Newspaper Writeup for Capturing The Castle

My local newspaper, The Mountain Democrat, interviewed me and featured Capturing The Castle on May 26th:

"In “Capturing the Castle” Jackson’s color and black and white photographs show both Preston’s unique architecture and the types of living arrangements used for staff and wards. Ornately carved corbels and archways vie with the Spartan utility of the basement baths; ivy crawls up walls studded with hundreds of windows."--The Mountain Democrat

You can read the entire article online here and the writeup came out in time for several people to also come to my signing at Preston Castle on the 27th.

I had a great time talking to everyone about Preston Castle and my book! Plus, 30% of the proceeds from that day went directly to the Preston Castle Foundation, and they'll be carrying it in the gift shop starting next week.

Now, on to finishing the editing for the Faerie Crossed novels so they can also hit the bookshelves!

Book Launch Recap

My book launch for Crow's Rest at Avid Reader at Tower in Sacramento was so much fun! Lots of friends and family came out to support me and my debut book--my parents even sent me a handmade lei to the store.

But if you missed the event, never fear--there are a few more signings already scheduled. On June 6th from 12 noon-2 PM, I'll be at Face in a Book in the El Dorado Hills Town Center. And also be in Nashville, Tennessee, at UtopYA Con, signing on June 20.

And don't forget that you can still enter to win a copy of Crow's Rest, here through Rafflecopter, and on Goodreads (ends May 24).

Now for pictures from the launch!

Danna Wilberg, who interviewed me on her TV show, Story Connection, came to the launch for a picture with my alter ego

I got so many compliments on this dress! I bought it last year, specifically to wear at my book launch

I'm either talking really fast with my hands here, or doing the handjive

A better picture of the elaborate lei my parents sent to the store to surprise me

Holding the audience rapt with my reading

My hubby snapped this picture while we were still setting up

Supercrow!

The question and answer portion of the event

Now that the launch is behind me, I can dive back into writing the sequel to Crow's Rest!

Crow Dreams

So as you might guess from the title, my book Crow's Rest features crows. (And some not-crows, too, but you'd have to read the book to get that reference).

In early October, I happened to be in Target, lured by their ad with a motion-activated crow Halloween decoration. They were out of those, but they did have this cool stuff:

I love the lanterns (with LED flickering candles) and will probably use those year round. And the  tablecloths!

The plan was to buy more plates, napkins, and serving bowls on clearance after Halloween, but they were out of a lot of that stuff by the time I got there (15 minutes after they opened on Nov. 1). I did find some really cool wall decals that I hadn't seen before, and I nabbed some of the crow's feet servers and snack bowls.

In my opinion, those crow decals were just what this wall needed:

Too bad they didn't like sticking to the textured wall and started to peel off almost immediately. But I do have mirrored closet doors in my office and I think they'll stick nicely there.

Even though I will get use out of these items in my home, what I really have in mind for them is to use at a book launch or book signing for Crow's Rest. Especially those tablecloths--so different! And even though an event is in the unknown future, I love feeling like the possibility is real by stockpiling this kind of stuff.

What about you? Do you have any "must-have" items in mind for when you do an in-person event for your book(s)? 

Bonus photo: My mom collects owls, and I have long since given in to enabling her addiction. This is the stuff I found for her while shopping the clearance aisles: