Hello everyone!

Well, the official countdown has begun. Night Road comes out on March 22--those of you who have been following this blog for a while know that this is earlier than previously announced. That's right, the publisher has moved up publication to MARCH 22. That's less than six weeks away. That means spring is just around the corner.

I can't believe how fast time is moving. Are you having the same sense? I mean, wasn't it just 2010?

I've been so busy working in the past few weeks that I've hardly come up for air. My husband went to Hawaii for a much needed boys' week. He and a good friend spent several days working in the yard (at least they tell me that some work was going on), and sitting on the beach and visiting old friends. While he was enjoying the sunshine, I was holed up at home, working on the book for 2012. I hate to admit it, but I love working like that---when my husband's gone, I work 16 hours a day. Write, write, write. And thanks to all of that work, I am officially one scene from the end. One half a scene, maybe. Woo hoo!!! :)

Now, those of you who have read the blog for a long time know that I go through a lot of drafts--finishing once or twice or even three times, doesn't mean a whole lot in the end, but it darn sure feels nice now. Next step, I give it to my critique partner, Megan Chance, and she tells me where I went right and where I went wrong. I pray for more right than wrong. :)

I'm also gearing up for the Night Road tour in late March and early April. Here are the cities I'll be visiting: SEATTLE, PORTLAND, CHICAGO, DALLAS, COLUMBUS, RALEIGH-DURHAM, ATLANTA, NEW YORK, and RED BANK, NJ!!! Here's the link to my website where you can find dates and times and events. http://test.kristinhannah.com/content/about_kristin.php?id=Tour+Dates

Who can join me???? I hope some of you can find time in your busy schedules to come and meet me on the road. It should be a lot of fun!

And now, without further ado, here's the first official--and as yet top secret--NIGHT ROAD advance reading copy giveaway. I am going to give away a copy to one of you, my regular blog readers/posters. It's my way of saying thank you all of you who have been so supportive from the beginning. All you have to do is comment to this blog. On March 15th--one month from today, I'll pick one lucky winner to receive a signed copy of a collector's edition ARC of Night Road.

If you want to double your chances of winning, check out my facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/AuthorKristinHannah I'll be giving away an ARC on there, too!

Good luck to all of you!

And now that my first draft of the new book is done, what should I do? Run? Sleep? Go to the movies? No...READ!!! I can't WAIT to curl up with a good book. I'm busy collecting books (real books and ebooks) for my upcoming trip to Hawaii. What should I read next??? I'm looking for suggestions.

By the way, THANK YOU TONS AND TONS to all of you who bought Winter Garden in the past few weeks. To my awe and amazement, the trade paperback version hit NUMBER ONE on the bookscan bestseller list for several weeks in a row. On top of that, WG hit the NY times, Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly, Bookscan, Barnes and Noble, and USA Today bestseller lists. I am so so grateful. Thanks! You guys rock!

Don't forget: I want to know who can meet me on tour! Let me know...

With aloha,

Kristin