A POP HEARD ROUND THE WORLD
… although maybe, it’s actually just the echo of a popping cork here in my still dark kitchen at 6:00 AM. Normally I’d be pouring coffee, but today, you see, I’m celebrating.
Today is the official “HELLO WORLD” arrival of my second born novel. My new book, Asleep Without Dreaming looks like this:
It takes me a pitiful long time to write a book (Years + Years + Years), so today I’m feeling mostly like this:
If you were here I’d share this delectable treat with you (Which is a pretty big deal because I’m not known for sharing cake). Not exactly the breakfast of champions, but well suited for writers celebrating the arrival of their new books:
Oh, and my book, this is what it’s about:
Fourteen year old Willa Burkett has been waiting her whole life to leave Hoosick Falls—a nowhere place that fails to hold even a single good memory.
But, when a series of vengeful incidents stir Willa’s mother Stella to impulsively pack-up and go, it is only to find themselves stranded in yet another ugly, near extinct town, only now, with a broken down car and no ready way out.
Unable to move on until an alternate plan shows itself, they accept a job working for Omega Pearl Bodie, proprietress of the Moonglow motel—a long forgotten, steadily decaying relic, where mostly nothing happens—except now, when everything does.
It is here in this place of desperate loneliness and restless boredom that Willa will have her world rocked to the core in ways she doesn’t immediately recognize or understand. The craziness of the life she’s left behind all but eclipsed by the dark turn of the here and now, as Willa attempts to keep one step ahead of the ever-twisting whims of a mother prone to keeping secrets and telling lies, a murderous arsonist returned to the scene of his earlier crimes to dole out revenge one fiery victim at a time—and Jesse Truman. An unknowable boy with indigo eyes that Omega Pearl has hired as handyman at the Moonglow—who Willa longs to save—if only she understood what it is he needs saving from.
So happy and hugely appreciative to you for stopping by and tipping a glass with Moi 😀
And here is Asleep Without Dreaming sitting pretty at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Yay – very exciting!!! Enjoy your champagne breakfast!
Thank you, Ellen! So glad you stopped by. Without company it would appear downright pitiful to be tipping the bottle alone this time of the morning :-O
Champagne & cake work any time of the day! Congrats on your new baby. Can’t wait to read it!!
😉
Thanks Liv! It helps that it’s a dark, and rainy, writerly day, which works so well to take away the potential guilt of thinking I should be doing something else 😀
Congrats, Barbara!!! Toasting to you from Canada.
Thank you, Catherine! Nothing goes down better than a toast with friends 😀
Congratulations! I’m doing a happy dance for you. Very exciting! Enjoy your book birthday!
Whoo hoo! Thank you for sharing the joy, Elizabeth. And I have to tell you, that dance looks great on you 😀
Enjoy your cake and bubbly and the introduction of your baby to the outside world! So happy for you and for me, because I get to read another book by Barbara Forte Abate.
… and ZING goes my heart! Thank you so much for taking a moment to stop by and tickle my newborn on the chin. And full-blown, all out appreciation for reading my words 😀
I’ve pulled up a chair, filled my plate, and raised my glass to you with my best Italian cheers, “Cin, cin!” and “Salute!” And now if you’ll excuse me, I need to scurry off to purchase your book because it sounds absolutely fabulous and intriguing and my kindle is itchin’ to have it. 🙂
Ah, Tami, but the mother tongue sounds positively lyrical and oh-so-special on your tongue Grazie, Bello!
I’m making something of an effort NOT to be silly, and goofy, and gushy all day, because really, what’s one more book amongst the oodles and oodles pouring out into the world every day. But I’m thinking maybe I’ll just behave better tomorrow. Today it’s silly, goofy, and gushy all the way.
AND, Enormous Appreciation for the vote of confidence [spelled KINDLE].
Quick question: Since your main character is 14, are you categorizing your novel as YA? Just wondering… 🙂
Quick answer 😀 Actual genre and category are Literary Fiction/Coming-of-age
Although I do not imbibe will still raise a glass of cheer to you in congratulations Barbara and a bit of cake would not be a bad way to start the day either!
When the sunshine days come back the book will probably find it’s way to my reader as we are now in gloomy fall weather and lighter reading is on my agenda for a bit to help keep me from succumbing to the lure of doldrums which always are my downfall when summer ends.
Perfect! Cake it is!
Sincere thanks for sharing in my celebration, Jackie 😀 I don’t doubt I would’ve been sitting here grinning like a demented Cheshire Cat on my book’s long anticipated launch day even if I was alone, but it’s a LOT more fun and a good deal more festive with company.
Here’s to future sunshine and brilliant reading days!
Happy Release Day! *throws glitter and confetti*
Thank you, Rabia! That was just the thing that was missing 😀 A flurry of sparkle and glitz really takes a celebration to the next level!
I have a 6-year-old daughter. I know too well that no celebration is complete without sparkles! 😀
And a very wise 6-year-old she is!
Barbara, corks a’poppin’, horns a’tootin’ and woots a’wootin’ on this side of the border, all for you, my friend. Congratulations! Own the moment!
“Woots a wootin!” Now there’s something that brings a definite tear to the eye and gets a heart to thumping. I’m sure I’ve never had such a grand celebration as this, and I really truly thank you for tootin’ your horn and poppin’ a cork. A little sad to think that soon the clock will strike midnight and I’ll be turned back into a pumpkin 😦
How awesome…congrats! I don’t drink champagne, but I’ll happily pop open a grape-flavored Zevia in honor of the occasion 😉
Many thanks, Mike! Your’s is the first grape-flavored Zevia to christen the occasion (and of course now everyone else will want the same!) and it’s feeling mighty special. Book launches definitely taste better when shared with friends of the pen 😀
Happy, Happy,Joy,Joy!!!!!! Welcome to the family new book. You join an already awesome sibling and hopefully will have many more to follow! Wish I was there swilling champagne with you; could life be any better or fuller???? New grandson, new book, soooooo many blessings.
Can I just say you’re completely thoroughly awesome, Lynn, and leave it at that!
No doubt you know how much I WISH YOU were here swilling champagne with me! Truly this has been a year of momentous events and if there’s one lesson I’ve learned well, it’s NOT to take anything for granted. The blessings that land in our lives are oftentimes as fragile as they are brilliant. So, enjoying, holding on tight, savoring the flavors, and thanking you abundantly for staying with me on the ride 😀
Congrats!!! You are a great role model for the rest of us about hard work and perseverance.
Hey, Nina, how thoughtful of you to drop in! Truly this is the loveliest compliment to receive and I thank you sincerely. Too often during the strange and uncertain years spent wading through floods of rejection letters, and teetering monuments of scribbled paper, I’ve been hard-pressed to ignore the suspicion that hard work might in truth be thinly veiled desperation and, perseverance, actually pigheadedness. Now, at long last, with my shiny new book on the mantle, I’m thinking nah, it really is more about hard work and perseverance, (and a sprinkling of all-purpose stubbornness makes for a nice bouquet.) 😀
Congratulations! I’m going to claim that slice of cake! 😉
Yayyyy!!!! Thank you, Jamie! Got a big slice here with your name on it — and it has TWO cherries on top 😀
Just ordered my copy! *smiling* CONGRATS! 😀
*Smiling, smiling* Few things send the heart of into a gallop quite like it does when one of your own favorite authors reads your book! Sincere appreciation, Dearest Kat 😀 😀 😀
Congratulations Barbara! And you know you are required to keep celebrating this awesome occassion as long as comments keep coming in, don’t you? You story sounds like just the thing for the cool weather that’s set in. Very intriguing. I too must dash off to get a copy!
Yes! Many thanks, Elizabeth, for encouraging me to keep the celebration going just a wee bit longer 😀 Especially since we all know that settling down and sweeping up the confetti also means getting back to work :-O