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Sioux Falls Fall into Books

5/16/2017

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 Is it 2018, yet?! I'm so excited to announce that I'll be attending the Sioux Falls Fall into Books Event in Sioux Falls, South Dakota next year! The signing will take place on Saturday, October 13, 2018. So, mark your calendars! You can find more information on the Facebook page. I can't wait to see you!
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Discussion Questions: When Cicadas Cry

5/15/2017

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​READING GROUP GUIDE
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
When Cicadas Cry
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  1. At first, Rem only reads a few chapters of Ashley’s book. If you knew a book was about you, would you read it entirely?
  2. Rem tells Ashley the story about the cicadas and how they know immortality, yet not eternal youth. Which would you take, if you could: immortality or eternal youth (minus the immortality part) or neither?
  3. Rem knows why Ashley left town, but he doesn’t tell anyone. Could you have kept that a secret, with all the rumors flying around the small town?
  4. When Rem finds out Ashley’s connection to Owen, he’s angry that Ashley had even come to Ava knowing what she knew. Was he justified in his thoughts and actions?
  5. Should Ashley have mentioned to Rem her connection to Owen sooner?
  6. Rem sights his loyalty to his brother for not continuing to see Ashley? Is this reasonable?
  7. Ashley abruptly leaves town after Rem says that he no longer loves her. Is she justified in doing this? Would you have wanted to get out of town after what had happened?
  8. Rem sees Ashley’s words--there are just some things in this world you don’t take for granted. And that’s one of them—as a sign from his brother. Do you think he needed something like this to feel okay about seeing Ashley again? And why do you think that is?​
  9. In the epilogue, Ashley says that it’s not one moment that shapes an entire life, but a series of moments—one on top of the other. How do you interpret this statement?
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Discussion Questions: A Bird on a Windowsill

5/15/2017

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READING GROUP GUIDE
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
A Bird on a Windowsill
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  1. Were you surprised that Savannah had a boyfriend the first time she came back from South Carolina?  Did you feel for Salem (Eben)?
  2. What is your impression of Savannah’s Uncle Lester? What do you think about Lester’s relationship with Olivia? 
  3. Do you think Savannah was justified in pushing back her feelings for Salem while she lived in South Carolina? Would you have done the same?
  4. What are your thoughts about Jake? Do you think he and Savannah make a good couple?
  5. After Salem gets the safe open he tells Savannah that he thinks he’s in love with her. Was Savannah justified in thinking that Salem might be jealous? Knowing that he was still with Anna, would you have turned Salem down then?
  6. In Salem's letter to Savannah that he gives her near the end of the novel, he rewrites his time with her. Are there moments where you would rewrite time, if you could?
  7. What were your thoughts when Salem told Savannah that he was going to ask Anna to marry him? Do you think that this was too soon after he had confessed his love for Savannah? Would you have said more to him at that time, if you were Savannah?
  8. How does Olivia and Lester’s relationship parallel Savannah and Salem’s? In the end, how did Olivia and Lester’s relationship affect Savannah and Salem’s?
  9. When Savannah tells Jake that she is in love with Salem, Jake seems to already know. Why do you think this is? Do you feel for Jake?
  10. When Savannah goes to Iowa to find Salem, she finds him in the lumberyard with Anna. Would you have reacted how Savannah did or would you have stayed and talked to Salem?
  11. Were you surprised at what Salem was building on Sheppard’s Hill or did you suspect this all along?
  12. Several times throughout the story, Savannah comments about wishing she had seen Salem's love for her sooner. Do you think she should have seen this sooner or do you think Salem and Savannah needed to take this journey to realize their love for one another? How many times have you not realized your love for someone?
  13. In the epilogue, Savannah says: Love never leaves us. We just have to choose it. Do you agree with her statement? Do you believe that we have to choose love?​
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Discussion Questions: My Butterfly

5/13/2017

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READING GROUP GUIDE
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
MY BUTTERFLY
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  1. My Butterfly is told from Will’s perspective. If you’ve read Butterfly Weeds, how does the story differ from Julia’s perspective? Do you prefer the male or female voice?
  2. When Will has to leave for a fire call while Julia is back from college, she’s disappointed. Are her feelings justified? How does Will's new job affect their relationship?
  3. Will is in the hospital after his fall, and Julia whispers: I can’t do this. What do you think she is referring to? Is it reasonable for her to feel this way, especially knowing what we later find out about her father’s first profession?
  4. Did Will fight enough for Julia during their break-up? Was Julia too quick to let Will go?
  5. Jeff convinces Will that if he takes Jessica to the New Year’s Eve party that Julia will be jealous and fall back in love with him. What do you think of Jeff’s scheme? Why do you think Will bought it?
  6. What do you think of Jessica? Is she good for Will? Do you feel for her?
  7. Jeff says to Will after Julia goes to college that she might never come back to him. What part does Julia being in college play in her and Will's relationship? Do you think Julia is struggling with balancing her old and new worlds?
  8. Will’s fire chief says: Sometimes, you just have to let go. She’ll come back, when she’s ready. Do you think this is good advice?
  9. The fire chief also says: Happiness is like a butterfly. The more you chase it, the more it will elude you. But if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit on your shoulder. Do you believe this is true?
  10. What part did Julia play in Will eventually contacting the agent? Have you ever done anything for a boy/girl?
  11. Will seems to immediately turn away every girl. Do you think his love for Julia is why he does this? Do you think it’s possible to love someone for years from a distance, especially at such a young age?
  12. When Rachel tells Will that Julia broke off her engagement, she also tells Will to give Julia time. Do you think he gave her too much time? Would you have contacted her sooner?
  13. We learn that Will is planning on proposing to Julia at his concert. But he hasn’t seen her in awhile. Is this a crazy idea? Or is this what he needed to do?
  14. We later learn that Jeff and Jessica are dating. Did you see this coming? Do they seem as if they're a good couple?
  15. Will says in the epilogue that life is all about finding any way to get to the one you love. Do you think Will could have found his way to Julia faster and saved himself some grief? Or do you think his journey was necessary?
  16. In the epilogue, Will also says that somewhere in the course of life, children struggles morph into adult ones, and the pain becomes too deeply rooted for a hug or a word to cure anymore. Do you agree with this?
  17. Also in the epilogue, Julia says that her and Will’s story is full of stumbles, tear and smiles and holding on and refusing to let go. It’s the best kind of fairy tale. Do you believe that these are the characteristics of every fairy tale?​
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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: For All You Have Left

5/13/2017

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​​READING GROUP GUIDE
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
For All You Have Left
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  1. Logan falls in love at a young age. Do you think it’s possible to know a lasting love so young? Do you believe that her and Andrew’s love was real?
  2. Why do you feel as though Logan doesn’t go by her first name? How do you think she handles losing Andrew?
  3. Do you think Hannah is too pushy in trying to get Ada (Logan) to move on? What part does grief play in this story?
  4. What is your first impression of Jorgen? If you were Ada, would you have resisted him for so long?
  5. Who did you think Amsel was? Did you suspect his identity? What do you think of Ada and his relationship?​
  6. Ada has a dream where she talks to Andrew. Do you ever have dreams that seem as real? How do you think the dream affects Ada’s real life?
  7. What do you think Ada taking off Andrew’s shirt and putting on Jorgen’s shirt symbolizes for her?
  8. Ada tries to tell Jorgen about her marriage to Andrew, but Hannah walks in, and Ada stops talking. Do you think Ada should have told Jorgen about her marriage to Andrew sooner? What would you have done?
  9. Ada says that she decided to be a writer while staring at the quote by Shakespeare that says: There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so. Do you agree with this quote? 
  10. When Jorgen runs into Ada and James Amsel having coffee, do you think Jorgen overreacts?
  11. Near the end of the novel, Ada goes to Andrew’s grave. She says there that she will always love him. Do you think it’s possible to love more than one person at the same time?
  12. In the epilogue, Ada talks about a first love and a true love. Do you think there’s a difference between your first love and your true love?
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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: By Way of Accident

5/13/2017

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​​​READING GROUP GUIDE
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
By Way of Accident
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  1. River seems to fall head over heels for Brooke when he first meets her at the creek. Do you think it’s possible to fall in love so quickly or do you think River’s age played a part in it?
  2. What are your first impressions of Brooke?
  3. Brooke says that eventually everyone gets used to pretty. Do you think this is true?
  4. Why do you believe River held onto Brooke? Do you think it’s possible to hold onto someone for years, without contact?
  5. What do you think of River’s relationship with Amy?
  6. River asks Amy what she thinks she’ll miss about life when she dies. Amy says he shouldn’t think about things like that. Do you think Brooke’s free spirit helped to shape River’s thoughts? Do you think our first loves somehow help to shape our thoughts on love, life?
  7. River sets out to find Brooke after he receives her lost letter. Would you have done the same?​
  8. When River sees Brooke with another guy, he leaves without talking to her. Why do you think he does this?
  9. Were you surprised that it was Amy who showed up to see River at the coffee bar? Were you expecting Brooke? Do you think it's reasonable for River to have considered taking Amy back?
  10. Did you suspect that River was bidding against Brooke for Mrs. Catcher's house? Why do you think Brooke bought the house?
  11. Near the end of the novel, Brooke recites a quote by F. Scott Fitzgerald that says: There are all kinds of love in this world but never the same love twice? Do you think this is true?
  12. What role do you think fate plays in this story? Do you believe that River and Brooke were meant to find each other again or do you think it was purely a lucky coincidence?
  13. In the epilogue, River says: There are no accident, but instead, only things we cannot see, only hidden memories--later disguised and made to look as if they merely came to us...by way of accident. How do you interpret this quote? Do you believe it to be true?
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Just A Dream

5/7/2017

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Fifteen, short years ago, this was just a dream.
 
Everything.
 
The track. The hurdles with Shamrocks painted on them. The pole vault pit. The jump mats. The cage for the discus. The volunteers. The dozen busses in the parking lot.
 
Just fifteen, short years ago, I asked my high school principal when WE were going to get a track. His response: When YOU pay for it. Well, how much is it? I asked. About a quarter of a million, he said.

And that was the end of that conversation.
 
Well, thankfully, I didn’t have to foot that bill. Thankfully, the community came together and did that—in just a few years! And yesterday, New Haven hosted its first EVER track meet.
 
Had I just left New Haven two days earlier? Yes. Did I think twice about driving all the way back across the state again—for one day? No. I had to be there. I had to be there because this was always just a dream to me; I had to see it in real life.
 
And just to put this a little more into perspective, my nephew and I had a conversation while walking on the old "track" that went something like this: 
Me: "Aunt Wawa, Aunt April and Mommy used to run on this track."
Jack: "What track?" 
Me: "This one—the one we're standing on."
Jack: "This isn't a track."
Me: *nods head "Yes, Jack, you are correct."
 
So, yeah, yesterday was pretty cool. Everything ran smoothly, there were tons of volunteers, athletes ran fast and jumped and threw far and New Haven won the meet. You never would have guessed that this was New Haven’s first—like, not even a practice meet—track meet. To say I was a little proud to be an alumna is like saying I'm a little in love with the Great British Baking Show! So, yes, yesterday, I wore that three-leafed plant as if it were a crown! So, THANK YOU to all those who made this dream a reality!

P.S. My nephew’s daddy thinks my nephew is going to be a baseball star. But I’m doing my best, Coach Tucker. And just to prove it, right after the 4x400 was announced yesterday, Jack (my nephew) jumped up and said: This is the funnest (we're still working on English) race. They pass sticks, Daddy.

At that, his daddy looked at me. ...And I just smiled.

One step closer.
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Night Out: Pinot's Palette Olathe

5/5/2017

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It's no secret that I love art—​writing, creating, painting. My mom is a gifted ceramics painter, and for years when I was young, she sold her creations. Our entire basement was devoted to white molds, little paint jars, a slip mixer and a big kiln. It was one of my favorite places to be, right beside my mom, watching little figurines come to life with paint. And that's exactly what I had the chance to do again at Pinot's Palette Olathe—​only this time, with canvases! 
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This was actually my second time at Pinot's Palette in Olatha. My husband and I visited when it opened last year, and we both walked out the door feeling as if we were little, undiscovered Picassos. So, of course, we knew we had to go back and make sure it wasn't just a fluke. And plus, who doesn't like anything that involves wine?!
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That being said, Thursday, we brought our favorite wine (it's BYO), poured two glasses and started painting—​with instruction, of course. Our expert artist walked us through everything and made it super easy, which is good for me (and especially, my husband). Let's just say, my husband can draw a mean Homer Simpson head (which I've included in the photo slideshow below), but that's just about it.
PicturePhoto Credit: Pinot's Palette Olathe
And while we were there, we also had the chance to wander around the studio and see all the cool events coming up. For instance, on Mother's Day, among other events, there's a Paint with Princesses day, where you can paint with your children, AND real princesses will be in attendance! Real Princesses! I have to be honest. As soon as I heard this, I was trying to figure out how I could get my niece or nephew (I'd promise him some toy trucks in exchange) here, just so I could paint the Beauty and the Beast rose and see Belle and Elsa!
PictureThe next Project Pet is May 20.
And have you heard of the Pet Project? My husband LOVED this idea. (He's obsessed with border collies...just FYI). For this event, Pinot's will actually scan one of your pet photos onto a canvas. And then YOU get to paint your pet to life! The pet painting to the left is painted in neon paint, which brings me to the event that I'm signing up for next! On May 26, it's date night, and you and your date actually get to paint a pretty "Sail Away" piece together—​all under a black light! It's like a sixth-grade dance all over again! How cool is that?!
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So, after we were finished wandering around the studio, we went back to painting...and drinking wine. And before we knew it, we had done it!
We came.
We painted.
And the finished product looked really close to what it was supposed to look like! I was actually kind of proud of us—​well, more so of Neville! :) He managed to draw something other than a happy, sad or lost Homer. And it wasn't a fluke. We are little Picassos...or at least we are inside the walls of Pinot's Palette! Either way, we'll be framing these love birds.

So, if you're in the Kansas City area, I would highly recommend checking out Pinot's Palette in Olathe. It's always a fun experience where you can relax, unwind and best of all, tap into your creative side—​even if you don't think you have one! 

Our Night In Photos

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    laura miller
    Laura Miller
    I write about rain on tin roofs, gravel roads, old trucks with holes in the floorboards and small-town summer nights. I grew up on a farm in a little Midwestern town. Now, I live in Kansas City, Mo., with my weatherman husband.

    Follow Me!

     Laura Miller's first 
    contemporary romance novel, Butterfly Weeds, hit the Amazon Best-Seller's List and Top 100 in October 2012. The sequel to Butterfly Weeds, My Butterfly, released in June 2013. For All You Have Left, By Way of Accident, When Cicadas Cry and A Bird on a Windowsill followed. The Life We Almost Had debuted as a best-seller in 2018. Laura's latest small-town romance, The Dream, released in 2019 and is an Amazon #1 Best-seller. Also check out her book of poetry, entitled Love Story, and her children's book, Pay It Forward, available now!

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