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Click on date to see these newsletters:
December 15, 2002 -- October 19, 2002 -- August 24, 2002 -- June 2, 2002 -- April 2, 2002 -- February 3, 2002
-- Archives 2004 --
Archives 2003 -- Archives 2001
-- Archives 2000
December 15, 2002
Happy Holiday Trails to all my friends!
Just a quick note to send my greetings and tell you there is another contest
for you to enter. Don't be afraid to try! The questions, from Arkansas Traveler
this time, are pretty simple and truly, not that many people enter so you have a
good chance of winning. I still have more T-shirts to give away.
A friend of mine (Clare, The Buttonlady) just told me my next set of T-shirts
should say--"I wanted Gabe Ortiz but all I got was this T-shirt." That
would cause a question every time you wore it, wouldn't it?
Not much has been going on in my life. I'm busy working on book number
11--Broken Dishes. It's set at a dude ranch where there is a quilt retreat. I'm
having a lot of fun at my fictional dude ranch, especially planning the meals! I
read them out loud to Allen and then he groans and says when am I going to quit
writing and start cooking. And I say, yeah, right! I want a cook for Christmas
this year! (And a housekeeper and laundry person wouldn't be bad either)
Sunshine and Shadow is well on its way in production. The cover is gorgeous
and we'll be showing it on the website in early 2003. It comes out in May.
I just came back from Las Vegas where I did two booksignings and rode to the
top of the Eiffel Tower (or a reasonable facsimile). Fiddlesticks Quilt store in
Boulder City is a lovely store...drop by and see it if you're ever in the area.
If you can take the height, I do recommend taking the elevator to the top of the
Eiffel Tower on the Strip. Go at night and watch the water show across the
street. It reminds me of what fireworks would look like if you were seeing them
from the top. I went to Vegas because a lovely fan, Tami Bradley, worked hard at
getting me there and did all the groundwork with both stores. Thanks, Tami!
Hope your Hanukkah was wonderful and that your Christmas is full of God's
richest blessings. I am so thankful for all of your support and hope you all
have yourselves a safe and healthy New Year.
Feliz Navidad, Earlene
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October 19, 2002
A gracious and happy Autumn to all the friends of Benni Harper!
Hope the weather's cooling off around your neck of the woods. Here in
California it's been a long, hot and dry-as-Melba-toast summer and we're finally
getting a bite of cold in the air. Here in the West we're hoping like mad for a
rainy winter, though I know all you down South are hoping you get a little less
rain these days. We Westerners would be happy to trade with you for a little
while, that's for sure.
As you probably saw, I announced the winners of the Mariner's Compass
drawing. The new questions for the next contest taken from Seven Sisters is also
up. Three lucky winners will be getting their official San Celina Police
Department T-shirt. It's funny, when I wear mine I'm often asked where is San
Celina and I have to explain it's a fictional place. Except to me and to a lot
of you, it doesn't feel that way. Like many of you have written me, I almost
feel like I could start driving and find this town, buy a cup of coffee and a
piece of cherry pie at Liddie's, listen to an author read at Blind Harry's
Bookstore, go see a quilt exhibit at the folk art museum. The power of fiction
to connect my imagination with all of yours still amazes me to no end.
I've put up the next "leg" in the Benni Harper Mystery Tour--the
places in Irish Chain--so check it out. This has been a harder task than I
realized so that's why it's taking me so long. As I complete the "tour of
real places" for each book, it should get easier because I'm only putting
the places I haven't put in prior books. I'm doing the best I can with
directions so make sure and check with the local Chamber of Commerce or a
current map just in case things have changed.
There's also a couple of new additions to the quilt gallery and a article
written about me by a wonderful San Luis Obispo writer named AnnE Lorenzen (no,
that's not a typo--that's how she spells her name) will be up on the website by
the end of October. She is the youth minister at the Mission San Luis Obispo and
the article she wrote is one of the nicest, most original ever written about me.
I've finished all the many rewrites of Sunshine and Shadow. It's publication
date is May 2003 though I don't know the exact date yet. Still no clue as to
what the cover art looks like yet though I've been told that we're in for
another change. Also, this time the book is physically bigger. I know this will
bother some of you and I understand. It won't fit "neatly" along side
the other books. But this is not something I had any say over so I guess we'll
have to live with it. On the positive side, maybe the print will be bigger!
That's always a plus for me, at least these days. I'm anxious to hear what you
all think about this book and especially Jack, who makes an extended appearance
via flashbacks. He's a wonderful character that I think you'll love as much as
Benni did.
As Dove would say, "To win, all you gotta do is get up one more time
than you fall." Good words to live by.
May all your trails be smooth until we meet again,
Earlene
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August 24, 2002
Dear Friends,
Just a note to let you know what's going on in my (very dry) section of the
world. Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show in Sisters, Oregon, was an incredible
experience. In spite of the 110 degree heat and the forest fire 9 miles
away from Camp Sherman where I was staying, I had a wonderful time. The
quilts were spectacular, every one I saw was unique and illuminating. The
amount of talent, creativity, and hard work involved with each of those quilts,
not to mention the monumental task of putting on the quilt show itself, was a
testament to the strength and spirit of quilters and the people who love
them. As always, I loved meeting and talking with my readers whose
personal stories never fail to amaze and inspire me.
I met my friend, Jo-Ann Mapson, in Portland and we drove down to Sisters
together, stopping along the way at antique stores where we found things for
each other to buy. At Paulina Springs Bookstore in Sisters, we gave a talk
Friday night about our books and how and why we write them. Also that
night I presented her with a quilt I commissioned from a mutual fan, Sue Kreft,
who is a very talented quilter. It is a memory quilt depicting Jo-Ann's
four dogs, one of whom has since passed away. A photo of one of the
squares is on my website and the whole quilt is shown on Jo-Ann's website (www.joannmapson.com).
After Sisters we went to Greenbaum's Quilted Forest in Salem. If you're
ever in Salem, you should stop by and give the store dog, Mo, a hug. He's
a Great Dane and quite an impressive fellow! But he's as friendly and
welcoming as everyone at Greenbaum's was. We had a terrific time with the
ladies there. At dinner that night, Sylvia, the owner, presented me with a
gorgeous story quilt to remember my time at Greenbaum's. It was signed by
everyone on the staff, including Mo! A picture of it is on my website under
Quilt Gallery. Another quilt is shown there, a Steps to the Altar quilt
made for me by a fan, Janis Chase.
Make sure and check out the new things on the website! We're putting up
the first segment of my Benni Harper Mystery Tour. That is the fictional
places in Fool's Puzzle and the real places in San Luis Obispo County that
inspired them. I'll try to do a book a month. Unfortunately, many of
the places no longer exist since the Central Coast has changed so much in the
last 10 years.
Many of you have asked if I'll be in Houston this year. Not this year,
unfortunately, but I promise, I'll make it there yet!
Have a great rest of the summer! Take time to have a wiener roast, make a
bunch of S'mores and listen to a kid's long-winded story (don't forget to laugh
at the funny parts.) As Senora Aragon would say (and Dove would agree
because like my mama, she believed a touch of molasses will cure anything)--Mientras
dura, vida y dulzura--
While life yet lasts, laughter and molasses.
La paz sea contigo (Peace to you),
Earlene
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June 2, 2002
Dear Friends,
Most of my travels are over now and it was great seeing a lot of you in Texas, Arizona, Colorado and Washington. As many authors have been, I've heard, I was thoroughly searched in every airport I came through. Apparently, having one-way tickets to so many places looks suspicious to the FAA. I didn't mind and am now incredibly adept at "assuming the position." Hope that doesn't ever come in handy, but if it does, I can perform it with ease!
Many people have written and asked whether I'll ever be in their neck of the woods. My national tours are planned and paid for by my publisher. The marketing and sales departments start planning them shortly after I finish my last tour. They have their reasons why they send me where they do and I'm not always aware of what they are. The best chance of getting me to come to your area (mostly large metropolitan areas, for obvious reasons) would be to convince a local bookstore to call Penguin-Putnam's publicity department and ask for me. My publisher wants to send me where a bookstore will support and promote the signing. I often go to places on my own nickel so keep a watch on my website.
I want to take this opportunity to promote a very worthwhile project that is currently on my "favorite sites." It's called United We Quilt. It is an incredible project where quilters are matched up with families of victims of the 9/11 tragedy so they can make memory quilts for them. So far 220 families have been matched up and 10 families are waiting to be matched. To find out more about it see
http://hometown.aol.com/janeatmil/ Or email Jane Jackson at janeatmil@aol.com. One Canadian quilter, Lillian Lemke, has been matched up with a family and she found out about this project through my website.
I just mailed off the manuscript to Sunshine and Shadow this week! I'll be starting work on Broken Dishes very soon. But first I have to head up to San Luis Obispo this week for some booksignings and more research.
Just wanted to clear one thing that seems to be confusing to a lot of people. I stated in an earlier newsletter that I would be, for certain, writing 11 books total in the Benni Harper series because that's what I had contracts for. Actually, I'll write the Benni Harper books as long as my publisher will publish them. And what makes them want to publish them is simply this--sales figures. I have a contract up to 11 books and after that my agent will renegotiate for more books...again, only if my sales figures convince Penguin-Putnam that I'm making them enough money. For more on this question, go see my FAQ section where I talk about this.
The three questions for the next contest are up on the website. The winners for the last one will be announced soon. With every contest there's more entries but it's still not too hard to win. Give it a try! You'll have until August 1st to enter.
One thing I'm going to be working on this summer for the website is a list of places in San Luis Obispo county that coordinate with the places in San Celina. That way, people who want to visit up there can see some of the places I write about such as the octagonal barn in Steps to the Altar and the building that inspired the folk art museum. I've had some people email me with the desire to go on a Benni Harper Mystery Tour and asked for this information so I'll be working on it. Look for it in August.
Have a wonderful summer and take some time to kick back, read a good book and enjoy a cool glass of lemonade. Hope to see a lot of you up in Oregon this July at the Sisters Quilt Festival in Sisters, Oregon as well as at Greenbaum's Quilted Forest in Salem the Monday after the quilt festival.
As Emory would say--Happy trails to all y'all,
Earlene
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April 2, 2002
Dear Friends of Benni Harper,
Today's the official publication day for Steps to the Altar! Look for it at a book or quilt store near you. I hope you all enjoy reading it. Some of my favorite scenes in this book are the ones Benni has with Hud. Yes, Ford Hudson has returned and he is as cocky as ever. But I promise, you'll see a side of him in this book that might surprise you. You might even begin to like him a little.
I'll be leaving on my book tour in a few days. Check out my tour schedule on the website and see if I'm going to be in a store near you. Please come by and say howdy! Many of you have written and asked why I haven't come to a city near you. Except for the ones near where I live in Southern California, my publisher schedules these appearances. In other words, since they're footing the bill, I have to go where they send me. Sometimes my publisher can be persuaded to send me to an area if a bookstore specifically and enthusiastically requests me, so for next year, if you want me to come to your area, talk to your local bookstore and encourage them to call my publicist at Penguin-Putnam in New York. It might help!
Check my website also for the Kansas Troubles contest winners. Thanks to all who entered. I gave question #2 as a freebie to everyone because as I read the answers I realized that the term "quilt challenge" was probably confusing to those who are not involved in the quilting world. Many of you gave the name of the quilt show rather than the challenge in the quilt show. So, if you did, you were still entered in the contest. From now on, I'll try to keep the questions to ones that everyone "gets." The questions for the next contest are posted on the site today. You have until June 1, 2002. They are taken from my fourth book,
Goose in the Pond. I have plenty more T-shirts to give away so give it a try!
I just finished the first draft of Sunshine and Shadow. Of all my books, I have to say this one was, technically, the hardest to write. Part of it is set in 1978 when Jack is alive. That was interesting and unsettling writing him as a character who was actually a person rather than a memory. The other part is in 1995, when the book is actually set. Benni is married to two men in this book, though at different times of her life. One of the characters involved in the crime is a mystery writer. She writes mystery novels for young people (think Trixie Belden and Judy Bolton) and was the subject of Benni's term paper when she was a sophomore in college. There's also a crazy quilt exhibit at the museum that figures into the story. I loved doing research on crazy quilts. I'm very tempted to start one of my own now.
Have a great springtime. Flowers are already sprouting everywhere here in South California. Since tulips are my favorite flower, I especially love this time of year. I have a bunch of purple ones in my kitchen window right now. There are few things that make me happier than a tulip. Do yourself a favor, no matter where you live. Buy yourself a bunch of tulips. I guarantee they work almost as well as chocolate for making a person feel good. Not to mention they have a lot less calories.
Until next time, ride slow and easy and don't forget to stop and smell the honeysuckle,
Earlene
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February 3, 2002
Howdy and Happy Valentine's Day from a very chilly Southern California!
Well, chilly for us. It's been a record winter here in Southern California. While all you easterners are enjoying your unusual spring-like weather, I read in the paper the other day that it snowed in Malibu! You can imagine what a stir that caused to all us weather-challenged Californians.
This is to let you know that there's a few new things to check out on the website and also to announce the winners of the second official Benni Harper contest. The three lucky winners, drawn from the pool of people who entered, are listed on my homepage. The answers to the three questions are also listed there as well as the questions for the next contest. The next contest will have questions taken from
Kansas Troubles. The deadline for this one is April 1, 2002.
Steps to the Altar, number nine in the series, will hit the bookstores on April 2, 2002. I'll be posting my booksigning schedule on my website in the next few weeks, so look for it. I may be coming to your area! So far my publisher had said I'll be going to Scottsdale, Arizona, Houston and San Antonio, Texas, Denver and Boulder, Colorado, Seattle, Washington and of course, my local Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County and San Luis Obispo, California appearances. If you're signed up on the snail mail list, you should be getting a postcard in the middle of March.
Steps to the Altar is a little different than my other books because part of it is written from Gabe's point-of-view. I know a lot of you are curious to see what's going on inside this man, so here's your chance!
I'm working on book number ten--Sunshine and Shadow. I'm trying something new in this book also. Part of it is written in 1978 when Jack was alive and he and Benni are newlyweds. It's been quite a challenge to jump back and forth between 1978 and 1995 (when my current books are set). It's been even more of a challenge to try and remember what it felt like to be twenty! (Oh, yeah, that was when I had the energy to clean my whole house in one day and still have the desire to go out that night).
For the first time in my writing life, after Christmas I had a sort of block. I hadn't written in a month and a half and was starting to panic. I realize now I was probably in a bit of a depression. All I wanted to do was sit on the sofa and watch television. But my deadline was looming (and still is) so I decided to go away for a few days.
I went to a small mountain town called Idyllwild, which is about an hour and a half away. I rented a room in the Idyllwild Inn for three nights during the middle of the week. It was just the break I needed as I wrote 40 pages in 3 days. That's a tremendous amount for me. And what's even better, it broke my "block" and I've been writing every day since. Sometimes I think we just have to get away from familiar surroundings to get our heads clear. After you read
Steps to the Altar, you'll understand a little more about Idyllwild as I have Benni travel there searching for clues. Benni also stayed in the Idyllwild Inn -- though in one of the outlying cabins where they allow dogs because she never goes anywhere without Scout.
One last thing. I've never done this before but I'm going to recommend a wonderful television show that Allen and I have just started watching. It's called "American Family" and is being broadcasted on PBS. It is a show that was turned down by all the major networks though I have no idea why. It is one of the best shows I've ever seen. It is a show set in East Los Angeles and is about the Gonzalez family. If you've ever wanted to see and understand a typical California Hispanic family (much like the one sixteen-year-old Gabe would have lived in with his Uncle Tony in Santa Ana), this is the perfect show for that.
I'm looking forward to meeting a lot of you again once I get out on the road. Until we meet again, may the Lord bless you with smooth trails, the best Valentine candy and good books to get you through the hard times.
Hasta luego,
Earlene
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