The Divining Wand

Debut novelist Lynne Griffin (Life Without Summer) is thrilled to announce that her next novel, SEA ESCAPE, will be published next summer by Simon & Schuster. Lynne claims that SEA ESCAPE, about a mother trapped in a silent world following a stroke, and her daughter, who becomes desperate to unravel their tangled family history before it’s too late, is a novel she was born to write.

Also this author is visiting book clubs and loving it! Please email her to arrange a visit — by phone or in person — to yours. Contact Lynne: pr@lynnegriffin.com

Rather than having a life without summer, it sounds as though this writer is experiencing a most wonderful summer!

Kristy Kiernan’s third novel, Between Friends, due out on April 6, 2010, is now available for pre-order on Amazon! It has yet to be posted on IndieBound or Barnes & Noble, but once it’s up on Amazon, those are never far behind. If you’re all about covers, here is the “official” art work.

Dismantled by Jennifer McMahon was reviewed in The New York Times Sunday Book Review on July 5th. Of course you read about this suspense novel here on its debut day!

Katie Alender is holding a contest at her website. Enter to win a signed copy of Bad Girls Don’t Die and “some other fun stuff!” The contest ends this Friday, July 10th.

And Carleen Brice with Children of the Waters is featured on Author Buzz this week. She’s also announced a Contest that will giveaway 5 FREE Copies of the novel. Enter by July 31st!

Since The Divining Wand’s launch two weeks ago, have you followed your favorite author(s) beyond their pages? Just click on the appropriate Authors page and you’ll find several ways to discover what’s going on in a writer’s life. For example:

This past Wednesday Jess Riley, who took us on an unforgettable road trip in Driving Sideways leaves for Victoria, British Columbia on Vancouver Island this Friday and is thrilled because it’s, “A family reunion of sorts — I’ll be meeting aunts, uncles, and cousins I’ve never met (but have corresponded with). So excited! I’m sure it will be a gold mine of material.

“Also, if I’m lucky, I’ll get to see Deb Eileen (Cook)) while I’m out there.”

On Thursday Allison Winn Scotch admitted that silence can be golden in her post, Are You Too Connected?

Carleen Brice paid a meaningful and musical tribute to “The King of Pop” with Black or white on Friday.

Then — over the weekend — Therese Fowler opened the doors to her new home/Website. Be sure to drop by, look around and say “hello.” You’re likely to find Therese on her front porch, enjoying the summer beyond her pages.

Here are a few terrific examples of what could happen in a writers’ life before, during and after publication.

As a debut-author-in-waiting, complete with white gloves and pearls, you discover that The Debutante Ball is looking for debut authors for the class of 2010! Knowing how much coming out and dancing every week at the Ball would mean — both in emotional support and publicity –, you read From the Debutante Ball — Class of 2009 and fill out the application. Good luck!

As Kristina Riggle, having just launched Real Life & Liars, you are interviewed on Authors on Air, discussing whether Mira is based on a real person, your songwriting background, and your next book. For anyone who missed that LIVE event, you offer the opportunity to catch the podcast here.

Also, as Kristina, you’re hitting the road this summer and anyone living in the Michigan and Illinois area can meet/greet and have you sign their copy of RL&L at one of many scheduled appearances beginning this week through the end of July.

And, as CJ Lyons, you recently learned that your debut medical suspense, Lifelines, has been nominated for a Book Buyers Best Award. Lifelines is also a finalist in the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense as well as the National Readers Choice Award. Congratulations!

And so life continues for authors beyond their pages.

CJ Lyons WARNING SIGNS was one of the books featured in Barbara Vey’s Publishers Weekly blog yesterday! What great press, CJ, congratulations….

Also yesterday, Katie Alender’s post, So much for being a housewife announced the news that her YA novel, Bad Girls Don’t Die, is going to be a series! Indeed, there are going to be “two more books full of spooky shenanigans with Alexis and pals, with Book 2 set to release in Spring of 2011.” How thrilling and deserved!

And now I’d like to acknowledge two authors/friends who supported and believed that this site and role were my “inevitable.” They’re “Special K’s,” with the first one being Kristy Kiernan. Almost all know her name and brilliant work — Catching Genius and Matters of Faith –, and then there are those of us who know her by having been touched by her visionary mind and generous heart. Kristy acted as a sounding board, advisor and co-dreamer on this project. True, it was my idea, yet when “K” declares something to be “brilliant”…you have to see it through! Yesterday, she paid me the ultimate compliment with her blog post, The Divining Wand – Choosing Authors as Friends. Thank you Kristy for being an author and friend.

Katie Alender is my second “Special K” and well on her way to being Kristy Kiernan, Jr. More than a talented and skillful writer, Katie — like Kristy — is a meaningful storyteller. And then there are all of her other interests, including Photoshop “hobbyist.” Are you getting the picture? Yes, that’s correct, this “gorgeous,” “knockout,” “lovely,” and “amazing” site was put together by Katie. The design, images and ideas were mine but Katie created/perfected every little detail down to the fingers waving The Divining Wand. Thank you Katie for being an author and friend.

The Divining Wand will now wrap up its first week, running on a four day post schedule to allow for gathering more content, filling more pages, and reading more books. Have a wonderful weekend and do return on Monday because there’s yet another novel about to be released!