Merry Christmas. Please remember the real reason we celebrate Christmas--the birth of Christ.

Currently reading: Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli
                            Mars and Venus Starting Over by John Gray, Ph.D.
                            All the Right Stuff by Walter Dean Myers
                            Wonder by R.J. Palacio
Just finished: In Too Deep, book 6 of The 39 Clues
                    Crispin The Cross of Lead
Up next: The Viper's Next, book 7 of The 39 Clues
              Hatchet by Gary Paulsen--this will be about the fourth, maybe 5th time
Want to read: The Reason I Jump by Naoki Higashida, about a 13-year-old boy with autism
                     

Now available online at: https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=9781629025292

Signed copies available directly from me will be available November 1, 2013.

Available from any bookstore and online outlets (such as amazon.com and barnes&noble.com beginning January 7, 2014.

New Leaves are Green
by Elizabeth Slavick

"You didn't call."

"No. I told you I wouldn't." He pried off the cover to check the battery fluid.

"I miss the way it was before."

He shook his head. "We were so shallow. There was nothing but sex between us."

"I know." She brushed away tears and looked up to the sky, tipping her head back. "It was easier." She shook her head. "I..." She sighed. "I was wondering...ah...I'm having a difficult time dealing with..." She pressed her hand against her forehead, pain in the lines of her face. "With our abortion."

Ten years ago Jacob paid for Tammy's abortion. On a sunny, summer day, as Jacob works on the family van and his thirteen-year-old son Alexander mows the lawn, Tammy pays Jacob a visit. Desperate for any help, she is suffering severely from post-abortion stress syndrome.

With Jacob and his family's help, Tammy begins to heal emotionally. Her brother Lance, who she hasn't seen for more than a dozen years, returns. As the siblings reconnect, Lance tells his own story of his time away from Omaha.

As new leaves form and grow, so do the new relationships Tammy develops. Find out how Tammy's journey of recovery leads to surprising friendships and life-changing decisions in New Leaves are Green.

Latest Reading

Just finished reading The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho and The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien.
       

My second book, New Leaves Are Green, is with the editors making final corrections then it is off to the printer. I've already put in an order and I'm hoping to have them by Thanksgiving.

 New Leaves Are Green

Second book in the series is coming along nicely. The paper proof book is on its way for my review, cover design has been selected, layout design of Three Dead Leaves continues in the sequel. Just a few more months to find out what happens next . . .

Latest books I've read:
    Crunch by Leslie Conner
    Web of Air by Philip Reeve
    Prayer: Does it Make a Difference? by Philip Yancy

And on the writing front:
    First edits for book 2 New Leaves Are Green have been sent to the publisher.
    Cover design begins next month.

Other interesting happenings:
    I'll be on the Dove radio/TV channel 18 morning program Focus Today on Monday, July 29, at 8:15 am. I'll be talking with Polina about the need for host families in the Rogue Valley for exchange students coming for the school year.

1. 

   
   

   Ashland Book and Author Festival 2013

   Saturday, June 22, 10 am to 5 pm

   at SOU's Hannon Library

   I'll be at table #50 with my book Three Dead Leaves. 

Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day--don't forget the real reason for this holiday.

Books are better than the movie version

    I recently listened to the audiobook The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy. It's quite a story (though with a lot of cursing). The heart and meat of the story is about the very complicated relationship of the three Wingo children from birth until their mid-30s. From the synopsis of the movie from the 1990s starring Nick Nolte and Barbara Streisand, I got the distinct impression the movie "adaptation" was very loosely based on the novel itself. By the looks of the movie (and a word from my sixteen year old son), it is more about the relationship between Tom Wingo (Nolte) and his sister Savannah's psychiatrist, Susan Lowenstein (Streisand) and a whole lot less about the siblings' relationships.

My advice--always read the book and skip the movie. The book is most certainly always going to better.

Book Trailer

   Take a look at this cool 15-second trailer from Tate Publishing for my book, Three Dead Leaves, which airs on national TV channels.

  

Thank you! to all who stopped to chat at the Barnes & Noble Bookseller Author Event on Saturday, April 6.

You can never have too many books.

And Tish, the manager, had the e-book version of Three Dead Leaves on the rotating Nook display at the front of the story. Thank you. It looked pretty awesome to see my cover bigger than life.

How To Select a Book :)

Book Two to begin editing in June!

The second book in the series will start the production process starting with editing in June. As of now, the title is New Leaves Are Green.

Barnes & Noble Booksellers Author Event

1400 Biddle Road, Medford

April 6, 2013

My hour for answering questions and signing books will be 10-11 am

Book Signing

Book Signing for Three Dead Leaves:
Saturday, March 2, 2013
1-3 pm
Evangel Bookstore, Rogue Valley Mall, lower level