CHATTERBOX IS OVER THE MOON
Chatterbox: Stories from a Noisy Life is getting a lot of love, and I am so grateful. Thank you to everyone who has hosted and turned up at readings, bookstores, online and with great reviews. Now, have I got news for you.
Chatterbox readings and events around the East Coast have me racking up a lot of mileage on my car. I’m lucky I have a trusty chauffeur, supporter and loving husband, Geoff, to do most of the driving—while I usually fall asleep in the passenger seat. Geoff teases that I’m asleep before we back out of the driveway. When I was a baby and wouldn’t fall asleep, my parents would put me in the car, drive around the block twice, and I’d be snoozing. I’m also lucky to have bookstores, libraries, stores and restaurants welcoming me in to read and a lot of very good people who show up to hear what I have to say. Thank you! Now, before I fall asleep at my keyboard, here come some Chatterbox highlights.
Kirkus Reviews Says Get It!
This is a biggie! Chatterbox: Stories from a Noisy Life got a rave review from Kirkus Reviews online edition—and a BUY recommendation. (Kirkus Reviews has been a publishing industry and reader influencer since 1933.) Then, I got this email forwarded from Lauren at Susan Schadt Press: “Congratulations! I'm writing to let you know that your review for CHATTERBOX has been selected by our Indie editors to be included in the upcoming July 1st issue of Kirkus Reviews magazine. Less than 25% of Indie reviews are selected…” for the print magazine. My first thought, was, “Is this real?” It is. I am so excited and proud and will keep you posted on more Kirkus Reviews news coming soon. My favorite excerpt from the review: “... the essays create a vivid pastiche of mid-to-late-20th century Americana. Worton effectively tells her stories in a breezy style, laced with both humor and poignancy. There's a steady confidence in her prose as she meticulously observes and comments on her own actions, the world around her, and occasional esoteric thoughts that have made a home in her brain..."
-Kirkus Reviews
I am verklempt!
That’s What Friends Are For.
It rains a lot in New Hampshire in April, but no matter. Linda Dini Jenkins, my lifelong friend, writing buddy and award-winning author braved rain and wind and dark of night (Okay, maybe a little too much drama!) to do three events in New Hampshire.
April 24th…
We were at the Dublin Public Library. Thank you, Karen Madigan, Library Director. Linda and I had a blast. Three highlights for me:
getting to meet the amazing women who attended this event and swapping stories with them
having my sister, Laura Thogode, in the audience and watching her crack-up when I shared stories from our childhoods
reading with Linda, always fun. This time each of us shared a story about my mother’s favorite warning for what my happen if we misbehaved, “I’m going to crucify you.” Those stories had everyone in the room, and me and Linda, laughing hysterically
Dublin, New Hampshire has had a library since 1793. The current library opened in 1902, and it is stunning—polished wood, brick, fireplaces. Of course, the library is rumored to have a ghost. When the lights went out at closing time, we all stood and waited to see if the ghost would come out to chat. No luck.
April 25th…
We were at The Toadstool Bookshop in Keene. (Dodging raindrops still.) There’s a Toadstool Bookshop in Peterborough too. The 25th was “Pasta, Prose & Poetry,” and Linda and I read and raffled off all the makings for a great Italian dinner or two, including a nice Italian red. The event brought out old and new friends and family. My sister Laura was back, with her husband, Mike. My niece Melissa and her fiancé Brian were also warming seats—along with the ever patient and intrepid, my sweetheart, Geoff. More giggles. Sharing stories we all had in common. More books sold—on top of Chatterbox and Becoming Italian by Linda—friends and family went home with shopping bags of other great reads. We followed the main event with a fun dinner at The Stage on Main Street with friends and family. Thank you, Elise and the events staff at Toadstool Bookshop, Keene. Love your store, and hope Sue, our raffle winner, loved her Italian dinner.
April 26th…
Linda and I were up in Manchester, New Hampshire. (Drenched to the skin this time.) This is one cool city, and The Bookery is one very cool bookstore. It was Independent Bookstore Day, and The Bookery was packed with authors and readers and musicians. It was very gratifying to see such a tremendous turnout for books. Parents and kids were stocking up on bestsellers and indie books. No readings this time for Linda and me, just meeting and greeting people, signing books and being part of the book community. My favorite place to belong! Thank you, Fallon, Liz and Cassie for having us in and working hard to make the day a success. After three days of schlepping books while carrying umbrellas, Linda, Geoff and I could have all used chiropractors. Instead, we had a good meal, some wine and sacked out early. What we did for love. Ha!
New Looks & Books.
I love the J Jill store in Garden State Plaza, Paramus, NJ. Yes, I like their everyday clothes for easy living. I also like the store manager, Rita Wollner. She’s a force of nature. That’s the two of us in the photo. She invited me in for a New Looks & Books event on May 8-9. A lot of people showed up for the new season’s clothes, and for Chatterbox: Stories from a Noisy Life and Too Tall Alice. Rita promoted the event. I promoted the event, and people came in. Some walked in and came right up to my table. I didn’t have to walk around, introduce myself and give them my pitch. I also played ad hoc sales associate and helped shoppers find what they were looking for, guiding them to clothes they might not have noticed and weighing in with a “you look great in that” when asked. I also spent a fair amount on spring clothes for myself too. It was fun. I met some incredibly nice women and talked about everything from teaching to gardening to my book to what we wore when we were younger to river cruises to traveling to Miami to libraries to favorite authors to where to buy great dressy flats to what to get your 85-year-old grandmother for Mother’s Day, etc. etc. I’ll be back at J Jill in August for their Teacher Appreciation event. Can’t wait!
Too Tall Alice Comes Out To Play.
Betsy Kates and Amy Hall of Hudson Valley Books for Humanity in Ossining host a Saturday morning Read Aloud for neighborhood kids. They invited me to do the May 17 Read Aloud. Yes! And they asked me to read Too Tall Alice. I rehearsed. I brought a copy of the book for each one of the kids to follow along while I read. Dom Rodi’s illustration for Too Tall Alice deserve eyes on each page. I hammed it up a lot and the kids got into it, making grumpy faces on cue, asking and answering questions and drawing pictures of themselves. A bright little bunch, I asked, them “What do you think Too Tall Alice is all about?” They answered, “You’re just right the way you are, and it’s good to love yourself.”
Books & Brunch.
Avocado Toast got me the event at Toastique Ridgewood at 2-4 Garber Square, Ridgewood, NJ. I love Avocado Toast and Toastique serves up about the best I’ve ever eaten. Super fresh with radishes and greens on crunchy bread. One Saturday, I dropped in for lunch. I started talking to Laura, the owner. She said she wanted to do some book events. I answered, “Have I got a book for you!” May 19 at 10 a.m., she launched the first book event with yours truly. People came. We ate all kinds of toasts—burrata, tuna, avocado, fig and prosciutto—drank great Colombian coffee. And for dessert, store made peanut butter cups. Stories were read, books signed and there are plans to launch Books & Brunch as a series. Here’s a little video clip from a very fun day: https://www.instagram.com/p/DKFyG_Gx5TC/
Get Chatterbox In An Instant!
It’s available in print and e-book formats—Kindle (Amazon) or online download (Bookshop.org).
The Tour Continues.
Here are spots where you can be part of the Chatterbox: Stories from a Noisy Life community. Hope to see you at events I’ve booked for June and July.
June 4: Open Mic and Workshop, The Platform, ARTS By The People, Madison, NJ, 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
June 12: Open Mic, Italian American Writers Association, John D. Calandra Italian American Institute, 25 W. 43rd Street, NY, NY, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
June 14: Signing & Author’s Panel, Passaic County Book Festival
June 18: Publication of Conversation’s Magazine interview with Cyrus Webb
July 12: NYC Poetry Festival, Governors Island, New York, 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
July 18: Reading and signing books with Linda Dini Jenkins, Salem Athenaeum, 337 Essex Street, Salem, MA
Want To Bring Chatterbox To A Bookstore, Library, Italian Restaurant, Coffee Shop, School, Book Club, Etc., Near You? Please get in touch. Email me at barbara@barbaraworton.com. And let’s talk date, time, and place. Thank you!
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