) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 01:22:00 +0000

Hello everyone!

Happy February to you. As you know, there's a lot going on in the old Hannah homestead this month. My favorite novel to date, Winter Garden, is finally coming out tomorrow and I am really excited to hear what you all think of it. One of the interesting things about being a writer is that you never really know how your work is going to be perceived. We spend all these months, or in some cases, years, sitting alone scribbling words that accumulated into a version of the story in our head. Then we hope that the story we wrote resonates with readers, but we don't know until we hear from you. So let me know--the good, the bad, the ugly, and the great. I can take it all, and I learn from it all.

As if having two books coming out in a short period of time isn't exciting enough, I also had the House Parties this past weekend. If you don't know what I'm talking about, you must be new to the blog (welcome!), and you might want to read some of the earlier posts. Anyway, I was lucky enough to get to "crash" one of the parties. This photo is of yours truly and the party hostess, Mitzi. Look at her beautiful smile. She created an absolutely wonderful party--with "fireflies" in mason jars going up the stairs. It gave the entrance a magical feel. And once inside, I got to meet some of Mitzi's friends...

Here's the whole Snohomish Firefly gang. Beth, Linda, Francine, Nancy, Lorraine, and Mitzi. You tell by the smiles that we had a killer time. My friend and fellow author Megan Chance came with me--it was, after all, a girlfriends party--but someone had to take the photo. Thanks, Megan--you rock.

And thanks, of course, to my new friends. You were all so welcoming and warm. I had a blast.

I'd love to hear about some of YOUR house parties, fireflies. How did they go?? For a lot of talk about the parties, and some cool pics, check out my facebook page. There's some great chatter going on over there. :) http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kristin-Hannah/96071972905?ref=ts

Thanks again to everyone who entered the Winter Memories contest. Kim and I are in the process of getting several of them posted on the site. Unfortunately, the upcoming tour is making me nuts with things that need to be done. So, be patient. We haven't forgotten.

Speaking of the tour--here's the link. http://www.kristinhannah.com/content/about_kristin.php?id=Tour%20Dates. I hope to meet some of you on the road. :)

My first event is tonight. THE SAME NIGHT AS LOST????? Yes, I am insane. Thank God for dvr's. I never could figure out how to record to tape in the old days...

And finally, I'm conducting an informal poll: What are you all reading? Looking forward to reading?

I don't know if I'll be posting from the road--given my techie unskills, I rather doubt it--but hopefully I'll be able to read your posts. Talk to you all soon---

aloha,

Krisitn