Kristin Bair O'Keeffe: Writer. Mom. Teacher. Traveler.

WOW! Blog Tour Launches

Ooh, ooh, ooh! So happy to announce that my WOW! virtual blog tour has launched. For the next six or so weeks, I'll be doing guest appearances on a whole variety of blogs (one based in Italy, another in Australia, etc.).

Today?

I'm in Dublin (virtually, that is...because yes, physically I am home in Shanghai again)...and I've written a structural parody of a Greek play about the creative state I call "Writerhead." (Singer Jack Johnson makes a guest appearance...so don't miss it!) This one is probably going to embarrass my husband a bit, but that's one of the risks of marrying a writer. Great blog: Hell or High Water.

If you want to check out the calendar of upcoming blog visits (and find out why I've spent so much time over the past few months biting lemons), check out WOW!

Now that I'm home and (very slowly) catching up on life and love in Shanghai, I'll be writing lots more about my recent book tour in the U.S., the flight with my daughter back to Shanghai (oy!), and lots more.

Stay tuned!

And The Winners of THIRSTY Are...

Over the past three days, I've been running a THIRSTY giveaway. Thanks so much to all the folks who participated (and to my nephew Nathan for picking the winners' names out of a bowl).

And now, without further ado, the winners!

October 29

David Grober...for whom Derrick Jensen's Endgame was a life-changing book (prize = 1 signed copy of THIRSTY)

Martin McSweeney...who was deeply affected by Cormac McCarthy's The Road (prize = 1 signed copy of THIRSTY)

October 30

Julie Duck...who tries to follow her gut when it comes to choosing books (prize = 1 signed copy of THIRSTY)

Sarah...who confers with friends about good reads (prize = 1 signed copy of THIRSTY)

October 31

Irish...for whom many characters in the Belgariad and Mellorian series by David Eddings are old friends (prize = 1 signed copy of THIRSTY and 1 very cool Bookthingy)

I'm gathering mailing addresses now and will have the prizes in the mail tomorrow.

Happy reading!

GIVEAWAY! Day #3, Saturday, October 31 -- 1 Copy of THIRSTY & a Bookthingy

This is it! Day #3 of the THIRSTY Giveaway! (If you're checking in for the first time, this week I’m giving away 5 copies of my debut novel THIRSTY! And 1 really cool, pretty amazing new bookthingy…appropriately entitled “Bookthingy”…that I discovered a few weeks ago while at the Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Association conference in Cleveland.)

Today's prizes?

1 copy of THIRSTY AND a Bookthingy! (1 winner gets both prizes)

A lot of people have asked, "What’s a Bookthingy?"

Good question.

A Bookthingy is a booklover’s bookcover created by two fabulous, book-loving women—Sharon Kom and Mary Larkin—who wanted an easy, stylish way to carry a book around town. (I met them in Cleveland; they are book-loving and they are fabulous.) The Bookthingy is a mini-tote for the book you’re reading.

Here’s what it looks like. (The one I’m giving away is called “Meet Alice: Take a trip. Bring your book.” but there are a number of styles available at www.bookthingys.com.)

How to win?

Easy. Just answer the following question in the comments section:

Today's question is:

• What book have you read more than once? Why? What brings you back to this book?

Me?

I've got a couple of recently published novels that I've read more than once. One that I'm awed by every time is Jonathan Safran Foer's Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close. I've read it, oh, I don't know how many times now. The voice of the boy astounds me...his character...his incredible "flawedness"...his vulnerability...his wounds. He is so...so...human. And so brave in showing his humanity.

You're up! What book have you read more than once? How come?

This is it! Day #3 of the THIRSTY Giveaway! (If you're checking in for the first time, this week I’m giving away 5 copies of my debut novel THIRSTY! And 1 really cool, pretty amazing new bookthingy…appropriately entitled “Bookthingy”…that I discovered a few weeks ago while at the Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Association conference in Cleveland.)

Today's prizes?

1 copy of THIRSTY AND a Bookthingy! (1 winner gets both prizes)

A lot of people have asked, "What’s a Bookthingy?"

Good question.

A Bookthingy is a booklover’s bookcover created by two fabulous, book-loving women—Sharon Kom and Mary Larkin—who wanted an easy, stylish way to carry a book around town. (I met them in Cleveland; they are book-loving and they are fabulous.) The Bookthingy is a mini-tote for the book you’re reading.

Here’s what it looks like. (The one I’m giving away is called “Meet Alice: Take a trip. Bring your book.” but there are a number of styles available at www.bookthingys.com.)

How to win?

Easy. Just answer the following question in the comments section:

Today's question is:

• What book have you read more than once? Why? What brings you back to this book?

Me?

I've got a couple of recently published novels that I've read more than once. One that I'm awed by every time is Jonathan Safran Foer's Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close. I've read it, oh, I don't know how many times now. The voice of the boy astounds me...his character...his incredible "flawedness"...his vulnerability...his wounds. He is so...so...human. And so brave in showing his humanity.

You're up! What book have you read more than once? How come?

GIVEAWAY! Day #2, Friday, October 30 -- 2 Copies of THIRSTY

Welcome! Welcome!

Today is Day #2 of the THIRSTY Giveaway! (If you're checking in for the first time, this week I’m giving away 5 copies of my debut novel THIRSTY! And 1 really cool, pretty amazing new bookthingy…appropriately entitled “Bookthingy”…that I discovered a few weeks ago while at the Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Association conference in Cleveland.)

Today's prizes?

2 copies of THIRSTY!

How to win?

Easy. Just answer the following question in the comments section:

Today's question is:

• How do you choose a book to read? (Do you read the synopsis? Oggle the author photo? Judge a book by its cover? Critique the acknowledgments? Read a page in the middle of the book? Get referrals from friends? Get referrals on Twitter? etc.)

Me? How do I choose a book?

I have a holistic approach to choosing a book. I like to hold a book in my hands, turn it over, look at the front and back covers, read the summary on the front inside flap, check out the author photo on the back inside flap. I also open randomly to a page in the middle, read a few sentences, get a feel for the story and the author's voice. Epigraphs? Acknowledgments? Any other extra info I can find? I read it all. (But of course this is in an ideal world. I live in Shanghai so I order many books online...whole different gig when I can't hold the book. Then I'm much more dependent on referrals from friends, Twitterers, readers, etc.)

Your turn! How do you choose a book to read?

GIVEAWAY! Day #1, Thursday, October 29 -- 2 Copies of THIRSTY

This week I’m giving away 5 copies of my debut novel THIRSTY! 

And 1 really cool, pretty amazing new bookthingy…appropriately entitled “Bookthingy”…that I discovered a few weeks ago while at the Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Association conference in Cleveland.

Today's prizes?

2 copies of THIRSTY!

How to win?

Easy. Just answer the following question in the comments section:

• What book made you think a little differently about the world…and how? (This can be any book that you’ve read at any time in your life…anything from Where the Wild Things Are to Pride and Prejudice.)

Got it?

1. Read the question.
2. Answer the question in the comments section.
3. Wait to see if you win. (Winners to be announced on Sunday, November 1.)

Want to know one of mine?

The Odyssey -- Read it in 11th grade English class. Read the whole book out loud. Captivated by Circe and the Sirens...by Tiresias. Loved the Cyclops. Ever since, I've wanted to travel AND write the woman's version of Odysseus' journey.

You?

THIRSTY Giveaway! Bookthingy Giveaway!

This week I’m giving away 5 copies of my debut novel THIRSTY! 

And 1 really cool, pretty amazing new bookthingy…appropriately entitled “Bookthingy”…that I discovered a few weeks ago while at the Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Association conference in Cleveland.

What’s a Bookthingy?

Good question.

A Bookthingy is a booklover’s bookcover created by two fabulous, book-loving women—Sharon Kom and Mary Larkin—who wanted an easy, stylish way to carry a book around town. (I met them in Cleveland; they are book-loving and they are fabulous.) The Bookthingy is a mini-tote for the book you’re reading.

Here’s what it looks like. (The one I’m giving away is called “Meet Alice: Take a trip. Bring your book.” but there are a number of styles available at www.bookthingys.com.)

Here’s the scoop on how the giveaway will work:

    Thursday, October 29, 2009 – 2 copies of THIRSTY (1 copy per winner; 2 winners)
    Friday, October 30, 2009 – 2 copies of THIRSTY (1 copy per winner; 2 winners)
    Saturday, October 31, 2009 – 1 copy of THIRSTY and 1 Bookthingy (1 winner wins both)

How to win?

Easy. Just answer the following question in the comments section of my blog on the appropriate giveaway date:

Thursday, October 29, 2009
What book made you think a little differently about the world…and how? (This can be any book that you’ve read at any time in your life…anything from Where the Wild Things Are to Pride and Prejudice)

Friday, October 30, 2009
How do you choose a book to read? (Do you read the synopsis? Oggle the author photo? Judge a book by its cover? Critique the acknowledgments? Read a page in the middle of the book? Get referrals from friends? Get referrals on Twitter? etc.)

Saturday, October 31, 2009
What book have you read more than once? Why? What brings you back to this book?

Each day, all names of readers who comment will be dropped into a hat (or maybe a bowl…or even a boot). Two names will be drawn each day. Winners will be announced on Sunday, November 1. Prizes will be sent on Monday, November 2. (I fly home to China on November 3!)

Ready to play? Ready to win?

THIRSTY BOOK TOUR 2009: Update from the Road

I am happy.

Let me tell you about it.

On Thursday, Tully and I made it back up to Maine from Pittsburgh. Our flights were (thankfully) on time, kind people helped us when they saw me struggling (to change a dirty diaper in a gross, inconvenient spot in the Philly airport, to carry the car seat while pushing Tully and managing my carry-on, etc.), and Tully and I giggled the whole trip (even when it took me forever to get her car seat properly buckled into our rental car in Portland). Considering the fact that Tully moves more than the Tasmanian devil in the Bugs Bunny cartoons (truly more…truly faster…truly more), the trip was pretty darn good.

Maine is in its autumnal glory. Oranges and yellows waving from half-naked trees; more of such gathered in crispy piles beneath them.

I’m slowly (veeerrrryyyyy slowly) reading Lorrie Moore’s A Gate at the Stairs. I’m thinking about buying a Kindle so I can get books in Shanghai without hassle (and a gazillion dollars worth of Amazon delivery fees). I’ve been hanging out in bookstores, surrounded by lovely, delicious books.

All THIRSTY-related events have gone beautifully. I’ve confirmed some things I suspected would be true:
1.    I love talking to folks about my debut novel, about writing, about process, about believing in yourself and your dreams.
2.    I’m pretty good talking to folks about all of the above.

I’ve also discovered some things I wasn’t sure would be true:
1.    I love marketing THIRSTY…thinking up new ways to reach potential audiences.
2.    I’m getting really into how to use technology (and cool social media networks) to connect with readers & bookstores. (Just did a Skype interview—video and audio—with an independent bookstore in Ohio. Link to come soon.)

I did two U.S. events today. Both were good experiences...for different reasons.

1.    Kennebooks, Kennebunk, Maine / Sat, 10/24, 12:00 – 2:30 p.m.

2.    The Write Spirit, Newburyport, MA / Sat, 10/24, 4:30 p.m. (sold out)

And I've got one more event to go. Are you close by? Are you joining me?

1.  Wine-Sense, Andover, MA / Thurs, 10/29, 6:00 p.m. (Great fun here! Wine and THIRSTY!)

Finally, I’m feeling the urge to write well up in me. The irresistible urge. Stories are gathering in me. It feels good.

(Now enough from me…hey, go buy THIRSTY.)

Tune In: Me on BlogTalkRadio Tomorrow (10/15/09), "The Muse & You"

Interested in talking about the weird and wonderful quirks we writers have? (and usually keep well hidden) Or in learning more about my debut novel THIRSTY?

On Thursday, October 15, at 1:00 p.m. (eastern time), I'll be chatting with Mark David Gerson, host of the radio show "The Muse & You."

Tune in! Call in! Share your thoughts (and your quirks). Click here to learn more.

"Red River Writers Live: The Muse and You," hosted by Mark David Gerson and produced by Red River Writers
Thursday, October 15, 1:00 p.m. (ET)
www.blogtalkradio.com

Beer Caps and My Gram's Artistic Spirit

"Today I'm participating in a mass blogging! WOW! Women On Writing has gathered a group of blogging buddies to write about family relationships. Why family relationships? We're celebrating the release of Therese Walsh's debut novel today. The Last Will of Moira Leahy, (Random House, October 13, 2009) is about a mysterious journey that helps a woman learn more about herself and her twin, whom she lost when they were teenagers. Visit The Muffin to read what Therese has to say about family relationships and view the list of all my blogging buddies. And make sure you visit Therese's website to find out more about the author."

* * * *

Somewhere around 1970, my grandmother began making decorative art with household items. For Christmas in second or third grade, I gave my teacher a trash can made out of Styrofoam egg cartons and red yarn. A year later, I gave my teacher a birdhouse made from a milk carton and macaroni. Along with my great aunt, Gram made jingly curtains from beer tabs. She crocheted beautiful afghans, doll clothes, bedspreads, rugs, and potholders.

Sometimes I was embarrassed by my gram's homemade art, especially when my friends were giving our teachers little wooden necklaces and gift certificates for fancy stores. But at some point I realized that my gram--the wife of a steelworker who lived one of Pittsburgh's most active steel communities--was an artist. Yes, she was also a housewife, a mom, a cook at a nearby nursing home, a gardener, a terrific grandmother, the matriarch of our Croatian clan, a working-class woman who as far as I knew never got to take a real vacation, but she was also an artist who used the materials within her reach and means.

At some point, my gram made two bunches of red grapes from beer caps and red thread. Today those stained, worn bunches hang on my mom's kitchen wall, next to the stove and over two of her crocheted potholders. Though my gram passed away years ago, these are my daughter's favorite things in the kitchen. Every morning before breakfast, she yells "st berries" (meaning the red grapes on the wall). I carry Tully over to them and she "picks" a grape and feeds it to me.

And the feeding brings us full circle.

Guest Post by Therese Walsh, Author of "The Last Will of Moira Leahy"

Therese Walsh is the author of a new novel, The Last Will of Moira Leahy. Today, I've invited her to share a bit about how she has been promoting her first book. Hope you enjoy her post (and check out her book). I'm so looking forward to reading it!

Unboxed Publicity

At Writer Unboxed, Kathleen Bolton and I preach the importance of creativity in writing. Now that I have
a debut novel to promote—The Last Will of Moira Leahy, which releases tomorrow, October 13th—it only made sense that I explore unboxed promotional efforts as well. Though time will tell which of these seeds bear the ripest fruit, I can tell you unequivocally that many have sprouted growth.

Here are just two of the steps I’ve taken to help promote my novel.

Distributed the galley to niche markets. My novel involves twins: how one woman recovers from the loss of her twin, but also how this particular set of twins—Maeve and Moira Leahy—grew together and apart, and how Moira met her end. Twins is a niche market, and so early on I reached out to several twin reviewers and offered galleys. They all accepted those galleys and offered to review the book on their sites. One reviewer will be holding a giveaway, doing a little something extra to help promote the work. I also contacted a bookseller, DoubleUp Books—a store specializing in all things twin. I sent the owner, Shelby, a galley, and have had several conversations with her about The Last Will. She has been terrific, and is now supporting the book and featuring it on her website.

Remembered my roots. There’s a bad joke here, sorry, because I’m going to talk about two different kinds of roots. First, the kind you expect: where I’ve come from. I contacted my former alumni associations, and each of them put information about The Last Will and me into their newsletters. I also gave a copy of my galley to my hair guy (roots, get it?), who offered to make a virtual shrine for my book in his studio. We both agreed he sees more women in a month than almost anyone else in the city. Since then, he’s pimped the book—offered it up for customers to fondle and admire while he works his magic—and created so much excitement for it that at least eight readers have sworn to bring the book to their book clubs.

Writing is hard, promotion and marketing is too, but both can be just a little more rewarding when you think outside of the box.

Write on, all!

* * * * * * * *

Therese Walsh is the co-founder of one of the Writer’s Digest best sites for writers, Writer Unboxed. Her debut novel, The Last Will of Moira Leahy, is about a woman who lost her identical twin--and a large portion of herself--about a decade ago, but reconnects with her former life after purchasing an artifact from her past. Through interwoven narratives, we see Maeve Leahy as she was and what led to the tragedy with her sister, Moira. We travel with her in the present day as she unravels the truth about the artifact—who's following her and leaving her notes?—as layers of her past are peeled away and the course of her future is forever altered. Visit ThereseWalsh.com to learn more about Therese and her novel and to read a three-chapter excerpt.