Well, the AViD 2010 series has its first confirmed author--Peter Hedges! Peter has a new book coming out in March 2010 called, The Heights, and asked his publicist to book him during the AViD series in Des Moines! Peter brought in a great crowd when he came a few years ago and I expect he will pull another huge audience this time. So mark your calendars for April 12 as he will probably be the author to kick off the series! Not sure just yet on the venue--maybe Hoyt Sherman, maybe Drake.

I'm also working out details with Nick Reding, author of Methland, who also is interested in attending. So that's two Iowa related authors already.

My good friends at HarperCollins are working on several outstanding writers as well and so I am getting excited to see just who we can bring to celebrate our tenth year!

I received a galley copy of Peter's new book and it is a delightful romp through Brooklyn Heights, filled with zany humor, Peter's quick-witted observations on everyday life and some wonderful characterizations of parents overindulging their children and themselves.

Unfortunately, I am so tired from moving furniture that I can't stay awake to read more of the book. We are in the midst of re-finishing eight rooms of wood floors. Last week we moved out four rooms and this weekend, we moved those four rooms' furniture back as well as four other roomfuls of furniture. By the end of this week we should have all eight rooms and the hallway finished so we can then begin to get back to normal life. Still need to paint two bedrooms and a guy is coming tomorrow to hopefully begin work on a new deck outside. Life in an old house is never dull.

AViD 2010 Lineup Begins!

The 2010 AViD Selection Committee met on Friday and we already are well on our way to a great lineup. Since this will be our tenth anniversary, we are hoping to make it a memorable series! We are hoping to bring in Nick Reding, the author of Methland and I have already been in touch with his agent.

We hope to offer ten wonderful writers again this year. Watch this space as I will post the authors as soon as we have them confirmed!

Currently, I am reading The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafron--a big thick book with an amazing plot centered around a writer and an antique book store. It's a deep read so I alternated that one with Kay Bucksbaum's memoir, A Place to Grow and now have moved on to Driftless, the 2010 All Iowa Reads selection.

Kay's book is fun to read since it's all about her childhood in Des Moines, centered around Polk Blvd. Kay will visit the Central Library on Tuesday, November 10 at 6:30 PM. I especially love the back jacket cover blurb by her son-in-law Thomas Friedman, who says, "It's the best bio I've ever read."

I have just begun Driftless, set in Wisconsin, and am already engaged with the rural characters it depicts. Looking forward to more time to read soon as I am taking a couple days off work to welcome daughter Makenzie home this week! She has been out in the Northwest Pacific for the last three months picking blueberries, gathering honey, and falling in love with the area. Anxious to hear all about her travels.