Podcast, Newsletters, Kindle and Song
I played around with this title until I liked the rhythm of it. A more apt subject heading might be “miscellany”, but that doesn’t have much of a ring to it. So here we go!
- Podcast: One of my neighbors, high-schooler Kelly Williamson, had to create a podcast for a school assignment and she asked if I’d agree to be interviewed. She was a delightful interviewer full of great questions, and the podcast of the interview can be heard here.
- Kindle: Do you have one? Some of my older (as well as my newer) books are available in Kindle format. You can find the following books at Amazon’s Kindle Store: Before the Storm, The Courage Tree, The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes, Summer’s Child, Kiss River, Her Mother’s Shadow, The Bay at Midnight, and Cypress Point.
- Newsletters: My latest e-newsletter will be sent out on May 26th. It’s so pretty! If you haven’t signed up to receive my e-newsletters, you can do so here.
- Song: I joined a choir at the church I recently started attending. I used to sing with an interfaith gospel-ly type choir in Northern Virginia and I adored it, but we didn’t use music (needed our hands free to clap, you know). I know how to read music, sort of, in that I know an A from a G (I’m slightly embarrassed to admit I played the accordian as a wee tot), but I simply do not understand how people can look at those notes and sing them without hearing them played first. I’m in awe! I’m also determined to learn how to do this. All advice is welcome!
- Bonus: This just in! A new review of Secrets She Left Behind. “(Chamberlain) explores the psychological complexity of a family pushed to its limits. . . the alternating narratives allow plenty of insights into the characters’ motives while creating intrigue and suspense.” I love it! Secrets She Left Behind will be released on May 26th, just a few days away, but it’s available for preorder everywhere.
Yep! Got a Kindle and love it. I use it mainly for when I travel, otherwise, I’m at the bookstore buying BOOKS.
I buy all of your books in what I call “books with pages” form. I do have a kindle but I still buy books with pages!! Am looking forward to “Secrets She Left Behind” being delivered in the next week or so.
No Kindle for me…I still love the feel of holding books in my hands, looking at the gorgeous covers and turning pages with my fingers. I also like to support my local bookstore and give them continued business.
I keep hoping SECRETS will arrive early…I’m waiting for my phone call that it’s in but I still have to finish reading my current read which is THE INN AT EAGLE POINT…stayed up till 2 a.m. with it last nite!
Can’t wait to get my SECRETS. I just finished re-reading the prequel. No Kindle for me. And generally I don’t like audio versions either. I want to hold the book and turn the pages and smell the ink. Congratulations again on your anniversary! I know the party was a blast.
I can’t believe it’s only a few days till SECRETS will be out! I’m psyched.
Okay, I’ve been Kindling for about 3 nights now. I think I like it. I don’t miss the feel of a book as much as I thought I would. I haven’t mastered bookmarks yet, though, although it’s not critical, since the Kindle returns me to the place I left off automatically. I like being able to make the font whatever size I like, and I like turning the pages with a click of my thumb. All in all, I have mixed feelings. I like the ease of use, but my heart sort of aches at the thought of books-on-paper disappearing. (as an author, my wallet aches a bit as well, because e-books are so much cheaper. LOL).
No Kindle for me–I spend 10 hours a day looking at a screen already. But maybe someday I will get one.
For singing, it sounds like maybe your sight reading is OK since you know the names of the notes and rhythms don’t seem to be a problem. What it sounds like you want is better sight singing skills; that’s what really lets you hear the notes in your head just by looking at them. It will get better just being in choir and singing; the more you do it the easier it will be. There are books and CDs with exercises, and you can purchase software. I can’t remember what program I used in college for music theory classes, but I’m sure you could find several options.
I did a quick search online and found this site, which looks pretty good for getting the fundamentals. http://neilhawes.com/sstheory/sitesing.htm
Christy, thank you for that resource and the encouragement! I also realize that I’ve lost my voice in the past 4 choir-less years, but I’m determined to get it back. I’m just delighted to be in a choir again. I love writing, but no matter how much we love our work, we need balance!
Was buying a Kindle to use when I fly during the summer. They were back ordered forever…then folks started complaining about some of the aspects. Determined that the money I would spend-could buy paperbacks and leave wherever I go much cheaper. HOWEVER
OK I Love My Kindle! There I said it and I am proud of it. I love not having to wear reading glasses because I can change the fonts. I love throwing it in my pocketbook and not being weighed down. I love being able to download a book in less than a minute for immediate satisfaction. I love being able to download a sample of a book to see if I want to purchase it.
I feel so much better to get that off my chest.
But I also love my books.I love to go to bookstore and touch and feel and see the book covers. It is possible to have two loves. Its like Sophie’s choice (ok I am being a little over dramatic)
please don’t make me choose……
By the way I am slightly nuts enough that I downloaded a book on my Kindle and loved it so much I went out and bought it so I could put it on my book shelf. And also by the way, I own the hard copies of all of Diane’s books and also have The Courage Tree and Cypress Point on my Kindle. So I doubly support my favorite authors. DO you think there is a special place in Heaven for those like me?
LOL! Ronnie, there is a special place in heaven for you for cracking me up. (Sophie’s choice???)
Let me clarify, not Sophie from The Courage Tree but Sophie from the movie Sophie’s Choice, with Meryl Streep, where she had to choose which one of her children she should say and the other one would be sent to the gas chamber.
I told you I was being a little dramatic……
Yes, i totally got it Ronnie. You drama queen, you.
I don’t think I’ll ever give up my love of real books with pages, gorgeous covers and the lovely feel of paper…Ronnie, I also have ALL Diane’s hardcover books on my bookshelf and the softbounds and wouldn’t trade them for anything!
My mother was diagnosed with macular degeneration and her 2 biggest loves are reading and watching movies. She can still see movies fine but has a hard time with books…SO, I’ve started her on books in LARGE PRINT and she loves, loves, loves them and can read great now!…I didn’t know you could enlarge the print on Kindles so I wonder if that would be a possibility for her?
Margo, you can make the font several different sizes. You’re not reading the “pages” of the book (there’s no page 1, 2 etc). You’re reading “locations” in the book and a little bar tells you how far you are into it. (10%, for example). Because there are no pages, the font can be any size and it fills the screen. It’s truly ingenious.
The Sony Reader gives the page number. I have to say that after looking at the Kindle and Sony Reader, I like the Reader better.