Working Titlez

By Guest Blogger Jami Carpenter (aka theredpengirl)

We have become accustomed to ordering our books from Amazon, downloading audio versions from iTunes, or buying our reading material at local brick ‘n mortars, be it a little indie shop-around-the-corner or a big box Costco. We look for a bargain, but still, we pay.

The library, which offers all of the above for free, isn’t as popular, like the last kid picked for dodge ball.

But libraries are no longer just places where out-of-print books, yesterday’s newspapers, party-mix CDs (ah … cassettes), and every National Geographic magazine from its first publication in 1888 live happily ever after. Gone are microfiche readers and card catalogs, and even “library voices.”

If you haven’t been lately, libraries now have state-of-the art technology, wireless access, and online “reservations” for bestsellers just published.

And librarians? Well, they’re no longer just behind the desk checking out books, calculating late fees, or shelving returns and hosting storytime for toddlers. Today’s librarians have become cheerleaders for the library system, dreaming up clever new ways to bring in readers.

Take, for example, Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Public Librarian, Karen, whose book club “kits” have become a book club “hit.” One such kit included several copies of The Home for the Friendless, donated by author Betty Auchard – which I was lucky to have edited – complete with discussion questions.

While preparing to speak at the Ames, Iowa public library about her most recent book, The Home for the Friendless, author Betty Auchard spent time with Laura Millsaps of the Ames Tribune. A wonderful article where Betty shares some of her fondest memories of her childhood in Iowa. For the full interview, click here:

Recently, Cedar Rapids, Iowa native Betty Auchard returned to her roots and spoke with Charity Nebbe of Iowa Public Radio. Click here to listen to Betty as she tells stories from her newest book, The Home for the Friendless.

Betty Auchard, author of The Home for the Friendless and Dancing in my Nightgown, returns to Iowa this month to speak at Prairie Lights Books, one of the premiere independent bookstores in the country. If you happen to be in Iowa City on June 14, come listen to Betty read and share stories from her newest book. If you aren’t in Iowa City, you still have time to get there – an evening you won’t want to miss!

Betty Auchard’s newest book, The Home for the Friendless, was April’s book-of-the-month at the Coffee Bean and Tea Leafs in Las Vegas. She met with fans, held book signings, spoke to a women’s group in Henderson, and even went across town to meet readers in Red Rock. Betty made friends everywhere she went!

Great news this morning! Three of our books placed in the National Indie Excellence Awards — Higher Than Eagles by Maralys Wills and The Home for the Friendless by Betty Auchard are Finalists in the Memoir category, while Friendless received a second award in the Interior Design category. And Dancing in My Nightgown, also by Betty Auchard, WON the Indie Excellence Award for Non-Fiction Audio. What’s extra-wow is that Betty, herself, is the narrator. Local production house Dog & Pony Studios were producers. So proud of everyone involved. Here’s book designer Sue Campbell’s report.

Photo by Carmen S. Perez

Betty Auchard is a favorite of ours — she’s so energetic, fun . . . and funny. When I grow up, I want to be Betty! The author of Dancing in My Nightgown: The Rhythms of Widowhood spent last week on a tour across the Vegas Valley, with appearances at multiple Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf shops. The Coffee Bean folks selected Dancing as the Book of the Month. Each signing was a sell out, with fans showing up, R-J ads in hand, to chat with the ever-gracious Betty. She also spoke to the seniors at the Parkdale Senior Center, and had the attendees in fits of laughter as she talked about driving Denny’s cremains home (the first time he didn’t tell her how to drive), surviving and eventually thriving in her new life, sans-Denny, and later her crush on Carpet Man. Books sales were not allowed on the city-owned premises, but not to be deterred, folks followed Betty to the car, where we held an impromptu signing out of the trunk. We also invited the seniors to be a focus group for Betty’s next book, The Home for the Friendless. They provided some valuable input regarding the concept and sub-titles. Betty also worked with translator/editor Gaby Jurica on the next edition of Dancing — Bailando en mi camison and spent her evenings editing the final draft of Friendless. This is one busy lady!