Hi there -- just wanted to drop by your page and invite you personally (or at least virtually) to our first-ever She Writes Philadelphia meetup, celebrating our first-anniversary! We are so grateful to the event's organizer, Jessica Keenan Smith, for taking a risk and stepping up to host. I hope you will support her and bring yourself and other women who write (no need for them to be members) to the Philadelphia gathering. At the meetup writers will take part in the She Writes "Book Communion," where attendees arrive with one book, their own or another She Writers', new or gently used, and leave with another book as a meaningfully way to support one another's work. We will also be blowing out a candle and making a wish for our upcoming writing year -- along with She Writers gathering in 16 cities around the country. I hope you will be part of this historic (well, at least kind of cool) occasion, and RSVP now to Jessica here.

Hello Judith--I see you visited Greenland (and?) Iceland to do your research. How exciting! I am currently working on a book on my experiences working in the US Antarctic Program...you know, at the other end of things. I would love to see the Arctic someday.

Hi Judith,

I downloaded The Thrall's Tale as an audiobook from iTunes and started listening to it during this morning's commute. It is quite engaging. I'm only about 30 minutes into the broadcast, but I like how clearly you conveyed the differences between class and social structure! Your scenes are rich and your characters well developed. It feels as though I am on the boat along with the main character. I look forward to my evening commute to continue the story :D

As I am also writing a novel that takes place in the 5th Century (albeit with a very different tone and plot), I can appreciate the time and research you must have put into re-creating a storyline in that setting.

Best,

Deb

Hi Judith,

I read the synopsis for The Thrall's Tale and it sounds wonderful. I have added it to my reading list. I'm still working on my novel, but it is in a similar genre, beginning in 471AD in North Wales. The research is both a bear and an adventure! How much did you improvise vs hunt down fact?

Best,

Deb

Hi Judith! We've yet to meet face to face, but I know Stephanie Cowell well. Are you in NYC?

I followed the link to your book-website. I listened to the audio-file for the first chapter - and I am very smitten!
I was surprised at your reading voice - it is a true treat, sounding somehow older than your photo looks (that is meant to be a compliment, really ;-), and I like how you make the text come alive like a real storyteller in an oral tradition.
It's been years since I heard somebody read so well from her own story, with so much attention to detail - even the *mood* of each sentence comes across. Gorgeous!

I've been looking at your book site. Your book sound's fascinating -- I put it on my To Be Read list at Goodreads. I'm intrigued by how your interest bloomed into a passionate project. I love being reminded that creative work takes such commitment.

Judith, thank you so much for the great advice. I've given a list like you described to my publisher, and they're contacting the groups now, but I'm sure I didn't get to the level of granularity you recommend. The publisher is sending me on tour, with brief stops in a number of cities, so I worry there might also be limited opportunities to hit all the possible groups. But as you say, now's the time to line it up, so I'll take a close look at more organizations that might be interested.

As for opening this up to a larger group discussion, I'll post my question in the Marketing Group forum, and you can post your answer. Sound good?

Hi Judith, so great to hear from you. I have a biography coming out in October, and I'd love to benefit from your marketing and publicity pointers.