Annie's Book Stop of Worcester

The little bookstore that's bigger on the inside

 

Tom Gauld is a cartoonist, comic book artist and author/illustrator of a new children’s picture book, THE LITTLE WOODEN ROBOT AND THE LOG PRINCESS. In this interview, Tom talks about his book, his art, and his other endeavors. This video was originally published on November 2, 2021.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Annie’s Book Stop of Worcester is very happy to shine our Friday spotlight on historical fiction author Heather Marshall. Heather Marshall was born and raised near Toronto, where she lives with her family and their giant golden retriever. She is the author of the international bestseller LOOKING FOR JANE – a story about a long-lost letter, a mother’s love, and a secret network of women fighting for the right to choose.

 

Heather, where can people find your work? (Besides Annie’s Book Stop of Worcester–though they should totally check here first!)

 

 LOOKING FOR JANE is available at all major book retailers including Barnes and Noble and Amazon. But be sure to visit your local indie shop too!

 

 

How can we follow your work and share your awesomeness?

 

You can follow me on social channels @heathermarshallauthor and learn more about my work at heathermarshallauthor.com

 

 

For readers unfamiliar with your work, how would you describe what you write?  What can readers expect from Looking for Jane?

 

Looking for Jane is my debut novel. It’s an historical fiction novel that spans the 1960s through the present, and follows three women whose lives intertwine as they each navigate the choices (or lack thereof) available to them. Part feminist thriller, part heart-wrenching drama, part family history mystery.

 

 

What kind of research went into writing this book?  What is your favorite research story? What cool facts and findings didn’t make it into the book, but you loved discovering?

 

 I did a lot of research for this book. Authors of historical fiction always have to make decisions about how closely we are going to stick to the historical record, and where we’re going to deviate and take creative license. But with LOOKING FOR JANE, I really felt a strong responsibility to depict these experiences as accurately as possible. I really wanted to do it justice, and didn’t want to downplay or over-dramatize what these women experienced. There are two threads to this novel: the first is the existence and impact of so-called ‘homes for unwed mothers’, or ‘maternity homes’, where pregnant unmarried women and girls were sent to stay for the duration of their pregnancies in order to protect their/their family’s reputation. They would live at these homes for months, give their baby up for adoption (almost always by coercion or force), and were then told to go home and never talk about it again. The other thread of the novel is the history of reproductive rights and justice over the course of several decades, including access to safe abortion. I did a lot of research for both of these storylines, particularly through interviews with women who experienced these things firsthand. As such, the research was very emotionally taxing and disturbing, but as I say, I really wanted to make sure that I was honouring these women and depicting their experiences as accurately as possible. I also accessed a lot of government archive records and academic research papers and books on these topics. 

 

 

What was the inspiration for Looking for Jane? What were the steps you took to bring it from initial inspiration to the finished book?

 

The seeds for this book were planted early, back when I was doing a paper during my history Master’s studies. I was looking at Dr. Henry Morgentaler’s (Canada’s most prominent and infamous abortion provider) provincial court battles in the 1970s and 80s, in the years leading up to the 1988 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in Canada, and I thought ‘wow, this would make a great novel.’ It was all just so compelling and dramatic, and as someone who enjoys historical fiction, I thought I would really enjoy reading a book that covered that. At that point I was sort of standing in my own way – I’ve always been a writer and it was always my dream to make a career of it, but I figured that was a bit of a pipe dream that would never actually happen, so I didn’t pursue it seriously. But years later, when I was seriously considering writing, I thought about writing a book about abortion. And then around 2018, I stumbled across an article on the maternity home scandal, where over 300,000 Canadian women and girls were forced or coerced into giving their babies up for adoption at government funded institutions, and I thought ‘I need to write about this…’ So I had these two ideas for novels and then one day it just clicked for me that they were actually these two threads of the same woven story of women’s fight for control over their bodies and their lives. So once that clicked for me, the story just poured out. I wrote LOOKING FOR JANE over the course of about a year, then pitched it to agents and got a lot of interest immediately – I signed with my agent within 48 hours of hitting send on my query. And it got picked up by a publisher almost instantly. I was clear that they also thought this was a story that really needed to be told, and I’m so glad it’s found such a broad readership. I really think people need to know about this history.

 

 

 

 

What piece of advice would you want to share with other writers?

 

 I think the biggest piece of advice, as frustrating as it might seem, is to have a lot of patience and persistence if you really have a dream of being a published author. I have a ‘practice novel’ that I wrote years ago that was never picked up by an agent. It will always just be the one that sits in the drawer. But that novel taught me a lot: how to find my voice in writing, how not to plot (ha!), how to get better at my craft. Trying to get that book published pushed me to take workshops on writing and the publishing process, which ended up being invaluable. The point is, the process can take years and years, but I think if you have a good book and you feel like you have something important to say, you should stick with it and keep trying. The querying process is grueling, there’s so much rejection and that’s difficult to cope with. But all it takes is one agent who thinks you’ve got something worthwhile, and one publisher who agrees! With that said, though, have the courage to acknowledge when one story just isn’t getting traction. Let it go, head back to your computer and write something new, then try again. There’s so much subjectivity in the publishing industry, and trends change over the years, so sometimes it’s just a matter of the stars aligning: sending the right book to the right agent at the right time. You can’t fabricate those circumstances. All you can do is keep trying until you break through! A lot of books that appear to be overnight successes actually have a history of rejection behind them, with authors who thought it would never come to fruition.

 

 

While you’re writing, do you prefer music, silence, other? Please elaborate!

 

It really depends on my mood, the circumstances, and what I’m currently writing! I tend to develop moody playlists for whatever I’m working on, to help me sink into the feeling of the scene, era, etc. Other times, I just need utter silence to the point where I’ll pop in ear plugs. When I’m on a time crunch or writing a fast/propulsive/action scene, sometimes I’ll even listen to super upbeat techno that really helps keep up my writing pace.

 

 

Do you have any favorite foods or drinks that must be in the vicinity (or must be avoided) while you’re writing or editing a piece of work?

 

I’m almost always drinking either tea or coffee, and it almost always goes cold when I get too into the writing process, ha! It’s a good sign when I need to reheat my mug six times over…

 

 

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer our questions, Heather! Good luck with Looking for Jane.

 

 

 

 

Hello from all of us here at the little bookstore that’s bigger on the inside! Hard to believe that May is almost over and that summer is poking its head around the corner!

Congratulations to all those who’ve graduated from our local colleges and universities this past weekend.


As a “soft start” to summer here at ABSW, we’ll be staying open a little longer on Sundays.

Memorial Day Weekend Hours:

FRIDAY, MAY 26TH – 10AM-9PM

SATURDAY, MAY 27TH – 10AM-9PM

SUNDAY, MAY 28TH – 10AM-5:30PM

MONDAY [MEMORIAL DAY], MAY 29TH – 10AM-8PM


We’ve changed up our sidewalk sales offerings in honor of the warmer weather. You’ll find tables full of National Book Awards winners and beach reads from popular authors, bins featuring American Girl books and Harlequin Romances, and many more low-cost bargains for your outdoor reading adventures!

Let’s not forget the school summer reading titles, available in bulk for educators and priced just right for parents and caretakers. We’ve got an always-being-updated list of our SRL stock here on our Google Docs page.

And when you enter the bookstore itself, treat yourself and take a peek at our ever-changing displays of featured books and publisher specials. They cover many genres and range for all tastes and ages. All are discounted between 25% to 42% off retail price.


Our Youtube channel has more than ONE HUNDRED filmed interviews and Q&As with various creators… writers, illustrators, editors and more! 

Recent guests have included:

Our upcoming guests include:


UPCOMING IN-PERSON EVENTS AT ABSW!

Saturday, June 10th at 2pm: Book signing with Rajani LaRocca, author of books for kids and teens!

Join us in welcoming back Rajani LaRocca, whose writing career launched with the middle reader fantasy novel MIDSUMMER’S MAYHEM and has gone from strength to strength ever since. Her repertoire includes the picture books SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS, BRACELETS FOR BINA’S BROTHERS, WHERE THREE OCEANS MEET, I’LL GO AND COME BACK, and the upcoming release SUMMER IS FOR COUSINS. Her additional middle grade and young adult novels are MUCH ADO ABOUT BASEBALL, RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE [which won the Newbury Honor award], and her newest release MIRROR TO MIRROR.

We will have Rajani’s current titles available for purchase to be signed.

We encourage wearing face masks during the event for the protection and comfort of our guests, our customers and our staff.

If you cannot attend the event in person but wish to have a signed copy, books purchased at Annie’s can be put on reserve for signing and sent to customers via mail order.

Please RSVP on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/events/948808176265403

Thursday, June 29th at 7pm – Book signing with Elaine Isaak, fantasy and science fiction author!

Join us in welcoming back Elaine Isaak, whose novels include THE SINGER’S CROWN, THE BASTARD QUEEN, THE EUNUCH’S HEIR, AND A SONG FOR THE SEA.

Elaine wears many hats, as a writer, an editor, and a wearable art designer.

We will have Elaine’s newest title A WRECK OF DRAGONS available for purchase to be signed.

We encourage wearing face masks during the event for the protection and comfort of our guests, our customers and our staff.

If you cannot attend the event in person but wish to have a signed copy, books purchased at Annie’s can be put on reserve for signing and sent to customers via mail order.

Please RSVP on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/events/240038848669949

More events are being added, so keep an eye on our Facebook Events Page to plan ahead!


Thank you, as always, for making our shelves your destination.

—Patty Cryan and the staff at ABSW

 

Joseph Fink created and co-writes the Welcome to Night Vale podcasts. and is the New York Times best-selling author of Welcome to Nightvale, among other books. He also wrote a middle grade Halloween book, The Halloween Moon, which is highlighted in this interview. This interview was originally posted on October 28, 2021.

 

 

 

 

Debbie Macomber pic

This Author Spotlight was originally posted on March 29, 2019.

Annie’s Book Stop of Worcester is thrilled to shine our Friday spotlight on author Debbie Macomber, who is one of today’s leading voices in women’s fiction. Debbie is a regular on every major bestseller list, with more than 200 million copies of her books in print.  Her novels have spent over 1000 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list.  Debbie celebrated her thirty-fifth year of publishing last year, as well as her fiftieth wedding anniversary.

Debbie loves to read, cook, knit, cheer on her beloved Seahawks team, and dote on her eleven grandchildren.  She lives in Port Orchard, Washington with her husband, Wayne, and her writing partner, Bogie. 

We really appreciate your taking the time to answer these questions for us, Debbie. The first one is, where can people find your work? (Besides Annie’s Book Stop of Worcester –though they should totally check here first!)

The best place would be my website. You can find information about my books, follow my blog, and find links to all my social channels.

How can we follow your work and share your awesomeness?

In addition to visiting my website, you can join my newsletter or my Facebook group We Read Debbie Macomber.

What was the inspiration for Be a Blessing: A Journal for Cultivating Kindness, Joy and Inspiration? What were the steps you took to bring it from initial inspiration to the finished book?

Be a Blessing: A Journal for Cultivating Kindness, Joy and Inspiration is releasing April 2nd. I have journaled my entire life and have reaped the rewards from this daily discipline. My hope is that by creating this journal others will see the benefits of putting a pen to paper and taking a thoughtful look at their life in a way they may have never done before.

Be a Blessing cover

What piece of advice would you want to share with other writers?

Just keep writing and don’t give up. It took me five years to get published, during those five years, I got rejected more times than I can count.

What is/are your passions when you’re not writing? How do you make time for your non-writing hobbies/things you love?

I make time for other passions by maintaining my writing schedule. My writing schedule consists of setting page goals for my self every day. I do my very best to maintain this schedule and hit my deadlines. This allows me more freedom to travel with my husband, Wayne, spend time with my kids and grandkids, and of course, knit!

While you’re writing, do you prefer music, silence, other? Please elaborate!

I prefer silence, however, I realized I often am not silent. I hum when I write dialogue. Several years back, I was writing in my shared office space with Wayne and he asked me, “What are you writing?” I replied, “Dialogue. Why?”  He said, “Well you’re humming.” To which I wasn’t aware. It was something I realized that day that I did in fact hum during this process.

Writers very often have furry or feathered or otherwise non-human companions to “help” them through their work.  Do you? What do you have? How do they “help” (or, “not-help”) with your writing?

Bogie is my furry writing companion. I would say his biggest help to me is keeping my lap warm and my heart full.

Debbie, again, thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer our questions! As you know, we are having a “Debbie Macomber Week” from March 30th to April 6th here at Annie’s Book Stop of Worcester, since so many of our customers read your books. We hope that you might consider stopping at our store on one of your tours sometime in the future!

 

 

Craig Johnson is the author of the Longmire western mystery series, which the Netflix television series is based on. In this interview, Craig talks about his new book, Daughter of the Morning Star, his research for his books, the challenges of writing, and about being a writer. This was originally posted on October 12, 2021.

 

 

 

 

This is part 2 of the Craig Johnson interview.

 

 

david gerrold photo

This spotlight was originally posted on February 1, 2019.

Annie’s Book Stop of Worcester is happy to shine our Friday Spotlight on David Gerrold, who writes books, stories, screenplays, columns, articles, comics — whatever excites him. Look him up on ISFDB or Wikipedia for more details.

Thanks so much for joining us, David! My first question is, Where can people find your work? (Besides Annie’s Book Stop of Worcester –though they should totally check here first!)

You can find almost everything on Amazon or eBay.

How can we follow your work and share your awesomeness?

I post personal commentary on Facebook, work in progress (and past efforts) on Patreon, articles and essays on Medium, and occasional thoughts on Twitter. Just look for “David Gerrold.” I’m not that hard to find. My website http://www.gerrold.com hasn’t been updated in a while. Sorry about that.

What kind of research went into writing your favorite story?  What is your favorite research story? What cool facts and findings didn’t make it into the book, but you loved discovering?

My favorite story is The Martian Child — because before I could write it, I had to live it.

I researched adoption for two years, before I met my son. I went through a stack of books on adoption, seminars, courses, tapes, online resources, and all kinds of trainings. I wanted to make sure that I would be well-prepared so I could be a good dad for whoever ended up living with me.

And even after I met him, I still had to do even more research about his special needs. I did more work here than I ever did in any college course.

davidg.photo_

What was the inspiration for The Martian Child? What were the steps you took to bring it from initial inspiration to the finished book?

One day I asked Sean if he was a Martian. He said no. I was disappointed, it would have been a great story — but then we started playing the Martian game anyway and the story grew out of it.

One night, after I’d tucked him into bed, I went back to my computer and just started typing about our experiences. It flowed. When I was done, I had a story. At the time, I didn’t know if it was a good story or just an embarrassingly earnest letter to myself. But the way that the readers reacted after it was published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction showed me that I had accomplished something special.

The  story was a breakthrough in so many ways. In particular, I discovered writing muscles I didn’t know I had. But I was writing about how much I loved my son, so I think that was the best part of all.

What character did you love or hate the most while writing? And why?

I was writing about how much I love my son. In writing the story, writing about our experiences together, I got to relive them, and I got to rediscover what an incredible little person he was. Today, he’s all grown up, married, and an incredible big person.

What draws you to the particular genre or style that you write? What do you think draws readers to these kinds of books?

I have to quote Robert F. Kennedy. “Some men see things as they are, and ask why. I dream of things that never were, and ask why not.”  I can’t say it any better than he did.

What is your favorite part of being a writer?  Of the whole writing and publishing process?  What do you think has been your greatest lesson in the journey thus far?

I get to sleep late. I don’t have to dress up. I don’t have to leave the house. I get to choose my own challenges.

I get to go anywhere in time and space, any dimension of possibility and every dimension of impossibility. I’m a literary timelord. My keyboard is my Tardis.

What piece of advice would you want to share with other writers?

If you can be discouraged, you will be. So quit and stop wasting your emotional energy

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If you cannot be discouraged, if the above sentences make no sense to you, then maybe, just maybe, you might have enough determination to make it.

Do your research. Set big challenges. Don’t listen to any advice from anyone who hasn’t published at least a million words. Learn your grammar. Learn the rules before you break them. Never write the same story twice. Always try something new and different and seemingly impossible.

What does your writing space look like? What do you need to have around you while writing or editing?

My writing space looks like a bookstore exploded. In the middle of it are two big screens and a keyboard.

What has been your favorite adventure during your writing career?

My favorite adventure has been all the great people I’ve met. Some have been famous people, like astronauts and writers and actors and even a few political leaders — but just as many have been quietly working to make a difference in their own way: my adoption caseworker, my veterinarian, my son’s godmother, and … um, someone who taught me what love was really about. It’s not about what you get, it’s about what you can create.

dgphoto

Writers very often have furry or feathered or otherwise non-human companions to “help” them through their work.  Do you? What do you have? How do they “help” (or, “not-help”) with your writing?

I have dogs. I’ve always had dogs. They’re someone to talk to who won’t argue, no matter how silly an idea might be.

I need a dog to sit under my desk and do all the heavy thinking. As long as he doesn’t snore too loud.

Do you have any favorite foods or drinks that must be in the vicinity (or must be avoided) while you’re writing or editing a piece of work?

Chocolate is always good. Coffee too.

What do you consider the most challenging part of the writing process? And how do you overcome that?

The blank page is the enemy.

 What is the greatest lesson you’ve learned, thus far, in your writing career?

Apply the seat of the pants to the seat of the chair and type.

Are there any groups, clubs, or organizations that you would recommend to other writers that have helped you in your career?

Any good professional writing organization that is willing to establish professional standards of behavior — I am a member of SFWA and WGAW, and when I remember to pay my dues, HWA.

David, thank you again for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer our questions.

 

 

 

Bree Paulsen is an Illustrator and author. In this interview, she speaks about her debut middle grade graphic novel, GARLIC & THE VAMPIRE. She also talks about being an illustrator and author, and gives some advice to others in the same field. This video was first published on October 4, 2021.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Annie’s Book Stop of Worcester is very happy to shine our Friday spotlight on children’s book author Valerie Bolling. Valerie, for those who don’t know you, could you please tell us about yourself and your writing?

 

Well, I’m passionate about creating stories in which all children can see themselves and feel seen and heard, valued and validated. I’m a traditionally published author of five picture books (LET’S DANCE!, TOGETHER WE RIDE, TOGETHER WE SWIM, RIDE, ROLL, RUN: TIME FOR FUN!, and BING, BOP, BAM: TIME TO JAM!) and RAINBOW DAYS, a Scholastic Acorn early reader series. Currently, I’m writing a chapter book and board books.

 

I’ve been an educator for 30 years. Next year I will become a full-time author, and I look forward to sharing my love of reading and writing with children during school visits. Having more time to write will be great, too.

 

I’m an active member of the kidlit community – teaching picture book classes (independently and for the Highlights Foundation), serving as a mentor, and presenting at conferences. I enjoy being immersed in a community of creatives!

 

I live in Connecticut with my wonderful husband, who is my biggest fan, and we enjoy traveling, hiking, reading, going to the theater, and dancing. linktr.ee/ValerieBolling

 

 

Where can people find your work? (Besides Annie’s Book Stop of Worcester–though they should totally check here first!)

 

1. In an independent bookstore nearby

 

2. At a local library

 

3. In an elementary school’s media center

 

NOTE: If my books aren’t in these places, please request them.

 

 

How can we follow your work and share your awesomeness?

 

Thank you for saying I’m awesome. I’d love it when readers and writers follow me. I also appreciate book reviews if you like my books.

  

Website: valeriebolling.com

Twitter: twitter.com/valerie_bolling

Instagram: instagram.com/valeriebollingauthor

Facebook: facebook.com/ValerieBollingAuthor

 

 

For readers unfamiliar with your work, how would you describe what you write?  What can readers expect from Rainbow Days: The Gray Day?

 

The books I write feature community, connection, and diversity. On the home page of my website, it says:

 

I write because I want all children to feel at home in a book. I want them to smile, laugh, think, and question. Most of all, I want them to celebrate the diverse world in which we live.

 

My current titles will encourage children to smile and laugh, but I have books coming out in the next couple of years that will also promote thinking and questioning.

 

My most recent title that was released on May 2, 2023 is Rainbow Days: The Gray Day. It is the first book in my Scholastic Acorn early reader series.

 

The series features Zoya and her puppy, Coco, who love to create art together. Here’s a description of The Gray Day:

 

It’s a perfect day to paint outside – until it begins to rain! Zoya and Coco rush back inside with their art supplies. But together – and with a splash of glitter – they find creative ways to brighten the gray day.

 

The second book, Rainbow Days: The Gold Bowl, will be released on September 5, 2023, and the third book, Rainbow Days: The Orange Wall, will make its appearance on March 5, 2024. All books may be ordered now.

 

 

What piece of advice would you want to share with other writers?

Keep at it! Be persistent, persevere, and be patient … and be prepared to face rejection. But don’t give up if publication is your goal. Also, continue to study/learn and create. And give yourself grace as well as others.

 

 

 

What is one thing that most people don’t realize about you?

I’m tall. I’m not exceptionally tall but taller than the average woman at 5’10’’. Since I’ve met so many people via Zoom (and have been communicating with them that way for the past two or three years), when I see them in person for the first time, they often say, “You’re tall!” or “I didn’t realize you were so tall.”

 

 

What is the greatest lesson you’ve learned, thus far, in your writing career?

Community is the key to success.

 

Writing seems like a solitary act, but it isn’t. We need our critique partners, agent, and editors to help us produce our best work and have a thriving publication journey. Being connected to writing groups and organizations is also beneficial along with taking classes and attending webinars and conferences.

 

Part of my community is the children for whom I write, so doing school visits and participating in book festivals and other events where young readers will be present is something I enjoy.

 

And, of course, I have a wonderful, loyal community of family and friends who cheer me on and tell others about my books.

 

 

Are there any groups, clubs, or organizations that you would recommend to other writers that have helped you in your career?

    • My critique groups

 

    • SCBWI

 

    • 12×12 Picture Book Challenge

 

    • Black Creators Headquarters

 

    • The Authors Guild

 

    • The Highlights Foundation

 

    • We Need Diverse Books

 

 

Valerie, thanks so much for taking the time to answer so many of our questions! People can order Valerie’s books at Annie’s Book Stop of Worcester by sending Email to: orders@anniesbooksworcester.com.    

 

 

 

Julia Kneeland is a children’s book author, who has just released a picture book, JIG GETS LOST, a book about a little dog who gets lost in a big city. This interview with Julia explains the reasons why she wrote this book, and her forthcoming books. This video was originally published on September 28, 2021.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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