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I get a little agoraphobic in bookstores. So many books to read! So little time! My pulse races, and my heart races and, well, I lose my mellow all over the plae.

I guess that's the idea behind Shelf Awareness, which promises "Enlightenment for Readers," through newsletters with book industry highlights. Sort of a Cliff Notes for people who actually want to read the whole book, as long as they can figure out which whole book to read. Shelf Awareness is so into its enlightenment approach, it even has a logo with a cute little Buddha all yoga-ed out on a bookshelf, using bound angle pose to prop up a book.

That is my kind of multi-tasking. Maybe if I could read in yoga class, I'd be a better yogini. And better read.

In any event, I'm delighted to report that Shelf Awareness has published a really glowing (per the enlightenment metaphor, maybe I should say inner-glowing?) review of The Secrets of Mary Bowser, which they call "A brilliant historical novel" and "a rich, layered story of slavery, of the South and of what it means to fight for what we believe in, no matter the cost."

If you'd like to get a little more enlightened, check out the full review.

Thanks to everyone who voted for The Secrets of Mary Bowser, which is the WINNER for the Sutter Home Wine June bookclub selection.



The author of the monthly selection shares entertaining tips (I think that means tips for entertaining; my amusing advice on how to add more leopard to your wardrobe did not qualify), as well as a recipe book groups can use for the meeting where they discuss the book.

Needless to say, a recipe with a secret ingredient seemed especially appropriate for The Secrets of Mary Bowser.

And chocolate seems especially appropriate for ANYTHING.

So, check out my Secrets of Chocolate Cake recipe. It is the weirdest chocolate cake you'll ever make, but also the best. (Just don't tell anyone what the secret ingredient is, until after they've tasted it!)

Authors write books. Readers read books. But in between, there are many wonderful people behind the scenes who make the book "happen."

Today, I'm in Birmingham, Alabama, visiting with one team of wonderfuls, the folks at Books-A-Million who are connecting readers across the South, and other choice pockets of the country, with my book.

But I'm also thinking of another team of wonderfuls, my "across the pond" friends at Hodder & Stoughton, who TODAY are publishing my book for UK readers. Very few authors are lucky enough to have one insightful editor, one great publishing house, and one gorgeous cover. I have two, with William Morrow in the US and Hodder in the UK, and for that I am ever grateful.



More on my time in the 'Bam and elsewhere soon!

Ever wonder what authors talk about when readers aren't around?

Wayyyyy back in October, I found out that The Secrets of Mary Bowser would be published on May 15. But it was only a couple of weeks ago that I began to wonder what I would actually do on May 15. And, for that matter, on May 14, and on May 16. I had no idea. So I asked some of my friends who are published authors.

For their answers, and my zany, zany May 15th travels, check out "Sex Tips for Authors (Well, What Authors Trade Instead of Sex Tips)" today's guest post on the Powell's blog.

Recycling is very important to keep the planet healthy. So I've gone green (and red!) by recycling a February entry from this blog for today's guest post "Fear of a Red Tractor" at Powells.com. But the pictures I did for the Powells version are supercute.

Speaking of supercute, check out this supercute photo I just tweeted with the message "Blue v Gray meet White v Red. Vote 4 The Secrets of Mary Bowser 4 for the Sutter Home Wine June book club.



Voting ends Monday, May 21! My sister says you can vote multiple times, although I of course would not openly advocate such blatant election rigging.