Thanks to everyone who made the December 13th book signing a great success! Forty-five guests mingled and shared back-to-school stories over hot cider and an array of goodies. There were long-lost friends, individuals I’d never met in person and lots of children to make the event extra special.   Professors, classmates, new friends, old friends and relatives came.  Under the heading of “small-world”  several guests discovered they are all alums of the same East coast school.

It was especially fun to see many of my friends meet for the first time.  The event ended with a dinner for the local “travel story” writers (see Chapter 7) and their significant others.   It was a great honor to listen as we went one-by-one around the table, each sharing his or her role in the back-to-school story.

Laura

Holidays are a busy and chaotic time for most of us.  Add family (extra points for those with kids of any age home on break), work and final exams and it is enough to make anyone consider running off to a silent monastic retreat:

“Sorry, I couldn’t… turn in my paper/shop for presents/finish year-end projects.  I was, uh, er, at a silent monastic retreat.  Really.”

Although worthy of creativity points,  it is unlikely to be a direct path to the Dean’s list.  So, what is a working student to do about holiday gifts?  Here are 5 suggestions.  Hopefully at least one will work for you – or at least make you laugh.

» Continue reading “Holiday Gift Giving And Final Exams”

On December 3rd Back to School for Grownups made the Amazon Top 100 list in the Adult and Continuing Education category, reaching #22 on Sunday, December 6th!