Grace-filled Tuesdays (Book Club "Meeting" #8): The On-Air Version

We haven't had one of these "meetings" since way back on June 16--it's been such a busy summer!  Sorry about the long absence.

After I had my phone-in radio interview with Ken Huck at Radio Maria last Thursday, I thought to myself, "That was a bit like a book club meeting.  Too bad my Grace-filled Tuesdays Book Club members weren't there to participate." (All two of you, that is. Or three?  Maybe four?)  Because as shy as I am sitting in a group, telling a story face-to-face (rushing through, usually, because I think I'll bore people to death), I seem to be surprisingly comfortable talking on the radio.  In spite of the pre-interview jitters, once Ken and I got going I felt like I was having a one-on-one conversation with a friend.

So instead of going on and on in writing here, I thought I'd just post a link to the interview.  It might answer some questions you have about Erin's Ring--about what inspired the story, the writing process, the target audience for the book, etc.  If you'd like to listen, I was Ken's second guest that day on his "Meet the Author" program (his first was well-known writer Matt Kelly, so--gulp!--I had quite a tough act to follow), and my part of the show starts at about the 28:55-minute mark.

Here's the link, if you're interested: http://radiomaria.us/august-13-2015-matthew-kelly-and-laura-pearl/

If you have any questions for me, about either Erin's Ring or Finding Grace, leave me a comment, and we'll discuss them at a future "meeting."

I Survived!

Well, just a little while ago, I finished up my radio interview with Ken Huck on his "Meet the Author" show.  I called in and talked to Ken about Erin's Ring for 20 minutes or so; and when we were finished I hung up, grateful that although there were some points in the interview where I might have been a little awkward in giving my answers, I had survived it.  After I hung up the phone, I exhaled, and even said "I survived!" aloud--then worried that perhaps I hadn't pushed the "off" button on the phone hard enough and those words had gone out over the airwaves.  I really, really hope not. 

Here's what kept me company on the dining room table as I talked to Ken.  With friends like this around (St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Joseph, Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati, and Mary, Our Mother), how can you go wrong?

I had a quivery feeling in the pit of my stomach for parts of the interview; I babbled at times, and then at others didn't know how to end what I was saying. I think I ended some of my long-winded answers with, "So..."  I still need work at this public speaking business.   But Ken couldn't be nicer, and I so appreciate his willingness to have me on his show.  Not once, but twice! 

Ken gave away two signed copies of Erin's Ring during the broadcast, to callers of the show--with one caveat: they were asked to share the book with three people, and then to email Ken about those experiences.  I can't thank him enough for helping to spread the word about this book, which I hope will touch many young souls.

Thanks so much to those who prayed for me.  I appreciate it more than I can express!

Radio Maria Interview Today!

Today at 3:30, I'll be speaking with host Ken Huck about Erin's Ring, on his "Meet the Author" show on Radio Maria.  Tune in if you're interested (or just keep me in your prayers, as this sort of thing takes me way, way out of my introverted comfort zone!).

I "met" Ken already, when I went on his show last January to talk about Findong Grace.  He's a kind and interested interviewer, and he was able to put me at ease (relatively speaking!).  So I'm sure things will go okay today.  But prayers. Say them please.  That is all.

(P.S. There are only two more days left for the Goodreads giveaway, where you could win one of two signed copies of Erin's Ring.  Click on that big "g" on the sidebar to enter.)

An Irresitible Face, and a Face for Radio

I'm still here, in spite of all evidence to the contrary.  Still trying to have my own little (very, very little--these days anyway) voice in the Catholic blogosphere. I've been busy, you see.  Because...well, because of this, for one thing.  This wee happy munchkin, who is better known here at String of Pearls as "G-Man."

This FACE!  How can I tear myself away from it to blog?  I could blog when he sleeps, I suppose; but I like to let him slumber on my person, you see--in the crook of my arm or on my shoulder...which makes trying to type on my laptop a tad problematic.

I've been spending quite a bit of time with this handsome little lad.  My husband and I traveled down to VA to stay at the home of our middle son, his wife Preciosa, and their firstborn son G-Man, just after New Year's.  We live in New England (and I have to say that with the record-breaking blizzard that is hitting up that way right about now, being down here where it's [relatively] balmy is not too shabby at all).

Our original plan was to go back home to NH on Feb. 2, just after G-Man's Baptism the day before. And then he was going to start going to daycare after we left--just until May, when his mommy plans to quit her job and stay home with him full-time.  But in the last week or so we have come up with a new plan that will enable us to stay down here until our daughter-in-law is finished working.  (We're lucky that as an airline pilot, my husband can commute to work; otherwise, we wouldn't be able to do it!)  During the 7-10 days each month that my husband and I have to be other places--at home checking on our house and picking up our mail (so we can pay bills!), out at Notre Dame for our youngest son's Army ball, out in MI to help our oldest son and his wife when baby #4 arrives in April, etc. etc.--Preciosa's parents, aunt, and cousin are going to take turns filling in, traveling here from FL and AL.

So it looks like we're going to get to know our new little grandson very, very well!  He's going on 4 months old now, and already he's changed so much since we arrived almost a month ago.  He's trying to roll over--and even to CRAWL!--already, and he gets cuter and chubbier every day.  I can't even imagine what he'll be like by the time we head north in May.

So, that's what I've been up to lately, in case you've been stopping by and wondering if I'm ever going to put up a new post.

Before I go, I thought I'd share a link to a recent radio interview I did with Ken Huck for Radio Maria.  Ken has a show called "Meet the Author," and after being given a copy of Finding Grace by an old high school friend, he invited me on his show to talk about it (and Erin's Ring) on January 15.  If you'd like to listen, here's the link (I'm the second person Ken interviewed that day, and my segment starts at the 32-minute mark).

I have trouble advocating for my own works of YA fiction in person--even though I do believe they could be a positive influence in the lives of readers of all ages.  For instance, this past weekend, my husband and I drove over to the DC area to visit with son #2 and his new bride, Ginger; and while at the dinner table with Ginger's whole extended family, the subject of my books came up.  As usual, I got somewhat tongue-tied and embarrassed.  But while talking to Ken on the phone during his radio show, I didn't have ten people making eye contact with me while I spoke and I found it was so much easier that way.  I was nervous before we got started, but Ken put me at ease almost immediately, and I chatted away as if I didn't have an introverted bone in my body.  Amazing.  Who would have ever guessed I'd be comfortable on the radio?!  

It must be that, as that old saying goes, I have a face that was meant for the radio.  Hardy-har-har.

See you soon.  Really, I will.