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.

A Link Link Here and a Site Site There!

This was taken at the Spanish Town Mardi Gras parade back in February - good lawd, these South Louisianians are something else *LAUGH*! If you are ever in Baton Rouge at the Mardi Gras time, check out this parade...tamer than New Orleans, but no less crazy!

Friday is links day. I'll be coming round today to visit you all. A storm is rising up on the mountain - so if you don't see me, it's because internet connection is knocked out due to wind and rain and the power of nature slamming into the cove. The sky is darkening as I write this - a heavy black thundercloud hovers, pushing down down into the cove. Thunder thundered. The chimes are signaling a picking up wind. Soon, the dark will push all the way down and the rain will pummel the earth, the trees, the ridges, the little log house. I love a good storm....as long as everyone is safe inside, as I will be.

I am emailing out the Rose & Thorn newsletter today, if you haven't signed up to receive it, click R&T Newsletter Sign up. It's quick, easy, and your email is safe!



Cake Wrecks - a blog about funny/strange/weird cakes!



Novel Journey

My handsome friend Adnan Mahmutovic's novella is out at Cantarabooks - check it out!



For those of you agent hunting, here are a couple of sites to check out (oh, there goes the thunder again!) Lit Match and 1000 Literary Agents.

The Boomer Women Speak forums is a nice supportive place to visit. PS! just got an email from NABBW - become a fan of NABBW on Facebook.

I just found The Read on WNC - it's based here in our mountains, but it's an interesting site and I'm sure anyone can join in on the discussions.

Distant thunder, close thunder....the dark is down and has mixed with the light to make gray- but it is beautiful. I await the storm. There is silence suddenly, that pause before it all breaks loose...

Happy Good Friday to you all....Happy Friday. Happy Day. Happy Hour. Happy Minute. Happy Second: Happy Right Now.