I struggled with the format to use to capture this powerful memory that has stuck with me to this day. I finally landed on prose poem after simple prose proved too loose a structure for the subject matter and traditional poetry proved too tight. But the important thing to me is just that I was able to get it down in such a way that did honor to the memory of this event (and my grandfather).
Because I needed the title to indicate what the prose poem was about, you can enjoy a poem entitled “The Day Grandpa Taught Me to Drive.”
Check it out HERE.
Leave a CommentI owe a pimple-circa-freshman-year-of-high-school-sized thank you to the the wonderful ladies over at A Reader’s Review for agreeing to feature Portrait of Woman in Ink: A Tattoo Storybook on their book review blog. This review particularly means a lot to me because this isn’t the kind of book they typically review on their site, but they found a spot in their literary hearts for a dose of different flavor.
View their beautiful review over HERE and share it with a friend or twelve.
4 CommentsHowdy folks! You came to find me, but I’ve been over talking with the good people over at Chosen By You Book Club, where I gave a little interview and where you can enter to win a giveaway of my novel Portrait of Woman in Ink: A Tattoo Storybook.
Leave a CommentThis post is long overdue, but you’ll have to forgive me on account of my long holiday (and honeymoon) trip to Europe.
The day before we left for Europe, I got to cross one big item off of my bucket list. I got to walk into a bookstore and see the book that I wrote – my baby, my life’s work (up to this point) – on a shelf in a bookstore. Maybe it’s a little silly, but there’s nothing that can make you feel like you’ve “made it” more than this little action.
My book’s now in two independent bookstores in the Austin area. The first to pick it up (after I politely yet persistently introduced myself to the store owner) was BookWoman, a feminist bookstore I figured would be a good fit for the book, even though it kind of reminds me of the Women & Women First bookstore on the IFC show Portlandia. Side note: If you’re unfamiliar, I highly recommend you check it out. I did my research and tried to do all the right things: I actually bought some stuff from the bookstore, I went to a couple events, and – most importantly – I worked up the courage to talk to the store owner about my book and how their programs support local authors.
The second bookstore to pick it up was BookPeople, which is consistently named one of the best independent bookstores in the country. They have a consignment program for local authors, which means I provide them with a few copies of my book, they shelve them, they feature them, and they get me in for a local author night (mine’s in May). Luckily for me, my publisher Book Brain Publishing paid the associated fees and they want me to do more of these programs.
I have a goal for 2014 to get Portrait of Woman in Ink into three more bookstores, so I can have even more shelves to ogle over. Don’t get me wrong, I love ebooks and I think they are crucial to the future success of the publishing industry. But seeing my smooth, glossy cover full of recycled printed pages face out on an old wooden bookshelf is a feeling I won’t soon forget.
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My newest book Portrait of Woman in Ink: A Tattoo Storybook got some review love from fellow author and book blogger Andrea Blackstone over at The Reader’s and Author’s Nook. While you’re over there checking out the wonderful review, take a look at all the great content they have over there and find the next book to add to your TBR list!
A huge thanks to book bloggers like these ladies who spread the word about lesser known books like mine. Check out the review here:
http://thereadersandauthorsnook.blogspot.com/2013/10/im-still-here-kelly-hitchcocks-portrait_20.html
1 CommentThe Kindle-first launch of PORTRAIT OF WOMAN IN INK: A TATTOO STORYBOOK has gone so swimmingly (but busily) I haven’t even had time to tell y’all how swimmingly it’s gone before the launch of the paperback editions, which coincidentally happens today! The 6×9 paperback is now available for purchase in both Amazon and Barnes & Noble, so justify the killing of trees (or the practice of recycling) for the good of human knowledge. It’s also available in Nook from the Barnes & Noble online retail dwarf.
So, now that the important news is out of the way, here’s the not-so important list of facts on how the book launch has gone:
The big day is finally here! It is a grand book birthday for PORTRAIT OF WOMAN IN INK, courtesy of Bird Brain Publishing. It’s launching in the Amazon Kindle store first, where you can nab it for the special introductory price of $5.99. Next will be Nook, other e-readers, and paperback.
This book comes to fruition (banana flavored) after a near 2-year labor of love. I began writing it in October 2011, sent my first query letter July 2012, and signed a book deal with Bird Brain Publishing January 2013. Today, August 5, 2013, it’s launching in all its glory!
Nab your Kindle copy now by going HERE
1 CommentHere it is – in all its grace, amazement, badassness, and glory.
I absolutely cannot wait for this book to hit the shelves, which it will, super mega soon. Pretty much as soon as we can put all these finishing touches on it, which will be early in August. And hey, it has its own page now, so go check it out HERE.
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