Apparently I last posted here on June 16th, the day before STILL LIFE’s release.  Between then and now, there have been reviews and interviews, book parties, family trips to Yellowstone and Virginia, lots of writing, a strange muddle of post-book-release/series-conclusion emotions, and some other news that will have to wait for a later post to be revealed.

There’s been too much STILL LIFE stuff to sum it all up here, but I’ll mention a few highlights.  Kirkus called the book “A thoroughly satisfying reward for loyal fans of the series”; School Library Journal wrote that “The suspenseful and well-realized world that West has created comes to a satisfying conclusion”; VOYA gave it a star (Hooray!) and said “This final volume emphasizes the importance of friendship and support. . . . Olive’s efforts bring great rewards for herself and her readers. . . . Order the series” and according to KidsReads.com, “STILL LIFE is like a firework finale. It’ll make you “Oh” and “Ah” as the writer increases the intensity of the book to its final crescendo… There are twists and turns that will have readers guessing, and surprises are abundant.”  All of this is lovely to hear.

And, as promised, here are some event photos:

(Party at Red Balloon, signing at Fox Den Used Books, HoverDraft reading at Wild Rumpus)

And there are more events to come.
Locally, I’ll be at Chapter2Books in Hudson, WI on Saturday, August 2nd, at 2:00 p.m. The bookstore has been hosting a “Where’s Olive?” scavenger hunt involving a bunch of local businesses, and the event on the 2nd will feature prizes, games and activities, and treats.
On Saturday, August 16th, I’m teaching a single-session class called “Reading (and Writing) Minds: Creating Believable Characters” at Crossings at Carnegie in Zumbrota, MN. Lots more info here.
Then, at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, August 21st, I’ll be speaking at Spring Valley Public Library in Spring Valley, WI.

And not-so-locally…
My marvelous publisher is sending me on a five-state solo tour this fall. (There’s a whole other muddle of emotions–mostly really good ones–that comes with having this on the horizon.) I’ll get the chance to stop in several cities I haven’t visited before (at least not on book business), and I’ll get to make a bookstore stop and a school visit in each location. Here’s where you can find me:
Sunday, October 19, 3:00 p.m. Schuler Books & Music, Lansing, MI
Monday, October 20, 7:00 p.m. Anderson’s Bookshop, Naperville, IL
Wednesday, October 22, 5:00 p.m. Changing Hands Bookstore, Phoenix, AZ
Thursday, October 23, 6:00 p.m. University Book Store, Seattle, WA
Friday, October 24, 7:00 p.m. Powell’s Books, Portland, OR
Saturday, October 25, 4:00 p.m. Barnes & Noble, Orem, UT

If you’re interested and in the area — or if you know any young readers who would or could be — I’d be really, really grateful if you turned up and/or spread the word.

Just as I hoped, the best thing about wrapping up The Books of Elsewhere has been finally getting the time and brain space to plunge into a new project.  I’m about halfway through a first draft of a first book in what I think might become a trilogy, but I’ll have to see where the story leads me.  Fortunately, it’s starting to do just that.  The characters are becoming complex and interesting and sometimes disobedient, and I’ve already had the wonderful flash where suddenly a bunch of plot pieces tear themselves up, recombine, and fall into new and better places, and all of this feels reassuringly, reinvigoratingly good.

More to come.  And in less than a month.  I almost promise.