Ann Weisgarber's THE PROMISE, Now in Trade Paperback. Review.

A year ago, I published this review of Ann Weisgarber's luminous novel, THE PROMISE, released today in trade paperback from Skyhorse Publishing. Every word of this short novel rings true and resonates deeply. Ann's insightful and compassionate take on human weakness and courage inspired me as a reader; her masterful use of language and fictional technique has become the bar I strive to approach as a writer (and a high one it is!). I'm so happy that THE PROMISE has now come out in softcover so more people can read and appreciate it. Don't miss this wonderful book. I'm convinced it will make your list of favorite novels, too.

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Ann Weisgarber's THE PROMISE (Skyhorse Publishing, April 2014) is the story of two women's love for the same man, set against the backdrop of the devastating Galveston hurricane of 1900. Yet this wise and beautifully executed book is so much more than this description might suggest. With great insight and deep compassion, THE PROMISE explores the redemptive power of forgiveness--forgiveness of self, of others, and of fate. This spare, moving narrative resonates long after the treacherous storm winds it depicts die down.

Oscar Williams, a former coal delivery boy from Dayton, Ohio, has built a thriving dairy business on the gulf-exposed island of Galveston, Texas. Hardworking, generous, and self-effacing, Oscar has lost his young wife Bernadette to malaria and faces the prospect of raising his four-year-old son Andre on his own. Catherine Wainwright, Oscar's former classmate and unattainable first love who went on to become an accomplished pianist, revives the lapsed correspondence the two had once shared. Finding herself shunned by polite society for an extramarital affair with her cousin's husband and desperate to escape her difficulties, Catherine seeks out Oscar, hoping he will propose marriage. Without divulging her shame, she accepts his offer and abandons her cultured city life for a rough and arduous existence on the flat, sea-swept Texas island. Not only must she survive suffocating heat, snake-infested outhouses, the mistrust of a grieving child and her own guilty conscience, she must endure the disapproving animosity of Nan Ogden, the plain-spoken and devoted friend of Oscar's late wife, who has become his housekeeper and Andre's surrogate mother.

The two women could not be more different, and tale is narrated from their alternating viewpoints. Pride blinds each of them as they try to make sense of the other and of their feelings for Oscar. Although Nan won't admit it, she is more than a little in love with Oscar and jealous of the beautiful, incompetent woman he has chosen over her. Catherine, wounded from her failed affair, fights her growing attraction to Oscar and resists the refuge his kind gentleness and accepting reticence offer. As time goes on and Catherine begins to warm to Oscar's devotion, the situation becomes more than Nan can bear. But before she can make good on her decision to leave, a devastating hurricane hits the island, with tragic consequences. Tried by fear and danger, the women dig deep into themselves to protect Andre's fragile security and very life.

It is impossible not to view Oscar as a Christ-like figure, in love with Catherine despite her faults, eager to forget despite her unwillingness to seek forgiveness, patient, hopeful, kind and passionate. Recurrent appearances of pelicans, birds native to coastal waters but also traditional symbols of both Christian charity and the Redeemer himself, support this reading. Oscar admits a fascination with the birds, who manifest themselves at important moments in the book. His influence, compounded by the goodness and generosity of the simple island people she originally scorns, lead Catherine to a clarity about herself and her actions, revealing truths that she has long ignored. The question of whether Catherine has time to act upon this knowledge, however, keeps the reader turning pages as the storm bears down upon the island and threatens to snatch away the promise of a happiness that she does not deserve.

Ann Weisgarber is a masterful writer who plumbs the truths of the human condition while enthralling readers with tension-filled tales of characters caught in circumstances beyond their control. Her books offer a hope-filled vision of humanity that is missing from so many modern works. I was fortunate to read THE PROMISE last year when it appeared in a British edition and named it one of my "Best Reads of 2013." I appreciated it even more now upon a second read, and am thrilled that American readers now have the opportunity to enjoy it. I loved Weisgarber's first novel, THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF RACHEL DUPREE (Viking 2010), longlisted for the Orange Prize, but THE PROMISE simply blew me away. If you read one book this year, make it this one.

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Ann Weisgarber is the author of THE PROMISE and THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF RACHEL DUPREE. She was nominated for England's 2009 Orange Prize and for the 2009 Orange Award for New Writers. In the United States, she won the Stephen Turner Award for New Fiction and the Langum Prize for American Historical Fiction. She was shortlisted for the Ohioana Book Award and was a Barnes and NobleDiscover New Writer.

THE PROMISE was inspired by a dilapidated house and by an interview Ann conducted when she was writing articles for a Galveston magazine. She wrote much of the novel in Galveston where pelicans glide along the surf and cows graze in pastures. Her debut novel, THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF RACHEL DUPREE, was inspired by a photograph of an unknown woman sitting in front of a sod dugout. It was published in England and France before being published in the United States.

Ann, who splits her time between Galveston and Sugar Land, Texas, is currently working on her next novel that takes place in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, during the winter of 1888.

You can learn more about Ann at her website, which includes many historical photographs of Galveston the hurricane's aftermath.

Book-a-Day Challenge: Week 4 Recap

Here is the final installment of my June Book-a-Day responses. The challenge was a lot of work, but a lot of fun, too. I hope some of the books I've mentioned over the last month have found their way into your To-Be-Read pile.

June 22. Out of print: FRANCIS THE FIRST, FIRST GENTLEMAN OF FRANCE by Francis Hackett. Published in 1934 by Irish journalist and novelist Hackett, this witty biography presents a colorful and fairly accurate account of the French king's exploits. It was the first biography of Francis I ever read. I own a copy of a later edition, but I'd buy a copy of this first edition for the dust jacket alone!

June 23. Made to read at school: As a literature Ph.D, I couldn't possibly count all the books I've been made to read at school! Here's one, though, dating back to college, that I probably never would have picked up on my own: HEART OF DARKNESS by Joseph Conrad. For whatever reason, I expected to hate it, but it's turned out to be one of my favorite books. I've read it several times, once aloud to my husband as we drove from New Jersey to North Carolina. Sure made the miles pass quickly!

June 24. Hooked me into reading: BARNEY BEAGLE by Jean Bethell. I remember my mom buying me this book at the grocery store when I was five or six years old. I loved this story of the beagle in the pet shop window and the boy brought him home. I kept the book for years, and although I eventually lost it in a move, I've never lost the love of reading it inspired. I still remember how much I treasured that pink and brown Easy Reader...it was the very first book I got to choose for myself.

June 25. Never finished it: PORTRAIT OF AN UNKNOWN WOMAN by Vanora Bennett. I made it more than halfway through this novel set in Tudor England and then had to keep bumping it to read books scheduled for review. Eventually too much time passed and I realized I'd have to start over to rescue the plot and characters from the mists of memory. I was enjoying the novel and fully intend to finish...will make it one of my TBR goals for the summer.

June 26. Should have sold more copies: I'm changing this one to Should SELL more copies and listing all my writer friends' current books. All these authors have written excellent novels and I want to see their books continue to fly off the shelves! The list includes Heather Webb's BECOMING JOSEPHINE; Susan Spann's CLAWS OF THE CAT and soon-to-be-released BLADE OF THE SAMURAI; Marci McGuire Jefferson's GIRL ON THE GOLDEN COIN; Lisa Janice Cohen's DERELICT; Patricia Bracewell's SHADOW ON THE CROWN; Lucy Pick's PILGRIMAGE; Helene Wecker's THE GOLEM AND THE JINNI; Sophie Perinot's THE SISTER QUEENS; Ann Weisgarber's THE PROMISE; Maryanne O'Hara's CASCADE, and all the wonderful books by Michelle Moran, Christopher W. Gortner, and Catherine Delors. Reader friends can't go wrong by picking up any of these books! How high can we push their numbers?

June 27. Want to be one of the characters: THE HEPTAMERON by Marguerite de Navarre. If I got to be one of the characters in the Queen of Navarre's story collection, I would experience life in Renaissance France and see for myself the places, people and things I love reading and learning about. I would choose to become one of the characters in a tale set at court, or even Parlamente, the figure who, in the collection's frame story, represents the author herself.

June 28. Bought in my favorite independent bookstore: THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MARK TWAIN. Twain is my husband's favorite author, and I bought this at our local independent bookstore, Towne Center Books, a couple of years ago when it first appeared and kept selling out. The owner of TCB miraculously obtained a copy for me, making my husband one happy camper on his birthday. TCB is a great shop and hosts marvelous events--my friend Susan Spann will be appearing there again in a few weeks' time to celebrate the release of her second Shinobi mystery.

June 29. The one I have reread most often: I really don't like to reread books...there are so many books I haven't read, I hesitate to spend time rereading a story I already know. The two books I've reread most often are GONE WITH THE WIND and KRISTIN LAVRANSDATTER, but since I've already used those as answers for other questions, I'll mention GREEN DARKNESS by Anya Seton. I loved this book in high school. When I came across a used copy at a book sale a few years ago, I decided to reread it, hoping to recapture the magic. Unfortunately, the story didn't appeal to me at all thirty years later. Guess I'm not as romantic as I once was!

June 30. Would save if my house burned down: GIRART DE ROUSSILLON ou L'EPOPEE DE BOURGOGNE. I would save this book because it is the most beautiful I own: a full-color facsimile reproduction of the illustrated manuscript of the twelfth century chanson de geste recorded by Jean de Wauquelin in 1453 for the Duke of Burgundy, Philippe Le Bon, who wanted to claim Girart as an illustrious ancestor. An absolute delight to view, it was an extravagant gift from my husband back when we had little money.

Book-a-Day Challenge: Week 1 Recap

June is the month of the Book-a-Day challenge. Thank goodness one is not required to read a book a day, but to name a book that corresponds to that day's prompt. I've been doing the challenge on Facebook. You can find the month's list of prompts here. Following is a recap of my answers for the first week.

June 1: Favorite book from childhood. LITTLE HOUSE IN THE BIG WOODS by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Fascinated by the whole notion of being a pioneer and living out on the frontier, I gobbled up Wilder's books. I still remember many scenes and details: Laura receiving an orange for Christmas, Pa fiddling, maple tree sap hardening on the snow. My love for historical fiction started with these books and has only strengthened through the years. I'd love to write a pioneer book one day like Ann Weisgarber's THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF RACHEL DUPREE or Willa Cather's MY ANTONIA.

June 2: Best bargain. All the books I've gotten from our local library book sale. Residents donate used books to raise money for library purchases and improvements; twice a year, the library hosts a 3-day sale. Hardbacks go $1, trade paperbacks for $0.50. Each sale I come with at least 15 books. You would not believe the titles you can find, both recent releases and old favorites! I still can't imagine buying a $30 hardback and donating it as soon as I'd read it, but I'm glad people do. As an author, I feel a bit guilty buying used books, but the money is used to support the library and strong libraries help all authors by promoting reading. Plus, if I really like a book, I will request that the library buy that author's latest work. Favorite books I've snagged from the sale are THE ENCHANTRESS OF FLORENCE by Salman Rushdie and MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA by Arthur Golden.

June 3: One with a blue cover. I couldn't narrow this one down...three of my favorite books have blue covers: THE PROMISE by Ann Weisgarber (British edition), THE GOLEM AND THE JINNI Helene Wecker, and COLD MOUNTAIN by Charles Frazier. All three wonderful, compelling stories!

June 4: Least favorite book by favorite author. GAME OF KINGS (LYMOND CHRONICLES #1) by Dorothy Dunnett. I had a very hard time getting through this first volume of the series. I found the language difficult, the history obscure, and the plot hard to follow. I'm glad I didn't give up, though, because by the end of the book something clicked and I devoured the next five volumes and Dunnett's Niccolò series as well. I adore her work, but even when I went back and tried to read GOK a second time, I still had trouble with it. I wonder how many readers give up on this book and then miss out on the rest of the immensely intriguing and well-written series. Maybe it's best to start with the Niccolò books, which are much easier to get into, and then go for GOK.

June 5: Doesn't belong to me. My father-in-law is a booklover, so I often raid his shelves. In fact, we usually give him books as birthday and holiday gifts, and I've been known to give him books that I myself would like to read (ahem). Two I've borrowed recently are EIFFEL'S TOWER by Jill Jonnes and MAYFLOWER by Nathaniel Philbrick.

June 6: The one I always give as a gift. I don't have a stand-by gift book; I usually try to find a book that corresponds to the recipient's interests. I love wandering around the bookstore trying to find the perfect match! If I'm not certain, or don't have enough time, I buy bookstore gift cards, especially for children. Two books I've recently given as gifts were WIND, SAND AND STARS by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and THE NAME OF THIS BOOK IS SECRET by Pseudonymous Bosch.

June 7: Forgot I owned it. I went through my bookshelves the other day looking for an answer for a previous prompt and found MANY books I'd forgotten I owned! Among them are UNDERWORLD by Don DeLillo and THE CORRECTIONS by Jonathan Franzen. Need to read them soon.

Review of THE PROMISE by Ann Weisgarber

Ann Weisgarber's THE PROMISE (Skyhorse Publishing, April 2014) is the story of two women's love for the same man, set against the backdrop of the devastating Galveston hurricane of 1900. Yet this wise and beautifully executed book is so much more than this description might suggest. With great insight and deep compassion, THE PROMISE explores the redemptive power of forgiveness--forgiveness of self, of others, and of fate. This spare, moving narrative resonates long after the treacherous storm winds it depicts die down.

Oscar Williams, a former coal delivery boy from Dayton, Ohio, has built a thriving dairy business on the gulf-exposed island of Galveston, Texas. Hardworking, generous, and self-effacing, Oscar has lost his young wife Bernadette to malaria and faces the prospect of raising his four-year-old son Andre on his own. Catherine Wainwright, Oscar's former classmate and unattainable first love who went on to become an accomplished pianist, revives the lapsed correspondence the two had once shared. Finding herself shunned by polite society for an extramarital affair with her cousin's husband and desperate to escape her difficulties, Catherine seeks out Oscar, hoping he will propose marriage. Without divulging her shame, she accepts his offer and abandons her cultured city life for a rough and arduous existence on the flat, sea-swept Texas island. Not only must she survive suffocating heat, snake-infested outhouses, the mistrust of a grieving child and her own guilty conscience, she must endure the disapproving animosity of Nan Ogden, the plain-spoken and devoted friend of Oscar's late wife, who has become his housekeeper and Andre's surrogate mother.

The two women could not be more different, and tale is narrated from their alternating viewpoints. Pride blinds each of them as they try to make sense of the other and of their feelings for Oscar. Although Nan won't admit it, she is more than a little in love with Oscar and jealous of the beautiful, incompetent woman he has chosen over her. Catherine, wounded from her failed affair, fights her growing attraction to Oscar and resists the refuge his kind gentleness and accepting reticence offer. As time goes on and Catherine begins to warm to Oscar's devotion, the situation becomes more than Nan can bear. But before she can make good on her decision to leave, a devastating hurricane hits the island, with tragic consequences. Tried by fear and danger, the women dig deep into themselves to protect Andre's fragile security and very life.

It is impossible not to view Oscar as a Christ-like figure, in love with Catherine despite her faults, eager to forget despite her unwillingness to seek forgiveness, patient, hopeful, kind and passionate. Recurrent appearances of pelicans, birds native to coastal waters but also traditional symbols of both Christian charity and the Redeemer himself, support this reading. Oscar admits a fascination with the birds, who manifest themselves at important moments in the book. His influence, compounded by the goodness and generosity of the simple island people she originally scorns, lead Catherine to a clarity about herself and her actions, revealing truths that she has long ignored. The question of whether Catherine has time to act upon this knowledge, however, keeps the reader turning pages as the storm bears down upon the island and threatens to snatch away the promise of a happiness that she does not deserve.

Ann Weisgarber is a masterful writer who plumbs the truths of the human condition while enthralling readers with tension-filled tales of characters caught in circumstances beyond their control. Her books offer a hope-filled vision of humanity that is missing from so many modern works. I was fortunate to read THE PROMISE last year when it appeared in a British edition and named it one of my "Best Reads of 2013." I appreciated it even more now upon a second read, and am thrilled that American readers now have the opportunity to enjoy it. I loved Weisgarber's first novel, THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF RACHEL DUPREE (Viking 2010), longlisted for the Orange Prize, but THE PROMISE simply blew me away. If you read one book this year, make it this one.

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Ann Weisgarber is the author of THE PROMISE and THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF RACHEL DUPREE. She was nominated for England's 2009 Orange Prize and for the 2009 Orange Award for New Writers. In the United States, she won the Stephen Turner Award for New Fiction and the Langum Prize for American Historical Fiction. She was shortlisted for the Ohioana Book Award and was a Barnes and NobleDiscover New Writer.

THE PROMISE was inspired by a dilapidated house and by an interview Ann conducted when she was writing articles for a Galveston magazine. She wrote much of the novel in Galveston where pelicans glide along the surf and cows graze in pastures. Her debut novel, THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF RACHEL DUPREE, was inspired by a photograph of an unknown woman sitting in front of a sod dugout. It was published in England and France before being published in the United States.

Ann, who splits her time between Galveston and Sugar Land, Texas, is currently working on her next novel that takes place in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, during the winter of 1888.

You can learn more about Ann at her website, which includes many historical photographs of Galveston the hurricane's aftermath.

Best Reads of 2013

I was lucky to read many excellent books last year, but these are the ones that stood out from the pack. Some are recently published; others are older books I'd never gotten around to reading. They are listed here in no particular order. The full list of books I read in 2013 may be found in the sidebar.

FEVER by Mary Beth Keane (Scribner, 2013)

FEVER tells the story of Irish immigrant Mary Mallon, popularly known as "Typhoid Mary." Proud and determined to live an independent life, Mary claws her way out of the slums to become cook to some of New York City's most prominent families. Yet, as an asymptomatic carrier of typhoid, she leaves a trail of death in her wake and winds up imprisoned and forbidden to ever cook again for public consumption. Despite her willful disregard of the terms of her release, Mary remains a sympathetic character caught in the cogs of a nascent public health machine. The author evokes turn-of-the-century New York City in the fullness of its splendor and its grime.

THE PROMISE by Ann Weisgarber (Mantle, 2013; forthcoming from Skyhorse, April 2014)

A touching, wise and beautifully executed book. There is so much below the surface of this story of two women's love for the same man, set against the devastating Galveston hurricane of 1900. THE PROMISE is about forgiveness--of self, of others, of fate--and its redemptive power. Weisgarber is a masterful writer who plumbs the truths of the human condition while enthralling readers with a tension-filled tale of characters caught in circumstances beyond their control. Her books offer a hope-filled vision of humanity that is missing from so many modern works. I loved THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF RACHEL DUPREE, but THE PROMISE simply blew me away. If you read one book this year, make it this one.

THE GIRLS OF ATOMIC CITY by Denise Kiernan (Touchstone, 2013)

I don't read much nonfiction, and this book made me realize what I might be missing. GIRLS tells the hidden story of the women--from secretaries to janitors to scientists--who contributed to the development of the atomic bomb at Oak Ridge, Tennessee, during the Second World War. Kiernan constructs a fascinating account of this secret city whose every inhabitant devoted herself to the furtherance of a mysterious project they were told would lead to the end of the war. No one knew anything beyond the scope of her specific duties and learned not to inquire into those of friends and neighbors, yet each worked with dedication and patriotic fervor, determined to bring brothers and husbands home from battle. A riveting read, one that sheds light on the nature of the time and raises interesting questions about whether secrecy on such a large scale would even be possible today.

THE PAINTED GIRLS by Cathy Marie Buchanan (Riverhead, 2013)

This novel deserves the hype it has received ever since its publication. It follows the plight of three impoverished sisters as they struggle to survive in the underbelly of nineteenth century Paris. One sister, who dances in the ballet and poses for Edgar Dégas, submits to a rich patron's exploitation in order to give the youngest a chance for a better life; the other, who takes a bit part in a stage production, becomes embroiled in the crime-ridden underworld. With subtle efficacy, the novel explores the sociological issue of whether nature, nurture or circumstance nudges individuals towards delinquency. A convincing evocation of the seamier corners of nineteenth century Paris combined with an emotionally satisfying twist at the end makes this novel a compelling read.

CUTTING FOR STONE by Abraham Verghese (Knopf, 2009)

Moving from India to Ethiopia to New York City, CUTTING FOR STONE tells the haunting story of twin brothers Marion and Shiva, born of the secret union of an Indian nun and a British surgeon at a mission hospital. Set against a backdrop of political turmoil, the narrative weaves a beautiful tapestry of family ties, trust, betrayal, life, death, and miracles both great and small. The author, a surgeon himself, incorporates medical detail into the fabric of the story and explores with insight and compassion the daily challenges of serving the sick in impoverished, strife-ridden areas. But it is the symbiotic, emotionally powerful relationship of the brothers that keeps the reader turning the pages.

THE ENCHANTRESS OF FLORENCE by Salman Rushdie (Random House, 2008)

An elaborate, artful, and continually surprising exploration of the power of story. West meets East as a conjurer from Renaissance Florence travels to the Mughal court of India to share the tale of the mysterious and breathtakingly beautiful princess Qara Köz. The reader often loses track of the convoluted and fantastical plot, but even so is sucked into the tale by Rushie, the true enchanter. A book that would sustain multiple readings and delight anew each time. The hero reminded me strongly of Dorothy Dunnett's Lymond. A dazzling feast of words.

THE CLEANER OF CHARTRES by Salley Vickers (Viking, 2013)

The sensitive story of Agnès Morel, a woman with a troubled past who attracts the scrutiny and enmity of the town gossip. The quirky style will either please or annoy, but the finely drawn, believable characters and a plot that expertly weaves past with present and leads to a celebration of human goodness make this a richly rewarding tale. The cathedral of Chartres provides a fitting setting for Agnès's rehabilitation and redemption, and the author's shrewd understanding of the dynamics of provincial town society keep sentimentality at bay.

HNS Conference Recap

The Historical Novel Society Conference is over, and what a wonderful event it was! It's hard to get back to reality after spending three days immersed in the world of authors, books, and best of all, new friends.

The conference was held at the Hyatt Regency Woodfield, a beautiful hotel in the Chicago suburbs eight miles from O'Hare airport (although with the traffic, it might have been eighty miles!). The ultramodern setting--huge open spaces, kidney-shaped tables, low couches, free standing columns, pyramidal topiaries, a soothing brown and aqua color scheme--made a curious contrast to the conference topic, especially since the setting for the previous gathering had been a hotel decorated with antique furniture and colonial shop signs. The Woodfield staff were efficient, the food delicious, and the space perfect for our various sessions. If there were any snafus with the facilities, they weren't at all noticeable from the participants' point of view.

Now on to the exciting stuff--the incredible authors and publishing professionals who were in attendance. Margaret George, author of THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF HENRY VIII and HELEN OF TROY, gave the opening address on Friday night. Declaring that historical fiction authors are time travelers who take their readers with them, Margaret described the various methods she uses to create the atmosphere of the era she is writing about. To get in the proper mindset when she writes, she surrounds herself with the music, objects, smells and tastes of the past, trying her best to block out the modern world. Her methods must work, given her books' success! Trish Todd, the editor-in-chief of Simon & Schuster's imprint Touchstone/Fireside who has brought us the novels of Philippa Gregory, Kathleen McGowan, and Anne Easter Smith, described during a lunchtime address the economic difficulties facing publishers today and the thrill she continues to find in her work despite them. She foresees many changes in the way publishers do business, but feels this is not a cause for alarm--good books will continue to find their way into readers' hands and hearts. The prolific Sharon Kay Penman spoke during the final banquet and regaled her listeners with little-known facts about women's lives during the Middle Ages, particularly in Wales. Women there had many more rights than they did in England--for example, a woman could initiate a divorce if her husband had bad breath or if he added a live-in concubine to the household! It was an amazing experience to hear these talented women share their wisdom and artistic lives with us.

The panel sessions I attended were equally enlightening. On Saturday morning, I listened to Michelle Moran, Christopher Gortner, and Karen Essex talk about "Breaking In and Staying in the Historical Fiction Game"; they shared their experiences as first-time authors and emphasized the importance of authors actively working alongside their publishers to market their books. The panelists suggested a plethora of practical marketing ideas and strategies. In the session "Debut Novels," Catherine Delors, Kamran Pasha, Barbara Corrado Pope and Ann Weisgarber spoke about the genesis of their first books and recounted their paths to publication, which varied widely. Mr. Pasha, an enthusiastic speaker who has written a novel about Mohammed's wife Aisha, encouraged us writers not to give up; we all have something important to share, a message the world needs to hear that only we can impart. His inspiring words provided me much food for thought, as did the other panelists' stories of dedication and determination.

On Friday afternoon, I attended the Editors' Panel, in which Shana Drehs (Sourcebooks), Barbara Peters (Poisoned Pen Press), and Trish Todd (Touchstone/Simon & Schuster) spoke about selling historical fiction. It was quite interesting to hear how the three presses, medium, small, and large, each go about acquiring new work and how they were adapting to the difficulties of the present market. In "Talking the Talk: Historical Fiction Dialogue," Christine Blevins, Kate Forsyth, Margaret George, Nancy Hull and Mary Sharratt addressed the use of dialogue to establish character, narrative, and setting in their works. They spent a good deal of time on the appropriate use of dialect, as well as the importance of choosing the proper level of diction. They even shared the curse words characters in their novels use in anger! On Sunday morning, I attended only one panel: "Query Letters that Worked." Three authors, Catherine Delors, Barbara Corrado Pope, and moderator Joyce Moore shared their query letters;  two agents, Stephanie Cabot and Pam Strickler, discussed what they liked about the letters and why they had garnered requests. The agents shared additional letters from their authors and opened the floor to questions from the audience. Listeners came away with excellent advice on what agents look for in a query letter--a brief, to-the-point description of the story--and how to address issues such as multiple novels and target audiences.

Saturday evening was devoted to fun. First came the group book signing, in which over seventy authors chatted with attendees and signed copies of their books purchased from the well-stocked conference book shop. The cash-bar reception then preceded the sumptuous banquet, which was itself followed by a historical costume fashion show. Twenty or so attendees paraded costumes ranging from medieval gowns and wimples to eighteenth-century pirate hats and spyglasses to twentieth-century suffragette sashes and placards. Finally, the hardiest attendees ignored their fatigue to listen to five authors--Eileen Charbonneau, Margaret Frazer, Jade Lee, Anne Easter Smith, and Diana Gabaldon--share titillating sex scenes from their novels. The bartenders and wait-staff got more than they bargained for working this gig!

The best part of the conference, for me, was meeting many of the writers whom I've gotten to know over the internet during the last two years. I reconnected with Diana Gabaldon, Martha Terilli, Sarah Johnson, Tinney Heath and Marilyn Alm, whom I met at the last conference; Catherine Delors,  Sheramy Bundrick, Lucy Pick, C.W. Gortner, Michelle Moran, George Berger, Christine Blevins, Laurel Corona, Susanne Dunlap, Karen Essex, Amanda Orr, Donald Platt, Vanitha Sankaran I got to meet for the very first time. I was also very lucky to be able to spend time with my lovely agent, Stephanie Cabot, who up until now has only been a voice on the phone. 

Heartfelt thanks go to the Historical Novel Society and the conference organizers for putting together this amazing event. For readers who are considering attending the next conference, I have two words--DO IT! You'll make new friends and valuable connections and meet authors whose books you've read and raved about. Exposed to the wisdom and expertise of published authors and industry professionals, you'll come away exhilarated, inspired and determined to finish that book. The only disappointing thing is that the conference lasts only two and a half days, then you have to wait two years until the next one.