January 15, 2007
I think it was my friend Breeni who first mentioned Silas House. I’m not sure, but House always makes me think of her, so we’ll give her credit. Maybe she’ll chime in with the real story and fix my revisionist history.
Anyway, someone sent me a copy of House’s 2001 debut, Clay’s Quilt, at some point along the line (okay, maybe I do span overdo it with the online trading stuff. But it’s so fun!). It sat here for about a year and a half before I finally picked it up and read it.
Oh, my.
What on Earth took me so long???
This book was wonderful.
Get your own copy; mine’s long gone.
Breeni
January 16, 2007 10:35 am
I’d love to solve your mystery, but I’ve never heard of Silas House! I’m not the guilty party.
Breeni
January 16, 2007 10:37 am
I’d love to solve the mystery, but I’m not the guilty party. I’ve never heard of Silas House! I’m searching the dusty corners of my brain, but I can’t think of who might have suggested it…
Sparky Duck
January 16, 2007 11:31 am
shockingly, I am thoroughly lost on this contest
Susan Helene Gottfried
January 16, 2007 12:16 pm
Hopefully, this week’s Thursday Thirteen will help give you more ideas, Sparky. If you have time, hunt through the archives — heck, read the other entries. You ought to be able to get a pretty good idea of these three.br /br /And you can answer as little as ONE question to be in the running for a prize!br /br /So if it wasn’t Breeni who told me about Silas House, who was it???? Bueller?
nimrodiel
January 16, 2007 5:09 pm
Someone on the book relay forums was talking alot about their book club meeting for Clay’s Quilt with the added bonus of having a QA session with Silas House on speaker phone…br /br /I know a bunch of people rushed out and bought/obtained copies around then but for the life of me I can’t remember who it was.
Susan Helene Gottfried
January 16, 2007 5:12 pm
Grah! (yes, that’s a word. I just made it up)br /br /Who the frell was it, then??? Can anyone ask the group for me? Tell them I want to know so I can thank them properly!
cheesygiraffe
January 16, 2007 8:43 pm
I will ask over a the temp forums.br /Just for you dear. 🙂
Susan Helene Gottfried
January 16, 2007 9:47 pm
Thanks, babe. Invite ’em on over to set me straight!
Breeni
January 17, 2007 11:33 am
A little research revealed it was alsgal. ;)br /br /http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:3QkEDHp6qO4J:bookrelay-forums.com/index.php%3Fshowtopic%3D3640+silas+bookrelay.comhl=engl=usct=clnkcd=4
cheesygiraffe
January 17, 2007 1:22 pm
It was alsgal! 🙂 I will send her over her to the blog. *smooch*
Susan Helene Gottfried
January 17, 2007 1:24 pm
Alsgal is good people. She can recommend books to me more often! (plus, she’s just plain nice)
alsgal
January 17, 2007 2:05 pm
Guilty as charged! It was I!br /br /In fact it was one of my copies of Clay’s Quilt that made it’s way to you (via ryanreader). I’m so glad that you liked this book as much as I do.br /br /From talking to him on the phone, Silas is just a down to earth guy and was a lot of fun to talk to.br /br /I love his writing and recommend his books to everyone!br /br /Here’s the story of how I got turned on to him. I was watching CBS Sunday Morning several years ago and they did a spot on him. They talked about how he was a rural postman and about Clay’s Quilt. So I made a mental note to check out his book. Of course, I didn’t pick it up right away but his name stayed in the back of my mind.br /br /Sometime after that, I moved to Seattle and went to the Friends of the Library book sale. I came across an ARC of Parchment of Leaves (his second book). As I thumbed through the book, a letter fell out. It was a letter recommending the book from the manager of a bookstore in Louisville, KY, where I grew up. I had spent hours reading in that bookstore when I was growing up and figured I was meant to have that book. So I bought it, took it home, read it, and was hooked.br /br /Now I buy all his books NEW as soon as they come out and usually buy multiple copies to spread the word. He’s not only a good writer but a good man!br /br /Now if my FAVORITE writer would just get published, I’d run out and buy multiple copies of her book to spread the word.br /br /I’ve missed talking to you Susan. I’ll bookmark your site (I don’t know why I hadn’t already) try to stop by more often!br /br /Patti
Susan Helene Gottfried
January 17, 2007 3:46 pm
You’re making me blush! Your favorite writer? Wow!br /br /Yes, I’d say you were meant to have that copy of Parchment, too. br /br /I’ve got Parchment on my various wish lists. Hopefully it’ll turn up soon. And I’ll definitely be picking up more copies of Clay’s Quilt to share.