One year ago Wednesday—on July 6—This Must Be the Place was unleashed upon the world in all its teen angsty, Joseph Cornellian, Harryhausenesque, wedding-caked, Foreigner-soaked glory.
I’ve never had a problem with birthdays, probably because I’ve been waiting my whole life to achieve Awesome Old Lady status (wherein I write mystery novels, know everyone in my small town, solve the odd murder and have lengthy philosophical discussions with my cat while drinking peppermint tea—and if that list seems oddly specific, it’s because 80% of it is already my life). Birthdays were never so much about marking time as they were about taking the opportunity to recall the events of the previous year, to see and hear from friends and family, and to eat so much cake I passed out.
So on this first book-birthday, one year later, I’m sitting here with a huge grin on my face, warm and fuzzy and still stupefied with gratitude that my book went out in the world and was so warmly welcomed. That readers from New York to California to Hawaii to Italy picked up a copy, enjoyed it and took the time to send along their kind words and wishes. That I’ve had the privilege and joy of sharing my story with communities in both my homes, in Boston and in Syracuse, and especially in Canastota, New York, where my grandmother spent her own teenage years. Through the book I’ve met incredible people, in person and through the wonders of the Internets, that I might never have known otherwise.
If you’ll allow a little birthday-inspired love-festing: THANK YOU to the readers! THANK YOU to the reviewers and bloggers and booksellers and librarians! THANK YOU to my publisher and editor and agent, and to my dear, dear friends and family! I can never, ever thank every single one of you enough for making this last year one of the best. Ever.
I’m leaving something out, you say? Birthdays aren’t birthdays without presents, you say? WELL GUESS WHAT, WORLD. Get ready for your early birthday present: it’s THIS MUST BE THE PLACE 2: THE RECKONING, AND BY THAT I MEAN THE PAPERBACK. As of Tuesday July 5, This Must Be the Place is out in stores with a spiffy new cover and some new material (an essay, book recommendations, a reader’s guide), in a 100% more paperback package than Original Recipe.
“It’s the perfect summer read!” says literary cat-about-Somerville Gomez.
Gomez is a paid spokescat. He is only endorsing this book because a) I have placed it beneath his head, b) he is addicted to rubbing against the corners of books, cereal boxes, envelopes, jewel cases, and anything else remotely rectangular, and c) he eats paper.
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