Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Promoting Dulcy's Hardcover

I hope you entered the new year merrily. For myself, I’m on the mend. Early last week, lab results indicated the infection was more serious than the doctor had originally thought. The e-coli urinary tract infection went into my kidneys and other parts of my body.
            Christmas weekend brought two days of intense pain in the right kidney. Then the infection traveled to my teeth. For seven days now all the teeth in my upper and lower right jaw have ached. Along with that I have an oral yeast infection called “thrush.”
            From what’s been said, I guess I should have gone to Emergency. I was so out of reality that it never occurred to me to get help. Now, twelve days after this all began, I’m determined to return to blogging. I’ll post today and start reading your latest postings this afternoon. I appreciate each of your comments on my Christmas posting and the one last week on this health problem. Thank you for your ongoing concern.
            Now let’s start anew with events surrounding the publication of A Cat’s Life: Dulcy’s Story.  
            Just a reminder: Dulcy died July 6, 1989, and began giving me her book two days later. Jane Meara offered me a contract for the manuscript in July 1991. Crown, a division of Random House, hired Judy King to create the cover and the inside art.
            Sometime in the spring of 1992, Jane asked me for an author’s photo that would go on the back flap of the dust cover. I’ve shared with you that one of my friends, back in the spring of 1990, had encouraged me to put the manuscript in a safety deposit box for five years and then see if I could spin something golden from the dross.
            This friend stepped forward and kindly offered to photograph me by the backyard pine trees and at the Como Park Conservatory in St. Paul. On most of these portraits I’m wearing an idiotic grin, but one seemed promising.


The author photo from the hardcover of Dulcy’s book.

            Next, a Crown publicist provided me with phone numbers and addresses for bookstores, newspapers, and television and radio stations within the Twin Cities metro area. During September, I set up the following: readings and signings at thirty-six bookstores, five local television appearances on noon news and daytime talk shows; interviews with the three major newspapers; and a reading on Minnesota Public Radio.
            The most important reading to me was the one at the Stillwater Carnegie Library. On Saturday, October 10, 1992, over one-hundred friends gathered there to celebrate the publication of A Cat’s Life: Dulcy’s Story. That day was joyous.


Standing at the podium in the Margaret Rivers Room 
at the Stillwater Carnegie Library.

            Grinning, my friends listened as I recounted the story of how Dulcy’s book came to be. They laughed aloud when I read the story of Dulcy gifting me with a live chipmunk when we lived in New Hampshire. Their faces reflected empathy when Dulcy’s kidneys began to fail and she could no longer easily leap onto the couch.


Signing one of Dulcy’s hardcover books for a friend.

            After the reading, many friends purchased Dulcy’s book, the proceeds of which went to the library. The day was perfect—friends who respected and honored my love for Dulcy surrounded me and her book would help the library that was so central to my life.
            Life got busy after that. Truth be told—I felt as if I were riding a hot-air balloon above the St. Croix Valley. Possibilities stretched beyond my imagination.

                                                                        (Continued on Thursday . . . )

15 comments:

  1. I sounds like you went through quit an ordeal and I do hope you are feeling better now.

    That time in your life when you were promoting your book sounds glorious. What a wonderful adventure that must have been for you.

    I wish you a healthy 2012 and great success in your writing.

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  2. Because of the theft of my purse and vehicle break-in, I laid Dulcy's Story aside for the time being. I'm now beginning to feel ready to return to the lovely story once again!

    You have been really sick! I'm so glad to hear you are beginning to recover. Nothing hurts quite like having your whole mouth in agony! I'm glad to hear from you again, I was getting a teeny bit worried...

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  3. So sorry you have not felt well for such a long time! HOpe 2012 brings you back stronger. Love reading about Dulcy and your book promotion.

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  4. Dee, I wish I could rush right over with some chicken soup. It sounds like you are on the mend after such a terrible ordeal. I certainly hope so. dear one.

    On the positive note, it is good to read the continuance of your journey getting Dulcy's story published. When our MN contingency of the clan were in for Christmas, we mentioned Stillwater and all hope to make a trip there in the foreseeable future. Now, you've given me more things to see with the Stillwater Carnegie Library and the Como Conservatory. The whole area, I find, is so rich in history and culture. Thank you for that, Dee, and for your wonderful writing. Now, rest and continue to recover.

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  5. I loved the author's photo!

    I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE BACK!!!!!!!!!!!

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  6. I, too, love the author's photo and both of the others as well! Absolutely nothing wrong with your lovely smile! You looked so happy in your position behind the podium, clearly enjoying the experience of chatting and sharing.
    I really do hope that, health-wise, you are now strongly on the mend. I was beginning to feel a little concerned so it was a wonderful surprise to see you'd uploaded a new post. I'm not meant to be peeking, yet, since officially I'm still very much on my blog break, but thought I'd have a quick look-in this evening while I'm waiting for supper to finish cooking. I'm so glad I did! Be good to yourself, Dee! We want you fully recovered as soon as possible!

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  7. The photo was awesome! Thank you for sharing. And thank you for keeping us posted on your health. sounds like you are on the mend. Rest up. I know I don't have to tell you to be kind to yourself.
    Love,
    Stephanie

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  8. Sounds like you ate up every lovely moment of that reading! My girls are enjoying Dulcy's Story immensely. Thank you.

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  9. I've experienced thrush. Oh, my sympathies...for it all really. I think many times when we MUST get to the doctor(or hospital) we really do not realize it~ hindsight is 20/20.

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  10. Goodness! What an ordeal and you are not totally well yet! Prayers and hugs to you!!

    Love all the pictures and anxious to hear the rest of the story. I finally read the last of Dulcy's story, but shouldn't have been reading the end in the waiting room at federal housing--LOL! Luckily I had a few minutes before my name was called to compose myself. Lovely, Dee. Heartfelt and honest.

    Now you get well. Spoil yourself! Stay warm. Take good care of yourself. :):)

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  11. The photo is gorgeous! So glad to hear you are on the mend and back to blogging! Happy New Year!

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  12. Woman! I ought to beat you! Don't play around with these things. This can be very serious. I hope you feel better soon. That is scary. As for your book.... I don't know how you got up and spoke in front of so many people. I am just not that brave! Bravo

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  13. Next time, don't pretend you are Super Woman! Go to the doctor!
    I am enjoying your timeline in Dulcy's story.

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  14. Poor Dee. Oral thrush can often be an unwelcome side-effect of the kind of strong antibiotics you must have been prescribed for your e coli infection. When I had thrush in this kind of circumstance I was prescribed a whole course of a quite different antibiotic for the thrush. Sigh...

    Glad you are feeling well enough to continue with the story of the publication and promotion of Dulcy's book. It's all so interesting and the photo is wonderful.

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  15. It's really delightful to look back with you, remembering Dulcy and the joy of publishing her book. And the addition of the photos is very warm. I am so sorry you've been so ill, but you must be "coming home" to yourself :-) because this was a delightful post! Now just continue to take care of yourself, Dee. Slow and steady! Debra

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