Michael Zadoorian's "The Leisure Seeker" is a road trip novel like no other. The main characters are a couple in their 80's who have cancer and Alzheimer's disease. Sick of doctors, children and the world in general, they decide to jump in the RV and run away to Disneyland.
Elmore Leonard wrote "Zadoorian's pace is deceptive, it's restful. But unexpected scenes jump out at you. Come to the end and you'll say 'Oh my God'"
Michael will be my guest this week on Realgoodwords.
"So my grandmother (after her husband's death at age 39 in WW II) became about doing A LOT of things - while she kept the shoeshop going and was being a seamstress and & tailor she also kept books for an ice company.
For all of us in the throws of whole economic downturn - there's a lot of wisdom and lessons in this that none of us can do one thing. We have to do a lot of different jobs to sustain our familes and THAT has always been the waft and the weave and the fabric of where I come from. I always assumed I would work. Always assumed that. Because of my grandmothers."
One of my favorite authors, Adriana Trigiani, is my guest on Realgoodwords this week. I've been a fan of hers since Big Stone Gap came out. She's a NYT bestselling author so I thought she'd be one of those that I'd never get to talk to on Realgoodwords. Hah, that didn't stop me from trying! I found her website and emailed, thinking if I heard back it definitely wouldn't be from Adriana herself. But it was! So we got the chance to have a conversation about her latest novel.
In that first conversation I learned a couple of things: A) how to pronounce her name and B) her mother's family came from The Iron Range of Minnesota - Chisholm.
Our conversation was great, and I happened to mention to her that my mother also loved her books and had read them all. I wasn't just sucking up by the way this is true (right Mom?).... anyway, she could have said, like some authors have, "that's nice". Instead she said, "give me her address."
I was completely shocked. But not as shocked as my mother was when she was shipped autographed copies of her books! My mom new Adriania had a daughter, and since her last book had a storyline about a hatmaker in it, my mom sent her daughter a Ethel M hatbox full of chocolates as a thank-you gift. End of story?
Nope, Adriana then sends my mom her cookbook and writes in it "try the recipe on page 65 Sheila!"
I was so glad to find out about Adriana's latest, "Very Valentine" and glad to get my copy to read during our recent fundraiser. It was a great stress reliever! Tune in for our conversation this Wednesday from 6-7pm and Sunday morning from 9-10. Until then, watch this fun video about the inspiration for "Very Valentine"!
I'm so excited! Tonight is our first ever LIVE Realgoodwords.
What is it?
Why it's the BEAT CAFE! Join Heidi Holtan and The Krebs for a night of poetry and finger snapping music. There will be a beat, candlelight and lots of black. We're celebrating KAXE - Northern Community Radio - a community radio station that brings you locally produced programming and events. Join us at KAXE (260 NE 2nd Street, Grand Rapids) or on the air from 6-7pm, tonight for Steve Downing, Pat Downing and KC Johnson in a KAXE house concert. Free to all KAXE members - enjoy coffee and treats.
Here's a snippet:
I'm so excited! Tonight is our first ever LIVE Realgoodwords.
