Hello Readers!
Happy Fall! I’m just wrapping up a three-state book tour of Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado for Hardland, and whew! WHAT FUN. Ruby Fortune is making her mark wherever she goes.
Thanks to Peregrine Book Company in Prescott, AZ; Bisbee Books and Music in Bisbee, AZ; Barnes & Noble in Pueblo, CO; Barnes & Noble in Denver/Lakewood, CO; and Barnes & Noble in Grand Junction, CO for hosting me over the past few weeks.
I stopped into many independent bookstores along the way, too (reminder: never leave a bookstore without buying a book or a newspaper or a coffee or a card or, or, or . . .)
And a huge thank you to Village Books in Bellingham, WA for hosting the virtual launch of Hardland in conversation with sister-author-friend Susan J. Tweit. You can access the interview here.
Speaking of Author Events . . .
You can access a recent wonderful conversation I had with author Mark. C. Jackson here, sponsored by our publicist, Krista Soukup of Blue Cottage Agency.
And Reviews . . .
Hardland is racking up rave reviews. Did you know that one of the best things you can do to support an author is to write a review? It can be as simple as one sentence, and it makes a difference! Please consider writing a review on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, BookBub, and/or Goodreads.
Upcoming Events
Soon, I’ll be heading back to Washington for three events in the Pacific Northwest:
Thursday, Oct. 20: Seaport Books, La Conner, WA from 2-5:00 p.m. (signing only)
Monday, Nov. 14: Third Place Books, Seattle/Lake Forest Park, WA at 7:00 p.m. (book talk and signing)
Saturday, Nov. 26: Watermark Books, Anacortes, WA from 12-2:00 p.m. (signing only)
Hope to see you there!
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month
. . . but then a certain comment, or a certain look—and sometimes, for no apparent reason at all—down comes his fist like lightning and her back takes a blow, a mirror image of a large man’s hand imprinted there, edges ragged and tender . . .
—Hardland
When I was a young woman, I was a victim of domestic violence. Taking past trauma and turning it into fiction has been at once cathartic and powerful. Ruby’s story is not my story, but we are members of a sisterhood: According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), 1 in 3 women in the U.S. has been a victim of intimate partner violence from a boyfriend, partner, or spouse in her lifetime. That translates into 50 million women—a staggering and unacceptable number.
Unfortunately, domestic abusers usually do not stop at partner violence. Child abuse is also rampant in the U.S. According to the CDC, 1 in 7 children in the U.S. experienced abuse or neglect in the past year, with more than 1,750 children dying from abuse or neglect.
If you or someone you love is in danger due to an abusive relationship, there is help available. Call your local DV hotline or the National Domestic Violence hotline at 800-799-7233. There is life after abuse.
Recent Five Star Reads from Reader Friends
The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict
The Bright Side Sanctuary for Animals by Becky Mandelbaum
Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult
Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson
Mercury Pictures Presents by Anthony Marra
The Passenger by Cormac McCarthy
In closing, there’s no time quite like the fall. Just the thought of brisk nights, warm sweaters, spiced cider, and pumpkin pie leads me straight to my couch with, what else? A great book.
Until next time, Happy Reading!
Ashley