Thursday, February 14, 2013

Julie Kibler

Julie Kibler began writing Calling Me Home after learning a bit of family lore: as a young woman, her grandmother fell in love with a young black man in an era and locale that made the relationship impossible. When not writing, Kibler enjoys travel, independent films, music, photography, and corralling her teenagers and rescue dogs.

Last month I asked the author about what she was reading. Kibler's reply:
The first book I finished reading in 2013 was an advance readers’ edition of The Promise, a novel by Ann Weisgarber, who wrote The Personal History of Rachel Dupree. I was sucked in from beginning to end of this harrowing tale of a woman who flees to Galveston to marry the man who worshipped her from afar when they were young. The historic 1900 Galveston storm—the worst natural disaster in 20th century American history—figures largely in this haunting second novel, due March 15 from Pan Macmillan, the publisher Weisgarber and I share in the UK. I hope it releases soon here in the U.S.

I’m currently reading J.K. Rowling’s The Casual Vacancy. I haven’t read a single Harry Potter story, which some of my friends think is ridiculous. I’ve never been much on fantasy. But I do like stories about English villages, and I’m fascinated by small-town scuttlebutt. I’m about halfway through the book, which I began reading for a local book club. I’d heard such varied reactions—some vehemently upset with Rowling for this strong departure from the Harry Potter books—I thought it would be a fun experiment. I like it so far, which doesn’t surprise me at all.
Visit Julie Kibler's website.

The Page 69 Test: Calling Me Home.

--Marshal Zeringue