Upcoming events
There are no events coming up in the immediate future, but more are being planned for the fall. If you’re looking for a speaker or are interested in an author panel for your library or organization, please contact me at judith@judithjaeger.com. You can also visit my Web page about events, workshops and speaking engagements, http://www.judithjaeger.com/aboutjudy/invite.htm and http://www.judithjaeger.com/aboutjudy/workshops.htm, for more information.
Recent events
My friend and fellow author M.P. Barker (a.k.a. Michele Barker) teamed up for a reading and signing at the Merriam-Gilbert Public Library in West Brookfield, Mass., on May 6. While our stories are quite different, they both focus on coming of age and learning about relationships—how to be friends instead of enemies. We had a lovely evening of discussion with readers in a truly beautiful library. Michele and I look forward to visiting the Merriam-Gilbert Public Library in the future. Many thanks to Denise for hosting us!
The Friends of the Charlton Public Library and my friend Phyllis hosted me at the Charlton Public Library in Charlton, Mass., on May 8 for a discussion of the publishing process. I enjoyed stimulating conversation with an great group at another stunning library. Thank you to the Friends and Phyllis for a terrific event!
It was standing-room-only at the Ames Free Library in North Easton, Mass., on May 20, where Michele and fellow author Marissa Doyle (Bewitching Season) and were invited for a reading and signing. Adults and young adults alike gathered to hear about our books and we were delighted with terrific questions and discussion. I had the treat of sharing the panel with two historical novelists and talking about how no matter the century, the challenges of growing up never seem to change. Many thanks to the staff at the Ames Free Library for the wonderful event!
On May 28, Michele and I were joined by fellow authors D. Dina Friedman (Escaping into the Night and Playing Dad's Song) and Michelle D. Kwasney (Baby Blue and Itch) at the East Longmeadow Public Library in East Longmeadow, Mass., for Auhtor Night. It was another full room and another wide-ranging and stimulating discussion following our readings. Many thanks to Sharon at the library and Pam of Pam’s Paperbacks for their work on this event!
Your Creative Kick in the Butt
Read the rest at http://judithjaeger.blogspot.com
Here's a trick I learned a while ago. When I'm nervous about anything—a presentation, a public-speaking engagement, a job interview, any situation that makes me nervous—I pretend I'm not nervous.
The same goes for confidence. Whenever I'm going into a situation in which I'm lacking self confidence, I pretend I have all the self confidence in the world. It can be tough when you're doing creative work to keep up your self esteem, especially in the face of near constant rejection. That rejection can lead to poor self image, which starts a downward spiral to some deep dark places. No spelunking, please!
The urge to dive can be very hard to resist, though, and we easily give in to those feelings, that we have nothing to offer, that we'll never make it, that all our hard work has been a waste of time, that we are, in fact, worthless.Judy Jabber Street Team Update
Simple things you can do to help promote The Secret Thief
- Recommend The Secret Thief to your local librarian.
- Recommend The Secret Thief to a friend.
- Buy The Secret Thief as a gift for someone.
- Recommend The Secret Thief to your book group, or a friend’s book group.
- Post a review on Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com and/or Book Reporter.com.
Judy Jabber Street Team Contest
Street Team Contest winners receive a signed copy of The Secret Thief, an "I Know the Secret" button and bookmark. If you already have all that, you can give it to a friend.
From Judy's bookshelf
A Difficult Boy by M.P. Barker: I've read this once before, prior to publication in its pre-edited state, so it's a special treat to read it now in it’s final published form. Michele not only pulls together a page-turning plot that you will not be able to put down, but also brings history to life in ways that allow you to experience life in 1830s rural Massachusetts. As you bite your nails over what will happen to our heroes, Ethan and Daniel, you milk the cows with them, work alongside them in the kitchen garden, eat dinner with them in the Lyman parlor, and walk the pasture with them with their beloved horse, Ivy. The best part of A Difficult Boy is that you don't get the experience of just the story—which would be enough in this case—you also get the experience of what life was like for some of our ancestors, which is the icing on the currant cake.
