Hello from Bali! I’m currently writing from the veranda of a villa outside of Ubud, listening to roosters crow, plows till, cicadas drone, and Mandy snore. (Just kidding—she sleeps very soundly.) She has been in Indonesia now for several weeks on a work trip, and fortunately I was able to get a few days off to join her.

This place reminds of Ningyuan so much that it hurts. The motorcycles, the heat, being an expat again (if only for a few days)—it’s all bringing me back. I’ve even been toying with the idea of writing Daniel and/or Guillard into a third and final Asia book, in which we find the former working as a rice farmer, the latter married to an Indonesian woman. These are just musings at this point, though; the sort of things I only tell my backers...

While I’ve got you, here are a few updates about the book:

1) The reading at The Tattered Cover in Denver was a success. Had 25+ people show up. A big thank you to everyone who was involved. The store is extremely supportive of emerging authors, so please take a few minutes to stop by and pick up a read if you’re ever in Denver.

2) UMDC was featured in the San Jose Mercury News’ "Books by the Bay" column: 

http://www.mercurynews.com/entertainment/ci_29400081/books-by-bay-michal-mcclures-cuba-photos-show

3) It’s going to be included in the Expat Bookshelf section of the next issue of Global Living Magazine, due out in March.

4) I’ve submitted the novel to several book awards and blogs—just waiting to hear back. It is always a long shot, but you never know. Here’s one reviewer’s take:

http://kirti-m.tumblr.com/post/137509943052/new-year-new-read

5) The last event I have on the books is a reading at the Boston Public Library on April 7th. I’m also trying to set up events in Madison, CT and Philadelphia that week. Stay posted via Facebook, Twitter and these e-mail updates.

That’s it. Hope you’re all doing well. If you haven’t left a review of #upMdownC on Amazon or Goodreads yet, please consider doing so. Here are the links. THANKS!

http://www.amazon.com/Mountains-Down-Countryside-Quincy-Carroll/dp/1941758452

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26219934-up-to-the-mountains-and-down-to-the-countryside

Quincy

I’m so excited to announce that The Talkers are Talking has met its Quill goal and will become a part of the collection!!  I just want to say thank you to all of you lovely, wonderful, generous and supportive readers.  I couldn’t have done it without you, and now as I start the long road to publication, I promise to do whatever it takes to make Talkers the best it can be. More updates to follow (also in regards to Breaking the Bechdel Syndicate- hell yea people, we are really making a formidable group against manic pixie dream girls and other depth-less female character tropes), but for now, thank you, thank you.

 A QUICK REMINDER and a way to celebrate "Nowhere Else I Want to Be" going into production!

Only two more days for the January 2016 promotion:

Order either an e-book ($9.99) or a paperback ($14.99 for 1-4 copies; $10 for 5 or more) and get this mug (shipped separately when book publishes later this year):

Happy January!

-Carol

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