New England book mini-tour
October 13, 2014 § Leave a comment
Thrilled to be embarking on an autumn mini book tour, during which I’ll be speaking, reading, and signing at several of New England’s great independent bookstores and libraries. Here’s the schedule of events. Come on out, I’d love to see you and sign your personal copy of Will Poole’s Island!
Bank Square Books
53 West Main Street
Mystic, Connecticut
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2014, 11:00 AM & 2:00 PM
The Toadstool Bookshop in Peterborough (11AM)
12 Depot Square, Peterborough, NH
&
The Toadstool Bookshop in Keene (2PM)At the Colony Mill Marketplace in Keene, NH SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2014, 4:00 PM
World Eye Bookshop156 Main Street, Greenfield, MA SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2014, 2:00 pm
Duxbury Free Library77 Alden Street, Duxbury, Massachusetts
Interview up at Fiction Writers Review
September 29, 2014 § Leave a comment
Very pleased to mark the publication of this interview with Alden Jones and the Fiction Writers Review. We had a nice discussion about the “genre” of historical fiction, the process of researching Will Poole’s Island, the differences between writing novels and short stories, and more.
A brief excerpt:
“Here’s the thing about writing historical fiction: you’re not trying to reconstruct or mimic history, which would be altogether boring even if it weren’t impossible. What you’re trying to do is to create a new version of it that will tell a good story while simultaneously capturing something essential, not only about the period, but also about contemporary life.”
Read the complete interview here.
Brattleboro Literary Festival
September 23, 2014 § Leave a comment
What an honor to be included among the stellar group of authors participating in this year’s Brattleboro Literary Festival (October 2- 5, 2014) which for thirteen years has been one of the most dynamic and well attended celebrations of books and readers in New England. And what a blast to hang out with old friends, meet new ones, hear talented and interesting people discuss their work and read from it, all the events well attended, and the streets of good old Brattleboro teeming with readers and writers of every stripe. Thanks to the organizers and volunteers, my friends and fellow writers, and everyone who came out to celebrate the power and beauty of the written word!
I had the privilege of introducing two very special women, critically acclaimed emerging writers Alden Jones and Eleanor Henderson
What a pleasure and an honor to read and discuss books alongside the talented Don Bredes, a fellow Vermont writer
Signing books with Don and the luminous Dede Cummings, publicist, agent, and publisher of Green Writers Press
Giving a little pre-reading context for Will Poole’s Island
So great to see the streets and venues of Brattleboro filled with writers and readers. Reports of the death of the book have been very much exaggerated!
Back to Iberia with National Geographic
September 8, 2014 § 3 Comments
As always, it’s a thrill to be heading back to Portugal and Spain in my capacity as a featured expert with National Geographic Expeditions. We’ll be starting out in Lisbon and making our way east through Evora, Mérida, Sevilla, Ronda, Granada, and Madrid. We will of course hit the major historical landmarks, and quite a few of the lesser known sights as well. We’ll have a chance to hear some of the world’s great fado and flamenco artists, learn how to make ceramic tiles Portuguese style, taste freshly pressed olive oil, and sample some of the best cuisine and wine the Iberian Peninsula has to offer.
I’ll be giving talks about the sweep of Spanish history from Iberian origins to the Roman Empire, the Moors and the Reconquest, the Habsburgs and the rise of the Spanish Empire, Goya and the Bourbons, and, of course, Ernest Hemingway and the Spanish Civil War. I always look forward to these trips as a chance to revisit a region I know and love with fresh eyes, and to learn as well from my fellow travelers and the outstanding local experts we encounter throughout the program. Over all, not a bad way to spend eleven days in September. ¡Viva!
Launch Party!
September 2, 2014 § Leave a comment
Weeks later and I’m still basking in the glow of the big Will Poole’s Island launch party, which took place on the evening of September 7, 2014, at Next Stage in Putney, Vermont!
We had an amazing turnout. I am eternally grateful for the enthusiasm and support from old friends and new. Special gratitude to my amazing publicist Dede Cummings, the luminous Suzanne Kingsbury, who gave me a better introduction than I ever could have dreamed, Julia Jensen, Maria Ogden, Evie Lovett, Jaja Laughlin, Billy Strauss, Barry Stockwell, Maria Bacescu, Nancy Raus, and so many others! We shared plenty of wine and cheese, good conversation, a reading, a book signing, and a brief multi-media presentation including a showing of Ben Shumlin’s wonderful trailer on the large screen! In case you missed it, or want to watch it again (yes, it’s that good!), here it is:
If you couldn’t make it to the launch but still want to buy a book, the hardcover and paperback editions are available from major on-line retailers including Amazon or (via Indiebound) your own local bookstore. If you’d like to order a signed copy, click here to contact Tim directly.
Will Poole’s Island featured in prizewinning newspaper
August 28, 2014 § Leave a comment
Very pleased to note than an article about Will Poole’s Island appeared today in Nantucket’s prizewinning paper, The Inquirer and Mirror. I met with the I & M’s wonderful Kimberly Nolan when I was on the island last week. Kim is an organic farmer in addition to being a reporter. We discussed the research behind the book, Native American perspectives, Nantucket connections, and much more, and then Kim set us up with some delicious fresh eggs and tomatoes. All in all a very positive experience with the press! Click here to read the full article: “Historic Nantucket Reimagined“
Spotted this lovely old ship from the ferry as we were leaving the island. Ah, Nantucket!
Will Poole’s Island is Nantucket Bookworks’ Pick of the Month
July 28, 2014 § Leave a comment
Great news this morning from one of the world’s greatest independent bookstores: Will Poole’s Island has been selected as Nantucket Bookworks‘ Teen Pick of the Month!
If you’ve been lucky enough to visit the mysterious and evocative isle of Nantucket then you know that this bookstore and its partner store, Mitchell’s Books, are essential landmarks for readers and must-do stops in historic downtown. It’s a great honor to receive this nod from what has long been a rainy day refuge for me and countless others — all the sweeter because the historical and physical landscapes of the island were so important to the writing of the novel.
Order the book directly from the bookstore here.
Literary New England Radio Show
July 14, 2014 § Leave a comment
It was a true pleasure to chat recently with Literary New England Radio Show host Cindy Wolfe Boynton about Will Poole’s Island. We discussed the genesis of the book, some of the historical research that went into it, the extent to which the protagonist is an autobiographical figure, and my version of the 21st century writing life. Cindy asked good questions, and I began by reading a brief excerpt from Chapter Four of the book. All in all, a most enjoyable conversation!
The show, which also features distinguished New England authors Deborah Harkness, Erika Johansen, and Courtney Maum, aired Monday, July 14, 2014, and is available as a podcast for you to download and hear at your own leisure by clicking here.
Note: Once you download the podcast you can move the cursor to whatever point you want to start listening. My portion of the interview begins at minute 38.50.
New historical fiction article up at The Grub Daily
July 14, 2014 § Leave a comment
My two part writing craft article, “Narrative as Time Machine: Five Tools for World Building in Historical Fiction” is now up at The Grub Daily.
The article grew out of a talk I gave at Grub Street’s fantastic Muse and the Marketplace conference in May, 2014, and analyzes key excerpts from great historical fiction novels such as The Age of Innocence, The English Patient, Cold Mountain, The King Must Die, and more. If this sounds interesting to you, click here. Hope you enjoy it!
Tim Weed 