I had the great privelege this month to attend my first ever International Christian Retailing Show earlier this month. The goofiness of this exposition is legendary, something the reality  failed to deliver on. The overall attendance seemed rather slight to my novice eyes. And I'm told it was. I just hope that wasn't my fault...

I'm pretty sure it was Brad Whittington who encouraged me to Leif Enger's debut novel, Peace Like A River. And it's a good thing it was Brad, because based on the title and cover alone I'm not sure I would have ever picked that one up.

I don't know a lot about Enger. But it does seem like I heard somewhere along the way that his sophomore effort was going to release years ago...several years ago. Every so often, in yet another fit of rampant procrastination, I would consult amazon and check the release date.

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Gooberific Novice Author Alert...when So Brave, Young, and Handsome did finally release, I ordered a copy from amazon along with a copy of my novel. I wanted to see my book next to his in that 'customers who bought' this book also bought that book column. And it worked too!

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Anyhow, I'm about 80 pages into the latest Enger effort and the experience is better than I imagined. Quite by accident, I'm finding I don't sit down to read the book, but rather sit down to savor it. And I'm pretty sure that has something (everything?) to do with the amount of time Enger took to write it.

Again, I don't know the man. He could have spent those ensuing years between novels learning shuffle board or trying to figure out how to make Slinkies climb stairs. 

What I do know is that the prose is pitch perfect. And this is not what I would consider my kind of novel--not by a long shot. Yet every word of every sentence feels right at home, grounded, settled, even nestled. In the hands of a lesser writer (me?), I can't help but think that telling this story would slip into contrivance or melodrama. But so far, Enger's only crime is calling me back to the book when I should probably be doing something else. 

Anybody else reading this one? And what do you think?  

I recently had the great privelege of doing a couple of book signings. So, first a few thanks you's are in order...

1) to any and all who showed up, bought books, or simply made me not feel like a stooge standing behind the table and scrawling my name

2) to both Borders and Barnes & Noble for allowing me a little floor space and the opportunity to connect with readers

I had a sign-up sheet at both signings for a chance to win a $50 gift card from the host bookstore of each signing. Last night I had my adorable ten-year-old daughter randomely (and objectively and blindly) select the winners. 

So here goes...

The winner of the Borders gift card is Nick Barre

The winner of the Barnes & Noble gift card is Tim Creek

Congrats to the both of you. I will be contacting the winners via email to arrange delivery of the goods!

And again, heartfelt thanks to anyone and everyone who took part.