Books
and we’re off!
We’re packing up and headed to Savannah tomorrow for the Savannah Book Festival, where I’ll be speaking on Saturday morning in the very square where I was married almost seven years ago. It’s quite a lineup–Paula McLain, Claire Cook, AJ Jacobs, and several others along with some lesser-knowns like Dave Barry, Gregg Allman, Hoda Kotb, and Al Gore (har, har, har). Oh–and some nobody named James Patterson.
I’m psyched to be among my people (wink, wink). Bring on the shrimp and grits!
Read Morebook club love
My book club recently celebrated its tenth anniversary, which I thought was pretty great (it is!) until I met a group of women in Michigan who’ve been meeting monthly for over FIFTY years. Amazing!
This week, I chatted with two separate book groups about How Lucky You Are. One asked me to put together a YouTube video where I answered questions they’d compiled, and the other chatted with me via Skype. Both experiences were so much fun. I’m so grateful to people for reading my book and I’ve really been touched by the thoughtful questions and comments that have come out of these chats.
If your book group is reading How Lucky You Are and would like to chat, email me! I would love to do it.
image via oldhollywoodstarsreading.tumblr.com/
Read Moreyoung love
I had fun writing about my “literary first love” for SheReads.org. Check it out here (and enter to win a copy of HOW LUCKY!).
Also, I was thrilled to discover that my book made Working Mother’s roundup of “five great fall books for working moms.” Great company here! I love the other writers they mentioned.
My posts here have been awfully sporadic–I’ve had work- or family-related travel nearly every weekend for the past six weeks and it’s been fun but I’m looking forward to a little slow-down.
Hope life is good where you are!
Read Morea few words about blurbs
One of the most harrowing aspects of publishing a book is asking fellow authors for blurbs, the endorsements that are printed on the back cover and inside of a book. Asking another author to, one, read your book, and, two, then provide some glimmering, lovely, complimentary words about it can take you right back to high school, but it’s part of the job. And the upside? It forces you to escape the solitary confinement that can become a writer’s work life and force you to meet fellow authors, whom I’ve found to be terrific and supportive and generous with advice about the biz.
Here are a few of the blurbs that grace the cover and inside pages of HOW LUCKY YOU ARE. I was so grateful to receive such lovely comments from these authors, as I respect their work so much.
“Charming and achingly real, Kristyn Kusek Lewis’ How Lucky You Are is an endearing story about finding your way amid the many intricacies of friendship. I’m certain it will become a book club favorite.” (Sarah Jio, author of The Violets of March and The Bungalow )
“In this wise and compulsively readable debut, Lewis follows three thirtysomething female friends and tackles even the heaviest of subjects with a restrained and self-assured hand, avoiding sentimentality while displaying an impressive emotional range. I could smell the doughnut muffins, taste the margaritas and feel each high and low right along with the delightful characters. If you’ve ever had a best friend or been a best friend, this is a book for you.” (Meg Mitchell Moore, author of The Arrivals and So Far Away )
“Kristyn Kusek Lewis’s How Lucky You Are is a moving, thoughtful story about what happens when friends become family and stay close despite all odds. It’s an honest, empathetic novel of love, commitment, and female friendship with characters I didn’t want to let go.” (Meredith Goldstein, author of The Singles and Boston Globe ”Love Letters” Columnist )
“A nuanced, heartfelt debut, How Lucky You Are artfully honors the importance of dear old friends. I can’t wait to read more from Kristyn Kusek Lewis.” (Allie Larkin, author of Stayand Why Can’t I Be You )
“How Lucky You Are is a compelling, insightful, and moving tale of the ever-shifting terrain of female friendship and the secrets we keep even from those who love us most.” (Meg Donohue, author of How to Eat a Cupcake )
Read Moresummer reading
the college town where I live is noticeably mellow, we chased fireflies for the first time this weekend, and my legs are already covered in mosquito bites. it’s officially summer. here, five current titles on my short list for summer reading. click on the images for a link to full descriptions.
1. SO FAR AWAY by Meg Mitchell Moore. Meg’s second book debuted yesterday and I’m cracking it open today. The premise is completely intriguing and the book’s getting well-deserved raves. Also, she’s a fellow mama of young girls.
2. THE NEWLYWEDS by Nell Freudenberger. Simply put, I feel like I’m the only person I know who hasn’t read it and I haven’t heard a negative word about it.
3. DINNER: A LOVE STORY by Jenny Rosenstrach. Many moons ago, Jenny was my editor at Real Simple. Now she maintains a food site that’s both a thrill to read and one of my favorite resources for recipes. I’m certain that the book will be the same.
4. IMAGINE: HOW CREATIVITY WORKS by Jonah Lehrer. I learn something fascinating every time I read one of his articles or interviews. This is infinitely readable science. Case in point: “Bob Dylan’s Brain” is the first chapter’s title.
5. WILD by Cheryl Strayed. I fell in love with Cheryl when I read this essay that she wrote about writing and motherhood. I can’t wait to dive into her acclaimed memoir.
Read More
Hello!
Welcome to my website. I’m a veteran magazine writer and author. My debut novel, HOW LUCKY YOU ARE (Grand Central), is available in bookstores everywhere.
