Marie Bostwick goes glamping for 'The Second Sister'
Marie Bostwick hits the road in her "glamper" to promote The Second Sister, out this week. Here, she explains all about glamping and introduces us to Glinda.
Marie: As I write this, I'm on tour to promote my April novel, The Second Sister, but, for the most part, you won't find me running to catch flights, or, worse, a victim of the occasional flight delay that can wreck an author's schedule.
No, my friends, not me. This tour I'm behind the wheel of sweet little Glinda, the Glamper, a motor home I've snazzed up with colors that soothe this author's soul (not to mention the quilter in me). I have my favorite snacks, my cozy comforter, my favorite bottle of wine, food in fridge. All my electronic devices are plugged in and at the ready. I'm singing along to my favorite tunes and thinking up new plots as I take in the beautiful scenery sweeping past.
I'm in a movement, ladies — there are thousands of us worldwide dolling up campers and taking to the road. We're glampers — there's even an International Glamping Weekend, June 6-7, although by that time I'll be back home from my events that have me signing at independent bookstores, libraries, quilting shows, guild meetings, one museum and quilt shops in Virginia, Florida, Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee and Connecticut.
Maybe I'll run into some of the Sisters on the Fly, an organization of 4,000 women who have a few simple guidelines for their glamping excursions, many with friends: "No Men, No Pets, No Kids and Be Nice!" (Although I think pets would be nice.)
I'll admit I'm especially looking forward to events in Wisconsin, where The Second Sister is set (waving hand at Joyce Lamb — I hope to see you while I'm there!). (Note from Joyce: Waving back!)
My husband and I lived in Wisconsin not long after we were married, and I grew quite fond of picturesque Door County. There on the shores of Lake Michigan is where Lucy Toomey grew up, although she hasn't been back in years. Her 80-hours-a-week career as a political campaign operative has sent her everywhere but home, much to the disappointment of her older sister, Alice, who's never left Nilson's Bay.
Now that Lucy's dark horse candidate has been elected president, she'll have her dream job in the White House. But as the election results are being tallied, Lucy gets a call from back home. Alice, who suffered brain damage in a high school swimming accident, has died suddenly. Her dying wish: that Lucy come back home to Wisconsin. There's nothing back home for Lucy now but memories of the blame she endured for her sister's death. But she loved her sweet sister, so Lucy goes home, at least to wrap up her sister's affairs — and learns there was a lot more to Alice than she had ever known.
During Lucy's journey home she discovers her sister's enduring gift — a chance to move beyond her difficult past and find what she has long been missing.
I'd so love to meet you Happy Ever Afters, and if you're a quilter like Alice and me, bring along your work in progress — we can have an informal show and tell. Here are just a few of my stops, with my whole schedule at www.mariebostwick.com:
April 7: 4-7 p.m. at J'Ellen's House of Fabric, 2171 S. Green, University Heights, Ohio.
April 8: 7-9 p.m. at Anderson's Bookshop's Two Doors East, 123 W. Jefferson, Naperville, Ill.
April 9: 6 p.m. at The Book Loft, 2069 Central Ct., Green Bay, Wis.
April 17: 5-7 p.m. at West Lafayette Library, 208 W. Columbia, West Lafayette, Ind.
April 26: 2-4 p.m. at Parnassus Books, 3900 Hillsboro Pike, Suite 12, Nashville, Tenn.
I just had a light bulb moment: How about launching Glamper book groups? Meet up across the country, talk about our favorite books? What fun would that be! I'm game if you are, my friends! (Note from Joyce: Me, too!)
Hope to see you on the road!
Find out more about Marie and her books and book tour at www.mariebostwick.com.