Reviews roll in, I roll out on appearances in the Bay Area with writing buddies

A couple posts ago I mentioned that scary pause where an authors finishes a book... moves on to the next project, but some part of our attention is in suspended animation, just waiting for the reviews.

Will the reviewers love my new book? Will they hate it? And worst of all, will they ignore it?

I've finally let out my breath. Two more reviews have come in on my new novel, Dogtag Summer, from Booklist and School Library Journal.

"Creative and winsome... poignant coming-of-age story that resonates with pain and a hard-fought resolution.” —Booklist

"Partridge also succeeds in incorporating solid historical research into a moving story, using the dogtag, symbol of a most unpopular war, as an instrument of catharsis.” —School Library Journal

Let the festivities begin!

Here's one of the wonderful aspects of being a writer: becoming friends with so many incredible people who also write. I've got some great appearances coming up with friends. These will be a blast, hope you can join us for one if you are in the Bay Area.

Monday February 28th: National Book Award winner Judy Blundell is here in California on a book tour with her new novel, Strings Attached. We'll be at Books Inc. Burlingame at 6:00 pm for a special wine and cheese mingler. Books Inc. is giving 25% discount on all books purchased at the event. 1375 Burlingame Ave, Burlingame, 94010 (650) 685-4911.

Tuesday March 1st: Judy and I will do a joint school visit in Santa Rosa, then a Dark Days of Winter Tea at Copperfields in Petaluma. For teens, refreshments served!

Mrach 27th at 1 pm: Great good Place for Books with Thacher Hurd and Marissa Moss. Marissa is dark-side funny, Thacher is hold-your-sides funny. Together they are funny squared. This will be rocking!

March 28th: Kid Lit Salon at Book Passages Corte Madera with Marissa Moss and Joanne Rocklin.

This is how a novel starts

I have a once-a-day feed from Google that picks up my name on the web. Usually it's just that a library somewhere has bought my book, or one of my books is for sale on eBay, or that I'll be appearing somewhere (which I already know). Pretty standard stuff.

But today I got a terrific Google Alert via Convict Records. In September 1846, Elizabeth Partridge was one of 169 convicts transported on the Elizabeth and Henry to Australia! Now usually, that side of my family rests very peacefully in small village graveyards. They were crofters -- small farmers -- and small time merchants. I had no idea I had scurvy ancestors.

What did this Elizabeth Partridge do that got her ten years in jail, swapped off for being sent to Australia? What was it like for her once she got there?

What if....

and a seed is planted. I don't know that I would ever take this any further, but it is exhilarating to have my mind tumble in a new direction.

What kind of random things have been making you think "What if....?"