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E<\/span>xactly one year ago today, Magical Journey<\/strong>, was published. I remember taking many deep breaths, trying (mostly in vain) to quell the butterflies in my stomach.<\/p>\n Watching my memoir arrive in bookstores across the land, waiting for the first readers to find it, wondering if my midlife \u201ccoming-of-age\u201d story would resonate with anyone else, I wasn\u2019t sure whether I wanted to celebrate the birth of my new book or hide under the bedclothes and wait for it all to blow over.<\/p>\n What a difference a year makes!<\/p>\n Thanks to YOU<\/em>, my dear readers — and to the heartfelt, eloquent, profoundly moving letters and comments you\u2019ve written me over the past twelve months — I feel nothing but excitement and joy this week, as I await the first paperback copies of Magical Journey.<\/strong><\/a> (Official pub. date: January 21.)<\/p>\n These days, making the leap from hardcover original to paperback is not a given, as it once was.\u00a0 It requires sturdy hardcover sales, a track record, and a commitment from both author and publisher.<\/p>\n So, I\u2019m not taking this moment for granted.\u00a0 In fact, I want to do all I can to fulfill my publisher\u2019s faith in me, and to prove right their hope that this quiet little book of mine will now find its way in paperback.<\/p>\n Magical Journey<\/strong> owes its (admittedly) modest success in hardcover to you<\/i>, and to good, old-fashioned word-of-mouth.<\/p>\n I didn\u2019t go on Oprah<\/em> or Good Morning America<\/em>.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t get reviewed in the New York Times<\/em> (though receiving a rave in People<\/strong><\/a> was quite a thrill).\u00a0 There was no ad budget.\u00a0 But I went to lots bookstores \u2013 and I loved meeting you there.\u00a0 I answered every letter I received from every reader.\u00a0 And I kept on writing to you all here each week.<\/p>\n I heard from many of you that you\u2019d not only read my book, but you\u2019d also bought copies for others.\u00a0 You shared it with your friends.\u00a0 You gave it as a gift.\u00a0 You suggested it to your book group. \u00a0(Some of you even sent photos of your book groups!) You took a leap and said to someone else, \u201cHere\u2019s a book that speaks to me. I think you\u2019ll like it, too.\u201d<\/p>\n Today, I\u2019m boldly reaching out to ask all of you, my reading friends, to help create a buzz for <\/span>Magical Journey in paperback<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0 My hope is that with your word-of-mouth and social media assistance, we will create a ripple that moves through our own close circles of friends and beyond.<\/span><\/p>\n 1. \u00a0Say yes<\/strong><\/em> and email me HERE<\/strong><\/a> to join my \u201cteam.\u201d\u00a0 Please be sure to include your mailing address! ( To show my gratitude I\u2019ll soon be sending\u00a0 you<\/i> a special \u201cthank-you\u201d package in return:\u00a0 a signed, personalized copy of an original manuscript page from Magical Journey<\/strong>, a signed bookplate, and a hand-made\u00a0Magical Journey<\/strong> bookmark, created just for you by my dear, crafty mom).<\/p>\n Of course, feel free to come up with your own ways to help spread the word, the more creative the better!<\/p>\n 3. \u00a0The final \u201cteam\u201d email will go out on February 26th<\/sup><\/strong>.\u00a0 By then, with all our shared efforts, I hope Magical Journey<\/strong> will be launched — with plenty of wind in its sails! To celebrate, there will be a special gift drawing for everyone who participated. (Details on this to follow.)<\/p>\n The words \u201cBook of the Month\u201d are a thrill for any author to hear. \u00a0So, it was exciting indeed to learn that Magical Journey<\/strong> has been chosen as the “Book of the Month” for January<\/strong><\/a> at BookMovement.com<\/strong><\/a>, THE<\/strong><\/em> go-to website for book groups. \u00a0(35,000 book groups, to be exact.)<\/p>\n I love the way the folks at BookMovement<\/strong>\u00a0came up with so many great ideas for book groups reading Magical Journey.<\/strong>\u00a0They even feature my own beloved book group in their newsletter — complete with a photo of our our field trip to Ann Patchett’s Parnassus Bookshop in Nashville last winter. \u00a0 They also provide menu suggestions, activities, and a music playlist. \u00a0Fun and inspiring! \u00a0To read the newsletter, CLICK HERE<\/strong><\/a>. \u00a0(And, of course, do please share it with YOUR book group.)<\/p>\n T<\/span>hanks in advance to you all. I am blessed to have such devoted readers — \u00a0real friends and fellow travelers with whom to share this journey through books and life. \u00a0Together, we can make good things happen!<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.katrinakenison.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/Gwynn-Barger-bookgroup-450x336.jpg?resize=450%2C336\")
\nF<\/span>or all of this and more, I’m \u00a0deeply grateful! In fact, you\u2019ve given me an idea.<\/p>\n\u00a0Here\u2019s how:<\/span><\/h3>\n
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2. \u00a0Once you\u2019ve joined my team, I\u2019ll personally e-mail you, 6 times only, \u00a0with a weekly request.\u00a0 (Don\u2019t worry, no heavy lifting!) I\u2019ll send you simple, one-or two-minute suggestions, such as posts to share on Facebook<\/strong> and\/or Twitter<\/strong> — book news, quotes, bits of inspiration. I may ask you to share my blog with a few friends, to rate the book on Amazon<\/strong><\/a>, to recommend it on Goodreads<\/strong><\/a>, or to suggest Magical Journey<\/strong> to your book group. \u00a0Every single request is optional \u2013 \u00a0you simply do the things that feel comfortable to you<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\nAnd now, for a bit of early good news!<\/span><\/h3>\n