Author Visit Coming Right Up

This is what it’s all about, really.

Having a chance to bring your words to the ones for whom you’ve written them.

When those readers are young, it’s a special delight, because they are open books (pun intended), ready and eager to hear what you have to share.

I’ve been a little busy this week preparing for an author visit in Bismarck. Though I’ve been to quite a few places around the state with my North Dakota alphabet book, “P is for Peace Garden,” this will be my first book visit to the capital city itself.

And it’s a special joy since Bismarck is, in essence, the city of my rooting. It’s where some of my great-grandparents lived, and my grandparents raised my mother, and where she met my father, and, well, that’s how I eventually made my way into the world.

Because of my necessary preparations, my post will be short today. I just wanted you to know what’s up and share that I’ll be reporting more next week after the visit.

This visit also will be like no others I’ve done in that it’s going to include, along with my usual presentation, a special performance of words from my book by kindergarten students from the school, Rita Murphy Elementary.

Oh, and if that’s not cool enough, they’ve asked me to narrate the production. I can’t wait to see how this all goes down. What a thrill to be part of something like this — a first that I know of.

Finally, a fun trivia fact. My mother was instructed years ago by Rita Murphy herself. What a coming home of many sorts this trip will be.

And I’ll be bringing along my 4th grader, who was percolating within me the same time as this book.

It’s all good, folks, and I’m happy to be a writer in North Dakota. There’s no place else on earth I’d rather be right now, nor any other occupation I’d rather have. It’s a gift, and I am unwrapping it as carefully as I can, savoring every bit of it.

Please come back next week to hear more!

Peace to you!