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From today's guest post at Powells.com/blog:

"We're giving you a French flap," my publisher said.

"That's fantastic!" I said.

Then I immediately Googled "French flap."

Which it turns out is not, as I feared, some new variant on a Brazilian wax.

A French flap is a . . .

Want to know how that sentence ends (hint, it may point the way to saving the American book publishing industry)? Check out the full post over at the Powells website.

To an author, librarians are superheroes. First, they are incredible sources when we are researching and writing. Then, they are vital connectors for helping readers find our finished books. And if librarians in general are superheroes, Nancy Pearl is the superduperhero, the librarian so cool she has her own action figure. So when Nancy Pearl defines the four elements that make a person fall in love with a book, who wouldn't listen?

I did, and I blogged about it today for Powell's. Check it out on their site.

I didn't know I was going to be a novelist.

Or a Civil War Enthusiast.

So how did this happen?



Find out in today's guest post at powells.com -- the first of five I'll be doing this week.

I knew the Oregonian would be reviewing my novel on Sunday. I also knew the Sunday Oregonian actually comes out on Saturday. So Saturday afternoon, I strolled down to the store, and pawed through the paper. I chose a store that also sells things like PeptoBismol. Because it is incredibly nerve- and stomach-wracking to know you are about to read a stranger's words judging your work.

But it turns out I didn't need to swig down any pink bismuth after all. It's a great review (if you don't believe me, have a look for yourself).

And if you're interested in The Secrets of Lois Leveen as well as The Secrets of Mary Bowser , check out this interview.

The UK version of my book arrived today--thanks to Suzie Doore, Francine Toon, and all the wonderful folks at Hodder & Stoughton, for bringing my book to readers across the pond.

Click on the MORE button to see how a free woman of color became a free woman of colour!