Every summer Island Readers and Writers holds its annual summer meeting at a beautiful home on Mount Desert Island. This is the view we had for the morning.



Over 100 of our supporters came for blueberry pancakes, eggs, and bacon. There were speakers, including me and the principal of Milbridge Elementary School who talked about how it is to be on the receiving end of our programming.

Then she surprised me by telling the whole audience that since my next novel is set in Washington County, her school wants to hold a launch for it.

I've never done a launch. But when 100 people turn around in their chairs and look at you, there's really only one thing you can say. . . .

"Okay," I said. "I'm in!"