On Mercy, Handling the Truth, and Debbie Levy

Sometimes you find yourself so startlingly well understood that you have no words, not really, to express your wonder and gratitude.

That happened to me earlier today when I read these words by Debbie Levy, about Handling the Truth. Debbie is a writer I met in July, in Alexandria, VA. She is a writer with whom I had an immediate connection, and for whom I had instant affection.

In the months since I have seen her, Debbie has had to say goodbye to the mother she loved so deeply—Jutta Salzberg, who stands at the heart of Debbie's award-winning The Year of Goodbyes. In Debbie's essay, she writes the story of reading the story that is Handling the Truth. She writes about mercy, and the role it plays in our lives. For Debbie's own wisdoms, for her own talents, I urge you to read her words today.

I hope this will lead you to one of Debbie's own books.

Thank you, Debbie.

I am a step behind in writing about Beth Kephart’s new book, Handling the Truth: On the Writing of Memoir.  Since Handling The Truth came out this past summer, this versatile and prolific writer has already geared up for release of her next book, a novel, Going Over, due out in April 2014.  But better a step behind, I figure, than not taking the journey at all, especially the journey offered by this book, which, despite its subtitle, is not just a book for memoir writers, or memoir readers, or for writers or readers of any stripe.  It works as a book for anyone who has had a childhood or a past. - See more at: http://debbielevybooks.com/2013/11/toward-mercy/#sthash.OcohB6U2.dpuf

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Join Debbie Levy and me in Alexandria, VA, as we share our new books and think about the fine line between truth and fiction

Over the next many months I'll be traveling around the country talking about books and how they get made. Often, I'll be doing this work in conjunction with writers I've always admired and cannot wait to meet. (Or announce here, just as soon as I can.)

This afternoon, I can formally announce the first such collaborative conversation, which I will be having with the esteemed author, Debbie Levy, a multi-genre, multi-award winning author of picture books, memoirs, and novels. We have shared interests, Debbie and I, and I can't wait to learn from her at Hooray for Books, in Alexandria, VA, on July 27, 2013. We'll start at 3:30 and end around five. We'll talk about truth and fiction and the lines in between, focusing on the four books I feature here—Handling the Truth (its first appearance in any store), The Year of Goodbyes (the winner of many awards), Small Damages (the first time I'll see its paperback self in any store), and Imperfect Spiral (just released). Debbie and I will both read—briefly—from each book, discuss its creation, and then share thoughts on workshopping truth and fiction. We each have an in-store exercise for those who'd like to try their hands at a bit of writing—and to hear our thoughts about their work.

I'm looking forward to meeting Debbie, to spending time at Hooray for Books, and to finally giving Deborah Yarborough a hug—for it is because of Deborah's sweet invitation that I will be there in the first place (and person).

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