Snowy Woodstock

Happy spring! Which for me meant snow here in Woodstock NY. When I was little my mother used to have me repeat this silly poem on the first day of spring: spring has sprung, the grass has riz, I wonder where the flowers is? 

Certainly true yesterday!

The Woodstock Literary Festival is in full swing. I spent the day teaching a workshop in front of a wood fire in the most idyllic setting with the loveliest people ever. 

This afternoon at 4 I'm on a panel with Jane Smiley and Stephen Dobbyns. In between now and then, other panels to attend and the streets of this town to wander. 

I'm staying at the funky wonderful Hotel Dylan in one of the most comfortable beds I've had the pleasure of sleeping in. 

On my mind though as the snow falls are revisions for this new novel of mine. Soon I will take it on a date, me and those 560 pages, and go to it--cutting and tweaking and relentlessly revising. 

This is one reason I've been knitting up a storm! I've brought a shawl I just started here with me. But below is the blanket I knit for Annabelle. 

Come study writing with me in Tuscany!

This October! With three very special other writers. For details email 

spannocchiawritersworkshop@gmail.com

Come study Fiction with me in Woodstock, NY!

On March 20 I'm teaching a full day workshop as part of the Woodstock Literary Festival!

In this FICTION workshop, you will bring in the first 5 pages of your novel or short story. Please bring enough copies for everyone. After discussing what makes good beginnings--and what doesn't--and reading examples from literature, we'll turn our attention to your pages. Are you getting your story off to the best start? What needs improving? Why? And how? You will then have the opportunity to revise your opening pages and present them for discussion. Please bring your laptop, or whatever you want to use to implement revisions. At the end of this workshop, your novel or story will be ready to continue to write!

Frigid Chicago

This week finds me visiting schools to talk about The Treasure Chest series. Yesterday found me outside Milwaukee, and today and tomorrow I'm in and around Chicago. It's exciting to explain the life of a writer, the birth of the series, and the lives of the historical characters featured in the books to second, third, fourth, and fifth graders. I'm happily ensconced in a Kimpton hotel, right downtown, a warm and cozy respite from chilly Chicago!

I'm going to let you in a little secret: I have finished a draft of my new (adult) novel. it's in the hands of my agent, who will send me comments for revision. And after I do that, it will go to my editor. I am super excited about this one! Stay tuned for details!