Events Surrounding Rain Song

For all who have listened to me whine about how long it is taking for Rain Song to get ushered into the wide world, thanks! I owe you. Why not come to one of the following events so that I can acknowledge how grateful I am to you?

* October 5, 2008 from 4 to 6 PM at Janet Stolp's Durham, NC home: Join us for a wonderful gathering of women. Prizes, favors, food, and so much more southern fun.

* October 24, 2008 from 7 PM at the Regulator Bookshop in Durham, NC: Open to everyone! Come, be part of a discussion on family reunions and quirky relatives you know and love.

Hope to see you there!

New Year in Japan

What fun it was to go to Cresset Christian Academy this afternoon and talk about New Year celebrations in Japan.

The middle school students in Susan Palumbo's class were attentive and laughed at my jokes. You know that I had fun recalling my childhood in Osaka. When I mentioned I used to buy bean paste ice cream on the way home from school, no one looked hungry.

Anyway, talking about soba and ozoni made me wish for bowls of each right then.

Later, I handed out fliers about Rain Song. How nice of Susan to have a copy of Rain Song on her desk and refer to it as her "new favorite book." One child asked if I am the person behind the umbrella on the novel's cover. You gotta love those middle schoolers (I do, I have two of my own!).