seeing stars (three!)

I caught Jim's cold, and I overextended my voice, so I croaked through schools in Mississippi last week as well as my father's high school reunion, and wore myself out before heading home to crash in bed, which is where I've been most of this week.

But I've also been floating, because I came home to a box of books -- the real, finished books.... so handsome! It's a book!
And that book has three starred reviews!
Kirkus calls it a "phenomenal story of the beginnings of radical change in America."
Booklist writes: "Wiles skillfully keeps many balls in the air, giving readers a story that appeals across the decades, as well as offering enticing paths into the history."
Finally, the Horn Book calls Countdown "a first-rate novel," and says, "The larger story, however, told here in an expert coupling of text and design, is how life endures, even triumphs, no matter how perilous the times."
Exactly. Exactly what I hoped readers would take away from Countdown. Life goes on. We endure. We help one another through. I'm so grateful for these early reviews, and so appreciative of thoughtful readers.

And so it begins! I have always said, once a book leaves my hands, it no longer belongs to me. It belongs to my readers.

And so, dear readers, here it is, my gift to you. May 1. From Scholastic. Countdown.

6 comments:

  1. Beautiful! I can't wait to read this.

    (Love the Que Sera, Sera image. That was my Nana's favorite song, and I love it to this day.)

    BTW, are you doing a blog tour?

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  2. Thanks, Melodye. My mother sang "Que Sera Sera" so often, that I hear it with her voice whenever I think of it. I'm not doing a blog tour. Should I be? :>

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  3. I definitely think you and COUNTDOWN should hit the cyber circut!

    I'd love to have you join me in The Authors' Tent, if you're interested in doing an online interview. We could talk about writing, COUNTDOWN, and whatever else comes up.

    Here's a link to a few Authors' Tent interviews: http://newport2newport.livejournal.com/tag/in%20the%20authors%27%20tent

    Let me know if you want to come for visit! Melodye DOT Shore AT Gmail DOT Com

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  4. Wow! Congratulations. I can't WAIT to read it. You are my new idol. Seriously.

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  5. Barbara, ha! We can be each other's idols, how's that?

    Melodye, I'd love to do this. Let me know how it works. Thanks!

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  6. Awesome! I'll send you an email...

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Howdy. Moderating comments to prevent spam. I'm sure you're not that. Thanks for your thoughts! Write on, warrior on. Make art.