BLUE IN PAPERBACK: November Winner

Are you proud of me? I'm only 5 days late in announcing that Robin Bulleri is this month's winner of BLUE in paperback!

Six winners so far!  Six more chances.  Follow directions in the sidebar if you want the chance to win. 

And while we're on the subject of BLUE, our local children's theater, CAST is producing the play based on my book, this coming weekend.

Photo by Mel Hager

Show Times

Thursday, Friday, & Saturday
November 11 - November 13  
7:30pm

Sunday, November 14
2:30 pm

at

200 South Center St.

Hildebran, NC

828-493-258

TODAY, YESTERDAY, LAST NIGHT

Healing Water was inspired by Father Damien who volunteered to live in Hawaii's leprosy settlement.

1. Today is Damien Day. May 10 is the anniversary of the day that Father Damien began his ministry to Hawaii's leprosy patients.

2. Yesterday, I thought I was meeting friends, Carol Baldwin and Shelley Worman at El Paso's for some great Mexican food before we attended the Blue play. Then, Shelley's grandchild decided to come a month early so it turned out to be just me and Carol. At least that's what I thought. But when I arrived I found a small crowd. The core group were NC school teachers and media specialists who took an NCCAT class Carol and I taught last fall. There were a few spouses and other family members. Great folks! I was slightly flustered by this unexpected gathering in my honor. And humbled that each of them drove 1 - 3 hours to get here. It was so fun to be with them again but there wasn't nearly enough time to catch up! Thank you! Thank you! And Shelley, I missed you, but congratulations on the grandchild!

3. Last night, when I came home from the play, there was a rose bush on my kitchen table. And cards from the grandchildren. You've got to love it when the two year-old dictates a card to his grandmother that says Happy Birthday, BopBop! I don't blame Solomon for being smitten with his grandpop. (After all, I am too.) But still, the way I see it, that little fellow owes me a Father's Day card!

FRIDAY 5: Five Blue to Comfort Things

1. I love the e-mails I'm getting in which people say they like COMFORT as much as BLUE. I can't say how much this matters to me. Of course my daughter thinks she's partial to Blue. But that's okay. As long as Comfort is not a huge let down, I can deal.

2. The Blue play opens tonight. There are two casts since this is being performed for the public in the evenings and for school groups during the day. One of the Ann Fays presented the director with a copy of Comfort last night. How sweet was that?

3. My grandson, who is 4 years-old, will be at the play. His mother read BLUE to him and he sat through the whole thing. The other day he walked past me and said, Ahni, I loved Blue". (Ahni is my grandparent name.) Then he turned and flashed his dimples at me! It just might have been my most heartstopping Blue moment ever! (And I've had plenty.)

4. My grandaughter who is 7 gave up on Blue after Chapter One. (She's old enough to feel the pain in the story and she's not as fond of tragedy as I am.) In her decided opinion, Daddy going off to war was a bad way to start a book! At first she wanted to see the play but wisely changed her mind. I'm relieved because that child was never going to forgive me when she found out Ann Fay burned Bobby's toys. (This way she can still be my fan.)

5. My parents will be there. And my good hubby and our children. A few siblings too. And my 8th grade language arts teacher who predicted I'd be a writer someday. Front and center. I'm getting nervous.

BLUE PLAY

It's tech week at CAST - that last week before the play when all the costumes, props, and technical issues are resolved.

On Monday evening we dropped in on a rehearsal. It wasn't a dress rehearsal though, so Ann Fay was the only one in costume. I can see why she wore the overalls. That girl owned those britches like they were her skin!

The rehearsal was moving! (Hubby and I were in tears.) But there was plenty of humor too. Anticipation is building! Good luck to all the amazing cast members.