Oops - somehow I sent out newsletter #1 instead of #3 - so please forgive the re-send.

ROAD TRIP AHEAD!

Okay, I'm not exactly off on the Road to Morocco, but October will be a mini-tour month for me and several members of the Class of 2k8. On October 4, I'll be heading down to New Jersey to join fellow 2k8er Nancy Viau for the Collingswood Book Festival. Then later in October, I'll be touring southern New England with four of my 2k8 compadres, presenting a panel discussion called “Networking for Writers and Readers, or How Many People Does It Take to Get a Book Written and Sold?"

The saying goes that "It takes a village to raise a child" -- in the literary world one might say, "It takes a village to publish a book." A common misconception is that writing is a solitary pursuit. Our panel will dispel that myth by describing the support networks that helped us on our journey from first word to finished product. Writers will pick up tips on creating networks of their own, and non-writers will gain insight into how many ot hers (and who) it really takes to create that book that they hold in their hands.

The panel will be at the Barnes & Noble stores in Enfield, CT, on Thursday, October 16, at 4 p.m. (information: 860-745-7756); in Holyoke, MA, Friday, October 17, at 4 p.m (information: 413-532-1786); and in Worcester, MA, Saturday, October 18, at 2 p.m. (information: 508-853-2236). All events are free and open to the public. We've contacted a couple other book stores as well, so other dates and locations may be added.

My fellow panelists will be Ellen Booraem (The Unnameables, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), Marissa Doyle (Bewitching Season, Henry Holt), N.A. Nelson (Bringing the Boy Home, HarperCollins), and Courtney Sheinmel (My So-Called Family, Simon & Schuster).

UPCOMING EVENTS FOR SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER:

Wednesday, 17 Sep 2008, 6:00 p.m. - tour of Bellamy House followed by book discussion and signing at 7:00 p.m.:
Chicopee Historical Society
Edward Bellamy House
91 Church Street
Chicopee, MA 01020
Free and open to the public

Tuesday, 30 Sep 2008, 6:30 p.m.:
Charlton Public Library
40 Main Street
Charlton, MA 01507
508-248-0452
Free and open to the public

Thursday, 2 Oct 2008, 6:30 p.m.
Pine Point Branch, Springfield City Library
204 Boston Road
Springfield, MA 01109
413-263-6855
Free and open to the public

Saturday, 4 Oct 2008: I'll be joining Nancy Viau (author of Samantha Hansen Has Rocks in Her Head) and other Class of 2k8 authors
Collingswood Book Festival
Haddon Avenue
Collingswood, New Jersey

15 Oct 2008, 7:00 p.m.
Farmington Public Library
117 Academy Street
Farmington, Maine 04938
Event sponsor and vendor: Devaney, Doak & Garrett, Booksellers
Phone: 207-778-4312
Free and open to the public

Thursday, 16 Oct 2008, 4:00 p.m.
Class of 2k8 authors panel
Barnes & Noble Booksellers
25 Hazard Ave
Enfield, CT 06082
(860) 745-7315
Free and open to the public

Friday, 17 Oct 2008, 4:00 p.m.
Class of 2k8 authors panel
Barnes & Noble Booksellers
7 Holyoke Street
Holyoke, MA 01040
Phone: 413-532-3200
Free and open to the public

Saturday, 18 Oct 2008, 2 p.m.
Class of 2k8 event
Barnes & Noble Booksellers
541 D Lincoln Street
Worcester, MA 01605
tel: (508) 853-2236
fax: (508) 853-9527
Free and open to the public

Saturday, 25 Oct 2008, time TBA
Elms College Homecoming weekend
291 Springfield Street
Chicopee, MA 01013

Saturday, 25 Oct 2008, 6:00 p.m.
Westminster Historical Society annual dinner
location TBA

Monday, 27 Oct 2008, 7:30 p.m.
Elms College
291 Springfield Street
Chicopee, MA 01013
Free and open to the public