Blogging can lead to some unique opportunities...

When I began to blog, I hoped to meet others with similar interests and I have succeeded beyond my expectations. Little did I know, though, that blogs are researched and read by professionals in other walks of life and could lead to other interesting happenings....until two days ago! At that time, I was contacted by a west coast publicist to talk to me about the first-novel of an author for whom she is working. The author is Irene Latham (HERE is her website) from Alabama. She has written a book aimed at young readers (ages 10 and up) that I would classify as historical fiction.....based on the now well-known Gee's Bend quilting community and life there in the early 1930's. I have been offered the exciting opportunity to read the book (title is Leaving Gee's Bend....see cover photo to the right) and to talk about it afterwards on my blog AND to have the author do a guest post or an inteview on this blog for me and for all of you. This book is now in print and has received some very good reviews, so I am quite enthusiastic about being a part of this process. If the book is as good as I expect it to be, I will be happy to "tell the world" (or at least my blogging world and my quilt guild) of a book that contains a heartwarming story of a young quilter leaving the security of her close-knit community for the first time. I anticipate receiving my copy of the book in about a week, so keep looking here for further updates about this and...down the road a bit.....an interview of some type with Ms. Latham. This is a unique opportuniy and I embrace becoming part of helping Ms. Latham to market a book that will give young people a glimpse into the calming, restorative effects of quilting. I'm sure you agree with me that the quilting legacy needs to be cultivated in our young people so it can live on after we are gone. I hope you will join me on this journey and, perhaps, along the way, you might want to get this book and read it, also.