Dialogue Publishing Blog 
Jodi Picoult -- posted by Susan Lutz Hamilton
Apr 16, 2007 • 7:58 pm (EST)
Last Monday night my family and I went to hear Jodi Picoult speak at Tattered Cover Highlands Ranch. We knew Jodi would draw a crowd, but were amazed when we arrived at the store 90 minutes ahead of her presentation and there were already more than 100 people in line. By the time she started to talk almost 300 people were packed into the store.
Jodi started her presentation on "Nineteen Minutes" by admitting she had some nervousness about how the book would be received in Denver because of the Columbine shootings. She read a section from the middle of the novel that had been requested by a Columbine survivor.
Then she answered questions. She gets her ideas by thinking about how social issues might impact her family. Her children do read her books and she discusses the stories with them. Her favorites of her titles are "Songs of the Humpback Whale," "The Pact," and "Keeping Faith."
As far as the writing process itself, Jodi said she always knows the end of the book before she writes the first sentence. It takes her nine months to complete a first draft. She parks her butt in her desk chair shortly after 7:30 a.m. and begins her writing session by reviewing a few pages from where she left off in her previous session. She writes eight hours a day.
Jodi encouraged new writers to participate in a local writer's workshop. She said workshops help develop discipline and provide writers valuable feedback about their work.
Authors she enjoys reading are Alice Hoffman, Sue Miller and Jacquelyn Mitchard.
When I got to meet her during the signing, I thanked Jodi for creating books that bring people out to bookstores. Denver's enthusiatic crowd is a hopeful sign for all publishers that people are still reading and appreciate a well-crafted story. |
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Blog Archive
Jan 11, 2006 - On the Road in 2006
Jan 9, 2006 - Special info for book clubs
Jan 9, 2006 - Olympics book coming soon
Feb 13, 2006 - Hawaii Book Tour
Feb 13, 2006 - "Paying the Price" Reviewed in Honolulu Star-Bulletin
Feb 16, 2006 - Creative Writing Workshops
Feb 16, 2006 - Character Development
Feb 24, 2006 - Resources for writers
Feb 27, 2006 - Dates changed for Session II & Session III
Feb 28, 2006 - AWA Trainings for 2006
Mar 3, 2006 - What is a writing prompt?
Mar 13, 2006 - Sue & Madge on Podcast of The Writing Show
Mar 22, 2006 - Why Consider Turning Fact into Fiction?
Mar 30, 2006 - How to turn fact into fiction
Apr 5, 2006 - New writing book to check out
May 3, 2006 - "The Man with No Skin" Named IPPY Award Semi-finalist
May 10, 2006 - The Man with No Skin Named IPPY Award Finalist
May 22, 2006 - New creative writing workshop session begins soon
Jun 14, 2006 - Paying the Price and The Man with No Skin are EVVY Finalists
Jun 18, 2006 - Two Books Win Big at EVVY's
Jun 30, 2006 - Creative Writing Workshop Alum in American Idol Contest
Jul 13, 2006 - Register now for fall creative writing workshop
Jul 31, 2006 - Perfect age to publish?
Aug 29, 2006 - Writing Opportunity
Sep 29, 2006 - Fall
Oct 13, 2006 - Vote for "Paying the Price" in Hawaii Book Awards
Oct 24, 2006 - New Writers Workshop Schedule to be posted soon
Oct 28, 2006 - Paying the Price Wins Reader's Choice Award
Nov 6, 2006 - New Writers Workshop Session Scheduled
Nov 20, 2006 - Denver Holiday Sales Outlet
Dec 4, 2006 - Sisters in Crime
Dec 14, 2006 - Workshop Participant to be Published
Jan 5, 2007 - New Year Resolutions for Writers
Jan 19, 2007 - Attend a writers conference in 2007
Jan 23, 2007 - Creative types as business people
Feb 22, 2007 - Spring writers workshop schedule
Feb 23, 2007 - Submissions solicited for next Chicken Soup book
Mar 19, 2007 - Two New Workshops
Apr 16, 2007 - Jodi Picoult
Jun 7, 2007 - New novel out soon!
Jul 25, 2007 - Fall Writers Workshop Schedule
Sep 18, 2007 - "Cleaning Closets" is here!
Nov 15, 2007 - Reader Raves for Cleaning Closets
Nov 16, 2007 - New Fiction Chapbook
Dec 8, 2007 - Workshop Writer a Contest Winner
Mar 14, 2008 - Two Great Local Events For Writers
Apr 2, 2008 - Cleaning Closets Wins Merit Award
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