When you wished upon a star; makes no diff'rence who what where you are; everything one's heart desires, sometimes comes to you.....

Well. Today is the day. Today Tender Graces is shipped out here, there, and yonder. Soon, people will have it - will hold it (including me!), will read it....and I hope will love it, or even just like it, but mostly I hope love it! *laughing*

By the end of the week, I'll have my first book signing. Surreal. My friend Charles Mills just made me the most beautiful glorious poster! I can't wait to show it off! There it is to the left there...isn't it beautiful? Thank you Charles! (The Author photo is by Christy L. Bishop.)

Today, I am going to distract myself by reading something for review - Adnan Mahmutovic's ILLEGITIMATE at Cantarabooks. He is such a smart lovely writer - and a handsome debbil to boot!

Soon, I will be reading my copy of Kim Richardson's The Unbreakable Child....her book was just released on April 1.

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I can't believe it is finally happening - my book...in people's hands....in libraries...in bookstores (well, I don't know how the bookstore thing will work; it won't be like you can walk into a bookstore in any city in any state and my little book will be there, people will have to ask for it, or the bookstores have to be made aware of it and order it, and etc - I do believe).

Also, I didn't even know Tender Graces was on Amazon, Target, and B&N.com - I guess I just didn't think to look, but someone emailed me and said they'd just ordered from B&N...huhn! And, I saw on Amazon my first ever review (from the publisher). I am promising myself I won't become overly concerned about the reviews there, but I know writers seem to want readers to post reviews there so there must be a reason? Here's the first review (smiling):

Kathryn Magendie's debut novel is a tour de force of lyrical storytelling, heartfelt intuitions, and exquisite detail. TENDER GRACES qualifies as an "Oprah book" in the best sense of the term: This story of a dysfunctional family who are neither all bad nor all good, but simply very flawed and human, examines a broad spectrum of marriage, childhood, emotional abuse, forgiveness and family loyalty. Warm without being overly sentimental, funny without being frivolous, and poignant without being maudlin, Tender Graces is a strong start for Magendie's career as a novelist. If you love the novels of Barbara Kingsolver, Anne Tyler and Sue Monk Kidd then this book is for you.

If you ordered Tender Graces, and receive your book without a signed bookplate, just let me know and I will make sure you get one. Even better if I could meet all of you in person and sign it, but I know I will not be able to do that and you will not be able to come here, either. As I know where I will be going, though, I'll post it-one never knows!

I'd love to do some kind of Blog Tour like many authors are doing, but haven't figured that one out yet. I am also thinking I may do a Web-cam reading... teehee - yeah....I'm going to use my cheap little ole webcam attached to my Dell laptop and record it I guess or whatever - but, I'll do a little reading and post it to utube -- at least, this is my plan...

So, my friends - thank you for your support. Soon, my books will be in some of your hands and I hope as you read you fall in love with Virginia Kate and her kin. With the West Virginia hollow (holler). With the swampy wet of South Louisiana. With the language. (With me.)

Outside the dark clouds are back; the wind picks up and blows the still-mostly-bare trees; the creek rushes and will rush faster with the added rain; all around me nature thrives in its heartbeat of survival and beauty both awful and strange and wonderful. That puts everything into perspective for me.