DAY ONE UP THE AMAZON, an Amazon Short May Sarton said that "a novel is earned, a poem given." My essay, "Day One Up the Amazon," describes the exhaustion and liberation I felt upon finishing THE WOODSMAN'S DAUGHTER, my latest novel. Just hours after mailing off the last set of proofs to my publisher, I was faced with another opportunity/dilemma. Amazon.com asked me to write a piece for Amazon Shorts, their new, exciting program, but I was conflicted about doing it. Too often, writing can become, as my father used to say, a demanding lover, totally consuming one's life, giving little in return. With the coming of spring, I wanted my life back. This essay is a humorous, yet thoughtful, glimpse into my state of mind that fateful day when, once again, I was asked to put pen to paper. Digital Delivery, $0.49 Length, 3848 words, 16 pages Download now at Amazon (Amazon Shorts are available exclusively at Amazon.com. Amazon Shorts are delivered electronically, there are no printed editions. Once purchased, they are stored at Amazon.com’s Digital Locker in PDF, HTML and text email formats.) You are free to print Amazon Shorts to read in hard copy form at your convenience.) THE WOODSMAN’S DAUGHTER The Woodsman’s Daughter, a richly absorbing tale of a gothic South that, like Icy Sparks, has another unforgettable heroine at its heart. Dalia is the brassy and beautiful eldest daughter of Monroe Miller, a shrewd turpentine farmer in 1800s southern Georgia haunted by a devastating secret. A resilient and resourceful young woman, Dalia strives to create a better life for herself and will stop at nothing to protect her family, but the sins of the father are never far behind. Viking hardcover, $24.95 Penguin paperback, $14.00 Order online from: Amazon Barnes & Noble BooksAMillion ICY SPARKS, March, 2001 A New York Times Notable Book and the March 2001 selection of Oprah's Book Club®! ICY SPARKS is the sad, funny, and transcendent tale of a young girl growing up in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky during the 1950s. At the age of ten, Icy, a bright, curious child orphaned as a baby but raised by adoring grandparents, begins to have strange experiences. Try as she might, her "secrets"--verbal croaks, groans, and physical spasms--keep afflicting her. As an adult, she will find out she has Tourette Syndrome, a rare neurological disorder, but for years her behavior is the source of mystery, confusion, and deep humiliation. Narrated by a grown-up Icy, the book chronicles a difficult, but ultimately hilarious and heartwarming journey, from her first spasms to her self-acceptance as a young woman. Curious about life beyond the hills, talented, and energetic, Icy learns to cut through all barriers--physical, mental, and spiritual--in order to find community and acceptance. Viking hardcover, $24.95 Penguin softcover, $13.95 Audio cassette, $29.95 Audio CD, $34.95 Order online from: Amazon Barnes & Noble BooksAMillion Penguin