Six days until 1001 Firefly Lane house parties!!!!
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Hey everyone---
I woke today to the sight of this sunrise outside my window. When you see a sky like this, you just know it's going to be a good day, don't you? I have to admit, I'm not usually an early riser, so maybe I'm missing skies like this a lot. (I'm really more of a sunset girl). But I saw this and then I remembered that the house parties were coming up, and I thought it had to be a good sign.
I don't know how many of you are hostesses, but I've been checking out the house party site in the past few weeks, and I LOVE hearing all the ideas for the parties. There is so much creativity going on out there. Hat parties, pajama parties, seventies-themed parties; there's music and food and fun on the horizon, I can tell. I especially adore the groups that are choosing to wear pink ribbons. It's such a perfect touch for Firefly Lane. As most of you know, breast cancer is a subject that has touched my life on a profound level, so it truly touches me that it has become a part of the parties. Last year, I began a fund to help out in my own small way, and thanks to the fireflies, we raised a lot of money to help women battling breast cancer in outlying areas, and this year, I'm focusing on raising awareness of IBC. All the women wearing pink ribbons to the parties are like warriors, joinging with me. So THANKS!!! You guys rock. And if you'd like to help me make a difference, you know you can go to my site and make a small donation in the name of your party, your group, or anyone whom you'd like to honor. http://www.kristinhannah.com/content/firefly_fund.php
For anyone who hasn't checking out the whole house party scoop, check out http://houseparty.com/celebratingstories. There's a lot of fun ideas there and some really great women. I especially love all the photographs that have been posted. I need to find a way to put them on my site...
And now, onto the Winter Memories contest. I have read all of the entries, and I have to say, I am blown away. Once again, you guys have have touched my heart with your personal stories. As a writer, I spend a good part of my life in the hazy world of make believe, and it is so wonderful to be grounded again by honest, heartfelt memories. I am so sad that I can't call every single Winter Memory author a winner and send her a signed copy of Winter Garden. But there were simply too many entries for that. So, what I've done is pick two winners (and yes one is a firefly) to whom I'm going to send my last two advanced reading copies. Because I simply loved so many of the entries, though, I've also chosen several Honorable Mentions who will recieve signed copies of another of my recent titles. To everyone else, I'm going to send a signed book plate.
Thanks again so so much for taking the time to enter this contest and share small pieces of your life with me. As soon as Kim and I can figure out how to do it, we're going to post quite a few of the essays on the site, so keep your eye out for them. You know what's really interesting, is how much the essays have in common. We all, it seems, remember snow days and Christmas mornings and being with our loved ones. That, most of all. Our best memories all surround times spent with our families. It's a great reminders to make memories whenever and wherever we can. Even though our families some times drive us crazy, they also complete and uplift us.
The winners are--drum roll, please--Patricia Tilton and Naomi Bliss. Thanks for two truly touching Winter Memories. Honorable mentions go out to Julie Benson, Brenda Ivester, Rebecca Hamarode, Kim Griffith, Nancy Gillingham, Nicole Rosati, Karen Haney, Kelly Branyik, Kay Harms, Virgina Camden, Dawn Kleckner, and Sharon MacDonald. A special shout out goes to my cousin, Leslie, who slipped in a Winter Memory that included me. :) I will mail out the advance reading copies tomorrow. So, enjoy! The other books will go out as soon as Kim and I can get them all in the mail. With the tour coming up, things are a little crazy around here, so I hope you'll be patient with us.
And now, because Kim will come in and yell at me if I don't do this (she really does, too--you should see her when she's mad), I want to tell you all that True Colors went up to number 5 on the New York Times list. Wow! What a champagne moment. Thanks to all of you who made it possible....and to those of you who bought and read Kim's book, Lake Magic, another big thanks. She made the Barnes and Noble romance bestseller list--quite a feat for a first novel. Brava, Kim!
LOST is only a few days away....I just had to say that. :)
And what do we all think about the changes on American Idol now that it's actually coming? Looking forward to Ellen?
The parties aren't the only countdown going on, btw. Don't forget that Winter Garden comes out 2/2 and I am DYING to hear what you all think. This is my favorite book to date and I really wonder if you'll all agree. And I hope to meet as many of you as possible on my upcoming tour. I'll be in Portland, Oregon, Chicago, Atlanta, NYC, Long Island, and Ann Arbor. The complete listing is at http://www.kristinhannah.com/content/about_kristin.php?id=Tour%20Dates. If you live close, come see me, and be sure and tell me you read the blog!
That's all for now, I guess. Aloha from the Pacific Northwest==
Kristin
