Dear Friends:
October is here, and although Halloween isn’t until the end of the month, I’m struck by what a scary time we are living through here in the storm-tossed Southeast.
Just a quick note to let you know that my family and I are so grateful that our homes have escaped damage from Hurricane Helene. Thank you to everyone who has reached out to check on us about Atlanta and Tybee Island. Power has been restored on Tybee, and we are hearing that things are mostly back to normal. In the meantime, I am devastated at the scope of the destruction—particularly on the beaches in my hometown of St. Petersburg, and of course, across our region in western North Carolina and east Tennessee. Please keep these communities in your prayers.
Storm Relief
If you’re looking to offer support for those affected by the hurricane, I myself have donated to the American Red Cross and Chef Jose Andres’ World Central Kitchen.
Here’s a resource listing various ways to be of help.
A New Paperback
It seems trivial to mention, but the paperback of Bright Lights, Big Christmas is out today and available where ever books are sold, and maybe you, like me, could use a comfort read right now? If you missed out on this one in hardcover last year — or if you need a holiday book club pick or a stocking stuffer for the bookworms in your life — grab this one now! More details including buy links HERE.
Upcoming Events
I’ll be celebrating the paperback launch of Bright Lights, Big Christmas tonight, in Woodstock, Ga. at FoxTale Book Shoppe, in conjunction with my friend Kimberly Brock, whose The Fabled Earth is also out today. Go HERE for details.
Also, on Oct. 19, I’ll be appearing at the Morristown Book Festival in Morristown, N.J. Go HERE for details.
Before I head to New Jersey, I’ll spend a couple days in New York City to do research for my novel-in-progress. Since the book is a dual-timeline story, I’ll be visiting the Tenement Museum on the Lower East Side, and Ellis Island, where my paternal grandparents arrived after immigrating to the U.S. from Ireland in the early 1900s. Did you know I spent nine days in Ireland last month, visiting locations where the book will be set? Check my Instagram and Facebook pages for photos. Of course, I’ll have meetings with my publishing team from St. Martin’s Press, and also, of course, my marketing genius Meg Walker and I will also catch a Broadway show—can’t wait to catch Julianna Marguilies and Peter Gallagher in Left on Tenth, a new romantic comedy based on Delia Ephron’s memoir.
In November I have two in-person events in Florida with my Friends & Fiction crew. First we will be at the Grand Bohemian in Orlando on Wednesday, November 6th for a unique event to benefit Florida Cancer Specialists. Get tickets HERE.
The next day (on Thursday, November 7th) we will all be together again at the Ritz Carlton on Amelia Island for a fun event hosted by the Amelia Island Book Festival and emceed by Tim Ehrenberg of Tim Talks Books. Get tickets HERE, but act fast as it is nearly sold out!
Friends & Fiction
Speaking of Friends & Fiction, don’t miss our show tomorrow night (Wed. 10/2 at 7pm ET) where Patti Callahan Henry and I have the pleasure of interviewing Jean Hanff Korelitz about her new book The Sequel, the follow-up to her smash success The Plot.
And check out our guest line-up for the entire Fall season (October - December). It promises to be a great season!
Join our Facebook group, subscribe to our YouTube channel and podcast, follow us on Instagram, and subscribe to our newsletter so you never miss a thing.
That’s all for now! I hope you can all stay safe, warm, and dry while cozying up with a great book!
Hugs,
MKA
Stay in Touch
And of course, don’t forget to follow me online to see what kind of good trouble I’m getting into!
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Great news letter glad all is ok for yorcfamily after the storms .