As most of you know, my book, Stay Sweet: Tales of Quirky Southern Love, was published on May 9, 2023 by Red Thread Books (RedThreadBooks.com). They are a hybrid publisher which means I contributed to the publishing costs and they provided support and services to help me birth that book baby into the world. It was four short months from the time I signed on with them until my book was published. It was an intense period of time during which A LOT of different things had to get done from proofreading to cover design to deciding on the interior formatting the book.

Now that the book is out, my overarching feeling is relief. That surprised me. Sometimes I feel like I should have a different answer. I AM excited. But mostly relieved! The four years it took to form all those words into a coherent narrative and then the four months it took to push it into the world have left me tired!

The efforts that will go into this book now will be stretched out over time as I find ways to get the word out to readers. The shoutin’ part!

Yesterday I celebrated by having a launch party with local friends at a wonderful historic barn next door to our neighborhood (YellowBarn.farm.com). It was so much fun to have people from various segments of my life come together—book club, writing group, neighbors, friends, Red Thread authors.

My book pays homage to my Southern heritage and so, of course, the refreshments had to live up. On the menu were Coca Cola’s in glass bottles and chilled on ice, cheese wafers (read the book if you want to know about these delicacies and find a recipe), and pimento cheese with pecans from a recipe from Southern Living magazine. The cheese wafers were such a huge hit one neighbor texted me immediately about her new obsession with them. On my way home from my exercise class the next morning, I saw her and another neighbor walking in the neighborhood, going in the opposite direction from my house. I stopped to speak to them both and to offer her a few. Wafers. Without a moment’s hesitation, she turned to her walking companion and said, “We have to turn around and go to Chris’ house NOW.” Which they did. I sent them on their way with small platters of the prized snacks. I know what food I will be expected to future neighborhood gatherings.

If you weren’t able to come to the launch gathering, I hope you’ll save the date for another event. Here’s what’s on the calendar so far (keep an eye on my website or social media for additions):

—July 29, 7:00 pm at Inkberry Books, Niwot CO. Reading from Stay Sweet.

—August 12, 7:00 pm at Junkyard Social Club (2525 Frontier Avenue, Boulder,Colorado). Story reading (not book related) on the theme “curiosity.”

—August 29, 4:30 pm Explore Booksellers, Aspen, CO. Reading from Stay Sweet.

—October 5, 6:30pm Boulder Bookstore, Boulder, CO. Reading from Stay Sweet.

Many thanks to you, my friends, for your spectacular support!

(Find all my links here: linker.ee/chrischandler)