March 2011 Newsletter

March 2011 Newsletter

Greetings from Kristin


Night Road: In Hardcover March 22nd


Winter Garden: Now in Paperback


Newsletter Contest

Tour and Cities

Book Clubs

“Like” Kristin’s


Greetings from Kristin

Hello and welcome from the rainy Pacific Northwest!

Thanks so much to all of you who have ventured over to my blog and facebook page. It has been fun in the past year getting to talk to so many of my readers. I’ve especially loved all the book clubs meetings that I’ve been able to join via speakerphone. After so many years of writing in solitude, it is absolutely fabulous to hear what you have to say.

And now, it’s that time of year again. That’s right — I have a new book out. Night Road, like Firefly Lane, is a book that comes from my own life. It’s about the best, worst, most stressful, most frustrating, most wonderful year of my life: my son’s senior year of high school. I don’t know about you, but I remember my own senior year as the best of times. Believe me, it’s a whole lot different on the other side of the fence, when you’re the parent, worrying constantly.

It’s all very natural — kids trying to test their wings and fly; parents trying to keep them safe. Senior year these days is a dangerous time of testing limits, parties that spring up in the dark like mushrooms, and kids who think they’re invincible. That’s the setting for Night Road — the push/pull between parents and kids in that last, most important year of high school. I think you’ll find a piece of your own life in there, whether you’re a parent of small children, of high school students, or even if you’re a teen, in the middle of a time you don’t quite understand. Most of all, I hope the book sparks a dialogue between parents and kids about how to be safe in a dangerous world. I talked to the good folks at Barnes and Noble about the book. If you’d like to watch the interview, click here.

Keep reading to learn more about my tour schedule, a new contest, and how to request a book club chat with me.

Hope to see you on the road!

All my best,

Kristin



Night Road: In Hardcover March 22nd


“Hannah effectively builds tension as the novel moves towards the pivotal tragedy and maintains suspense afterward not only with several surprising twists but, more subtly, with the way she limns the grief and eventual healing of her appealing characters. A breakout for popular novelist Hannah.”—Booklist

For eighteen years, Jude Farraday has put her children’s needs above her own, and it shows-her twins, Mia and Zach-are bright and happy teenagers. When Lexi Baill moves into their small, close knit community, no one is more welcoming than Jude. Lexi, a former foster child with a dark past, quickly becomes Mia’s best friend. Then Zach falls in love with Lexi and the three become inseparable.

Jude does everything to keep her kids on track for college and out of harm’s way. It has always been easy– until senior year of high school. Suddenly she is at a loss. Nothing feels safe anymore; every time her kids leave the house, she worries about them… Continue reading.

Read an excerpt | Order Night Road

 



Winter Garden: Now in Paperback

-A-searing story with a breathtaking, beautiful ending.- - Seattle Times
“A…searing story with a breathtaking, beautiful ending.” Seattle Times

Sometimes when you open the door to your mother’s past, you find your own future…Meredith and Nina Whitson are as different as sisters can be. One stayed at home to raise her children and manage the family apple orchard; the other followed a dream and traveled the world to become a famous photojournalist. But when their beloved father falls ill, these two estranged women will find themselves together again, standing alongside their cold, disapproving mother, Anya, who even now, offers no comfort to her daughters. On his deathbed, their father extracts one last promise from the women in his life… Continue reading.

Thanks so much to all of you who supported Winter Garden in trade paperback. It is currently on its TENTH WEEK on the New York Times best seller list. Sales have exceeded my wildest expectations—and best of all, I am hearing so much wonderful feedback. It’s been especially well received by book clubs, and it’s been a pleasure to talk to so many of you about it. I appreciate all of your support for this novel that is so near to my heart. If you haven’t had a chance to read it yet, don’t worry. It’s still available in bookstores.

Read an excerpt | Buy the paperback | Get the Discussion Guide

 



Newsletter Contest

Although I’m running a little late with this newsletter (what’s new, I must say?), I’d still love to offer you a chance to win a collectible advance reading copy of Night Road. All who are current newsletter subscribers are eligible to win.

The winner will be chosen at random on March 21st at 4PM. Good luck!

And don’t forget that I often run contests on my facebook page, so keep checking in!



Tour and Cities
I will be on the road, coming to a city — hopefully near you. (If it’s not near you, please don’t blame me. We authors are mere pawns in the game of cross- country touring).

Between March 22nd and April 12th, I’ll be in Seattle, Poulsbo, Redmond, Portland, Beaverton, Chicago, Naperville, Dallas, Atlanta, Raleigh-Durham, New York City, Red Bank (NJ), and Columbus.

If any of these cities are close enough, I’d love to meet you! In several cities, I will be hosting special book club oriented “pre-events.” If you belong to a book club — big or small — or you’re thinking of starting one, this is your chance to come and talk to me for tips and/or advice, or just to say hi. If you can make it, please send an RSVP to Sarah.Goldstein@stmartins.com and tell her you’ll be there. That’s all you need to do, but please RSVP quickly — some locations have limited admission. I look forward to meeting you and signing your books.

Consult the tour page on my website for all the details.



Book Clubs

One of the many great book clubs I've talked to in the past. Such Fun!
One of the many great book clubs I’ve talked to in the past. Such Fun!

I have had so much fun talking to book clubs in the past few years. If you’d like to talk to me about Night Road, just fill out the form on my website and I’ll do my very best to be available to speak via speakerphone on your meeting day. I know you’ll find a lot to talk about in this novel—it’s about such a timely subject and the choices these characters make are sure to spark some animated conversation.

And please — spread the word by forwarding this newsletter to friends you think might be interested.