May 2025 Story Sparks
I bought that chair over 40 years ago at a garage sale before we moved to “rattlesnake and rock ranch.” It’s missing a dowel, but I figured I’d take care of that and refinish it. I never did. Despite its woundedness, it called my name. Through the years a granddaughter swung her legs on it, great-grands sat on it. When people with kiddos came to visit, there was that little chair inviting them to pause. When we got back to Oregon a few weeks ago I put it outside and I bought a penguin pillow hoping our next door neighbor’s boy would notice it. Or maybe like those little libraries people set up on street corners, a visiting grandchild from across the street might see it and take a seat. To my delight, the boy next door asked his mom if he could sit on “Rupie’s chair?” And yes, he could! You can tell this is a child who has been read to (he was reading to his mom). I can’t think of a better gift for mental health month than celebrating parents who read to their children.
Research at Baylor University notes that story (along with art, movement and music) are the most effective treatments for children facing trauma. Even when one doesn’t know what’s bothering a child, adults around them can offer to read – or let them read to them. They can engage them in music, in gardening, woodworking, photography, horseback riding, swimming, dancing, but above all, in story. It is one of the most powerful ways we have of gifting others with insights and wisdom without lecturing or teaching.
Dolly Parton knows the power of story. Her Imagination Library has given away millions of books beginning at a child’s birth until age five. In Oregon, SMART – Start Making a Reader Today – (smartreading.org) gives away books but also involves community people willing to spend time actually reading to a child at school. Almost all states have some kind of non-profit supporting literacy efforts and the love of reading. (Side note, many of the library reading programs across the country are under assault, losing necessary federal funds to support efforts to promote life-long learning through reading. Contact your local library to see how you can help.)
The Norse word that gives us “to read” I’m told, Raedor, means “to unveil a mystery.” That’s why I love this picture. Starting young, this child has been introduced to a path toward knowing himself, finding himself inside stories. And from the looks of it, he’s also a generous reader sharing his book. As Dr. Karl Menninger wrote, “generosity is the single best indicator of a person’s mental health. Generous people are rarely mentally ill.” I think the “unveiling mystery” doesn’t mean only revealing a mystery inside the story but also inside ourselves. It’s part of why we read, part of why stories touch us. An interviewer asked me what books have I read more than once and English Creek by Ivan Doig came to mind first. Each time I’ve read it, I’ve been moved by something I hadn’t noticed before. But I am always moved by the man’s grief for his brother. And that leads me to an article I read about the influence of siblings on each other, perhaps more than parents. And that makes me think about how I’m in Oregon because my older sister moved here first and I met my husband as a friend of hers. My successful younger brother too, influenced my writing life in his answer to my question when my first book came out in 1991: “what do you want in a product that makes it easy for you to sell,” I asked him.
“Two things. First you want it to be the best product around. And second, you need a story.”
“A story?”
“Yes. Because if it’s a good product they can buy it anywhere; but they’ll buy it from you because they’ll remember your story.”
All that wisdom and insight about grief and generosity, sibling impacts or how to promote a book, comes from reading, unveiling a mystery about myself while hoping as readers, you discover things about yourself inside my stories. I’ve been interviewed by a number of podcasters in this book release era, and sometimes they ask what I do for fun and I tell them I read. I hope other people read for fun too. This picture of my neighbor reading in that little chair is the latest symbol for me of the power of story in our lives. He looks happy. I hope as readers – you’re reading this 😊—you find stories that nurture your soul and that one of mine meets that criteria.
Book Release!
We had a grand turnout at Paulina Springs Books in Sister’s Oregon. Standing room only and they ran out of books – ordered more! I had my first signing there back in 1991 for Homestead and my first novel debuted in that lovely bookstore too in 1995. Thank you to all who could attend and thank you beyond for all the encouragement and support.
Across the Crying Sands Book one in the Women of Cannon Beach Series is now available in stores and libraries and as an ebook and on Audible soon. Meanwhile, if you’ve preordered and are waiting, here are a few podcasts where I’m talking about the book. Enjoy
Bookish Introverts Podcast
In Episode 4, Brett Nelson interviews author Jane Kirkpatrick about Across the Crying Sands, her writing journey, and storytelling’s cultural impact.
Rapt Interviews
Jane Kirkpatrick shares how faith, community, and nature inspire her award-winning historical novels and sustain her through personal challenges.
A Writer’s Day Podcast
This podcast helps writers master craft, marketing, and publishing. In this episode, bestselling author Jane Kirkpatrick discusses her new novel, Across the Crying Sands.
Seashore Sorts of Treasures
To celebrate the release of Across The Crying Sands, I’m hosting a special giveaway exclusively for my newsletter subscribers. One lucky reader will receive a thoughtfully curated basket filled with treasures inspired by the story and the stunning Oregon coast. The basket includes a bottle of local Puffin wine, a set of engraved puffin glasses, and a Sea Star gift certificate for delicious treats like biscotti and cupcakes, lovingly baked by Suzy Winjen—my premier researcher and a key inspiration behind the book. Also included are delicate blue Seaglass Earrings set in gold, a beautiful print titled “Passing Through” painted and donated by artist Jeffry Hull, which captures the essence of Elk Creek and Haystack Rock—central places in the novel. You’ll also receive a signed copy of Across The Crying Sands and a handmade Northwest Indigenous sea grass basket, traditionally used and formed by native hands (not pictured!). To finish it off, I’ve tucked in a few pieces of salt water taffy and maybe even some sea chocolate for good measure. The drawing will take place in June from the Oregon Coast, and you do not need to be present to win. If you’re receiving this newsletter, you’re already entered. If you know someone who would love this giveaway, encourage them to subscribe to my newsletter here – it’s not too late to be included!
Across the Crying Sands is meant to move readers, to celebrate the resilience of Mary Edwards Gerritse as the first woman to carry mail on the rugged Oregon coast. But it’s also a story of breaking norms and finding ways to deal with the challenges women faced at the turn of the last century – and that women face today. I’m looking forward to hearing about how you found this story and hopefully are awaiting the next books in the series.
Events
Schedule – check the website for additions in between Story Sparks editions.
Book signing event at Waucoma Books
May 31, 2025 – 12 – 2:00pm – Signing at 212 Oak Street, Hood River, OR
Book Presentation & Signing at Herringbone Books
June 2, 2025 – 5:30 -700pm – Herringbone Books – 422 SW 6th, Redmond, OR. Presentation with Karen Spears Zacahrias and her book The Devil’s Pulpit. Presentations and signing.
Book signing event at Cannon Beach Museum
June 7, 2025 – 2:00pm – Cannon Beach History Museum, 1387 Spruce St., Cannon Beach, OR presentation and signing with coastal poet Dana Huneke-Stone, Sticksandstonespress, publisher of Amuse-Buche, A Taste of Melancoholy. Please join us! First coastal event for Across the Crying Sands. The Seashore Sorts of treasure winner will be announced at this event!
Cannon Beach Library
June 7, 2025 – 5:30pm – Can’t make the museum event or want a double dose of Stories? Join Jane at the Cannon Beach Library. Jane will celebrate Mary’s story through a presentation and signing at the library, 131 N. Hemlock, Cannon Beach. This will be live-streamed through the cannonbeachlibrary.org facebook page. You don’t have to have a Facebook account to tune in.
Seashore Silhouette at Aurora Colony
June 11, 2025 – 10:00am – Seashore Silhouette. Jane will speak about Emma’s “Temporary Terrible Times.” Brunch follows along with a fabulous fashion presentation “100 Years of Hems.” Laughter, lunch and books to sign. Tickets available at $45 for members; $55 non-members. 503-678-5754.
Book signing event at Tillamook Library
June 13, 2025 – 5:00pm – 1716 3rd St., Tillamook, OR. Presentation and signing, co-sponsored by the library and the Tillamook chapter of the American Association of University Women. Jane will be joined by Wheeler poet Dana Huneke-Stone who gave permission for Jane to use a poem from her book Amuse-Buche, A Taste of Melancholy, #Sticksandstonespress.
Book signing event at Beach Books
June 14, 2025 – 11:00am-2:00pm – Beach Books, 616 Broadway, Seaside OR Signing. Drop in, buy a book – mine or lots of other authors’ books – and share stories.
Book Presentation and Signing at Redmond Senior Center
June 18, 2025 – 1:30pm Redmond Senior Center – 325 NW Dogwood Ave, Redmond. presentation and signing celebrating Across the Crying Sands. Herringbone books providing books for sale.
Roundabout Books
July 10, 2025 – 6:30pm, Roundabout Books, 900 NW Mt. Washington, #110, Bend Oregon. Presentation and signing. Ticketed event, ($5 or purchase of a book). 541-306-6564. Support your local independent bookstore.
Word Whisperings
Tough Luck
By Sandra Dallas,
St. Martin’s Press.
This is a photo of my writer friend Sandra Dallas whose new book is Tough Luck. My cousin Margaret was lucky to see Sandra – whom I get to call a friend – in Denver and get her picture taken with her too. Sandra’s latest is a hoot! It has a starred review from Library Journal and it’s making me laugh out loud. Plus I read sections to Jerry because they are so fresh and inventive. It’s a story of two orphans who think their Pa is still alive and rich in the gold country of Colorado. Their adventure to get there and the people they encounter is just the best journey story I’ve read in a long time. There’s also a fascinating story behind the story as it was written years before and Sandra forgot about it. Her agent asked if she had anything in the works and she remembered this one! It waited and then called her name. Highly recommended.
Rupie’s Renderings
She always leaves me for last and she didn’t even take me to her booksigning! Instead she makes me pose on a chair. I gave her “the look” just to let her know that I have better things to do than pay attention to her camera. Grrr. Ok. I’m over it. She’s the best! She had a doctor’s appointment and they ordered an x-ray but there was going to be a couple of hours delay and that would have kept her from my dad for too long –and kept her from Trader Joe’s where she gets my favorite chicken strips snacks – so she didn’t get that thing she said. She knows what’s important. The big debate at our house right now is whether I’m going to the coast with her for some of her “book launch” events. Isn’t a launch a missile, something you hurl with force? Is that her plan…for me? Maybe I’ll see you running on the beach….Woof! Woof!
With gratitude to you all for being my readers. Keep unveiling those mysteries and happy reading!
______
Warmly,
P.S. I often get requests from those wishing a book list of my titles. Incidentally, Wikipedia has some errors. Visit my Bibliography webpage for the real scoop.
