Sarah DeFord Williams . . .

. . . another of our fine Utah authors, will be reading from and signing her new middle-grade novel PALACE BEAUTIFUL at TKE (15th and 15th in Salt Lake) this Saturday at 2:00. I'll be working. Also swooning because Sarah is so talented and also has this dynamite sassy haircut.

See you there? I hope!

her, i admire

today rick walton and i are going to visit our friend barbara (aka bea) williams, which makes me happy. bea is the original grand dame of utah children's writers. for years i've respected her generosity and talent, and now i find myself especially admiring her longevity in the field.

the longer you're around the world of books, the more sharply you realize how tough it is to have a writing life like bea's. even the hottest careers invariably slow down. people who couldn't miss suddenly can't place a manuscript. it's inevitable, natural. and yet bea kept working it for decades. i'm in utter awe of this.

really, i feel honored to know her.

an unexpected pleasure

i feel fortunate over the years that i have been able to view the business of books from a couple of vantage points--both as a writer and as a bookseller. lately it occurs to me that one of the really great things about being a writer/bookseller is that i have the honor of handselling books by other writers i know.

utah is crazy rich with writers--particularly in the world of children's and ya lit. and everytime i go to work i almost always sell a book by one of our own. saturday night i sold two by jessica day george. last time i sold one by anne bowen. and of course right now carol williams' new title is flying off the shelf.

yep. this is the place for pretty cool writers.

ate some excellent chicken enchiladas dropped off by margaret neville from the bookstore. i love that place. i love the people there.