“Today we are interviewing Savannah of Savannah’s Castle.  Savannah, thank you for agreeing to this interview.”

“Do you remember the first time you saw the castle?”

“My grandfather likes to go to thrift shops.  I don’t.  Those old stores smell funny.  I was wandering around waiting for him.  I wanted him to hurry up.  I looked down and saw something twinkling.  It was the castle.” 

“How long had you looked at the castle before Mrs. Taylor gave it to you?”

“I guess I first saw the castle three years ago when I was about five.  Every time I went to the shop it was there waiting for me.  I used to walk around the display case and watch the colors change inside the crystal.”

“Did you ever think about buying the castle or getting our grandfather to give it to you for your birthday?”

“I knew it had to cost a lot of money.  Once I asked Mrs. Taylor how much the castle cost since it didn’t have a price tag, but she never answered.  She just smiled.  I did tell my mother about the castle, but I guess she never got the hint that I’d rather have the castle than a new bike.”

“Did you ever imagine the castle would be yours?”

“I hoped so.  I dreamed one day I’d have enough money to buy it.”

“How did you feel when Mrs. Taylor gave you the castle?”

“Amazed, absolutely amazed.  I couldn’t believe she would just, give it to me.” 

“Did you immediately believe Mrs. Taylor when she told you about the princess or did you think she might be making the story up?”

“Of course I believed her.  Mrs. Taylor wouldn’t make up a story about the castle.  She loved the castle too much to do something like that.” 

“What did you think when you saw the princess waving to you?” 

“I was surprised, really surprised.  I know Mrs. Taylor had just told me the story, but somehow it never actually seemed real until then.”

“Instead of just breaking the castle to release the princess, do you think maybe you should have talked it over with your mother first?”

“No, I had to let Princess Roxanna out.  She was trapped in the castle for a really long time and needed to be free.  Talking to my mother wouldn’t have made any difference.  I’d still have to break the castle to let her out.”

“How does it feel to know you saved the princess?”

“It feels good.  None of my friends believe it really happened, but I know the truth and so does the princess.”

“I know you say at the end of the book that you love the castle just the same even though it’s not as pretty without the princess inside.  Is that really true?”

“Yes, it’s true.  I still love the castle.  Every time I look at it I remember how beautiful it used to be and how different it is now.  It makes me feel good to know I helped someone.  I think, I might actually love the castle a little more than before.”   

First I would like to thank all my friends who were brave enough to leave comments.  I know how scary it can be to stare at a blank computer screen.  The rest of you who visited and didn't leave a comment, just get your nerve up and write, hi.  It works for me. 

This week I'm been driving myself crazy researching every book store in Maryland.  Besides the major stores I've found a few that sound really interesting.  I hope I get the chance to visit them. 

I've also been discussing the launch party for the book.  My editor freaked me out when she insisted I invite 200 people at 50 dollars a head.  First, I don't think I know 200 people well enough to get them to come to my party.  And secondly, 50 dollars is a lot of money where I come from.  I finally got her to understand life was different in them there mountains, compared to the big city.

I would also like to say, "Happy Birthday!" to Sierra.  She turned sweet 16 this week.

Hi Family, Friends, and Everyone else who has wandered into my blog,

You have to forgive me, but I have no idea what I am supposed to say, though I do have some exciting news to tell everyone.   My story, Savannah's Castle, will be published this fall by PM Moon Publishing.  I wrote the story about 3 years ago on my niece Savannah's fifth birthday.  I wanted her to have something special, besides a bunch of toys, to remember her birthday.  I don't know about the rest of you, but I don't remember my fifth birthday, not even a special toy.  Do you? 

I sat staring at the blank screen of my computer trying to figure out what to write.  Savannah is a darling little girl, but I don't really know her well.  She lives in Florida and I'm in Maryland.  We average meeting about twice a year.  I noticed this tiny crystal castle my husband had gotten me for Christmas sitting on the coffee table.  I spotted the castle about 2 years ago in the glass case at the jewerly store.  For those of you who don't know me, I'm not somebody who would spend over a hundred dollars on a piece of glass no matter how pretty it was.  But when the price dropped to 80 dollars, it was mine!

I thought about seeing the castle for the first time and how I felt.  It became the first two sentences of my book.  The rest of the story just wrote itself. 

Savannah liked the story at the time, but wasn't really impressed that I wrote it for her.  Now she's 3 years older and likes the idea she's the star of a book.  She's a bit of a ham.

That's the story of how I wrote Savannah's Castle.