Sunday, October 25, 2015

A SAGA ENDS

     I got a package from Katherine Paterson this week.  As you may recall, she told me in her most recent email that she couldn't answer all my questions right now, but that she'd try to send "something" to me and Michele before leaving for Cuba.  This is what the "something" turned out to be:


     Two copies of her recent memoir (although she says in the book that it's not a memoir; it's just a collection of stories from her life, as per the title).  One copy for me, one for Michele, obviously.  No accompanying note or inscription, but now I'm being greedy, right?  All she signed up for in the first place was giving us tea.  She's not going to answer our specific questions, but, to tell you the truth, I started reading the book yesterday (hence the bookmark in the one on the right), and it does reveal a lot of the things we wondered about.  Not her recipe for scones, but there I go being greedy again!  And so here is where the saga ends.  And I am satisfied. 

20 comments:

  1. I think it's AMAZING that she sent two copies to you! How thoughtful, especially after all your waiting and wondering. I like authors who "give" back to their readership, and make liking them, and their work, that much more satisfying. Bravo that you went out on that limb, and that she actually did respond! Thanks for dropping by my blog and commenting!

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    1. Thanks, Lisa! The whole experience has been kind of surreal - I'm glad I have a few photos as evidence that our Tea Date happened, or I might think I'd dreamed it all up! Thanks very much for stopping by to say hello.

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  2. Sorry I missed the start of the saga. Sounds like it turned out great though!

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    1. Yep, I would bid all that money for the auction again in a heartbeat. I got to meet and spend a little time with my Number One writing hero. I don't think it gets much better than that! Thanks so much for stopping by.

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    1. Hi J.L., and thank you! I'm going to savor the book and the memories of my visit, and I'm going to continue to feel embarrassed that I somehow found something about this experience to complain about! I appreciate your stopping by.

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    1. Yes, I really wasn't expecting the books and it was a wonderful surprise. Meanwhile, KP, who was born and spent part of her childhood in China, is going to be spending her 84th birthday in Cuba. I hope we all have one-tenth of the spirit of adventure she has when we get to that age! Thank you for visiting.

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  5. Hi Susan! What a lovely surprise to get books in the mail. I just won a book online so I'm pretty chuffed. I have Cuba on my bucket list as Yvonne saw when she visited my blog. Awesome history I wan to see before it fades...:-)

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    1. Hi Denise! I live a lot closer to Cuba than you do, but I haven't given much thought to visiting there. I'm sure you're right, though... Eventually it will become as homogenized as everywhere else, so now is probably the time to go! Thank you for e-visiting me all the way from Australia!

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  6. How cool it is to be treated to books by mail! I enjoy reading memoirs.

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    1. Hi Cynthia! Books do make the best gifts, right? Which reminds me that it's probably time for me to try running another giveaway contest soon! Giving books as gifts is almost as rewarding as receiving them. Thank you for visiting!

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  7. I had to go back and read the back story for this post. How exciting and cool. Meeting a celebrity never goes the way you imagine. Sometimes the experience changes your view of them, sometimes not. I've met people before who I later realized were not really cool or nice. LOL Sounds like your experience, for the most part, went very well. I'm glad to hear your experience was a good one. Cheers to you. Keep reading.

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    1. Thank you, Jeffrey! I've met people before who went on to become celebrities, but I think this is the first time I've met someone who already is one. And of course, she's not only a celebrity, but also someone whose work I've idolized for years. And all in all, she absolutely falls into the nice/cool category. Thank you for visiting, and you keep reading too! A life without books isn't something I'd wish on anyone!

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    1. Tammy: I think all of you are just trying to make me feel guilty for having criticized KP when she didn't let us ask her in-person questions! But seriously. I've only read about a quarter of the book so far, but I can see a pattern: even in a memoir, she really doesn't like talking about herself! The book is full of stories about her grandparents, her parents, her surroundings, her husband, her kids. But most of the stories about herself are self-deprecating. So I guess this is just what real humility looks like. Thank you for visiting and commenting! I hope you meet your hero too someday!

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  9. How amazingly generous! I hope you enjoy every single page.

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  10. Thank you so much, Crystal! I think after I finish reading it, it will be my next book giveaway prize! You know, passing the kindness forward and all that. I think my buddy KP would approve.

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  11. Two books - now that was nice of her! Better than answering questions, right?

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    1. Hi Alex! I actually was a little disappointed at first that she sent the books instead of answering our specific questions, but now that I'm most of the way through the book, I realize that it gives very fine answers to most of them. I guess we weren't that original with our questions! Thank you so much for stopping by. Busy as you are, you still manage to show up everywhere!

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