The cover, A Flickering Light

Here's the cover for my latest novel. I hope you like it! We're in the "gathering endorsements" phase right now, asking people whose work I admire if they'd be willing to read the book and perhaps say something nice about it. Of course, they may hate it and they don't have to say anything good! This is always a time of angst for a writer. The book is finished. It's gone to galley format. A few changes can be made at this point but otherwise, it's finished. Perfection doesn't mean "without errors" it means "complete." So the book is complete. And I work even as we speak on the sequel...I hope you enjoy this little insight into the next book. Keep writing your own, though! Never stop. Jane

A Flickering Light, first photograph

This is my grandmother, Jessie Ann Gaebele. She either took this photograph herself (she was a photographer at the turn of the century) or it was taken of her by the man she worked for. I love this photograph. She told me that her mother called that dress her "kept woman dress" which really annoyed her no end because she said she saved $.25 a week for six months to buy that dress herself.

In my novel about her life, A Flickering Light, I use this photograph along with four others. My grandmother is the narrator for these photographs but the rest of the story is told in third person through her eyes, her employer's eyes and the eyes of his wife. It's an intriguing story I think and I hope you'll like it when it comes out April 21, 2009.

In the sequel I'll be using additional photographs. The process of exploring the pictures, glass negatives I had developed, has been an interesting journey. I've been "reading" the images and unveiling her mystery but also mysteries of my own. I think that's what happens when we read. Who knows what mysteries you'll discover about yourself as you read her story.

WILLA Literary Award in San Antonio

Yes, we went to Texas! We already had tickets to attend the Women Writing the West conference when we learned that A Tendering in the Storm had won the WILLA Literary Award for Original Softcover Fiction. You can see me holding the trophy (and it covers up my cleavage so nicely, don't you think?) The pin is the symbol for the association and once you've been a board member you get to wear the stylized one as I have on. The earrings were carved for me from mammoth ivory by my friend Elfi Gross. Jerry rarely smiles in photographs...he was acutally having a great time. We visited the Alamo, attended great workshops and he and Bob Foard, husband of the new President of WWW, Sheila Foard, talked guy stuff. My agent and her husband made the trip as well. It was a great evening and a honor to have a book of mine earn the award.

We walked a lot in San Antonio, the weather was perfect for touring both the Alamo and the Menger Hotel. A great city with a fascinating history. The riverwalk is a relaxing place whether walking or taking the boat ride through that portion of the city. We flew hom on Monday (via Atlanta, Salt Lake and Portland!).

Three days later I was back in Texas for the Houston Quilt Show. I spent an evening with my godson Erick Fredstrom and his wife. It was great to see them and have a personalized tour of Houston. If you ever wish to treat yourself to a quilt show where people from around the world teach and display their wares and where you can see quilts hung like paintings in a gallery, well, you should plan to attend the Houston show (that next year will be October 14-18 and you'll need to plan ahead to get a place to stay).

Right now I'm waiting on pins and needles to see the hardcover copy of Aurora: An American Experience in Quilt, Community and Craft. Should be receiving it before long as it'll be in the stores by December 16th. You can scroll down and see Emma's quilt that started it all. I hope you're all writing...and finding things to be grateful for.

I've also posted my "monthly words of encouragement" on my website www.jkbooks.com so please stop by. Have a great day. Warmly, Jane

Columbia River Glacier

Here at last is that photograph of Jerry and me at the Columbia Glacier in Alberta, Canada. It still amazes me that we were there where the Columbia River begins. Our John Day River flowing past our ranch flows into the Columbia 29 miles from here. I tried to load this on my website but failed so here it is thanks to my friend Loris Webb from Edmonton.

Jerry has gone off elk hunting and I'm hoping to catch up on some writing projects as well as teach a class at the Wordstock festival in Portland. I'll also have a signing there in the morning, 11:00 AM should any of you be available to stop by and say hi! Stay well, Jane