Happy Monday, y’all! I hope you enjoyed a lovely weekend. Things were good here, and pretty typical (more Jack Ryan, Saturday night snacks and college football, golf, church, etc.) except for yesterday afternoon. It’s definitely not typical that I get to meet an author whose latest book is a new favorite. and y’all – she’s not only an author, she’s a knitter!
I had the good fortune of arriving about 45 minutes early, just after Deena texted that she was outside on the patio, knitting with Alice Hoffman and her delightful assistant Katie. I am ever-so-grateful to Deena for taking this photo!
Fun fact – Alice is allergic to wool and only knits with cashmere.
They all had to depart for the green room and I had more time to enjoy the beautiful day and some good sock knitting
before the actual event. 
Alice began with a short reading (the story about the mama wolf and her cub that Bobeshi tells Lea early in the book) … how wonderful is that tattered paperback copy that she’s carrying around 🙂 The conversation with Greg Changnon was enlightening and entertaining. A few more fun facts: this is the first novel about the Holocaust Hoffman’s ever read (obviously she’s not in the same bookclubs I am); she loves exploring emotion through folk tales; she did a LOT of research for this book (including trips to France and many interviews with Holocaust survivors); she has a personal connection with a  blue heron in her real life; and the third book in the Practical Magic trilogy is coming out next year (it’s set in the late 1600’s)!
All of that impressed me immensely, but then, when it was my turn in the signing line, she looked up at me and said “it’s Mary, right?” … and now I’m a fan for life.
Also, the book is Amazing!
mere-et-filles 
Oh my! What an incredible weekend you had! What fun to knit with Ms. Hoffman! XO
Going to an author talk is wonderful in itself, but to find out that she’s a knitter (who only knits with cashmere) makes it even better! I may have to add myself to the very long queue at the library.
Lucky You ! What a treasure and thanks for sharing your great meet-up! Hope to get the book Thursday at latest…
Cheers ~
Wow! What a wonderful experience that must have been! I loved The World That We Knew and I’m about half way through The Dovekeepers…she is an amazing writer!
This is a wonderful story, I’m thrilled for you that you got to KNIT with ALICE HOFFMAN. Whoa. I’m also thrilled to hear that there’s a new Practical Magic coming!
So cool!! And, she remembered your name! What fun.
What a lucky lady you are! I like her even more now that I know she’s a knitter (and a cashmere knitter, too, ooh la la). The book is going on my TBR list!
So! Great! Glad you had the opportunity to sit and knit with Alice. What a great story to tell!
I am reading this book now and I JUST read the story of the wolf! I love meeting favorite authors and I’m so glad you had the opportunity to meet Alice.
How magical is THAT?????!!!! (She only knits with cashmere. That just cracks me up!) What a wonderful event — and SUCH A GOOD BOOK!!!! XO
What a wonderful story! How fun to knit with Ms Hoffman. I do love that tattered paperback she is reading from. Now I really am going to have to read that book. Thank you for sharing your story.
Holy batman!! are you a lucky duck or what? How exciting to me an author AND to be knitting with her??? You have achieved an unknown bucket list item.
Now that’s pretty awesome.
Oh wow. WOW WOW WOW! That is so cool, Mary!
“It’s Mary, right?” Wow.
Only with cashmere, eh? 🙂