Home from the Amtrak Book Tour
I’m home after spending more than a month on the road, visiting bookstores, colleges, book clubs, friends, and family to talk about my new novel, The Mourning Parade. It’s been a whirlwind of a tour with interesting conversations, amazing insights, awe-inspiring vistas, warm hugs, and long walks. I’ve loved every moment of it, but you know what they say: home is where the heart is. It’s also where Izzy is, and Ryes and Jen (my grandson and daughter) aren’t far away.
The trip started in Boston—actually, Everett, my hometown. We had a launch party for the book with almost two hundred people: family members I hadn’t seen in decades, friends from high school that I hadn’t seen since graduation, writer friends who’ve been in my life for years. I held it at the Paris Street Gallery, a working home for artists and other creatives, built in an old brick warehouse in the factory section of the town. My sister ordered a cake with a picture of the book cover on it, we had champagne, music from 1971, and a disco ball.
My friend, the international bestselling author, Shannon Capone Kirk introduced me, which was a huge honor, and I shared details about my trip, information about the book, as well as a short reading, with all of the people who gathered there.
The surprises kept coming all night, and I loved every hug and every shining face. Members of the City Council arrived with a commendation from the City and a representative from the Mayor’s office gave me one as well. My heart just about exploded. I have wonderful photos from the evening and hold them close to my heart. It was a phenomenal evening. One of the best in my life.
The following morning, I visited Bunker Hill Community College, where I’d received my Associate’s degree years ago and where I held the position of newspaper editor. I spoke to students in a large hall, my stepson, Billy, accompanying me, and fielded questions about elephants, PTSD, writing, and my life after BHCC. Afterwards, I signed their books and asked each where they were from. It still astounds me how many countries they represented. When I was at the school, we were all from the local area, but the scope has grown and the world now lives in those corridors.
That night: a visit with my old friend, Pegi (we’ve been friends since high school, I was in her wedding, we had kids together, the whole 9 yards). We caught up for what seemed like moments, but it was actually more than two hours. Then she drove me to a meeting with the Malden Writers Collaborative at the library there. I was with my tribe that night, talking about the difficulties of editing, about character creation and narrative arcs, and what it takes to put together a book tour. I know they’ll be friends of mine forever.
Then the Amtrak tour started. My stepdaughter Christine and her son Darrias drove me to South Station where I dashed into the terminal only moments before the train departed. And I was off!
For the past month, I’ve visited readers, writers, friends, and family in almost every corner of this beautiful country. Memories were made, friendships cemented, and I had the adventure of my life.
Here are some glimpses:
Chicago—Walked through the downtown area on a beautiful sunny day and listened to a xylophonist whose music stopped me in my tracks, watched kids playing in the fountains in Millenium Park, met my writer friend Christine Due (who’s also a symphonic violinist) for breakfast, and visited the American Writers’ Museum where I gazed with reverence at the original manuscript for On The Road by Jack Kerouac.
St. Paul—Met the booksellers at SubText Books in the downtown area and bought one of the best t-shirts I’ve ever owned (it says “The Resistance Reads Books”). Walked miles in the city that was home to Bob Dylan, Charles Schultz, Judy Garland, Prince, and F. Scott Fitzgerald – and of course, had to find Scott’s home and visited Garrison Keillor’s bookstore.
Havre, Montana—Shared a wonderful night and day with Rachel Rawn and her folks at the Havre-Hill County Library, the only place on the tour where I actually showed my video. The best part of that visit was talking to the little kids about the sounds elephants make. Their faces lit up when they saw baby elephants trying to use their trunks. Great fun!
Spokane—Stayed with the woman who’s been my best friend since we were four years old, Therese Weyland. She knows me as well as my sister does, and it was great fun to explore her new city, traversing the city streets to see the river running through the city in deep waterfalls and booming waves. My event at Aunt Annie’s Books in downtown Spokane brought people from a couple of hours away – and the one in Spokane Valley at Barnes and Noble brought me some new writer friends who’d found out about the event on Facebook.
Seattle—My high school student, Melissa Mitchell, welcomed me to her home outside the city and showed me a Seattle I didn’t know. We explored Fremont, ate great food, and went to my event at Third Place Books together where my friend Kristin’s daughter, Jennifer, and her husband showed up to cheer me on. It was at this point in the trip that I realized my mother was with me, too, leaving signs of elephants at almost every turn. She was the one who inspired this book, and even though she’s been gone for more than fifteen years, I think of her every day.
Portland—The time in Portland was short, but I filled it with new folks – and the funkiest hotel on the trip: the Jupiter. Someday, I’ll return. My new friend Kathy and I shared coffee and conversation at Powell’s Books and my doctoral buddy Mary Wilby introduced me to Bradley and his partner, and we had a great dinner and discussed just about everything that night.
Healdsburg, CA—My longtime friend Ellyn Boone and her husband George welcomed me into their home where I got some much-needed puppy love from their three dogs. We rested and caught up before my event at Copperfield Books in that cute wine town. Some of Ellyn’s friends joined us, as well as my high school friend, Joy Fitzgerald, who took me to her town . . .
San Francisco—What a wonderful city—I’d forgotten how much I loved it until Joy showed me her side of the Bay Area. We rode into the Headlands, had quiet moments at her partner Walt’s home in Redwood City, and visited one of the most iconic bookstores in the country: City Lights. I’ve grown to love the animal-like fog that creeps in and out of the area – and really needed the time on the beach that they gave me before I left.
**Pause for the cause here: Riding the Amtrak through this country has given me time to write, read, meet new people, and see parts of the United States that I would never have seen otherwise. I’ve looked out the window at the Badlands, at the Rockies, Glacier National Forest, the Pacific Coast, the deserts of Arizona and New Mexico, ranches across Texas, backyards throughout Mississippi, the marshes of Louisiana, farms everywhere, and rivers both small and huge. I couldn’t have had a more exciting view of our beautiful land.**
Los Angeles—a very quick switch to another train, but I did see the lights of the city and dreamt of Hollywood that night.
Phoenix/Scottsdale area—Wow, was it hot there! At one point, I looked at my friend Terry’s dashboard and it said 113 degrees. YIKES. My cousin, Jodi, picked me up at the smallest Amtrak station I’d seen on the whole tour. It was so small that Jodi’s GPS kept telling her “you have arrived” and Jodi said she replied, “No, I haven’t” each time she drove by. Finally, on the third drive by, she spotted the small Amtrak sign. That’s what arriving at 4 AM does to the people who pick you up. The visit was phenomenal—especially the visit to The Poisoned Pen bookstore. Not only did family and friends turn out for me there, but the bookstore actually interviews writers in a format somewhat like The Actors Studio. I loved it! Not only did I have a great bookstore visit, but I also loved seeing the Desert Botanical Garden with Jodi and the Saguaro National Park with Terry.
Houston— The heat continued in Houston, where I stayed with my friend, Johnette. Formerly my agent, Johnette spent her career as a family lawyer and now runs an AirBnB business from her bungalow home within the city’s inner loop. I had been in Houston years earlier, but to tell the truth, I didn’t remember anything about the city. Johnette showed me some of the museum district, treated me to a stellar Mexican meal, and joined me when I met with the Houston Women’s Book Club. They were my first book club group, and I loved the questions they brought to the table (literally, a picnic table). We talked about elephants, Natalie’s motivation, Thailand, school shootings, Peter’s nastiness, the Amtrak trip, and writing in general. I loved their enthusiasm and the way they responded to The Mourning Parade. I’ll never forget that group of women!
New Orleans--Coming into the city that night, the train pulled up beside the Superdome, which was lit in varying neon shades. To me, NOLA is the party city, and it didn’t disappoint. My cousin Coral and her husband Paul picked me up that evening, and we stayed at the Royal Sonesta on Bourbon Street, where Paul works. What a fabulous hotel! Coral and I used it as our base as we explored the antique shops and galleries, treated ourselves to beignets, and took a ride on the trolley through the Garden District. They joined me that evening for my event at the Garden District Book Shop. A writer friend from Vermont College came to see me and friends of a friend from Durham came, as well. I truly appreciated the support from both the people who came, as well as the bookstore.
Then it was time for the ride home, and as usual, I met people on the train who were fascinating and fun to talk to. One was a 92-year-old man who’d been in NOLA for a funeral. We had a great dinner and conversation about books and art and traveling and life. I think we both were happy to have each other as dinner mates, and of all the people I met, I think he made the biggest impact on me.
Once home, I started the North Carolina tour . . . more on that later!
In the meanwhile, love ach other and treat everyone the way you want to be treated!
Peace,
Dawn
The trip started in Boston—actually, Everett, my hometown. We had a launch party for the book with almost two hundred people: family members I hadn’t seen in decades, friends from high school that I hadn’t seen since graduation, writer friends who’ve been in my life for years. I held it at the Paris Street Gallery, a working home for artists and other creatives, built in an old brick warehouse in the factory section of the town. My sister ordered a cake with a picture of the book cover on it, we had champagne, music from 1971, and a disco ball.
My friend, the international bestselling author, Shannon Capone Kirk introduced me, which was a huge honor, and I shared details about my trip, information about the book, as well as a short reading, with all of the people who gathered there.
The surprises kept coming all night, and I loved every hug and every shining face. Members of the City Council arrived with a commendation from the City and a representative from the Mayor’s office gave me one as well. My heart just about exploded. I have wonderful photos from the evening and hold them close to my heart. It was a phenomenal evening. One of the best in my life.
The following morning, I visited Bunker Hill Community College, where I’d received my Associate’s degree years ago and where I held the position of newspaper editor. I spoke to students in a large hall, my stepson, Billy, accompanying me, and fielded questions about elephants, PTSD, writing, and my life after BHCC. Afterwards, I signed their books and asked each where they were from. It still astounds me how many countries they represented. When I was at the school, we were all from the local area, but the scope has grown and the world now lives in those corridors.
That night: a visit with my old friend, Pegi (we’ve been friends since high school, I was in her wedding, we had kids together, the whole 9 yards). We caught up for what seemed like moments, but it was actually more than two hours. Then she drove me to a meeting with the Malden Writers Collaborative at the library there. I was with my tribe that night, talking about the difficulties of editing, about character creation and narrative arcs, and what it takes to put together a book tour. I know they’ll be friends of mine forever.
Then the Amtrak tour started. My stepdaughter Christine and her son Darrias drove me to South Station where I dashed into the terminal only moments before the train departed. And I was off!
For the past month, I’ve visited readers, writers, friends, and family in almost every corner of this beautiful country. Memories were made, friendships cemented, and I had the adventure of my life.
Here are some glimpses:
Chicago—Walked through the downtown area on a beautiful sunny day and listened to a xylophonist whose music stopped me in my tracks, watched kids playing in the fountains in Millenium Park, met my writer friend Christine Due (who’s also a symphonic violinist) for breakfast, and visited the American Writers’ Museum where I gazed with reverence at the original manuscript for On The Road by Jack Kerouac.
St. Paul—Met the booksellers at SubText Books in the downtown area and bought one of the best t-shirts I’ve ever owned (it says “The Resistance Reads Books”). Walked miles in the city that was home to Bob Dylan, Charles Schultz, Judy Garland, Prince, and F. Scott Fitzgerald – and of course, had to find Scott’s home and visited Garrison Keillor’s bookstore.
Havre, Montana—Shared a wonderful night and day with Rachel Rawn and her folks at the Havre-Hill County Library, the only place on the tour where I actually showed my video. The best part of that visit was talking to the little kids about the sounds elephants make. Their faces lit up when they saw baby elephants trying to use their trunks. Great fun!
Spokane—Stayed with the woman who’s been my best friend since we were four years old, Therese Weyland. She knows me as well as my sister does, and it was great fun to explore her new city, traversing the city streets to see the river running through the city in deep waterfalls and booming waves. My event at Aunt Annie’s Books in downtown Spokane brought people from a couple of hours away – and the one in Spokane Valley at Barnes and Noble brought me some new writer friends who’d found out about the event on Facebook.
Seattle—My high school student, Melissa Mitchell, welcomed me to her home outside the city and showed me a Seattle I didn’t know. We explored Fremont, ate great food, and went to my event at Third Place Books together where my friend Kristin’s daughter, Jennifer, and her husband showed up to cheer me on. It was at this point in the trip that I realized my mother was with me, too, leaving signs of elephants at almost every turn. She was the one who inspired this book, and even though she’s been gone for more than fifteen years, I think of her every day.
Portland—The time in Portland was short, but I filled it with new folks – and the funkiest hotel on the trip: the Jupiter. Someday, I’ll return. My new friend Kathy and I shared coffee and conversation at Powell’s Books and my doctoral buddy Mary Wilby introduced me to Bradley and his partner, and we had a great dinner and discussed just about everything that night.
Healdsburg, CA—My longtime friend Ellyn Boone and her husband George welcomed me into their home where I got some much-needed puppy love from their three dogs. We rested and caught up before my event at Copperfield Books in that cute wine town. Some of Ellyn’s friends joined us, as well as my high school friend, Joy Fitzgerald, who took me to her town . . .
San Francisco—What a wonderful city—I’d forgotten how much I loved it until Joy showed me her side of the Bay Area. We rode into the Headlands, had quiet moments at her partner Walt’s home in Redwood City, and visited one of the most iconic bookstores in the country: City Lights. I’ve grown to love the animal-like fog that creeps in and out of the area – and really needed the time on the beach that they gave me before I left.
**Pause for the cause here: Riding the Amtrak through this country has given me time to write, read, meet new people, and see parts of the United States that I would never have seen otherwise. I’ve looked out the window at the Badlands, at the Rockies, Glacier National Forest, the Pacific Coast, the deserts of Arizona and New Mexico, ranches across Texas, backyards throughout Mississippi, the marshes of Louisiana, farms everywhere, and rivers both small and huge. I couldn’t have had a more exciting view of our beautiful land.**
Los Angeles—a very quick switch to another train, but I did see the lights of the city and dreamt of Hollywood that night.
Phoenix/Scottsdale area—Wow, was it hot there! At one point, I looked at my friend Terry’s dashboard and it said 113 degrees. YIKES. My cousin, Jodi, picked me up at the smallest Amtrak station I’d seen on the whole tour. It was so small that Jodi’s GPS kept telling her “you have arrived” and Jodi said she replied, “No, I haven’t” each time she drove by. Finally, on the third drive by, she spotted the small Amtrak sign. That’s what arriving at 4 AM does to the people who pick you up. The visit was phenomenal—especially the visit to The Poisoned Pen bookstore. Not only did family and friends turn out for me there, but the bookstore actually interviews writers in a format somewhat like The Actors Studio. I loved it! Not only did I have a great bookstore visit, but I also loved seeing the Desert Botanical Garden with Jodi and the Saguaro National Park with Terry.
Houston— The heat continued in Houston, where I stayed with my friend, Johnette. Formerly my agent, Johnette spent her career as a family lawyer and now runs an AirBnB business from her bungalow home within the city’s inner loop. I had been in Houston years earlier, but to tell the truth, I didn’t remember anything about the city. Johnette showed me some of the museum district, treated me to a stellar Mexican meal, and joined me when I met with the Houston Women’s Book Club. They were my first book club group, and I loved the questions they brought to the table (literally, a picnic table). We talked about elephants, Natalie’s motivation, Thailand, school shootings, Peter’s nastiness, the Amtrak trip, and writing in general. I loved their enthusiasm and the way they responded to The Mourning Parade. I’ll never forget that group of women!
New Orleans--Coming into the city that night, the train pulled up beside the Superdome, which was lit in varying neon shades. To me, NOLA is the party city, and it didn’t disappoint. My cousin Coral and her husband Paul picked me up that evening, and we stayed at the Royal Sonesta on Bourbon Street, where Paul works. What a fabulous hotel! Coral and I used it as our base as we explored the antique shops and galleries, treated ourselves to beignets, and took a ride on the trolley through the Garden District. They joined me that evening for my event at the Garden District Book Shop. A writer friend from Vermont College came to see me and friends of a friend from Durham came, as well. I truly appreciated the support from both the people who came, as well as the bookstore.
Then it was time for the ride home, and as usual, I met people on the train who were fascinating and fun to talk to. One was a 92-year-old man who’d been in NOLA for a funeral. We had a great dinner and conversation about books and art and traveling and life. I think we both were happy to have each other as dinner mates, and of all the people I met, I think he made the biggest impact on me.
Once home, I started the North Carolina tour . . . more on that later!
In the meanwhile, love ach other and treat everyone the way you want to be treated!
Peace,
Dawn
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