T-minus...ONE DAY!

"Sunflowers" makes its big debut tomorrow! It'll be an ordinary workday for me -- teaching class, meeting with students -- but I'll be grinning nonstop. I hope readers enjoy the book!

Writing friends Catherine Delors and Julianne Douglas have posted interviews (tough questions!) and will have reviews of the book up later this week. Both are also offering giveaways of copies of the book. Please check my website for reviews of the book as they come in, as well as links to guest posts and information about upcoming events.

This Thursday, October 15th, I'll be speaking at the Nelson Poynter Library of the University of South Florida St Petersburg (my home campus) at 4pm. Books will be available for purchase at the Barnes and Noble on campus (10% off on the 15th), and I'll sign any that folks bring to the talk. A big THANK YOU to the staffs of the library and the Barnes and Noble for organizing this event -- we're going to have fun!

Van Gogh's Montmartre

Over the next few weeks surrounding the release of "Sunflowers," several bloggers will be kindly hosting me in a mini-blog-tour, some with interviews, some with guest posts, with blogger-authored reviews of the actual book as well. The first guest post, "Van Gogh's Montmartre," is freshly available at the French-themed blog of novelist Catherine Delors, author of "Mistress of the Revolution" (a terrific book) and the forthcoming "For the King" (which I can't wait to read). Catherine is also hosting a giveaway of one signed copy of "Sunflowers" (details on her blog) and will be posting an interview and review. Merci bien, Catherine, for the blog-hospitality!

Blogging Excellence

When Catherine from Versailles and More was tagged with her Blog Award of Excellence last week, she chose ten blogs/bloggers to next receive the award -- and one of those is yours truly and Van Gogh's Chair. Merci, Madame Delors! I am taking a virtual bow, or should I say an elegant curtsey worthy of panniers.

Now I must choose ten blogs to crown with their own excellence awards. Took some thinking, and here are my choices. I know a couple of them duplicate Catherine's list, but proclamations of excellence are worth repeating. In no particular order...

Writing the Renaissance: I learn new things at Julianne's French-Renaissance themed blog and I like reading about her writing adventures.

Museworthy: The very museworthy Claudia is a professional art model in New York City. She blogs about her experiences and about the great muses of art history.

The Earthly Paradise: Margaret blogs about William Morris, the Arts and Crafts Movement, her travels in places like Paris and Colombia, and other things that strike her fancy.

Historical Tapestry: The gals at Historical Tapestry blog about historical fiction, old and new.

Word After Word: I love writing professor Heather Sellers' books "Page After Page" and "Chapter After Chapter" -- I enjoy her blog too.

History Buff: Keep up with current archaeological events with historical novelist Michelle Moran.

Notes on the Writing Life: Blog of novelist Sandra Gulland.

Reading the Past: Keep up with what's happening in HF here!

Red Wheelbarrow Bookstore: The Red Wheelbarrow is a sweet little bookstore tucked in the Marais. The owners blog with book recommendations and other news. Makes me feel connected to Paris!

Looting the Past: Prof. David Gill has been on the front ranks of the fight against looted antiquities for years. His blog reports on the latest developments. A Very Important Read!

Cyberfriends

Since I started blogging in November, I've been surprised how easy it is to make new friends in cyberspace -- folks that share one's interests and passions. Today I'd like to give a shout-out to Julianne Douglas at Writing the Renaissance and Catherine Delors at Versailles and More for their kind announcements of the publication of The Sunflowers. Both are historical fiction writers: Julianne's writings and blog are steeped in the French Renaissance, and Catherine is the author of recently published Mistress of the Revolution. Catherine's blog just won a Blog Award of Excellence: congratulations!