I just noticed that Amazon.com is currently sold out of both Nihon Nights and Best of Luck Elsewhere… at the same time!  They’ve sold out and restocked many times before, but never both at once.  

Since Amazon.com is out right now, may I suggest buying it at your local Barnes & Noble brick-and-mortar store, or directly from the publisher, Genesis Press (click here)?

Of course, I always have to put in a plug for libraries.  Both books are in many libraries, so it is worth asking your librarian if your county system as it!  

*The photo for this post is of a (well-loved) copy of Nihon Nights at the Daniel Boone Regional Library in Missouri.

Anyone who knows me is well-aware of my love of Steinbeck’s writing.  I’ve recently read the fantastic collection Steinbeck: A Life in Letters and at some point I’ll post some of the memorable bits of wisdom and clever writing from it.  But for now, I thought this article was a lovely classic example from a letter:

http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2012/01/12/john-steinbeck-on-love-1958/

The article discusses a letter is to his son, on the subject of love.  If you have a few minutes, I recommend the article.  If you have a lot more time, I recommend the book.

Glory in it for one thing and be very glad and grateful for it…

It sometimes happens that what you feel is not returned for one reason or another — but that does not make your feeling less valuable and good.

Anyone getting excited for the LA Times Festival of Books?  I’ve been lucky enough to attend most years, and it is such a great celebration of the written word.  Ticket ordering for panels opened up today– what are YOU excited to see this year?

• Eva Moves the Furniture, by Margot Livesey

• The Pleasing Hour, by Lily King

• Year of Wonders, by Geraldine Brooks (“God warns us not to love any earthly thing above Himself, and yet He sets in a mother’s heart such a fierce passion for her babes that I do not comprehend how He can test us so.”)

*I highly recommend “Year of Wonders”– this was a fantastic, albeit viciously sad, book.

Nihon Nights was exhibited in the San Diego Library Local Authors exhibit throughout February.  Though I had to decline the invite to the author reception on opening night, I popped in after a conference a few days later to see the book and pick up a brochure.  I love seeing my books in libraries as much as finding them in stores!

For info on the exhibit (and my book in it), you can check the library’s Online Author Exhibit 2012.

As for Nihon Nights…

• Lady (Kenny Rogers)
• Live Forever (Matt Morris)
• I Came Around (Amie Miriello)
• I’ll Go Crazy if I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight (U2)
• Never Say Never (The Fray)
• All That You Have Is Your Soul (both the Emmylou Harris cover and the Tracy Chapman original)
• Enough of Me (Melissa Ethridge)
• Use Somebody (Kings of Leon)
• Pig (Dave Matthews Band)
• Sleep (Melissa Ethridge)
• The Special Two (Missy Higgins)
• Let Me Be the One (Paul Williams)
• The Wind (Cat Stevens)
• Nine Million Bicycles (Katie Melua)
• Marrakesh Night Market (Loreena McKennitt)
• In Love With Love (Gregory Page)
• Love Made Me Drunk (Gregory Page)
• Broken Hearted Leg (Gregory Page)

(In fact, I had Gregory Page’s “Love Made Me Drunk” album on repeat many days.)

• God’s Story, Your Story, by Max Lucado

• Mare’s Ware, by Tanita S. Davis

• The Red Tent, by Anita Diamant (“All of my days in Egypt had been spent in that house, and looking back on them in the night air, I recalled little but good… The painful things… seemed like the knots on a beautiful necklace, necessary for keeping the beads in place.“)

As mentioned in a recent post, I’m adding to the blog playlists of the songs I was listening to as I wrote each book.  Granted, I listen to a lot of music when I write, but these are the ones most often on during the writing of each particular book.

First up, Best of Luck Elsewhere, which I started when I was 25.  You’ll notice it includes a range of emotions, from melancholy songs to sexy songs and everything in-between.

The melancholy and the cynical…

• 20,000 Second (K’s Choice)
• Grace Is Gone (Dave Matthews Band)
• Ain’t No Sunshine (Eva Cassidy)
• The Boxer (Simon and Garfunkle)
• Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright (John Martyn, covering Bob Dylan)
• The Highwayman (Loreena McKennitt)

The sweet and hopeful…

• Give Me One Reason (Tracy Chapman)
• Better Together (Jack Johnson)
• Uniform Gray (Sarah Harmer)
• Only You (Yaz)
• At This Point In My Life (Tracy Chapman)

• Because The Night (Patti Smith)
• Lay Baby Lay (Maria Muldair, covering Bob Dylan)
• I’m On Fire (Bruce Springsteen)
• Say Goodbye (Dave Matthews Band)
• I’ll Make Love To You (Boyz II Men)
• You (Lloyd feat. Lil Wayne)

Soon to come, a playlist for Nihon Nights.

As always, if you have any comments, feel free to send me a message!

Authors making playlists for their books is a fairly recent trend.  It ranges from playlists of what the author listened to while writing the book, to playlists that follow the story line.

On the literary website “The Millions,” Sharon Steel wrote about this new trend in early January.  I especially like a quote she has from David Gutowski (of the blog Largehearted Boy):

Music is a great way to create a unique bond between writer and reader.

With this in mind, coming soon are playlists of the music I was listening to while I wrote Best of Luck Elsewhere, Nihon Nights, and my recently-completed manuscript, Deep Green.

I’ve spent the last few days in sunny San Diego, which was my hometown until about a year ago when I moved closer to LA.  I’m here for a conference, and since I don’t have much time to visit my favorite spots this time, I thought I’d list a few of them here for those who may be in town for a few days on vacation.

These are a few of my favorite (places):

1. Coronado, a short drive over the bridge or short ferry ride from downtown.  I got married on the beach at Coronado Shores (see picture), lived here for about a year as a 22-year-old renting a loft above a garage, and visited here with family as a teenager.  Bay Books on Orange Avenue and the famous Hotel Del Coronado are the not-to-miss spots.

2. San Diego Zoo.  Wonderful with kids, wonderful without kids.  This is a gorgeous zoo without the cages you usually see.  I used to have an annual pass and come here on my lunch breaks to eat my sandwich while  watching monkeys.

3. Balboa Park.  My favorite for museums, art, and architecture.  There’s more than you can see in a day so it is helpful to pick a theme and go with it.  If you have an interest in art, definitely make sure to get to the Timken Museum there, which is a small, free museum that features some great pieces (including a Rembrandt).

4. La Jolla Shores.  Another beautiful beach for walking, some romantic places to eat, not overly busy.  My best friend (and now husband) proposed to me here.

5. Downtown/ The Gaslamp/ Seaport Village.  For shopping.  For nightclubs.  For good food.  Even for baseball games at Petco Park.  Downtown has it all (except free parking).