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July Update

It's sweltering here in Bondsville but it's been so cool to finish writing my sixth novel. I sent it to my agent on the first day of summer and that was a wonderful celebration.

I'm working on a non-fiction book and I continue to write regularly for Obit magazine, with the tenth anniversary of Molly Bish's disappearance one recent topic. Since mentioning her disappearance in "Songs From a Lead-Lined Room," I've kept a Molly link on this site and pray with Molly's family for the day her killer will be found.

My summer reading so far has been many pages of students' stories as I've prepared for the summer residency of the University of Southern Maine's Stonecoast MFA program later this month, and I've also finished the final book in Roddy Doyle's Henry Smart trilogy. "The Dead Republic" takes dozens of wholly unexpected twists as Henry returns to Ireland in 1951 as a consultant to director John Ford on what Henry believes will be the story of his life. Nothing greater than "The Quiet Man" is filmed, but Henry's fade into suburban life is anything but ho-hum as doors to both his personal and professional lives reopen widely before the final one closes on our hero's life.

While in Maine this month I'll be reading July 20 at 7:30 p.m. at Jordan Hall on Temple Avenue in the village of Ocean Park. The community is known as a Chautauqua Assembly, Chautauqua the word used for 350 assembly centers scattered nationwide and offering programs in religion, education, culture entertainment and recreation. I'll be talking about "Sundays in America," and will have that and several other titles for sale and signing.

Back at home, on Tuesday, July 27, I'll read at 6 p.m. at the Emily Williston Memorial Library in Easthampton, Mass.

I'll be teaching again at Bay Path College in Longmeadow, Mass., next spring, and as the college's writer-in-residence have been working on book-related events there. Bay Path's second Writers' Day will be held Saturday, Oct. 30. Our first, back in April, was an energizing and inspiring day of lectures on topics including research, writing a biography and starting a novel. It's a wonderful chance to connect with other writers, learn about craft and also get books signed by speakers. To date, speakers and their topics for Oct. 30 are BJ Roche, creating and maintaining a writer's blog; Tom Shea, the art of the interview; John Sheirer, all you want and need to know about self publishing; and Jim Kelly, writing science fiction. For information on the entire slate of speakers, as well as fees and how to register, contact Briana Sitler at bsitler@baypath.edu.

As I wish you happy reading, here are a few more suggestions, friends' books that are just finding their way to the store shelves: Writers in Progress founder Dori Ostermiller's first novel, "Outside the Ordinary World" and multi-genre talent Corinne Demas' "The Writing Circle." Both would be excellent book club picks.

So, happy reading!

Suzanne

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