My cool friend wrote a book. I cannot think of a better title for this post, I'm sorry.

If you want me to blog, you should write a book. Yep. That is what got me here, FINALLY, after eons of mild thoughts of blogging, sans action. My friend wrote a book. Okay, not only did she write a book, during NaNoWriMo, no less, she got it published. Yep. Like in the real, find-me-on-the-shelf-at-your-nearest-big-chain-bookstore published. Not a street sheet. Not a zine. A novel. WOW.

I highly recommend surrounding yourself with successful, bright, gorgeous friends. This has been my approach to life, and WOW, I have some awesome-rad friends. Indeed. But I digress...

So. Rachael Hehu* Herron wrote a book, entitled, How to Knit a Love Song. It's good, people. I don't just say that because she is my friend. Though I likely would have, had she buttered me up properly. No need, however. This book holds its own. It is interesting, descriptive, flows well, and has a cowboy. A cowboy! I love that. It is a great read. Cozy. Better with a hot beverage in hand, and warm socks on. As all books are.

Really, I recommend doing what I did, though you probably can't swing it. (Neener.) I went to the bookstore a few days after the book came out, found a copy that The Knitter had already signed, bragged to the cashier about my friend being a rockstar as I purchased it, and took it home. I read the first few chapters, but didn't rush.

A few days later, I went to Rachael's reading/kick-off in San Francisco, where she kindly chose to read an excerpt a mere five pages out from where I had tucked my bookmark the day before. Hearing an author read their own characters in their own voice is the best. The best, people. The reading was a huge success, with hoards of folks standing in the back of the bookstore, for want of more metal folding chairs.

I purchased a few more copies of the book, and got in queue in the winding line of eager knitters, writers, lovers of cowboys, friends of the author, random passersby, and waited my turn. 

Rachael was all a glow, signing book after book, following the spellings of names written out in all caps on yellow sticky notes by the store owner, who had wormed his way in and out of the line, asking for our names. It was a lovely evening. 

I then came home, and parceled out the remaining chapters over days. How often does your friend write a book, after all? I wanted to savor the experience. And savor I did.

I don't want to give away any of the juiciness, so you'll just have to trust me, and run out to your nearest big chain bookstore, and purchase said book. You will not be disappointed. Nothing this lady does is disappointing. Reading her book, the complete opposite of disappointing. Which I guess would be "appointing." I hearby appoint you to go read it. What are you waiting for?

What's more, you'll want to get reading soon, so as not to be behind when her second book comes out. Which it is already slated to do. Did I mention that Rachael is a superhero-rockstar? She is. She did not only write one book that got swooped up for publishing, oh no. Girl wrote one book that was so chalk full of goodness, the publishing house told her to go ahead and split that into three. A trilogy of knitting-romance-cowboy books, friends. So much good writing. How lucky for us!

Now, run on out there, and buy, buy, buy. Read, read, read. It looks like this:

 

*I do not believe Hehu will appear on the info screen at the bookstore, or in your Google search. 'Rachael Herron' will work excellently, however.

Comments

[Kira]

You mentioned that you'd blogged, and it took me a while to remember your blog's address (I don't use bookmarks much -- keeps me sharp). Can I suggest that people buy the book at a local independent bookstore instead of a big chain? I think it's the same for Rachael's stats, and I know you'd be sad if the indies all disappeared.

[jodi]

Yes, indeed! I am very much in favor of the independent bookstores. I actually hadn't been to a chain in years... until I failed at three small bookstores in Berkeley. Berkeley doesn't sell ANYTHING new, books included.

By all means, readers, follow Kira's sage advice. Shop your local indie store- for coffee, for literature, for everything.

[Rachael]

Awwwwwww. I love this post. How flattered am I that you liked it? YAY! xoxoxo Hope to see you sooner rather than later!