storytelling

The Booklist review of Tied to the Tracks is in, and as my agent put it: couldn't be better. I'm relieved and thrilled. The Kirkus review is also in. My agent on this one: For Kirkus, damn good. With the usual snark.

She read both of them to me on the phone, but I don't have copies or I would post them now.

Edited to add:

here's the Booklist review:

Tied to the Tracks.
Lippi, Rosina (author).
June 2006. 304p. Putnam, hardcover, $23.95 (0-399-15349-7).
REVIEW. First published May 1, 2006 (Booklist).

Writing under the name Sara Donati, Lippi has authored the acclaimed Wilderness historical fiction series. With her newest novel, however, she turns her buoyant creative talents to the romantic comedy genre with an effervescent tale of a trio of offbeat Yankee filmmakers plunked down deep in the heart of Dixie to produce a controversial documentary about Miss Zula Bragg, literary doyenne of Georgia’s Ogilvie College. While on campus, partners Angie Mangiamele, Rivera Rosenblum, and Tony Russo must work under the auspices of the English department, chaired by Ogilvie’s fair-haired favorite son, John Grant, whose upcoming wedding to the town’s equally fair-haired favorite daughter, Caroline Rose, may be derailed once news of John and Angie’s previous love affair gets out. As the former lovers tap-dance around their still obvious mutual attraction, their friends choose up sides to ensure the wedding either does, or does not, take place. Lippi handles the prenuptial disruption and a dazzling array of hot-button social issues (racism and homosexuality among them) with cool aplomb.

— Carol Haggas

Posted by at 3:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

I think I've written about this before, but as there are some questions popping up, I'll repeat myself:

No booktours for moi.

Why? Let me count the reasons. First and foremost, I'm not a big enough name. It's hugely expensive to send an author on a booktour, and publishers only do it for the heavy hitters. Those who regularly hit the best seller lists, for example, and the literary icons.

Now, most authors will tell you that booktours are hell and hey, they'd rather stay home. I'm one of those authors. When I have done booktours, I am in a high state of agita, I don't sleep well, I get no writing done, and I'm homesick. And on top of all that, readings aren't all that well attended. At least, mine aren't. The smallest audience I've had is three people, and the largest (not counting the PEN/Hemingway award) was maybe seventy-five.

What I have just written is absolutely true, but it's not the whole truth.

I don't want to go on booktour, but it would be fun to be asked. I can't pretend it wouldn't be nice to have the publisher call and say, hey, can you spare two months? We've got twenty cities lined up and oh then, Europe...

Of course that would be really flattering. But I wouldn't go. Not with a teenager and a house full of pets. Not reason enough? Well, for me it is. As a twenty year old I could travel nonstop, sleep on train station benches, wander for days. Now I don't like traveling. I think I may be developing a touch of agoraphobia, but whenever I'm away from home I have trouble relaxing and enjoying myself.

I like my place in the world. I'd rather be right here.

Posted by at 6:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBacks (0)