Questions for Katherine Howe? BOOK SIGNING

[Katherine_Howe]

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PB684 wrote:

Katherine,

I was just checking your website and noticed that you will be in NYC on June 9th! I am going to try to be there but was wondering if you had any plans to visit a B&N on Long Island. I actually work late on Tuesday nights and might not be able to make it into the city. If you were going to be on the Island at any point I might try for that one as it would be easier. Either way I would LOVE to have you sign my book!

PB684 (Paula)

Message Edited by PB684 on 04-20-2009 08:33 PM

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Hi Paula!

I do not know of any plans to be on Long Island, so I do hope that you can make it to the signing in NYC on June 9. It's going to be at the Barnes and Noble in Greenwich Village, and it's taking place on the book's actual pub date, so it's going to be the first event I have done where actual copies of the book will be present!

For the hardback I will be mostly in New England and a couple of appearances in Texas, all of which will be listed under "About the Author" on www.physickbook.com, and under "Events" on the Facebook page. I gather that there will be more traveling for the paperback when it comes out. Of course, the better the hardback does, the more traveling I can do for the paperback, so spread the word!

Thank you for reading, and I hope to see you in the city on June 9,

KH

[pen21]

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Katherine_Howe wrote:

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pen21 wrote:

My question is what surprised you most in the posts

I loved the variety of viewpoints and opinions. This is my first First Look book.

I kept checking the posts to see what someone else had discovered that I had missed.

It has been a great experience.

Keep writing, it has been a pleasure to read your book.

Lu

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Hi Lu! Thank you so much for reading. I am glad that you have discovered First Look.

This is a challenging question. In a sense, because I didn't know what to expect, *everything* was surprising.

I think I was surprised by people's negative initial reactions to Grace. Of course I knew what she was up to while I was writing her, and she was meant to be a bit unlikable at first, but I didn't quite expect readers to be angry at her. It was interesting to see how First Lookers' feelings about Grace evolved over the course of the story.

Tomatogate was also a bit of a surprise. I knew that the garden was wrong, and I knew that readers would notice the wrongness (they were supposed to, after all), but everyone has different degrees to which they are able to suspend disbelief. Considering some of the things that happen later in the story, the tomato garden seemed pretty mild to me when writing it. But at that point there has been very little hint of the direction that the story will eventually take, so the garden might have been more startling for a reader than I planned it to be.

But more than anything, I have been most surprised and delighted by how enthusiastic everyone has been! I feel so privileged to have been part of this discussion. Thank you to everyone who gave their time over to reading Physick Book, and double thank you to those who enjoyed it enough to share their positive reviews on B and N and elsewhere on the web. And thank you to B and N for inviting me to be a part of First Look. I couldn't have asked for a better first novel experience than this one.

KH

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Thank you for your response.

I thought about your answers. At times it seemed like the posts were stuck on an element in the book and discussions ensued. I wonder if some of it comes from sticking to the schedule and reading about 100 pages a week and then having to wait a whole week to see where the book would take us. I typically read a book in a shorter span of time than a month. Reading it this way, I think I did look at details differently.

Your book has been well received. You should be very proud.

Lu

[PiperMurphy]

Katherine,

Congratulations on writing such a fantastic book, and thank you for your generosity in spending so much time in the threads with us. You really made the discussion fun. I absolutely loved the book. I love history, but hadn't had much interest in the Salem trials until I read your book. Now I want to learn more. This is a good thing.

I can hardly wait to read The Scrying Glass. Wow, this is going to feel like waiting for the next Harry Potter!

[blkeyesuzi]

I'm dying to ask you one last question and I hope you are still here to answer it.  You mentioned that you wrote this book during your own "NaNoWriMo" since you couldn't wait until the actual November event. How much of the actual finished novel we see here was done during that 30 days?  In other words, how much more time did it take you to complete your writing?  Outside of the editing process. Did you meet the 150,000 word goal? (I believe that's the goal. I forget at the moment)

It's a beautiful book and I know you did painful research.  It's the writing process that absolutely fascinates me.

Thanks!

Message Edited by blkeyesuzi on 04-23-2009 06:44 PM

[Clevegal42]

I think this might be late.  I've been reading the boards but haven't been commenting.  I've been a little behind in my reading and I didn't want to spoil it for myself.  By the time I caught up I realized how very far I was behind everyone.

If it is not too late, I'm interested in Ms. Howe's response.  If she is already gone, maybe someone might be able to answer this.

Some authors use the setting of the story as a backdrop for the action.  When I was reading this book, I thought that it was almost like a character and we were seeing the differences, the way the town "grew".  Almost like a story of an old woman or an old man who is reliving their youth by telling stories of days gone by.  I thought that the town was telling Connie it's story.  I was wondering if that was something that was intentional or more of something that spun itself out as you were telling Connie's story and Deliverance's story?

Thank you for the opportunity to participate and read your book.  I've already recommended it to people for when it comes out.

[maryfrancesa]

I agree with waht you said about Connie and Grace.  I always thought Grace knows far more than she lets on and that there is a purpose to what she does/did.  I am interested and just thought of this Did Connie have some inkling that her graduates studies were so involved with her anacestors and that she herself may have the gift. 

[liisa22]

Not sure where to actually post this, but here is a link to my book review blog.  It is rather sparse, but it is still a work in progress.  (For all of it!)  So don't judge me by it, please!

http://bookreviewsbyliisa.blogspot.com/

I am going to add a couple of links to it, as well as put links on my facebook page. 

Thanks Katherine again for a great read!

[Katherine_Howe]

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blkeyesuzi wrote:

I'm dying to ask you one last question and I hope you are still here to answer it.  You mentioned that you wrote this book during your own "NaNoWriMo" since you couldn't wait until the actual November event. How much of the actual finished novel we see here was done during that 30 days?  In other words, how much more time did it take you to complete your writing?  Outside of the editing process. Did you meet the 150,000 word goal? (I believe that's the goal. I forget at the moment)

It's a beautiful book and I know you did painful research.  It's the writing process that absolutely fascinates me.

Thanks!

Message Edited by blkeyesuzi on 04-23-2009 06:44 PM

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Hi Suzi,

I hate to disappoint you, but I did not attempt to write Physick Book in a month. What happened was that a friend suggested we try NaNoWriMo, and it was her suggestion that put the idea in my head that I could write a novel if I wanted to. But once I came up with the idea for Physick Book, and got some great encouragement from some friends, I approached it in a slow and methodical manner. 

The great thing about NaNoWriMo is that 1) it does just what it did for me, that is, it suggests that you can write a novel if you feel like it. You have permission from the universe to give it a try. That's a more liberating idea than it seems. And 2) it's a good excuse to do a lot of writing, if doing a lot of writing is not something already built into one's day to day life. For my own part, I write every single day. Not a lot, necessarily, and not always given over to a specific project, but something. It seems obvious, but the most important part of being a writer is... doing a whole lot of writing. And NaNoWriMo is great because it demands just that!

KH

[Katherine_Howe]

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Clevegal42 wrote:

I think this might be late.  I've been reading the boards but haven't been commenting.  I've been a little behind in my reading and I didn't want to spoil it for myself.  By the time I caught up I realized how very far I was behind everyone.

If it is not too late, I'm interested in Ms. Howe's response.  If she is already gone, maybe someone might be able to answer this.

Some authors use the setting of the story as a backdrop for the action.  When I was reading this book, I thought that it was almost like a character and we were seeing the differences, the way the town "grew".  Almost like a story of an old woman or an old man who is reliving their youth by telling stories of days gone by.  I thought that the town was telling Connie it's story.  I was wondering if that was something that was intentional or more of something that spun itself out as you were telling Connie's story and Deliverance's story?

Thank you for the opportunity to participate and read your book.  I've already recommended it to people for when it comes out.

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Hi Clevegal!

I am still here, at least for today! I am so glad that you enjoyed Physick Book. Thank you so much for reading.

I would say that Physick Book probably would not have happened if I had not spent so much time wandering around in Marblehead. In fact, the setting in some ways pre-existed the characters in my thinking about the overall story. So you are right- the setting is kind of its own character in that regard. Maybe that's what we mean when we say that a town "has a lot of character." 

Thank you for recommending the book to your friends, and I hope you'll either catch up with me on Facebook, or via my mailing list at connienandarlo@gmail.com for news on the next book!

KH

[AnnJE]

Katherine, are you planning a book about the Proctors?   I would be first in line to get it!!

[AnnJE]

Katherine - when will you be in Texas?  I live in Dallas and would love to meet you.

[Katherine_Howe]

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AnnJE wrote:
Katherine - when will you be in Texas?  I live in Dallas and would love to meet you.

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Hello AnnJE!

Appearance news will be posted under the "About the Author" section of www.physickbook.com, and will also be posted under "Events" on my Facebook fan page.

The dates for the hardback will be a bit rare, but I gather that there will be more for the paperback. So stay tuned!

Confimed appearances right now are:

May 29 BEA bookseller conference, NYC

June 9 (pub day!) Greenwich Village Barnes and Noble, NYC, about 7:00 pm

June 10 Abbott Public Library, Marblehead, Mass, 6:30 pm (hosted by Spirit of '76 books)

June 23 Harvard Bookstore, Cambridge, Mass, 7:00 pm

June 25 Barnes and Noble, Framingham, Mass 7:00 pm

June 27 lecture at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texas ca. 2:00 pm

June 30 Blue Willow bookstore, Houston, Texas 7:00 pm

July 7 Riverrun Bookstore, Portsmouth, NH 7:00 pm

July 15 Peabody Institute Library, Danvers, Mass 7:00 pm

July 23 literary luncheon Where the Sidewalk Ends bookstore, Chatham (Cape Cod), Mass

I hope to meet some First Lookers while out and about for Physick Book! Thank you all so much, again, for your kindness and enthusiasm. This has been an amazing experience.

KH

[Katherine_Howe]

Dear First Lookers,

As we press into the late evening on Friday, it's time for me to bow out of our conversation. I just wanted to thank you all again for taking time to read Physick Book, particularly for those of you for whom it was a real departure from your usual fare. I feel so honored to have been a part of this conversation. You all were attentive readers, asked excellent questions, and gave me such a warm welcome to your community, and for that I am truly grateful.

I hope to see some of you in my travels for the book, if not in person, then at least in webspace on Facebook or at www.physickbook.com!

I could not have asked for a better audience for my first foray into fiction. My heartfelt thanks to all of you, and to Barnes and Noble for inviting me to join the First Look Book Club.

With warm regards,

Katherine

[AnnJE]

Darn - I was hoping for an appearance in Dallas!  Kathleen Kent is going to be at an Arts and Letters at the Dallas Museum of Art in May.  I saw that you were interviewed with her.  I met her when she was at a Barnes and Noble in Dallas - she lives here. 

 I hope our paths will cross someday.  I enjoyed your book and the chance to discuss it with you on this site.  Thanks!!

[TRJ4SQ]

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Katherine_Howe wrote:

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blkeyesuzi wrote:

I'm dying to ask you one last question and I hope you are still here to answer it.  You mentioned that you wrote this book during your own "NaNoWriMo" since you couldn't wait until the actual November event. How much of the actual finished novel we see here was done during that 30 days?  In other words, how much more time did it take you to complete your writing?  Outside of the editing process. Did you meet the 150,000 word goal? (I believe that's the goal. I forget at the moment)

It's a beautiful book and I know you did painful research.  It's the writing process that absolutely fascinates me.

Thanks!

Message Edited by blkeyesuzi on 04-23-2009 06:44 PM

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Hi Suzi,

I hate to disappoint you, but I did not attempt to write Physick Book in a month. What happened was that a friend suggested we try NaNoWriMo, and it was her suggestion that put the idea in my head that I could write a novel if I wanted to. But once I came up with the idea for Physick Book, and got some great encouragement from some friends, I approached it in a slow and methodical manner. 

The great thing about NaNoWriMo is that 1) it does just what it did for me, that is, it suggests that you can write a novel if you feel like it. You have permission from the universe to give it a try. That's a more liberating idea than it seems. And 2) it's a good excuse to do a lot of writing, if doing a lot of writing is not something already built into one's day to day life. For my own part, I write every single day. Not a lot, necessarily, and not always given over to a specific project, but something. It seems obvious, but the most important part of being a writer is... doing a whole lot of writing. And NaNoWriMo is great because it demands just that!

KH

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Here Here!  Stand on how you believe! What ever makes it work for you because it's good.

Katherine, you shall be very successful no doubt and my smiling thoughts in all the wonderful things to come.

TRJ

Message Edited by TRJ4SQ on 04-25-2009 08:38 AM

Message Edited by TRJ4SQ on 04-25-2009 08:38 AM

[ReadingPatti]

Katherine, I am enjoying your book a lot. I recommended it my library director. I think she plans on getting it for our library. I am determined to finish it.

I love the story line. I love the mystery. I love how you developed the story with Connie and what she finds as she discoveries what is her Grandma's house. I too belive that her mom, Grace knows more than she is telling.

I think that Connie will find treasures that she would never have discovered if she had not gone to the house. You just never know what you might find when you check out your family and the history.

I am anxious to read your next book. When will it be out? 

I think you have a marvelous talent for writing. Keep up the great work.

ReadingPatti

[mooks]

Dear Katherine,

I enjoyed the book and discussions very much.  I'm expecting the sequel in the next year or so!  Will definitely buy it!  Thank you and best of luck!  If you do a book signing or reading in NYC, please let the community know!

Mooks

[gl]

Very new to blogging but wanted to share my write up of the book and the posting of the badge.

http://startingfresh-gaby317.blogspot.com/

Thanks again Ms. Howe and B&N!

GL

[Amanda-Louise]

I am the chooser of the books for our bookclub.  It's really just by default.  I started the club when I couldn't find a club that I really liked, and that didn't cost money (!), so I sent around invitations and got a huge response.  It's always at my house as well, and I always make the food (the food always relates back to the book).  I sound a bit controlling, but it's not that way.

I chose the first two books when we started out just to get things going.  I wasn't up for an organization discussion, I wanted to get to the books!  Then everyone said they wanted me just to chose.  We are all parents of very small children and they liked that it was one less thing to think about.  ~sigh~

So, I continued on for the first year, but then it twigged that no one was offering up books because they didn't want to be in the hot seat.  So, I made a book box and people drop their suggestions in there and now I pull from that.  Totally anonymous.  TPBODD is already in there - I wonder who added it???

So, our books are by anonymous draw, to answer the question directly. 

(And in defense of myself, I have the group here because I don't like to be away from my kids - I started the club when my daughter was very young - and I bake the desserts because I love to!!)

Cheers,

Amanda

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AIRKNITTER wrote:

Hello Katherine,

You posed a very interesting question. How do members of book clubs choose the "next" book to read. The very first book club I belonged to the choice was left up to a single member; can't remember why.

[Amanda-Louise]

To me as well, this was one of the most impressive parts of the writing.  It's most memborable for me when Connie was sitting at the table for her orals.  With the amazingly vivid descriptions of her surroundings, I actually felt as though I was the one sitting at the table.

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gringorn wrote:

You have a real skill for getting the reader (this one for sure) to really be there with your great descriptions of surroundings.