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.

On the road again; just can't believe I'll get on the road again....

My friends - I am off to attend a writer's conference. My poor Good Man Roger is so wonderful and supportive; I am lucky and I know it (clap my hands!). I didn't think I could, or should, make this conference since I'd been in Texas so long and had emailed to say I'd not be there after all; however, I've decided that since I'd told people I'd be there, I should honor it, even though I know they'd understand if I couldn't - but....still *smiling*

So, look out for the Boop-mobile again! If you see it, give me a honk and a wave.

I'll be back to say hello and what's happening at the conference, and etc., later.


It's hard to leave my mountain so soon after I've arrived - when I see the mountains become distant, recede in my review or side mirrors, I always become sad and wistful; yes, every time. I always hate to leave my mountains. One day I'm going to be the country granny who never leaves. I'll have my books on the shelf and I"ll look at them and smile, and I'll fold my hands on my lap and I'll be very very very old and all my stories will have been told and all the pages will be filled, and I will be filled. I will be a very old mountain granny, sipping dark black coffee, remembering, smiling a small smile that smooths some wrinkles and makes others - and it is all well and fine. I will eat a tomato and let the juice stain my arm and no one cares, least of all me. My mountain will accept my ashes one day and I will settle in, right into the mountain soil I once walked on with joy. One day, yes, that's true, I will not leave ever again. This makes me smile as I write it.

But, there is the Right Now, the happy side: I will see friends that I love and adore. I will be around writers and readers - library and bookstore - yes...!

I'll leave this thought with you: Today do something for you and only for you. Let me know in the comments what you did ONLY FOR YOU....whether small or large, do something that is for You. Tell me about it so I can smile.

(ps - I wrote this last night to post at 9:AM knowing I was leaving quite early this morning, as I am - it's 4;30 AM -- I'm gathering to leave in a bit, to drive in the mountain dark, the curving roads unseen until I get to them in many cases - it's a strange and eerie beautiful thing - and I will see the sun tip and spill over the mountain ridges - but, I had a dream that this post was already posted and someone commented about what they did for themselves and it was so wonderful! It made an impression on me, enough that I note it, but I can't remember the details at all, darn it! I wonder who you are and what you did, for it brought happiness to more than the one who did for themself...smiling....namaste)

We are family; I got all my ...bloggers...with me!

( GMR painted this - I told him one day how I'd know I "made it" when I became an M&M cartoon *laughing*.... so, this is what he did...haw!)

Last day to vote for our Angie Gumbo Writer! Y'all just take a moment to click on that little thumbs up *smiling* CLICK HERE She's neck and neck with another blog! vote vote vote!

It is dark outside; I'm up quite early this morning: before Fat Lazy Lab Jake, before Good Man Roger, before the birds. It is silent, as our cove at Killian Knob can be - but through the closed windows and doors I still hear our creek -- the rains have brought it back as it was before.

I am overwhelmed at the support I am receiving from you all. To think, people I have never met face-to-face have become an important part of my life. You "see" them if not daily, then weekly. You are sad for them when they are sad, happy when they are happy. I can see some of us sitting around a table in a cafe, sharing coffee and something sweet, laughing and talking, and as we do, we are marveling at all the places we come from: here near far there yonder.

There will be no way I can do anything but say THANK YOU for all your support with Tender Graces - I only hope my words do your support justice. For TG is a love letter to everyone who reads her. As I wrote my Virginia Kate saga, I thought of all of you and all the hands that would hold her and that kept me writing and writing and writing. The thought it will soon happen just overwhelms me, but in that surreal but good way.

These days, publishing is a strange business. One never knows what will "work" and what will send books gathering dust on shelves and what makes them best-sellers. I hope the love and sincerity of my words will sell my books. I hope the story will sell it. The writing and language. I hope I do you all Proud; that is my wish.

Word of mouth - all of you - telling others about a good book you've read is, to me, one (or THE) most important thing when it comes to our books. A person reads your book and loves it and then tells someone and that person reads it and loves it and tells another and on the chain goes.

Never Ever Ever discount the important role that you, Dear Readers, have in the writer's life. I mean that in so many ways.

One day I hope to sell enough books to buy up land on this little mountain at Killian Knob so that all destruction - the cutting down of too many trees, the putting up of lights(blasphemy!), the postage-sized lots, My Muse Trail One decimated, Kayla's creek: gone....I hope that one day I can preserve what's left. I believe in having Goals - even if they seem too "out there" and lofty and hard. Maybe it'll happen, who am I to say it will not? But, I dream of walking Muse Trail One again, where the forest has taken over again, and Muse Trails Levels Two and Three remain wild as they are right now still. It is a "hard" goal, for writers do not make much money from the sale of their books: which is why we do it from Love. You may be surprised at what we make per book -- love...love....it is Love that keeps ups writing.

One more thing I have in mind: I contacted some libraries here in Western North Carolina about carrying my book and received very positive interest, but was saddened to learn that many small county libraries do not have a budget for books! Can you imagine? One of my other dreams is to help libraries --- those sanctuaries of my youth --- I am going to donate my book wherever I can; I do realize I can't do this at every library in every county (or parish of Louisiana) in every city, but, I can start somewhere. I urge you all to try to help your local libraries: donate books - it doesn't have to be mine (laughing!) - or find out how you can help. We need our libraries! We need our Independent Booksellers and Independent Presses....together, we are a strong force.



Namaste....*muwah*

I gots a joy joy joy joy up on Kilian Knob, up on Killian knob to-dayyyy

I'm peeping in quickly! Tommorrow I'll have a guest blogger: I have one more peek at Tender Graces before it's out of my hands ....eek! I can't change any of the text and all that, this is just to make sure the things we caught and listed were fixed. If there is anything else in there, well, consider it Human Error .... thing is, you'll know me now and you'll read it and say, "Hey! Here's one of Kat's unfound errors! I found one I found one!" then you can email me and we'll laugh about it....haw! Um, I think we'll laugh...hmmmm....teehee.

Then, I also have to finish The Rose & Thorn newsletter; get my next book review done, and etcetera.

This morning, I was walking Fat Lazy Labrador Jake in the cove at Killian Knob and as I turned the curve in the road where the creek stays on my right, I passed where the water rushes down from the mountain into the creek and I felt a sudden Joy....as sudden as the wind that came tearing down the ridge and across FLLJ and me - the wind pounded my face and I laughed because it didn't hurt at all-the wind laughed too - The sounds of the singing creek, the rush of the water runoff from our recent rains, the wind washing over us and blasting through the still-bare trees with a roar, the spring birds that had earlier woke me (oh, I recognize the ones who have been gone and now returned!) -- all of this brought up my sudden joy.

I thought, as I rounded that curve, how lucky I am. Farther down, I glimpsed the distant Smokies - awe awe awe awe awe-some Grandfather and Grandmother mountains. There are ancient souls here - I feel them sometimes; I see them in orbs and once the Shadowman came to visit me; I am not afraid of them, in fact, they comfort me. (Which reminds me - while I was sitting by Frank in the hospital, I saw something pass over him - it was misty and had no shape, but it was SOMEthing -i t passed right over him....and then a few days later while Tommy was lying in the emergency room, I saw an orb race across the room and arc over him and then away---imagination? lights playing tricks? my exhaustion? our brother? our granny? someone else? I don't know, but I know I saw something).

So, I am feeling lucky and awed and wonderful and it struck me that No Matter what happens with Tender Graces, I am still loved and wanted and so very lucky to live where I live. If you took away my writing life (oh, I can't imagine that - but let's entertain it)...if Tender Graces weren't being published, if I'd never published anything, if I was "just" this Mountain Woman living in my little cove at Killian Knob, walking Fat Lazy Lab Jake, being loved and spoilt rotten by Good Man Roger, hearing and seeing all the things I do, well then, my good friends, that is a pretty dagum wonderful life, isn't it? That is the Dream Life I once dreamed about when my life was in disorder and pain. I am blessed? lucky? whatever you want to call it, this is a wonderful life I live.

I smile. I enjoy. I appreciate. What a lovely place. I give you my peace and serenity this morning. Yes, I must get to work, but I start my work with a feeling of joy - for how lucky am I? Not only do I have my little log house and my little life here at Killian Knob, but my novel IS being published, and I do have some little things out there published, and people ARE enjoying my work and my fur is being rubbed off so that I feel loved.

Namaste. *muwah!*

And I said to myself: what a wunnerful world, unless it stops spinning or the sky falls or the stars quit burning or the sun hits the moon or....

Osondu's Booksellers is sponsoring a Book Signing Party for TENDER GRACES at the bookstore on April 17th! How exciting. It'll be from 7-9pm and there will be champagne and food. The cut-off is fifty people. She has ordered enough books to accommodate that number. If you are in the Waynesville North Carolina area, call Margaret and reserve your spot! I'd love to see you there.

Now. This is where Kat Magendie begins to fray at the edges and starts blinking into the headlights and her stomach tumbles around like an old-timey ferris wheel gone mad. Because Kat starts worrying, "What if hardly anyone shows up? What if I'm standing in the bookstore trying to pretend it doesn't matter that only a couple of people show and there are all those books sitting there and the food congeals and the champagne un-bubblefies." Then, Kat will have to grab the champagne and upend it and pour it down her throat and glub it down and drown out her sorrows...oh geez.

This is just some of the terror of realizing your dream. But, even saying that makes me hit myself upside my pea-head: one thing I can't stand is whiney writers - not wine-y writers, those are okay - WHINE-Y writers! I mean, all the time I dealt with rejection and another writer realized his/her dream and if he/she whined about it? Well, that just made me mad! SHUT UP, I'd think - you are getting your book published...sheesh!

Okay, Picture It: You write the book; long hours alone and neglecting family and friends. You suffer rejection time after time. Finally, that glorious day comes and you find someone who loves your book and even says, "we are proud to publish this book..." Oh! Oh! The heavens clear, the skies blaze with sunlight and moonlight all at the same time, the birds start singing like on a Disney movie, all is right with the world! And, you live happily ever after, right? All worries gone, right?

Well, not for this old girl. Do NOT get me wrong: this is a wonderful problem to have. These are wonderful problems to have and I am grateful and I recognize this is HOT DANG YAY TIME; because these "problems and anxieties" mean I am realizing my dream of having You hold Tender Graces in your hands - I can't tell you what that means to me (I am trying to tell you, but words won't for a change - you'd have to see the sincerity in my eyes, feel the warmth radiating - the hope you will love Virginia Kate and all the others: Micah, Andy, Miss Darla, Bobby, Rebekha, Mrs. Mendel, Amy and Mr. Husband Campinelle, and even love Katie Ivene and Frederick, and love to hate mean old Aunt Ruby, and despise Uncle Ar-vile. The thought of all those hands holding the weight of my words overcomes me ...truly...the gratitude is realized upon awaking and before sleeping and all in between - know that.)

So, the Dream is arriving, or has arrived, but all those anxieties slip in under the skin and slide around anyway, because that's what they do, that's their job!

You may remember this one: What if I only sell four books -- well that one was proved wrong! Bellebooks said that pre-orders are coming in DAILY! They are happy and that makes me happy! SO THANK YOU ALL; If I could send individual thanks, I would - believe me. So, I can lay that particular anxiety aside for now -- I've sold more than four books. I won't EVEN start thinking: "Hmmmm, NYT bestseller list? ...hmmmm, what about....." nope not going there.

What if no one comes to my first booksigning party?

What if no one comes to any of my booksignings - and how many should I do? and are booksignings really even done anymore? and where should I have them? and should I do "virtual blog tours?" and etcetera etcetera etcetera

What if I get a bad review?:::What if no one else reviews it?

What if there is a HUGE error in the book I didn't find?

What if the sky should fall? what if the earth should stop turning? what if a big black hole should suck me up and I'm lost forever and my molecules are ripped apart and a gamillion pieces of me rain down on the earth and no one even notices it is a gamillion pieces of me raining down and I soak into the earth and weird flowers come up with my pea-head on them (um, what? okay, Kat, take deeeeep breaths - go do some yoga girl; you're losing it....teeheeheehee).

What I'm trying to say in my weird way is: Dreams coming true are wonderful, but full of their own stresses -- good stresses, "bad" stresses....If you are like me, you begin to attach THINGS to yourself that perhaps you should not. I should instead go back to the original feeling of accomplishment that I'd written a novel, and then that feeling when BelleBooks said, "we want to publish Tender Graces...." and then the wonderful feeling of my friends and family (my blog friends and family included) telling me how happy and proud of me they are: that's the thing right there -- that, and the original feeling of YOU holding my book in your hands and loving the language, the words, the characters....ahhhh, now I feel much much better. Deep Breath: done.

I always want to say "writers are weird" but I realize it's probably just Me that is weird and the writer part is only the excuse I use for my eccentricities....haw!

*MUWAH* .... (now, on to work on The Rose & Thorn newsletter that I've been neglecting and is due to go out soon! It will distract me from my weirdness for a while....haw! Here's where you can sign up for the newsletter. And, I need to do a review for Kerry Madden's Maggie Valley Trilogy. And I want to visit you all again. And what else....la la la la tee dah! I really do love my life! *BIG FAT GRIN*)

Getting to Know Us, getting to know all ablog us...

It's Saturday and time for "Getting to Know Us..." Where each week I introduce you all to someone in Blogland....

(Photo: "Little P")

Patresa Hartman - blog named "Biped Sideways" where she says, "i teach and write and think...with varying degrees of competency."

"P," as we call her, is not only a gifted writer, but a see'er of the world. I suppose we all are See'ers of the World, but some have an extra "something" that allows them to see things in the corners, where dust lies, or the little earring thing that keeps the earring on has settled in lost until found by someone with the right eyes--the corners of rooms are often over-looked, but not so with Patresa...she's a See'er of little things that when studied in a certain light really are Big Things (what would rooms be without corners!)--she will see the person in their parts: the half-untucked shirt, the eyelash on the cheek, the little babytoenail on a big woman's foot. Her unique outlook on life and people always amazes me.

I consider Patresa a good friend, a trusted colleague, and an all around interesting person. So, stop by P's place and give her a warm hello - tell her Kat sent you.

And (I almost forgot, I wanted to post two Getting to Know Us today)....

Author Alexandra Sokoloff's site The Dark Salon - I wanted to add this on this morning because I think many of you will be greatly helped in your writing life by her series of blogs on writing and story structure, etc -- she was an instructor at Deborah Leblanc's Pen to Press retreat, and, though my manuscript was already "done" - I received invaluable help and advice from her to make my synopsis so much better than it would ever have been without her- since remember how I've told you all, I suck at synposes! Alexandra is a beautiful woman--in all ways. She gives her gifts freely - a lot of work goes into these posts...and I hope you'll stop by her place and tell her Kat Magendie sent you!