Good News, Bad News
Well, this is all good news, although I know some of you won’t think so, so I’ll get the semi-bad news out of the way first:
After the Storm won’t be published until June 2009. Ack! I know. A long time to wait for a sequel. My publisher, Mira Books, calls the shots on the publication schedule, though, and I have to bow to their judgment on this. In the meantime, I’ve done my very best to make the story worth the wait.
Now, quickly moving along to the good news! Good news part one: Before the Storm has been selected for Levy Home Entertainment’s September Need-to-Read program. Levy is a huge book distribution company, and that means Before the Storm will be able to reach lots of new readers when it’s prominently displayed at outlets like KMart, WalMart and Stop and Shop. Okay, I guess that’s more good news for me than for you, since if you’re reading this post, you’ve probably already read Before the Storm, but it is very good news for me.
Good news part two is good for all of us: Mira will be re-issuing two of my older books, one in April 2009 and another in May. I know we’ve all been hoping for those re-issues for a long time now, and it’s finally going to happen. I’m thrilled that all the readers who’ve struggled to find my older books will finally be able to get their hands on a couple of them. Mira hasn’t yet decided which two books to re-issue. For obvious reasons, they won’t select any of the books from the Keeper of the Light trilogy. Currently, they’re considering The Courage Tree and Summer’s Child. Which books do you think they should choose?
Diane-Sorry about the delay in the publication of the second book, but I think summer is a great time for a book to come out…(As is Christmas time for gifts…) As to the choices for your books being republished (GREAT GREAT…Although both of those are great choices…I also love Escape Artist and Brass Ring…think about those eventually. You are having some breaks this year, and I believe your books are getting the recognition they deserve. Others will now know what the rest of us know-you are one of the best writers of this generation. What distinguishes you–you never disappoint…Other writers-often-we get the book because of the author-and we are disappointed…you never do that…(Pressure right???)
Here’s the recipe…Margo emailed me
Potato Soup
Use a big crock pot
Ingredients:
Minced onion (handful) If you like-real onion (l med)
6 med. poatoes, peeled and cubed (I use almost enough to fill the crockpot…I cook them in microwave to make sure they are soft enough)
2 cups milk (use at least l cup of canned)
1 teaspoon garlic salt (I use more-to taste)
12 oz. Velveeta cheese, cubed (I don’t use the whole 12 oz. package)
2 T. butter
1 can veggie broth (you may use chicken broth if you are not a vegetarian)
l/2 teaspoon pepper (I don’t use this)
2 cans celery soup
As to water and milk-make sure you have enough.
As you can tell, I do my own thing with this recipe as will most of you-it is to taste=how much garlic you like…it makes a lot, but it never goes to waste and is so tasty…yummy…Hope you enjoy…
I will be glad to get After the Storm whenever it comes out!! Great news about “September Need To Read” and the re-issue. I loved both of those books but the location of Summer’s Child made it special to me. You know how I feel about the Outer Banks. Either would be a winner. Congratulations, you deserve these things.
I sure will hate having to wait for the sequel, but I know you have no control over it. Bummer!
That is awesome news about the Need-to-Read program! Another terrific honor that you well deserve!
I just finished Summer’s Child today and loved it.
Diane, it’s okay about your book coming out next summer. I’ll read it no matter when it comes out. No worries.
Exciting news about the Need to Read Program. So glad for ya!
As far as which book to re-issue? I loved Summer’s Child. I hope they go with that one.
Diane-again thanks for going to my BLOG–you guessed the song…Julie-I love your BLOG…will you comment on mine and let me know how to work on it…??? This oculd become a habit…
Well, I have been out of the “blog biz” forever, but am glad to be back reading – I couldn’t bear to log on while reading Before the Storm – what a great story – certainly gave me much needed insight into FAS. What a tragedy. I’ve worked with so many kids with it, but knew little about how to help them. It still isn’t being diagnised and treated for so many people out there who deal with it. I wish I had done more research a hundred years ago when I was working in group homes and psych. units – I could have done so much more had I been aware of behavior and treatment methods. in our culture today, teachers are so overloaded with needy kids, the MO is medication to make the classroom manageable. I wish doctors and politicians would unite to legislate some laws re: parents who use while pregnant and do more to terminate parents’ rights if they don’t learn how to parent. ATS could be required reading for a teacher in-service to learn the behaviors to expect from a person who suffers with it. Anyway…..sorry for another rant. My favorite book after the Lighthouse trilogy is The Courage Tree. Luckily, I’ve kept my copy. I’m going to have to find CeeCee and The Bay at Midnight again. I’m intrigued more now by the common factor in so many books that the mothers had a child with another man. I don’t look at it as promiscuious at all – but more like a moment of letting all control fly out the window. Not a weakness, but, Diane, can you adress that at all? My sister and I have known for years that my father is not her father and that after my father passed away, our mother married the man who we are sure is her father, but it is so off-limits to my mother – she denied is many, many years ago, and it was never to be talked about again. My sister and I are fine with it, and believe that if my mother would let us all talk, she would at last find some peace. My step-father, whom I dearly loved and was the only grandfather my children knew, passed away 4 years ago. My mother has become more and more withdrawn and tense. We think we should go to her and tell her it is OK, and we love her and would like for her to find some peace.
Aw, man, you mean I’m going to have to worry about Andy and all the rest for another year?!?! 😉 I’ll survive, I guess.
I really have thought about your story many times since reading, and I think that’s supposed to be a good thing!
Thanks for coming by my blog and reading my story, by the way. The encouragement I’ve gotten is priceless.
Brenda, what is your blog address? It never comes up on here–I didn’t know you had one!
And weighing in on the reissues, I did love Summer’s Child, and Breaking the Silence and Cypress Point may be my other favorites. Just tracked down the first of the lighthouse trilogy a week or so ago–I’ve been holding on to book two until I found it. Started with book 3 unwittingly, but wasn’t confused at all, as I recall.
Julie-you are in for a real treat-the trilogy-the first books I read by Diane…she was suggested to my online bookclub by a fellow teacher…I fell in love with her writing-and the rest of the story is that she is one of the best ever…
my blog is http://www.freewebs.com/teachershelping (I am just getting it going during my travels this summer-I am off again soon-hopefully-back to my son’s in Miami Beach if the tickets are not too much and to my daughter’s in Indy (Driving)…let me know about the BLOG-it is for teachers and READERS…As to worrying about Andy-I want to know what happens to Maggie-and I can’t wait to hear what Diane is writing AGAIN….
Fantastic news with Need to Read Diane!…and wonderful that Mira is releasing 2 earlier books! My first choice would be SUMMERS CHILD…I loved that story so much that I’ve read it twice and will probably go for a 3rd time! Even tho we will have to wait till next June for AFTER THE STORM we have so many of your other books that we can re-read and this is exactly what I plan on doing…it’s been awhile since I read CYPRESS POINT so that will be a definite. Brenda, welcome back & thx for the great recipe!…I can’t wait to try it!
Liz, welcome back to the blog! That is indeed a sad situation about your mother and her secret. It’s hard to know if talking to her about it would help or hurt. Having lost my mother, there are so many things I wish I’d thought to talk to her about, though.
I’m aware that I often write about women having children with men not their husbands. Don’t ask me what that’s all about! I think it’s just that I like (writing about, not living) family secrets, and that always makes a good one.
It sounds like SUMMER’S CHILD is one that many of you would like to see re-issued. I think Mira is interested in THE COURAGE TREE because it involves a child, and the child in CEECEE seemed to catch fire with so many readers. Thanks for the input!
Liz–talk to your mom…My mother died at 60 and thankfully we shared much (she was 15 when I was born)…However, I do know that even though my parents were married, I did not see my father for a long time…after the divorce…I was l0 years old and went home with a friend from school. I met her Uncle-went home and told Mother how nice her relatives were…her comment, “That’s your father…” I didn’t think to ask what her uncle’s last name was. I saw him and met him officially after graduating high school and that is when his two sons were surprised to meet their sister…it does not bode well to keep such secrets…Although my father and I saw each other occasionally throughout his life, when he died 4 years after Mother (he was older than she), I was so sad to never really know him…Ironically she died on his birthday…and their names were the same with one letter difference…coyner and coiner…so weird.
Anyway-I would do it while you can.
Diane-I think that many authors use that scenario…grown children meeting their parents…it usually turns out great…That is one reason (only one)that I love your writing-there are always consequences…remember the woman jumping from the bridge???? People suffer…it is not always a happy ending, and you make sure that even your writing is quite entertaining…there are so many meanings. On another note, I am still concerned about Maggie…
>>On another note, I am still concerned about Maggie…
Any hints on the new WIP??? I don’t know if we can take it…waiting until June…but I will think of Maggie in the meantime. 🙂 🙂 Seems like we know her…I will say this…I am so glad when I found you the trilogy was out…no waiting for those…maybe the last one-I am not sure…
Diane and Brenda – thanks so much for your input. Everyone has a story, don’t they? So many people harbor family secrets and there is usually an unspoken taboo and we all are afraid to talk about it. I was talking to my sister today and we are feeling more and more like we should talk to our mother. She is 85, for God’s sake, fairly healthy and independent and I just don’t know if this would free her or drive her further into reclusiveness. I appreciate your candidness, Brenda.Family secrets have always fascinated me – and I am so intrigued by how they shape our lives and we become who we are by having to keep the secret. Diane, that’s why I love your character development so much – there are always reasons for behavior and I have been so fortunate to be in the right place at the right time to learn whatever lessons I need to understand the next phase of my life, to handle it with more grace than I would have had, and as a friend said years ago,”Another Goddamned opportunity to learn!” I’ve always been grateful for the variety of jobs I’ve held always with mentors to teach me…….
Ladies-treat yourselves to a marvelous two hours…I took a much-needed break to go to a movie…”MAMMA MIA” is delightful…fast-moving…funny-hilarious actually…nothing deep…just a chick flick. If P. Brosnam (spelling?) had refrained from SINGING, it would have been almost perfect. However, who really cares? He is so good looking even if he can’t sing…the ladies in the audience were moaning when he started to sing. Fun time…
Liz-thanks for comments…
Hi Di,
As you already know my favorite of all your books will forever be Secret Lives. I always remember Mom’s nurse staying in her car to read another chapter before she came into the rehab to start work.
I feel sad for all your devoted readers who have never had the opportunity to read it,
Love,
Jo
Jo, it’s one of my favorites, too, I think because I really found my voice as I wrote it. I hope it will be re-issued some day.
Brenda, no hints on the WIP yet! I’ve learned never to talk about a WIP until I’m sure I have a contract on it.
Liz, LOL! You’re right. Life is sure full of opportunities to grow and learn. Ain’t it wonderful?
I forgot to mention how much I loved Maggie and worry about what happens to her. I’m sorry we have to wait until June, but that’s life. I just got a new Mary Alice Munroe book, 2 Eileen Goudge books – I’ve loved some of her writing – not all. I had a gift certificate for Barnes & Noble from my department as a retirement gift and finally had as much time as I wanted to spend in the Des Moines store and have coffee and browse. There are many I get to read now. Emily Richards has a new one out – so that will be next. I thought Mama Mia was the most fun I’ve had since Sex and the City. I loved the scenery, colorful photography, costuming, etc. Brenda – I loved Pierce Brosnan’s singing – the fact that it wasn’t totally on key made it more fun. He’s always great to look at, but I’ve never seen him out of the “elegant” characters he plays and his singing made him seem more human to me. You know, I have yet to read a review that is written by a woman – every one I’ve found is from the male point of view. Can’t they just let it alone and enjoy it for what it is? Whis is fun and escape. It would be like me reviewing Hellboy II. Not that I would sit through it.
I agree-but since I see so many Broadway shows, I have to have the film exact…my friend agreed with me about the singing…but Liz, you are correct, it did make him less perfect and that much more endearing…I must admit I had some problems with sticking to exact…the girl was 20…her parents were hippies-from the 60’s or 70’s, but 20 years had passed…now that’s okay-if the story takes place in the 90’s…but one of the women used the expression, “You are so not doing that…” or some such-that is so 21st Century…bothers me…same with authors…it is imperative that they stick to what is correct…but all in all this was the best movie I have seen in a long time (I did not see Sex and City as I was not familiar with the tv show…)
I want to see MAMA again…M. Streep is fantastic…I told my friend that I wished we had “let go and let lose” the way those women had…
I just remembered how much I enjoyed Secret Lives. I think I will re-read that one right away!
ok, I have to see Mamma Mia now if it has Meryl Streep in it. That might even help me convince John to see it with me. . . but I kinda doubt it.