Book News, Book Events, and Book Releases

What a spring season! A lot is happening and I'm excited to share all the great news with you- book releases, signing events, book recognitions and so much more. Here we go---

THE BUTTERFLY'S DAUGHTER, just released last month in trade paperback, and has been selected as a 2012 SIBA Book Award Finalist for the year's Best Book. (Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance). I'm proud and delighted this book has wings!



NEW RELEASE: BEACH HOUSE MEMORIES
My new novel, BEACH HOUSE MEMORIES, is selected as a SIBA Okra Pick! I'm flattered to be one of only a dozen books chosen by Southern indie booksellers as a summer must-read.

BEACH HOUSE MEMORIES's big release is May 8th! It's a milestone ten years in the making. As the prequel to the bestsellers THE BEACH HOUSE and SWIMMING LESSONS, this release completes the saga of the beloved "turtle lady" Olivia "Lovie" Rutledge. BEACH HOUSE MEMORIES returns to Charleston and the Isle of Palms in 1974, a tumultuous period in the South for issues of class, infidelity and domestic abuse. Lovie reflects on the difficult choices she faced during that fateful summer that changed her life. I've always felt a bond to the character of Lovie 's story and her story as a wife, mother and "turtle lady" is one that I felt it was time to tell. You can see the book video trailer and read an excerpt on my website here.


BOOK TOUR
To celebrate the May 8th release of BEACH HOUSE MEMORIES, I'm going on a 20-city book tour that stretches from the Carolina mountains to Florida's sandy shores with several stops in between. Take a look at the tour schedule here . I hope you'll come by to say hello and support your local bookseller.

The book tour fun begins in Charleston, SC with an unprecedented, not-to-be-missed book launch event at the South Carolina Aquarium benefiting its Sea Turtle Hospital. Click here to view the invitation and RSVP.

I'm looking forward to every signing event because each is uniquely fun and I always seem to be welcomed by the most wonderful and exuberant crowds who never cease to amaze me with memorable conversations during Q&A sessions and at the signing table.

As a real-life "turtle lady," I wanted to do something extra special with my readers for our beloved loggerhead sea turtles. So, a small number of tour events, such as the launch party, are also special fundraisers, in which a portion of every book sold will benefit a local sea turtle hospital in that area. Thank you to the event hosts who eagerly signed up to help me find a way we can collectively help volunteers and sea turtle hospitals in their efforts to support the loggerhead species for generations to come. Click here to learn more about the fundraising events and to RSVP at one near you.


BOOK GIVEAWAYS
Don't miss out on the chance to win a free book! A new contest will be posted on my website and Facebook fan page each week so check in often.

Other worthy book notes: THE BEACH HOUSE is on sale now as a special anniversary edition. The new paperback cover is beautiful! And THE BUTTERFLY'S DAUGHTER is now available in paperback as well.

Book tour is next week and I've still got lots of packing to do. I look forward to meeting you, reading your letters, and celebrating sea turtles!