The Sweetgum Knit Lit Society
by Beth Pattillo 
ISBN: 9781400073948

Two things unite the ladies at Sweetgum Christian Church: their love of knitting and their passion for books. Librarian Eugenie invites Hannah--an angry teenager--to join their circle. Will Hannah's unique perspective bring fresh energy to their meetings or unravel the group?

Welcome readers to the preview of my book, The Sweetgum Knit Lit Society. I hope you enjoy reading it each day and look forward to any comments or questions you may have.
Beth Pattillo

I enjoyed installment #1. I tried to reserve it online at my library but it's not in the system. I love "multi-generational" books. I can't wait to read tomorrow's installment.

Lyn

Lyn - If your library doesn't have it yet, let your librarian know so she or he can add it to their acquisitions list. My city's library has a link on the website for suggesting books. Hope they can hook you up soon! :)

I am really enjoying this book so far. I spent a lot of time at the library to as a young girl. Not because my mom didn't have time, I just loved the library. I love the smell of all thoes books in one place. This book kinda reminds me a little of The blossom street books...it's very good so far and I plan to finish it.

"Now Eugenie could laugh. "No, Hannah. I'm not evil." She paused for
effect. "I'm a librarian."
Reminds me of the line in The Mummy movie.

Great book, oh by the way spending all that time in the library that summer helped me out. I read so many books that summer the librarian notifed my school and I got a lot of credit for it. I also won a little award. I had a headstart going into the 7th grade.

Thanks for the great book,
Chachi

I also spent a lot of time in the library as a child. I grew up in Nyack, NY, and our library was very old. The children's room was down a dark, narrow staircase in the basement but it was somehow very cozy and safe. I think the library was one of the only public places where I would be left alone for long stretches to explore. The librarian, who I can still picture perfectly in my mind, was very kind to me and often recommended wonderful books. The library we go to now, with my daughters, is brand new, modern, and airy, filled with light. But it is still one of my favorite places to hang out. And the librarians are consistently warm and friendly, always going out of their way to be helpful. So you can see that this book has already touched a special place in my heart.

I loved going to that library all summer long. I would walk to it, we lived about 5 blocks away. My mom would make me call her when I got there, b/c I had to cross a big street. I mean big like a 6 lane hwy. where all the strip malls and fast food places are. My mom worked and she didn't want me walking up there, but you know how kids are. Sometimes she would leave money for a cab, or ask one of our neighbors who didn't work to take me. I grew up in neighborhood about 25 miles outside of Dallas. I discovered Little house on the prairie, Little Women, and the Secret Garden that summer...among many others (but those are a few of my fav's.). That was one of my best summers ever....I still love books, but now I'm always at Barns and Noble or Borders. Maybe it's time to start visiting my public library again. I'll start with "Sweetgum".

It's so fun to hear different people's recollections of their love for a particular library. I'm fortunate to live near the magnificent downtown public library in Nashville. If you're ever in this neck of the woods, check it out for yourself. The reading room reminds me of the one in the British Museum in London.

Growing up, I spent hours and hours at the Mahon Library in Lubbock, Texas. My only frustration was that we were limited to checking out nine books at a time. I would have liked them to double that!

I, too, loved my public library growing up. Our children's section took up one half of the top floor of an old brick building that sat on a corner next to the post office and a church in my historic Connecticut Shoreline town. (It is actually what I am picturing while reading this book!) Mrs. Mays, the wonderful children's librarian, remembered me years later when I came home from college to start a story hour at the library. I was shocked at how very short the bookcases were when I returned; in my memory, they were towering bookcases, filled with books!

My current library in Northern Virginia (ranked #5 of comparable library systems :-) is totally amazing, with an internet presence that makes it unbelievably easy to reserve books online, and breeze in to pick them up through self check-out. However, I feel my little ones are missing out on something wonderful, as we don't spend nearly the amount of time at the library as I did as a child.

Since I found dearreader.com Ive discovered my library all over again.I spend too much money buying books at Barnes and Noble and Borders.My library is closer to my house than the stores. I can get the latest best sellers for free for about a month. If the library doesnt have it they can search for it anywhere in the country. That happened this week when I had them search for Heavier Than Air by Nona Caspers which was one of the books from the Authorbuzz link. I also found my library has DVDs of cable tv shows that some people might not be able to afford.And my library has computer classes and even book discussions. I hope to look into them someday. Thanks for everything, Bob

I AM ENJOYING THE BOOK AND I PLAN TO READ THE WHOLE BOOK. IT IS A VERY TOUCHING STORY.

Beth,

I joined the e-mail book club early this summer and this is the first book that immediately grabbed me. You see, I have been a volunteer librarian for over 3 years in a very tiny satellite library. I love it and wish I got my degree in Lib. Science (a long time ago)!

I grew up in the very same small town where I now volunteer, in the same library, though the original one-room building was knocked down about 30 years ago. Mom and us three kids drove to the post office at the "four corners" just about every weekday to pick up our mail. We had a rural route mailman, but my dad got tired of rebuilding our mailbox every spring after the snowplows and snowcutters demolished them! Remember snowcutters? Oh well, that's another story. Mom would make the library our second stop. I got to know the librarian (my Eugenie) and so looked forward to visiting her. After I went through all the children's books, she steered me into the ADULT SECTION. How special I felt at my young age. I was still only in gradeschool, but I read well. There's not much else to do in the summer in the country. That's why I related so well to your book.

By the time I was in junior high, I had read about every book (fiction) that our little library had to offer. I graduated to the "big city" library about ten miles away as I was old enough to be dropped off by Dad every Saturday while he went in to his office. Talk about heaven! I still have those feelings when I walk in a library or bookstore. To me, they are like a kid in a candy store. When new books arrive, I can't wait to rustle through the box. That's one of the perks of being a librarian. First dibs!!!

I reserved your book through our system and can't wait til it comes in! I think I will also look into your other writings. There's something about you that struck a chord in my heart. Thank you for writing.

Nealey - I remember when I got big enough to take the bus to the library. I was in high cotton! Glad you enjoyed the excerpt and hope you will enjoy the whole book just as much. :)

I like it too. Great start. I am smiling along. A little cheesy but in the good way that would make me read the whole thing. The book description reminds me a little of "How to Make an American Quilt." It's just too bad that books about crafting women usually center on knitting. What about crochet? We crochet-ers are underappreciated!

Lisa -- You're right. The crocheters (is that a word?) are underrepresented in novels that have craft elements. But that gives me a great idea for future Sweetgum books.... <g>

Beth,

Looking at your books on Amazon, it looks like the first book you published was Princess Charming, a historical romance. Can you tell us how you got that published? Was it the first book you wrote? Did you have an agent already?

Thanks!

Minda -- I started my career in historical romance, mostly due to my love of Jane Austen, but eventually switched to contemporaries. It took me 7 years to sell my first book (which was my third manuscript). I landed an agent based on serious interest in Princess Charming from an editor at Avon, but it several more years before the book finally sold.

In my experience, the two keys to getting published are to learn your craft and to persevere. I experienced a lot of rejection and still do, even after ten books. Publishing is not for the faint of heart!

Beth,

Thanks for sharing your story and thanks for joining us in discussion this week. And congratulations on your success - you have worked hard for it!

I love how Esther's personality differs with Ruthie's, it is really realistic to how many siblings act now, and I think I am just like Camille observing siblings when I have never had one of my own.

Getting the sisters right was difficult for me, because I only have brothers. Very large, gigantic brothers. So I really had to use my imagination when it came to Ruthie and Esther. I wanted to focus on two people who are divided yet united, so they have to find a way to deal with each other.

after the 2nd installment was in my inbox!
I agree it has the "feel" of a Blossom Street,,,and I love those!!
Can't wait to read the rest of the book!!

I really enjoyed this book and I definitely plan to get it and read the rest! It has a really good plot line and great characters. :)

I love this story so far. I'm going to hunt it down at a library or book store, whatever it takes. Beth, you had me at the first sentence.