Introducing Emily Berg of Books and Books, Key West

LUCY BURDETTE: When John and I first came to Key West, we were thrilled to find 3 bookstores in town, Key West Island Books, Voltaire’s, and Borders Express. Within a few years, the town went from 3 to one, as two of those closed. Tragedy! Luckily for Key West and visiting readers, Judy Blume and her husband, George Cooper, banded together with a few other book lovers to establish a new bookstore in the space where Voltaire’s had been.

Today I’m delighted to introduce Emily Berg, the general manager of Books and Books Key West. I know Emily both from time spent at the bookstore and for her invaluable service on the Friends of the Key West Library board. The bookstore describes itself like this: We’re Key West’s locally owned, nonprofit, independently-minded neighborhood bookstore. Affiliated with Books & Books, one of the nation’s great independent bookstores, our home is part of The Studios of Key West, a non-profit arts center and cultural organization.

Welcome Emily! Were you there from the very beginning of Books and Books KW? If not, where did you come from and how did you decide to make the leap? Were you living in Key West, or had you visited?

EMILY: I was there from almost the beginning. The store founders and staff of the The Studios of Key West had done most of the heavy lifting, getting things in place for the stores existence. I began working with the store in November of 2015 about 10 weeks before the opening. I came on to do the buying and set up for the art supply section and be a part-time bookseller. It became apparent pretty quickly that the store needed more than the one full-time staff member originally hired so my position continued to grow. I took over as the store manager in 2018 when the first manager moved from Key West.

Before the store opened, I was living in Key West working as a server and bartender. I moved here from Chicago in 2013.

LUCY: Tell us a little about what a day in the life of a bookstore manager is like? What are your favorite and least favorite parts of the job?

EMILY: One of the things I like most about my job is every day is different. There are so many parts to the job and things to work on so it’s never boring. For this reason, a typical day is hard to describe but usually they start with me checking in with the staff that will be working that day to make sure they’re up to date on all the many things that could have changed since they were last in the store. Then I dive into my to-do. Today for example I need to check in with a couple publicists about events we’re hoping to schedule in the winter, design a poster for an upcoming loyalty member promotion, go over the invoices from the previous month, update our closing procedures, place orders for a few sideline items (non-book products), and look over an order for books that will be published next spring.

And of that’s just what I have planned. Many things will come up during the day such as calls and emails from customers looking for orders placed previously and questions from staff and volunteers.

When staring a computer has gotten to be too much, I’ll talk a little break by cleaning and reorganizing a small section of the store. I like to go to the True Crime section for this because it’s small enough that it only takes about 10 minutes to organize and I like to see what’s new in that genre.

LUCY: As I said in this blog post, Judy Blume is having a moment. And it’s only gotten bigger and bigger with the release of ARE YOU THERE GOD, IT’S ME MARGARET? And a documentary about her career (in which you have a bit part!) and her role in protesting the recent proliferation of book banning. You are living right through this time with her. I’d love to hear about how this has affected life at the bookstore from your perspective…

EMILY: From our end the only thing that has really changed is the volume of people contacting and visiting the store. Judy certainly hasn’t changed. She’s the same Judy. Since opening we’ve always had guests coming to the store to see if they can meet her and get a book signed. With all of the extra promotion of Judy’s other projects in the last few months it’s just exploded to more people looking for her. We’ve had to make some changes to store policies to accommodate. She isn’t able to personalize the signed books anymore and the estimate we give for orders of her books went from 5-7 days to 10-12 weeks. She’s a fast signer but the staff needs a chance to process the order for shipping and with hundreds rolling in a week we just can’t move fast enough.

However, the biggest change is that Judy has had to be away from the store more which has been hard because she does a lot in the general operations. She works very hard in the store so sometimes it’s like we’re down one staff member. I think we all agree that the benefits of the promotion to the store have been worth it but mostly we like having Judy work at the store and miss having her around more.

LUCY: Key West is a lot of people’s dream vacation or retirement spots. With a full time job in the bookstore and volunteer work, do you find time to enjoy it? Tell us about the best and worst parts of the town.

EMILY: I have to say lately I haven’t been able to enjoy it as much. When I first moved here, I’d go paddle boarding a couple times a week. I had a friend visit a few months ago and we went out and I remember how much I loved that but it’s been years since I’ve had a chance to go out during a normal week.

I think the best parts about town is how connected everything is. If I have any idea for something I want to do, a partnership with another organization for example, I probably know someone who knows someone that can make that intro and get a foot in the door.

The worst part, for me, is the misperception that everyone is relaxed and in vacation-mode here. The idea that there’s no stress because it’s this beautiful island with palm trees blowing in the breeze is just false. As we all know it’s very expensive to live here and for many people working on the island this leads to multiple jobs, unpaid bills and lots of stress. That’s just a reality that many have accepted but when someone drinking out of a coconut then tells you to “relax” it can really put one over the edge.

LUCY: Any advice for authors who hope to have their books carried in an independent bookstore, or arrange a signing or speaking engagement?

EMILY: I can of course only speak for myself but… Walk before you run. When working with your indie establish a relationship before asking for an event or any other extra work of them. Most bookstore are run by overworked, often underpaid, staff and volunteers. Even the smallest event is a huge amount of work for them and a financial risk in a business with very thin margins. Most Indies have an online store. See if your book is available through their online store first. If it is, you can link to their store for the promotions you’re doing. I’m more open to discussing events and other special projects for a book I can see we’ve already sold or have had pre-ordered by customers.

(Sidenote, most independent bookstore use an online store system that pulls from a distributor called Ingram. If your book is sold through Ingram, it will likely be available in these online stores. If the book is set with a wholesale discount of less that 20% or if the book is not returnable many stores won’t order it so keep that in mind as well).

Do not ask your local bookstore to sell and promote your book if you’re only linking to Amazon in your own promotions. Amazon is making life for small business such as Indies very difficult. If you sell better through Amazon than stick with that but don’t ask a small business to use their limited resources to help your work if you’re not willing to help theirs.

And finally, don’t drop off or ship books to a store as way of introduction. We receive multiple books a day from people who just want us to see it. Like everyone else our TBR pile is out of control and if we can’t sell them (which we almost never can without a contract) they almost always end up in the recycling. Contact the store and ask about their buying policies and procedures and then follow them.

Lucy: Thanks for your time today Emily! Now I realize I forgot to ask you what you're reading! Red readers, Emily will try to stop by in her spare moments to answer questions and comments, so bring them on! And also tell us about your favorite indie bookstore...

Judy Blume has her moment...and so should we all!

LUCY BURDETTE: John and I attended a fundraiser for the Tropic Cinema in Key West several weeks ago, the premiere of the movie based on Judy Bloom’s “Are you there God? It’s me, Margaret.” The stars came out, including Rachel McAdams who plays the mom, Barbara Simon, and Abby Ryder Fortson, who plays her daughter, Margaret. It was written and directed by Kelly Fremon Craig who was also in attendance, along with several producers and Judy Blume herself who lives in Key West. We had a blast watching the limousines drive up and drop off the stars, who were then interviewed on Eaton Street by Entertainment Weekly. (I also spotted Jeffrey Brown of the PBS NewsHour and managed to get his attention long enough to tell him that as PBS superfans, we thought he was a real star, too.)




After the notables were settled, ticket-holders trooped into the three theaters to watch the screening. For those of you who haven’t read the book, it’s the story of a 12-year-old girl in suburban New Jersey, wrestling with both the onset of puberty and her feelings about boys, mean girls, and religion. It’s been the target of numerous attempts at book banning since it was published in 1970. I was a little too old to have reaped the benefits of reading that book when I was going through puberty (my parents were mortally embarrassed by the topic,) but it’s hard to imagine wanting to ban a book or movie that helps confused teenagers understand rocky transitions.

(FYI, attempts to ban books have doubled over the past year.) 

One of my favorite parts of the evening was watching how much Judy (who is 85) enjoyed the experience. She maintains that she’s finished writing, and is focusing now on the bookstore that she and her husband were instrumental in founding. But Margaret was her third published book, and I think she had given up on ever seeing it filmed. Watching how happy she was, I imagined this might have been one of the peak moments of her long career.

Can you picture what a peak moment in your life and or career might be? (Maybe some of us have already had it!) (Here was one of mine:)

 

Lucy with Judy B at Books and Books

HALLIE EPHRON: I LOVE Judy Blume!! So jealous, Lucy.

My goal is modest. I’d like to walk to the bathroom on an airplane or Amtrak and pass someone who’s engrossed, reading one of my books. In hard cover. It has happened once, but I knew the person so that didn’t count.

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: My career highlight so far might seem funny - it’s an editing experience. My manuscript was running behind (surprise!) and in danger of losing its slot on the publication schedule, so my then-editor and I hatched an idea. I had to come to NYC for a marketing meeting; I would stay an extra day and we would do the edit together in person. I arrived at the Flatiron building at 9am; in order to be undisturbed, we were allowed to use Thomas Dunne’s office - he was away. This was on the 17th floor, at the very tip of the triangular building, with spectacular views of Broadway, 5th Avenue, and the expanse of midtown.

My editor sat at the huge monitor on one side of the desk, and I sat with the printed manuscript at the other, and we went through the whole book, page by page, with me dictating changes while she added them in to the computer. We ordered out for lunch, and then for dinner, and I got to see the sunlight shift and slide over Manhattan until it disappeared and a million lights came on. We finished a little after ten that night. She had ordered the car service to take me back to my hotel; I remember sitting in the luxurious back seat, watching the streets fall away, feeling like a character in a movie about a writer in New York. It was an extraordinary, one-time-only experience, and I’m so glad I had it.

JENN McKINLAY: I feel like the plow horse here. LOL. I haven’t had a peak moment yet. I’m hopeful that someday I will, so I keep writing. If Judy had to wait that long then I guess I can be patient.

As for Judy Blume’s books, I was too young to be one of her readers – although I do remember a battered paperback copy of Forever - the pertinent parts highlighted in yellow - being passed around on my school bus by the older kids. So many of her books have been challenged and it’s just crazy because it’s not like parents were telling their kids the facts of life back then. Sheesh! I’m delighted the movie has been made. As Lizzo says, “About damn time.”

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Oh, Lucy, that sounds amazing! I was too old for Judy Blume, but I see the adoration, and that’s so lovely. Hm, like Jenn, I’m thinking/hoping that the transcendent moment is still to come. I have had some wonderful amazing times, though. Like once, at a book event, someone tapped me on the shoulder, and said “Will you sign your book for me?” And I turned around, and it was SUE GRAFTON.

RHYS BOWEN: I remember my daughter asking if she could read Are You There God because it was controversial at the time. I let her, of course.

And I’ve had more than my share of career highlights: 3 Edgar nominations have been amazing. Guest of honor at conventions. And being #1 on Kindle was heady. However I don’t feel I’ve ever written that definitive book, the one that will last and people will say “ Oh Rhys Bowen. She wrote xxx.” Maybe that’s wishful thinking.

LUCY: Oh no Rhys, reach for the stars!

DEBORAH CROMBIE: What a fun event that must have been, Lucy, and I love that Judy is so committed to her bookshop. I remember you taking me there the first time I visited Key West.

As for career highlights, I suppose I'd include getting an Edgar nomination for Dreaming of the Bones (although I was much too nervous to enjoy the banquet) and finding out that The Sound of Broken Glass had debuted in the top ten in the New York Times. I was in a hotel room somewhere on book tour and ordered a half bottle of champagne with my very glamorous room service dinner. I still keep the cork in my carry-on bag.

Lucy again: Your turn Red readers...can you describe a peak life moment, or do you have one in mind? If you don't like that question, we'd love to hear any Judy Blume or banned books stories!
 

Debs Does 48 Hours in Key West

LUCY BURDETTE: We had the great pleasure of hosting Red Deborah Crombie at the tail end of her book tour for GARDEN OF LAMENTATIONS a couple of weeks ago. I thought you would enjoy following along in her 48 hours in Key West! Some things were on her bucket list, and some John and I added as our favorites...

First stop, almost always, the Sunset Celebration on Mallory Square. Here's Deb with Lorenzo, Hayley's tarot card reading friend, and Lucy's friend in real life...

And here are Deb's cards...she must pay attention to her spiritual side in April...

(DEBS: I must admit, this made me a bit nervous, which I didn't expect!)

There was a cruise ship blocking the view, so Deb had to choose between seeing the sunset and watching the cat man--cat man won out of course!

We stayed in that first night to give Deb a breather from restaurant food...this is Lucy's cornmeal-crusted veggie tart...

(DEBS: Heaven!!!)

The next morning we hiked across the island to a must-see, Ernest Hemingway's house

She couldn't decide whether she liked his office best...

or the bathroom in the main house!

We met several of the Hemingway polydactyls...

(DEBS: I adored the Hemingway House!! And the cats! It was one of the highlights of my trip.)

 

The Key West library was kind enough to help set up this last event on Deb's tour. Don't you love what Michael the librarian did with the backdrop? Lucy got to do the interview...and this was after logging in 15,000 steps on the iPhone counter!

And then we met up for dinner with another mystery writer friend, Barbara Ross--lots of shop talk and a little bit of gossip. 

(DEBS: Such fun to meet Barb Ross. And can I just mention the cucumber cocktail???)

Every visitor to Key West wants to get this shot--the very tip end of Route 1

Deb's last day started off with breakfast in bed--a maple-glazed donut studded with candied bacon and a cafe con leche from the Cuban Coffee Queen

(DEBS: I thought I had died and gone to heaven. They really are as good as Hayley says!)

And then a stop at Books&Books, founded by Judy Blume and her husband George. We scored signed Babar books for our granddaughters and a photo with Judy herself!

(DEBS: Unfortunately, Wren loved the book so much it's now missing half a page... Hopefully, Mr. Brunhoff will sign a few more.)

 

Last minute gift from Debs, as she explained her plotting secrets to Lucy:)

(DEBS: That may not look like much, but I promise it was brilliant:-) And can I just say that Lucy is THE best  hostess and tour guide!!! And that I am in love with Key West!)

Who else has fallen for the Key West magic?

Welcome Guest Author Kristen-Paige Madonia

LUCY BURDETTE: Lots of folks spending the winter in Key West look forward to the Friends of the Key West Library talks that occur every Monday at 6 at the Studios of Key West. The books are interesting and the writers, often even more so. I was excited to hear Kristen-Paige Madonia talk about her debut novel a couple of weeks ago. Once she started reading from her book, FINGERPRINTS OF YOU, I knew you'd want to meet her, too. And then when Judy Blume (yes that Judy Blume) began to rave about Kristen's writing from her seat in the crowd, I knew you'd really, really want to meet her. Welcome Kristen!

Kristen-Paige: Thanks so much for having me! I'm thrilled to be here.

LUCY: Will you start by telling us a little about the book. Did you set out to write a young adult novel? Were you picturing that audience? (It was fun to see so many teens in the crowd, though I'm loving the book and I'm eons beyond "YA".)

K-P: I started writing Fingerprints of You in 2008 back when I was still living in San Francisco. At the time, my agent and I were preparing to send out another novel, a project I began in grad-school, which meant I was hard at work in final edits before we submitted the manuscript. But I caught sight of two women one afternoon while I was writing at a cafe, and my imagination shifted. They immediately became Stella and Lemon: a young single mother, an artist and a wanderer still trying to find her way, and her feisty but vulnerable seventeen year old daughter, a child that had been exposed to things a lot of seventeen year olds had not. I only saw the women for a handful of moments, just long enough for them to pass through the crosswalk, but I couldn't stop thinking about these new characters and the intimate but also competitive relationship I imagined them having. So I wrote them into a short-story that eventually became the first two chapters of the novel.

If truth be told, I never imagined an audience, adult or YA, and simply wrote the book because it felt like it needed to be written. I didn't think much about who might end up reading it or how it might one day be marketed. The YA genre has become such a rich and lively place in literature, and it's clear now that teens are not the only ones reading from the YA shelves. My book leans toward the older side of YA and covers a wide-range of "adult" themes, and I'm always happy to hear from non-teen readers once they've finished the book, though I love connecting with teens, too. The coming-of-age story appeals to everyone, regardless of how old the protagonist is, because aren't we all, in some way or another, continuously coming-of-age?

LUCY: It's such a tough time to get published and you have an inspiring story about persistence. Will you talk a little about that?

K-P: Well that first novel I mentioned, the book my agent and I were preparing for submission? We never were able to sell it. We tried for months, sending it out to the big publishing houses and waiting for responses, round after round of submissions, and while we received some lovely responses and feedback, no one picked it up. It was 2008, a difficult time for all industries, but particularly challenging for debut authors to break into the publishing world. And really I just don't think the book was meant to be my first published novel. By then I had attended a number of writing conferences and had discovered a supportive community of authors, so I contacted a mentor of mine, Judy Blume, and unleashed my sob-story. No one wanted my novel, surely my career was over before it began, those kinds of things. I confessed we couldn't sell the book and she said, "It's not your job to sell the book. Your job is to go write another one. That's who you are. It's what you do." She reminded me that the publishing side is just that, one side to the process, and it always, always, always begins with the art. So I pulled out Stella and Lemon's short-story and returned to the craft of creating fiction. Once I realized it had the potential to become a novel, I applied for a writing residency at The Studios of Key West and spent five weeks there writing the first draft. When the book was ready to be sent out to editors in 2010, my agent sold it to Simon & Schuster in our first round of submissions.

LUCY: Since you are a writing teacher as well as a writer, could you share any words of wisdom that you appreciated at times when the work felt unforgiving and unrewarding?

K-P: First off, you have to stubborn and completely dedicated to the work for the right reasons. At the end of the day, you have to be writing because you love to, not because you imagine the book on shelves. So never write for trends; instead, tell the story that only you can tell, the story that excites you and will hold your attention for a long time. And I always think that if the work is making you uncomfortable, if there is an element of fear involved as you explore the characters and the subject matter, it usually means you're on the right track. Mostly I tell my students that there are no set rules. It's helpful to study the techniques the work, but there is no one way to write a successful story or book. And read. Read everything you can get your hands on. Books similar to and vastly different than the kind of work you're writing. All genres and subjects and styles. It always comes back to being well read and to practicing the craft. In a way it's like any other industry or trade: the more you do it, the better you'll become.
LUCY: I loved hearing the story about your cover art, which is absolutely stunning. Tell us about that?

K-P: Thank you, I love the cover art, too! Because I had studied the industry and had lots of author friends by the time my book was picked up for publication, I knew that typically writers don't have much to do with their cover. I was assigned an art director, and for months the only thing they told me was that they were "working on something outside of the box." That could mean so many different things! So I waited, and then one afternoon the file appeared in my in-box, and it essentially looked like the cover you see now. I eventually learned that my brilliant art director fell in love with the tattoo imagery in the book and sketched the original design, but then brought in a tattoo artist from San Diego to create the final artwork. All of it, the font and the images and even the small pieces of artwork you'll find at the chapter headings and page breaks, it's all custom tattoo art. The whole thing was absolutely wonderful, because you could tell that the art team at Simon & Schuster had fun working on the project. I now have copies of the original sketch and know how many changes were made before they sent it to me, how many meetings they had about the cover and all the small details, and I feel super grateful that they spent so much time working on it. I've never seen a cover quite like it.

LUCY: Thanks for visiting today Kristen-Paige! JR readers, Kristen-Paige will be hanging out with us all day so bring on your questions and comments!

On Reading with Robin

JAN: I met Robin Kall about five years ago at a book conference. I was researching A Confidential Source, and because I had a talk radio host as a major character, I needed to learn how talk radio stations worked. Robin helped me get inside WHJJ in Providence and introduced me to some of its radio stars. Within a year, she had her very own radio show – devoted to books. Reading With Robin airs on WHJJ (920a.m.) from 7 to 8 a.m. Saturday mornings, and can be heard via podcast on her website. ttp://http://www.readingwithrobin.com/.

I was Robin's very first guest, but since then she’s hosted everyone from Jodi Picoult to Alice Hoffman to David Baldacci.

JRW: Tell us about how you got into talk radio.

Robin: I was the least likely person to even listen to anything on the AM dial. But it was at a point in my life when I was working from home and desperately bored. When I first tuned into Imus in the morning show, it was on one of the local FM rock stations. I soon became “Robin from Providence.” Once addicted, I wanted more and more, which as addicts will tell you, is the way it works. Then I found the John DePetro show, which was local Rhode Island show on WHJJ, and became a frequent caller to John’s show.

JRW: How did you go from caller to host?

Robin: I began going into the studio – invited of course – and started writing for the show. Then I did some fill in work, as host, which was much harder than I thought. About a year later, I pitched an idea – about a show devoted to reading books. And they liked the idea.

JRW: Tell us about the Reading With Robin program. What were your goals for the program?

Robin: The goal is to bring wonderful authors to my audience – to share the books that should not be missed and to have a lot of fun chatting about the writing process – and anything else that comes into my head. One long term goal, which I just realized, was to finally have podcasts of the show added to my website. Now people can tune in whenever it’s convenient for them – and without any nasty commercial interruption.

JRW: Any goals not yet realized?

Robin: My major long term goal is to write my own novel. I prefer to think rather than do the actual writing, though. This interview has been more than I’ve written in a while.

JRW. Long before you had your own radio show, you had a love of books. What fostered that love?

Robin: My mother. She was such a lover of books and whenever she had free time, which wasn’t often, we could find her reading a novel. She would always have a book on her nightstand and I would note how often the titles would change. After she passed away, I took one of her book collections, which I keep in my library. I keep them in the same order she left them on our family bookshelves and love looking up at the spines.

JRW: What’s your best advice for authors trying to get publicity on a radio show?

Robin: Send an email to the producer of the show that includes a short bio and some info about the book and why it might work on a specific radio show you are interested in. Follow up once, but if they are not interested, being a pest/nudge is not going to be helpful. Sometimes it’s just timing (nothing personal).

JRW: Any special traits that make an author a better guest?

Robin: Even if the book isn’t particularly funny, I appreciate it when the author has a good sense of humor and isn’t taking it all too seriously. I like to have a good time on the show, and be able to go off topic – as I’m doing here.

JRW: What’s your favorite question of authors?

Robin: If it’s as hard as it seems to get a book published and should the rest of us even bother trying. I love hearing the stories about the road to publishing, the rejections, the doubts, and the drama.

JRW: What are the perks of having your own show about reading??

Robin: the biggest perk is getting to talk to these incredible authors. Henry Winkler was a guest last summer and if that wasn’t cool, I don’t know what is. Meeting Judy Blume, who was the author of my favorite all time children's book, was another real treat for me.

Another perk is that I get to use the microphone to help raise money for the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk each year. It’s something I have been passionate about for many, many years.

JWR: What are the burdens of your show?? How many books do you read a week, and how many books are stacked up in your living room?

Robin: Burdens? There are no burdens. When there are burdens I will stop doing the show. For me, it’s a passion and I love preparing each week for it. I usually read 1-2 books a week. I have too many books to count in every room in the house. I buy books, they are sent to me, I get them at conferences, but I never borrow books. Ever. I don’t want to have to remember to give them back.

And now, the Jungle Red Writers Quiz:Hercule Poirot or Miss Marple?

ROBIN: HUH???

JRW: Sex or Violence?

ROBIN: NOT SO BIG ON VIOLENCE ALTHOUGH AM A BIG FAN OF ALL THINGS MAFIA AND FOR SOME REASON THAT VIOLENCE DOESN’T BOTHER ME….GO FIGURE!
SEX IN BOOKS AND MOVIES IS GOOD. I’VE READ MUCH BETTER SEX SCENES THAN ALMOST ANTYHING I’VE SEEN IN THE MOVIES. THERE IS NOTHING LIKE A WELL WRITTEN SEX SCENE!

JRW: Chocolate or Pizza?
ROBIN: CAN’T I CHOOSE BOTH??

JRW: Daniel Craig or Pierce Brosnan?
ROBIN: NOT SURE WHO DANIEL CRAIG IS AND I DO KNOW PIERCE BROSNAN SO I’LL GO (ANYWHERE!) WITH HIM….EVEN AFTER WATCHING THE MOVIE VERSION OF MAMA MIA (MAMA MIA!!!!)

JRW: Katherine or Audrey Hepburn?
ROBIN: OH,NO…THIS IS TOUGHER THAN THE PIZZA/CHOCOLATE QUESTION. I DO LOVE THEM BOTH!! IF I REALLY HAD TO CHOOSE….I THINK I’LL PICK CHOCOLATE AND CHOOSE BOTH HEPBURNS! WE HAVE EXTENSIVE COLLECTIONS OF BOTH HEPBURNS AND THERE IS NOTHING LIKE WATCHING THEM WITH A TRAY OF TRUFFLES!!

JRW: First person or third?

ROBIN: GOOD QUESTION….ROBIN MUCH PREFERS READING BOOKS IN THE FIRST PERSON! (OR SO I’VE HEARD!!)

JRW: Prologue or no prologue?

ROBIN: CERTAINLY A TIME AND PLACE FOR PROLOGUE (AT THE BEGINNING?) BUT I PREFER TO DIVE RIGHT INTO THE STORY AND FIGURE OUT WHAT MIGHT HAVE COME FIRST FOR MYSELF!

JRW: Making dinner or making reservations?

ROBIN: A TRICK QUESTION!! WHILE MAKING RESERVATIONS WOULD BE THE OBVIOUS CHOICE FOR ME NOT SO AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME. WE HAVE BEEN UNDER CONSTRUCTION FOR THE PAST ALMOST 5 MONTHS WITH A KITCHEN ADDITION AND FIRST FLOOR REWORKING SO I HAVE NOT HAD A WORKING KITCHEN SINCE MAY!! MAY I SAY THE NOVELTY HAS WORN OFF AND I SOMETIMES DREAM ABOUT THE FIRST THINGS I’LL PREPARE (OR EVEN WARM UP!)ONCE THE NEW KITCHEN IS UP AND RUNNING!

JRW: Tell us four things about yourself: Three true things and one lie; we'll guess which:

RED IS MY BEST COLOR

I WAS ENGAGED MY SENIOR YEAR OF COLLEGE

I HAVE NEVER EATEN TUNA FISH

I WATCH A TON OF TELEVISION