Julia Karr

The Authors for Henryville auction and raffle is now live!

The authors participating are both established and debut – and boy! is there some good stuff! Signed series from Meg Cabot, original art from Jeff Weigel, and even a plush MRSA super bug from Blythe Woolston! (Just to name a few of the great items up for bid today.) (There will be 2 more auctions throughout the week, so keep going back to check!

Go there now! Authors for Henryville. And  check out the fabulous offerings – and bid (or donate to be entered in the raffle) to help the community of Henryville that was devastated by the March 2nd F4 tornado.

Thanks!

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Do you really need five reasons why you should donate to Authors for Henryville‘s relief effort for the small Indiana town that was devastated by the March 2nd tornados?  (Aside from the fact that I can come up with way more than 5…)

1. People help people when they are up against the wall (or when all their walls have been destroyed.)

2. It feels good to help others – especially those in dire need.

3. Paying it forward is always the right thing to do.

4. When you can’t go help in person, supporting those who can makes you feel like you’re making a difference. (Which you are!!!)

5. Because J. M. Barrie was right… “Always be a little kinder than necessary.”

Please go to Authors for Henryville or click the donate button on the right. Yes – there are fabulous signed books & swag to be won if you donate (there will be auctions and a raffle at A4H all week long) – but one hopes people don’t “need” those in order to be generous – it’s just a special perk.

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As many of you may know, Southern Indiana was devastated by tornados on Friday, March 2nd. Henryville, a small town 30 miles south of where I grew up was for all practical purposes, wiped off the map – along with Marysville, a few miles further down the road. When I was looking at pictures of the destruction at the Henryville high school (picture via ABC News) I started crying.

Then I decided I had to do something. So, several author friends and I are putting together a raffle to raise money to help Henryville restock their school libraries when the time comes for that to happen.

As soon as we have the details ironed out – I’ll let you know.

If you are a children’s author & want to donate signed books and/or swag for the raffle – please contact me at authors4henryville (at) gmail (dot) com and I give you the details!

Please – keep all the people in Henryville and the rest of the tornado-hit areas in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Alabama and Tennessee in your thoughts and prayers.

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It’s been kind of an emotional time for me, what with the death of David (Davy) Jones of the Monkees. I was smack-dab in the middle of the demographic to which they were targeted. But, no matter that they were (at first) a marketed phenomenon. Who could possibly have been immune to their charms? Particularly Davy Jones’s! (Altho’ I have to admit to being more charmed by Peter Tork - just as George Harrison was always my favorite Beatle!)

So – on to this Friday’s Five.

1. When someone from your past dies, someone who (even though you didn’t know them) had a lasting impact on your life — it makes you very sad.

2. Reminiscing is fun, for a minute — but what’s happening in the present is what’s rewarding – because it’s right here and now & you are doing it!

3. The past is an encyclopedia – a veritable treasure trove of emotions, feelings (mental & physical), actions & their results, tastes, sounds, etc. A writer’s best friend!

4. I would not be able to spell encyclopedia without first mentally running through the Jiminy Cricket song!

5. All is well.

6. (a bonus!) Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

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It was a great weekend! I spent Saturday at the Indianapolis Youth Literature Conference with three of my favorite Indiana Authors! Christine Johnson, Saundra Mitchell, and Mike Mullin. We did a panel about our writing journeys – and then spent a few hours signing books and just chatting.

It’s the just chatting that really makes an event like that stand out for me. Authors can be (in other words – I can be) solitary people. Unless you’re writing with a partner, you are spending a lot of time in your own head with people that only come to life on paper. So I consider it a real treat to spend quality “author” time with my peers!

Then, on Sunday I drove up to Kokomo to the Kokomo-Howard County Public Library, where I gave a talk titled “From Idea to Book.” It was loads of fun! The librarians (particularly Melissa Wheelock-Diedrichs) were fabulous! The library, which was recently remodeled, is absolutely beautiful!

Aside from meeting people, talking (which I love to do!), and talking books in particular – one of the things I enjoy about going to events like these is the drive. Yep – I like driving. Not only because I can plug in my Beach Boys’ tunes and remember the cruising days of my youth – but, I get to think, quietly, about writing and life.

Maybe on Wednesday I’ll share a little about what I was thinking about this weekend. But right now – I’m off to meet a friend!

How was your Monday? Full of sunshine and blues skies I hope!

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What strange weather we’ve been having! And some of it I love!

1. Not much makes me happier than seeing the crocus and snowdrops brighten the landscape.

2. Mmmm… it’s heaven to smell the hint of Spring on a breezy late February day.

3. Not having to scrap ice off my car windows is a welcome bonus!

4. Anticipating Spring always reminds me of Frog and Toad Together!

5. Spring is – after all – Just Around the Corner!

What hints of Spring are getting you excited for the season?

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A little motivational movie for Monday!

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