Friday Field Trip: My Deep Dark Secret

“A black-cloaked monk unlocked the library’s door. Ginger steeped with cloves. Shelley caught its scent in the spiciness of the weathered leather-bound pages that surrounded her. The smell reminded her of her father’s evening ritual up until the time he needed to use a feeding tube. Her mother continued to brew it for him just the same. And when he had gone, she still set a cup on his bedside table. Shelley remembered watching and breathing in the fragrant and frail wisps of steam rising from it. That was the only time she allowed herself to miss her dad. Her mother mourned him enough for the two of them. She didn’t think their house could hold any more grief. She was glad to get away. She scanned the library, desperate to remind herself of how far she was from home.” p. 126, Before Ever After

If you promise not to laugh, I’ll let you in on my deepest and darkest secret. Pinky swear? Great!

Okay…here it goes.

*whispers*  In sixth grade,  I…um…was president of….*takes a deep breath* …the Library Club.

There. I said it. Phew.

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I certainly did not earn any cool points by joining the club. (You wouldn’t be wrong if you likened it to Glee, but without the impromptu Lady Gaga song and dance numbers in the hallway.)  But I loved it.  I loved being surrounded by the smell of paper and ink. I loved the cool and quiet sanctuary of its little nooks.  I loved the little clicking sound the date stamp made when I pressed it against the book card.  *Looks around furtively for incoming Slushies*

No Slushie grenade? I love you guys. Thank you for not judging me. Now I don’t have to run home and change my shirt before our field trip.

To celebrate my coming clean, today we’re taking our little van to some of the most beautiful libraries in the world. Are you ready, Campers?  Follow the red umbrella and remember to keep your voices down, okay?

Strahov Philosophical Hall, Prague

Abbey Library St. Gallen, Switzerland

Real Gabinete Portugues De Leitura, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

The Library of the University of Delft, The Netherlands

The Central Public Library in Vancouver, Canada

George Peabody Library, Baltimore, Maryland, USA 

Main reading hall of the City Library of Stockholm

Our final stop isn't a actually a library, but I thought it deserved a place on the tour.  Can you guess what it is?

No, it isn't a theater...

....or a museum.

It's the Ateneo Grand Splendid

And it's a BOOK STORE.

Praise for Before Ever After from Melissa Senate!

I hope you guys brought your dancing shoes because....The Happy Dancing Banana Disco is OPEN!!! Woooohoooo!!! (My two left feet are going to kill me tomorrow, but it's soooo worth it :D)  

From the AWESOME Melissa Senate, bestselling author of See Jane Date, The Love Goddess’ Cooking School, and eight other fabulous novels:

“Exquisitely written and inventively told, Before Ever After is a beautiful, moving — and quite fun — exploration of what you think you know about your own life.”

"Inception"...Volcano Style

Don’t worry. I haven’t forgotten. We were hijacked last week and I owe you a field trip. So who’s up for playing hooky  today and visiting an active volcano? Oh, come on.  I know you’re braver than that. I spent the night over there last weekend and I survived. Shall we go? Great! That’s the spirit! Here are your lifejackets. We’re taking the boat today.

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Taal is quite the wonder. Here you’ll find a lake.

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Inside a volcano.

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In a lake.

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Inside a volcano.

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In a lake.

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My hubby took this photo from our hotel room

When I see this, I can’t help but take a deep breath of fresh air, exhale, smile and think…wow-zer, that’s a pretty big writing prompt. (I bet Christopher Nolan looked at this and thought, “Yeah…a movie about a dream within a dream within a dream. I could make that work…”)

What story does Taal tell you?

Friday Field Trip: Hijacked!

Everyone - please remain seated. Stay calm. The van has been hijacked, but there’s no need to panic.  Something hopped aboard the van just as I started the engine and it has unfortunately left me in no state to drive. Don’t worry. I’m okay. In fact, I’m more than okay. 

Getting a blurb from the AMAZING Anne Fortier, New York Times -Best Selling author of last year’s blockbuster, JULIET, has been scientifically proven to make your head spin.

“Strap on your time-jumping goggles and fasten the seatbelt of your favorite armchair ... Samantha Sotto is going to take you on a rollercoaster ride that will leave your teacup hanging in mid-air. I was floored by the gutsy scope of this highly unusual love tragicomedy, and loved the spunky writing that strings together the rambunctious plot. BEFORE EVER AFTER is one of those books that challenges the natural laws of fiction writing, but in a frisky and highly entertaining way.”

*FAINTS *

For the Sake of Posterity

As as a follow up to yesterday's post about the scariest thing I've ever seen, I am now posting the scariest thing YOU will ever see... ME without makeup. (Just keep your eyes on the galley I'm holding and I don't think you'll suffer from permanent eye damage. I hope.)

NEW Final Cover and the Scariest Thing I’ve Seen. Ever.

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I suppose when you name your blog “The Slight Detour,” you’re just begging the universe to send twists and turns your way. Well, this is the latest surprise it sprung on me. I have a new cover. Yup, you heard me right. Before Ever After has a new face – and I couldn’t be happier! Quick! You have 3 seconds to tell me what changed.

I’m kidding. Here’s the real cover. Your time starts now. One…two…

*presses the buzzer*  Wow! You’re good! Practicing on all those “Where is Wally” books has paid off. 

I really like the new “old” locket my publisher has decided to use. I feel that it evokes the theme of the story a whole lot more.

Now moving on to the scariest thing I’ve ever seen…it’s a bird…it’s a plane…it’s my GALLEY. *shivers*

What? It didn’t make you tremble? Not even a little bit? But…but…it’s a galley! It’s the uncorrected mock-up of the book that is being sent out to *lowers voice*…reviewers as we speak. Just thinking about *lowers voice even more* reviews makes me break out into a cold sweat. Dear God, can you please just wake me up when it’s over? *hides under the blanket*

Friday Field Trip: The REAL Slight Detour (Part 2)

“Once you have traveled, the voyage never ends, but is played out over and over again in the quietest chambers. The mind can never break off from the journey.” – Pat Conroy

Hey, Campers! Glad you could join us for the second part of the "real" Slight Detour, the backpacking trip that inspired Before Ever After.  If you missed the first part of the tour, you can hop aboard it here. I'm not sure if everyone on the van knows each other, so this might be a good time for you to say hello to  the person sitting next to you (read: why not leave a link to your blog after your comment? Sorry, I don't know how to set up those fancy linky-thingamajigs yet.)

For this trip, I thought it would be fun to let you in on some little known facts that could make you rich should you ever become a contestant on Jeopardy. If you win, no need to thank me. Cash will suffice. 

Are you ready? Follow the red umbrella!

Vienna, Austria

Good news! On this leg, we no longer have to sleep on a bridge like we did in Lucerne. Your accommodations have been upgraded to a...belfry.

Vienna, Austria

Europe's second largest cemetery, the Zentralfriedhof, can be found in Vienna.This is not the Zentralfriedhof.

Venice, Italy

Venice has less than 20 plumbers. This is not why it is sinking.

St. Mark's Square is the only place in Venice where it is legal to feed the pigeons. The pigeons are not aware of this law.

Florence, Italy

The clock at Florence's Duomo runs counter clockwise.

The Vatican, Italy

In Italy, it is good luck to hear a cat sneeze.

Rome, Italy

Italians invented the ice cream cone.

Athens, Greece

Greece is the leading producer of sea sponges.

Athens, Greece

The word “tragedy” is Greek for “goat-song.” Early Greek tragedies were held in honor of Dionysus, the god of wine. Actors in these plays wore goatskins.

Ios island, Greece

Sleeping on the beach is not a good idea. Even if you are drunk. And broke. Don't do it. Don't.

Ios island, Greece

You have to pay to sit under these umbrellas. 

(I did not believe the hairy shirtless man who told me this. He asked me if I wanted him to prove it. I snapped said yes. He told me to come with him. I agreed. I hopped on the back of his motorcycle. We sped away. Far, far away. I thought I was going to die. I didn't. On the other end of the beach was a sign. It said you had to pay to sit under the *bleep* umbrellas.) 

And that concludes our tour, dear campers. I hope you had fun. Remember, "a man travels the world over in search of what he needs, and returns home to find it" (George Moore) and when in doubt, PLEASE just pay the hairy shirtless man his dollar.