Caroline Starr Rose

picture book and middle-grade author

A MIRACULOUS Event in Pictures

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Could these cookies be any cuter?

We had a great crowd last month at Books on the Bosque, Albuquerque’s newest bookstore. I brought copies of my manuscript at various stages and an editorial letter for attendees to peruse.

As a group, we defined charlatan, cure-all (also known as patent medicine), and medicine show. Did you know Listerine was originally a patent medicine advertised as a surgical disinfectant, a cure for dandruff, a floor cleaner, a hair tonic, a deodorant, and a remedy for a variety of diseases?

I mentioned the two books I read that influenced the story, You Are Not So Smart and You Are Now Less Dumb, which examine the psychology behind why we believe the things we do.

I read the beginning of chapter two, and we talked about charlatans and cure-alls again. Are they still around? Absolutely. Even though we probably think we’re more sophisticated nowadays than a person who might have fallen for the gimmick of a medicine show, it is easy to be swayed when a person or product preys on our insecurities.

My event happened to be on the last Saturday of April, which is National Independent Bookstore Day. A local news station stopped by, and I had a mini interview. Fun!

It’s so good to finally, officially welcome Jack and Cora and the dastardly Dr. Kingsbury to the world. If you missed out on the event, you can still get a copy of Miraculous. Send me a picture of your receipt, and I’m more than happy to mail you a signed bookplate and bookmark.

Mark your calendars! A MIRACULOUS Reading.

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My 2022 middle grade novel, MIRACULOUS, came out last summer at a time where bookstores in New Mexico still weren’t open for in-person events. Finally, finally I’ve got the chance to properly launch my book (nine months after publication).

If you are in the Albuquerque area, I would love to see you on Saturday, April 29 at 11:00am at Albuquerque’s newest bookstore, Books on the Bosque (6261 Riverside Plaza 87120). If you’re not in New Mexico but have a friend who might be interested, please pass this on.

MIRACULOUS is the story of a charlatan’s boy and his eventual understanding that the “doctor” he works for isn’t all that he seems. It’s set in Ohio in the 1880s, is told in five voices (or six if you count the one chapter in the dog’s point of view), and is a really cool mystery, if I do say so myself. Kirkus Reviews called it “a deliciously sinister read”. Publisher’s Weekly called it a “historical thriller” and “chilling adventure.”

Come help me celebrate! I’d love to see you there.

Listen in on a MIRACULOUS interview hosted by author Linda Williams Jackson!

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A few weeks ago I had a wonderful chat with author Linda Williams Jackson. She interviewed me about MIRACULOUS over Zoom and has posted it to YouTube in two different parts. Linda and I have been online writing friends for years, so this was a real treat.

An author asking another author about her book makes for a really meaty discussion. Linda had some especially perceptive views of the book I’d never considered myself. Stop by to learn about choices I made in writing the book, including why it’s written from five different points of view, how long the drafting took (with some visuals!), the background on creating the character Mr. Kennedy, and how I’ve approached my writing over the years — from my teaching days, to my early days at home with my children, to the window of time I taught, mothered, and wrote, to my empty-nest present, and much more!

Linda and I think this would be great to share in classrooms or book clubs. We hope curious readers might tune in, too!

Part one is here. Part two is here.