Archive for the 'Uncategorized' Category

I’m so thrilled with the beautiful new CARRIER reading guide, created and provided by the Friends of the St. Paul Public Library. (These are the phenomenal folks who honored CARRIER with a 2011 Minnesota Book Award.) The full-color guide offers an author interview, discussion questions, and other CARRIER surprises. Download and print the .pdf version, or contact The Friends to order free copies by postal mail. Get one for everyone in your book group!

Book clubs, teachers, and devoted readers, enjoy the supplement, and thank you for thinking of CARRIER as a book to share and give. Happy Holidays!

What a weekend! My lunacy in choosing to travel with a newborn was well rewarded last night in St. Paul at the 23rd Annual Minnesota Book Awards, when CARRIER was named the winner in the Memoir/Creative Nonfiction category. I was happily stunned, and thrilled to receive the award in person. This story, from MPR.org, has the full scoop and more details about the winners in 9 categories.

I am so proud to be associated with a state so strong in its arts support. Last night’s gala was a glittering, glamorous, and at times goofy affair for more than 700 lovers of books, literature, and good humor. I felt so at home back in the Twin Cities, and despite the cold, I can’t imagine a warmer feeling than this recognition for CARRIER. I am so pleased that more readers will come to this book, and all of the nominated titles, in the coming year, thanks to the efforts of the Friends of the St. Paul Public Library and their phenomenal book awards program. I look forward to many returns to Minnesota to meet more readers, in their homes, libraries, and bookshops.

Cheers! And thank you for visiting www.bonniejrough.com!

Fantastic news today! CARRIER has been named a Minnesota Book Awards Finalist in the Memoir/Creative Nonfiction category. Here’s the full list of finalists. I can’t wait to check out some of these other amazing books!

Now begins the exciting publicity season ahead of the April awards gala when the Friends of the St. Paul Public Library will present winners. I’m excited to get busy with events, readings, and book club visits! I hope you’ll stay tuned for updates.

Thanks to each special reader out there spreading the word about CARRIER, and thank you for visiting www.bonniejrough.com!

Hello from Seattle! You may already know that we have recently repatriated to the U.S., having said farewell to our dear Amsterdam. We’re getting settled in our newest (and oldest) city, and book news for CARRIER keeps popping up.

Today, you can read a brand-new author interview on the wonderful online magazine Literary Mama. Huge thanks to the amazing editors at Literary Mama for the beautiful work they do!

Meanwhile, CARRIER has also been nominated to the Minnesota Book Awards. Finalists will be announced January 31. I love celebrating Minnesota literature! Even though I’m now found in Seattle, I’m still carrying around a Minnesota driver’s license, a Minneapolis public library card, and a bit of a funny accent!

Since my return to the U.S., I’ve been picking up the pace of book club visits, and meeting some fabulous booksellers. My personal favorite so far is the bookseller who, after a nice chat about author events in her store, happened to ask my name. When I said, “Bonnie Rough,” her eyes flew wide and she said, “CARRIER! I LOVE your book!” Talk about a way to make an author’s day!

Stay tuned for more Pacific Northwest events, and remember, if your book club (in any city) is reading CARRIER, it’ll now be much easier for me to schedule a visit, Skype, or phone call with your group. You are welcome to contact me.

Thanks for checking in for the latest news, and thanks too for visiting www.bonniejrough.com!

I’m headed today from Seattle to sweet old Walla Walla, WA, home of my alma mater, Whitman College, and countless good memories. I’m looking forward to a nostalgic drive today, to be followed by a reading I’ve been looking forward to for months! Tonight at 7 p.m. in Hunter Conservatory on the Whitman College campus, I’ll be reading with the wonderful memoirist Janna Cawrse Esarey (author of The Motion of the Ocean), as part of the Whitman College Visiting Writers Reading Series. Please come enjoy the reading and let us answer your questions about our stories, our craft, publishing, and the writer’s life! The event is free and fun and open to the public.

Now, let’s say you’re headed to Whitman this weekend for, oh, maybe a class reunion of some vintage or another, but won’t reach Walla Walla in time for tonight’s reading. Please consider coming to a special CARRIER reading and book signing, scheduled as a reunion event but also open to the public, on Saturday, Sept. 25, at 3 p.m. in Hunter Conservatory. I’ll be reading, answering questions, and most definitely signing books! I would love to see you!

Happy fall, happy reunion, and happy reading. Thank you for visiting www.bonniejrough.com!