The Brattleboro Literary Festival

I’m presenting a program on SAFEKEEPING at the Brattleboro Literary Festival on October 13th.

This is one of the slides from the show.

I’d like to say my office is messy only when I’m in the middle of a project.

But the truth is it is always, to some degree, a den of disorder.

The Phoenix Award for Letters From Rifka

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Every which way this award is a wonder.

From the depths of my heart I thank you,

Phoenix Committee,

ChLA.

To view a video of the evening:

ChLA 2012 Awards Banquet and Phoenix Speech by Karen Hesse

American Library Association – June, 2012

Nights away from home can be stressful so I bring my knitting to calm me. These two little mice were born in the Marriott Anaheim at the end of June 2012. They were quite well behaved and to the best of my knowledge didn’t leave any droppings behind.

I extend heartfelt thanks to my publisher, to those who stood patiently in line for a signed copy of SAFEKEEPING, and to a very fine gathering of guests who had a choice of how they might spend a glorious Sunday evening and elected to spend it with Marissa Meyer, Gennifer Albin, Leigh Bardugo, Faith Erin Hicks, and me.

What inspired the book WITNESS?

Flying home from an appearance in California, I slipped out the in-flight magazine from the seat pocket in front of me and discovered within its pages a photograph of a masked and cloaked klansman. Reading the caption, I was surprised to note the short article was about the KKK in Vermont in the 1920s. The KKK in Vermont? I didn’t believe it. The first thing I did when I got home was try to prove the article wrong.

Well, I was the one who was wrong. And the seed of a new book was sown.

Do you like to read your own books?

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While I’m working on a new book I read it over and over. When I’ve finished the book I’ll read it once more because it has such a different feel when it’s bound and in its final state. But after that I am unlikely to re-read any of my books unless I’m called to speak about them.

For one intense “moment” in my life all of my attention is focused on the book I’m working on. And then that “moment” passes and I am far more interested in what comes next.

Do you like to travel?

…as KAREN HESSE,

Author,

I don’t enjoy traveling very much. I get sooooo sick with nerves. It’s silly and inexplicable, but a fact of life for me, it seems.

(This shot was taken at Pikesville Senior High school…I’m the one in the center. I’m an alum, class of 1969.)

As Karen Hesse, tourist, I love to travel.

(This was taken in Arkansas where I’d been invited to attend a film festival featuring a Weston Woods production of Come On, Rain. 

Following my professional obligations I spent a week exploring this beautiful and varied state with my husband.)

What Got You Started?

What got you started, my daughter Rachel asked upon seeing my first post. The truth is, professional travel has taken a serious bite out of my health. When a jewel of a friend suggested I meet readers half way by keeping a blog, I embraced the idea.