What a Lovely Christmas Gift for Me (Yes, That's My Book Mentioned in the NY Times)

In today's New York Times Book Review section - there I am. Or there's my paperback. Last mentioned, but there it is.

LEARNING TO SWIM, by Sara J. Henry (Broadway, $15.) In Henry’s tense first novel, a young woman rescues a boy from the waters of Lake Champlain, only to see her unruffled life abruptly give way to an unfamiliar world of wealth, privilege and danger. - from Paperback Row, New York Times, by Ihsan Taylor

And there's my book, on the Emerging Author shelf at Target:

Mine and my friend Taylor Stevens (same publisher, same editor!) on the same shelf at Target. Won't see it at other stores this way, but mine was put out early at my local store.

All in all, an amazingly lovely Christmas week for me in many ways. Hope you are all having a wonderful week.

Oh, This is Way Way Cool

Just noticed Sarah Weinman's list of Crime Novel Favorites of Mine in 2011 - and there I was. OK, there my book was. On a list with some amazing writers, including Sara Gran, who now shares an agent with me.

Sara J. Henry, LEARNING TO SWIM (Crown) — My doppelganger (long story, see here) wrote a book that, when I got the galley at my old UPS drop, I went to a park around the corner, started reading a few pages and the next thing I knew I was 100 pages in and was done not too long after. It’s subtle, but the book gripped me, and it will grip you. 

And the doppleganger thing - I never saw the resemblance, but then at the San Francisco Bouchercon I got a friend to snap a photo of us together, and, well ...

And Today is Paperback Launch Day

So the paperback of Learning to Swim comes out today, and you can find it at $15 or less, at bookstores (call ahead first), Target, and of course Amazon. At Target it will be on the Emerging Authors shelf - along with books from my friends Meg Waite Clayton (The Four Ms. Bradwells) and Jael McHenry (The Kitchen Daughter). If you're looking for holiday gifts, you can't go wrong here.

There's something wonderfully lovely about the fact that my first novel ends up on a shelf with one by Meg, who was one of the very first to read the very early drafts of my novel, back when we both lived in Nashville. A wonderful serendipity.

And it's also lovely that on the day of my paperback release, I'm on Deb's Gift Book Recommendations over at Juniper Moon Farm - and where I'm truly honored to be on a list with Mary Stewart's Nine Coaches Waiting, one of my inspirations.

Such Good News It Took Me a Day to Post

This was such good news I couldn't even post it yesterday. I was flabbergasted to find my novel on the Boston Globe's best crime books of the year list, in the company of some amazing writers, including my friend Taylor Stevens, also from Crown (THE INFORMATIONIST). Here's what reviewer Hallie Ephron wrote:

“Learning to Swim’’ by Sara J. Henry (Crown)
A single woman dives headlong from a ferry into Lake Champlain to rescue a child, and then must figure out what to do with him. Compulsively readable, this is all about what we do for love. - from "On Crime: best books of the year," Boston Globe

So not only very cool to be mentioned at all, but way cool that she 'got' the essence of this book. And a lovely early Christmas gift for me.

What You Could Do For Me

You don't of course, need to do anything for me. But if you have the slightest inclination ...

The paperback edition of Learning to Swim will be in stores Dec. 20. Many different things determine the success of a book, whether a series continues, if an author is lucky enough to continue having books published. I've heard from a lot of people who have found my book at their public library and enjoyed it, and I'm hoping some of them will want a copy once it's in paperback.

Suffice it to say that this paperback launch is pretty important to me. So here's what you could do, if you want - any (or all!) of these:

• See if your book club is interested in reading my book - I will happily do book club visits, in person or via Skype. This edition has discussion questions.
• Tell your friends about it. In person, via Facebook or Twitter, on your blog.
• If you've read and like it, leave a review on Amazon U.S., Barnes and Noble, Goodreads, or wherever else you find. (The folks who don't like it are plenty vocal, so it's nice to balance them out.)
• Tell your local bookstore about it.
• Consider preordering a copy from your local bookstore or Amazon (about $12.99 right now - the price wanders up and down)
• Show up at your local Target on Dec. 20 and get a copy or two (oh, yes, it's a great holiday gift - for ages 13 to 95).

Because it would be oh-so-splendid if this book does well in its first month or so. And I would be oh-so-grateful.

Apparently, I've Married Mr. Holt without Realizing It

Because suddenly I've become Sara J. Holt.