So Much to Talk About
So Much to Talk About
What is inspiring me now, giveaway gifts, a big event announcement and more...
Dear Reader Friends,
The past weeks have been something, haven’t they? How do we even absorb it all? I have no real answers to that. I’ve been traveling and I can tell you — we all have a lot more in common than what divides us. And we need to look for the things that inspire us.
So as usual, I’m here with some things that are inspiring me right now; a big event announcement; a giveaway I am thrilled to share, and more.
Let’s go!
A GIFT FOR YOU!
Last week, I was in NYC celebrating my newest novel with my publishing house, Simon & Schuster/Atria, The Story She Left Behind, and we conjured up this incredible gift.
You know how you lend a book to a friend and then they forget to give it back? You know how you want to make sure you always keep your favorite books for your home library? Well, here you go — Library Book Plates specially designed for you.
Next in the gift — a travel photo journal. You see, when I went on my research trip to the Lake District of England, I not only interviewed, toured, hiked, and immersed myself in the area, but I also took loads of photos. I gathered some of my favorites and created a flip-book digital Travel Journal. When you pre-order my book in any format from any retailer and fill out the claim form, you’ll be e-mailed the travel journal and snail-mailed your own bookplate!
WHAT’S INSPIRING ME NOW
I just returned from an incredible trip to NYC to meet with my publisher, see some friends, and brainstorm some amazing things for all of you with the new release (from give aways to book tour to fun gatherings). When I was finished with that fever dream of forty-eight hours, I reflected on all the highs and lows of the past twenty years of publishing (my first book came out in 2004). And then I read this Substack from Laura McKowen with her guest, Stephanie Duncan Smith called “Even After Everything.” This post hit me where it heals — right in the places that matter. And it’s true — even after everything I would still write my heart out.
While out to lunch with my editor, agent and co-agent, we went around the table and asked what books we gave as gifts to the people that matter to us. And I loved their answers to I am sharing them with you!
My editor Laura Brown — Anything by Ina Garten, and her new one especially.
My agent, Meg Ruley — Letters of Note by Shaun Usher
PCH — To Bless The Space Between Us by John O’Donohue
While in Texas two weeks ago for a community read for Once Upon a Wardrobe, a group of actors did a dramatic reading of my novel, and I can’t get over it. I am still awed by the experience. Anything on the stage is so amazing, and while in New York, my pals, Mary Kay Andrews, Meg Walker and I went to see Left on Tenth, a play based on the incredible love story by Delia Ephron. Anyone who can take the hardest things in their life and move the rest of us are inspiring to me.
My kids once made fun of me for loving Norah Jones. I’d play her songs over and over in the house. Well, last week my daughter sent me something she saw and loved -- this NPR Tiny Desk Concert with Norah Jones for her new album and I have to say, I’ve done my job. NORAH JONES NPR TINY DESK
HOLIDAY PACKAGE WITH NANTUCKET BOOK PARTNERS
The perfect holiday bundle for all you Friends & Fiction fans out there is only available from Nantucket Book Partners! Limited quantity so order today!
This Holiday bundle includes:
Bright Lights, Big Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews (Paperback Autographed Bookplate Copy)
Christmas in Peachtree Bluff by Kristy Woodson Harvey (Paperback Autographed Bookplate Copy)
Once Upon A Wardrobe by Patti Callahan (Paperback Autographed Bookplate Copy)
"Seasons Readings" Friends & Fiction Tote Bag
Friends & Fiction Pin
A GIVEAWAY
With just shy of five months until publication, Atria has launched another Goodreads giveaway for The Story She Left Behind. Enter to win one of 100 ARCs between now and Nov. 12th. Fingers crossed you are a winner!
NEWS
Meanwhile, you can check out all my latest news right HERE! Including…
Did you catch this amazing feature on me and my F&F sisters in crime on Entrepreneur? It just landed at the end of last week and it’s called “4 Best-Selling Authors Share Their Best Advice for Finally Writing and Selling That Book Swimming Inside Your Head.” We had a lot of fun doing this interview and I hope you enjoy reading it
EVENTS
Wednesday, November 6, 6pm ET — Join us at the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Orlando, FL for a unique fundraising event benefiting the Florida Cancer Specialists (FCS) Foundation which will include a reception over cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, an intimate presentation, book sales, and an autograph session. Tickets HERE.
Thursday, November 7, 12:30pm ET — Tim Ehrenberg of Tim Talks Books will emcee a lively and fun F&F Live luncheon event hosted by the Amelia Island Book Festival at The Ritz-Carlton in Amelia Island, FL. Ticket includes book signing, photo opps, and tea fare: light lunch, snacks, and refreshments. Details HERE.
Saturday, January 18, 2025 at 11am – Sunday, January 19, 2025 at 2pm — I’ll be together with Kristin and Kwame Alexander at the 20th Annual Wild Dunes Author Event & Weekend hosted by Mary Alice Monroe. Info & tickets HERE.
Always keep an eye on the EVENTS PAGE on my website for the latest news and visit the TOUR page on the Friends & Fiction website to see what fun group events we have planned together.
FRIENDS & FICTION
We are busy as ever over at Friends and Fiction!
Join us tonight, Wednesday, October 23rd, LIVE at 7pm Eastern on the F&F Facebook page and YouTube channel as the Fab Four gather to welcome this month’s F&F Featured Author, Paula Hawkins, to discuss her propulsive and powerful new book, our October 2024 Pick of the Month, THE BLUE HOUR, an addictive thriller which takes place on a remote Scottish island with only one house, one inhabitant, and one way out.
For now, back to planning for the March 2025 release and book tour for The Story She Left Behind—and plotting the book after that!
That’s all for now, my friends.
Love,
PCH
ABOUT PATTI CALLAHAN HENRY
New York Times Bestselling Author and Podcast Host
Patti Callahan Henry is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Globe and Mail bestselling author of seventeen novels and a podcast host. Patti is the co-host and co-creator of the popular weekly web show, podcast, and online community, Friends & Fiction.
She lives in Mountain Brook, Alabama with her husband. Her newest novel, THE STORY SHE LEFT BEHIND will be released on March 18th, 2025
Be sure to follow Patti on social media and visit her website for the latest updates and announcements!
As the mother of an NYC performer, the staging and performing of books is wonderful! I wish they would base more stage shows from novels, they would be so original! I am looking forward to your new title. Each of your books pulls me in and keeps me reading until all hours! Thank you for sharing your stories with us!
Love this, Patti. I'm listening to the Nora Jones concert now. I love her, too. xoxoxo