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a fresh new START
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Hello, friend!
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AT THE "END" of every summer, I'm always surprised at how quickly the first day of school rolls around. This is not something that impacts me or my thoughts directly; at this stage of my life, I don't have kids or grandchildren who are headed back to class and thank the lord, there's no homework to oversee (or insist upon!) on the near horizon for me.
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Still I can't help but get a little thrill of excitement. I loved school when I was a student myself, and the joy of back-to-school shopping? With all those colorful notebooks? And new pencils and a fresh pack of organized, perfectly ruled looseleaf paper? So much potential! So much promise! Plus a new season of high school football was just around the corner! And even as an adult—even as a grandmother adult—I simply cannot resist the pull of the BACK TO SCHOOL aisle. As I have not yet perused the 2026 collection, I may well add that to my list of things to do this pretty August Sunday!
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Circa 1998: first day of school for my precious daughter, Eliza
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I WANT TO also briefly mention the crazy thing that happened this week, as the date for my pinnacle book event finally arrived. We were all set for the First Thursday on Main/Columbia Museum of Art Book Talk with the remarkable Joelle Ryan-Cook as my conversation partner; with musicians Michael Amos Cody and Colin Hyden traveling from Tennessee to perform WAR SONG as part of the program; with Ryon Edwards talking book design—all to take place on the stage in the museum's stunning theater, with a lovely reception following in the museum's salon. Then—out of the literal blue—the skies turned dark and the thunder rolled and rain came with such ferocity in no time I'd heard from a friend in West Columbia that they'd already measured a whopping 5.5 inches.
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Along came this, which three hours before showtime was delivered to every cell phone in the red circle area accompanied by that terrifying EMERGENCY alert sound that accompanies such urgent notifications:
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"DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TRAVEL UNLESS YOU ARE FLEEING AN AREA SUBJECT TO FLOODING OR UNDER AN EVACUATION ORDER."
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Do you know what happened? How it all turned out? We carried on, the museum, Joelle and I, and the musicians—who remarkably enough arrived safe and sound—and Ryon and Ben and All Good Books and Eric, the photographer! And when the first attendees arrived? I nearly cried. And then folks came through the door again and again and again, and before you know it, that big theater held a respectable number of lovely, lovely book people!!!
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a little preview (images by Eric McCoy)
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I'll be sharing lots of photos and videos in the week to come, thanks to Eric McCoy Photography, who captured it all so beautifully. Plus now I've got yet another wonderful story to tell about my remarkable book tour!
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this moment with my friend, Cris, who has been a part of my book journey from the start
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Thanks, also, to you. Thank you for being here with me and for coming along on this wild, joyful ride. My gratitude is boundless!
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BOOK CLUB and BOOK DISCUSSION JOY
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A huge thank you to my new and also now very dear friend, Bobbi Darnell, who has hosted my novel and me not once, not twice, but now three times in her home! (Her first Book Club gathering was featured in my Grace Notes 75 in June.) And coming up? This Thursday night? Bobbi's gathered another big crowd for a dinner and book talk at the Mediterranean Cafe in Lexington, SC! (Reach out to me if you are interested in coming.) She does love the novel, but I promise you, it's her sweet spirit and genuine heart that draws people to Bobbi Darnell. What a beautiful surprise of this book tour to now be in her orbit.
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Behind the Book Festival, Kingsport Public Library, Kingsport, TN
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with my sweet pals and CR Author festival support staff: Julian Coles and Teresa Coles
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Cooks and Books Festival, St. Paul, VA
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with authors Stacia Pelletier and Carolyn Newton at Blue Ridge Arts Center in Seneca, SC
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I loved being with this engaged group of readers at Laurel Crest Retirement Community in West Columbia, SC.
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ONE LAST EVENT PHOTO! This is from the reception at the Columbia Museum of Art event Thursday night. As I said, lots more to come about that one, but since I haven't had a family photo this entire book tour, here we are! My daughter, Eliza, and her hubby (and the world's best son-in-law), Preston Doyle, along with my beloved and incredibly supportive husband, Tim Monetti.
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STANDING REMINDER: I do love meeting with book clubs! I'm happy to come to your meeting in person, if geography and schedule allow. Also, Zoom meetings are a blast! Do reach out if your club is interested. You can reach me via my socials, my website or cathy@cathyriggauthor.com. There's never a fee; it's my joy to be among readers!
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East of Eden, coming from Netflix
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I CANNOT WAIT. John Steinbeck's East of Eden is one of my favorite books of all times, and Florence Pugh as Kathy Ames? Yes, please! This seven-part series is promised this fall! Click here to see the series trailer.
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I read this popular novel on audio and loved it! The narration is fabulous.
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I finished this fine novel on audio a couple of nights ago, and I must say for me, it lived up to the hype. I'm a sucker for a campus story, and I loved how Lily King steeped this one in references and conversations that were so literary that to wade through them along with the characters was a most lovely experience. I felt I was there—I wished I was there!—soaking up every bit. King's given us a beautiful story of love and friendship and male friendship, in particular, which was powerful and tender both.
Also, Rebecca Lowman's narration is masterful.
Yep. I loved Heart the Lover.
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TOO MANY BOOKS? Mendel Uminer faced a crisis when his landlord objected to the 10,000 volumes in his studio apartment. from the NY Times (gift link)
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Well, just wow. I found this fascinating.
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Latest post from THE DAILY GRACE
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What We Look For When We Are Looking.
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You know those times when you hear something, or read something, or see something that stops you in your tracks? That causes you to both take note and sit for a moment to reflect? That happened to me this morning, and wonder of wonders, it has to do with wonder!
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I owe you something special for hanging in here with this very long Grace Notes!
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NOW AVAILABLE
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