Antoinette May 286-1320 The Book Worm The Lake Speaks and Kathy Fellure Hears Her Name By Antoinette Herndon Kathy Boyd Fellure (Mrs. Joe of Ione) sat across the table from me looking depressed. I thought she might cry. "What's going on?" I asked. "This should be one of the happiest days of your whole life." "I knooooooow," she replied half sobbing. What was the matter with the woman! "You not only have a brand new debut novel out but the advance dates for a series," I reminded her. "I know," she repeated. "It's just that, that . . . is this all? I thought some how after all the inspiration, all the writing, the work, the networking, the deal making, the promotion . . . there would be something more. It's just-just-a-book." She looked down at the copy of "The Language of the Lake" that lay on the table between us. Well, I do know what Kathy was talking about. Everyone who has written and sold a book does. It's a lot like post partum depression. All that work and wild anticipation and then there it is-just a book sitting on the table. There's a kind of "What's it all about, Alfie," feeling to it that's at the least bewildering. But, though "Language of the Lake" is Kathy's

first adult fiction, she also has four successful children's books under her belt: "The Blake Sister Lake Tahoe Adventures." Each tale-"When the Birdies Came to Tea," "Mr. Snowman Ate Our Picnic Lunch" and "Nana's Tin of Buttons" and "The Bear Cub Adventure"--derives its inspiration from Kathy's happy childhood adventures visiting her grandparents at the Lake Tahoe. Kathy's love of words formed who she was early in life. She has written since childhood-poetry, song lyrics, essays, stories and now books. "I've always wanted to write," she explains, "but finding time wasn't easy to fit into my schedule. I was home schooling five children, but still managed to find time to keep journals, string for local newspapers and blog." As Kathy's children grew and her calendar broadened, she discovered the Gold Rush Writers Conference in Mokelumne Hill and came under the tutelege of Tom Johnson, a tough no holds barred journalist. "Tom pointed out that my strong suit was fiction, she remembers. "He was so right. For me it's story, story, story." Most were inspired by Kathy's happy childhood adventures visiting her grandparents at Lake Tahoe. "Language of the Lake," the first of the On the Water's Edge Lake Tahoe Trilology broke the pattern with an adult theme.

Consider this: Emily Taylor seeks sanctuary at her Grandmother Nana's Lake Tahoe cabin. She is searching for truth amid the debris of a marriage that died long before her unfaithful husband was killed by a drunk driver. Left in financial ruin with two daughters who are at odds over their father's death, Emily is ill prepared to learn secrets that remain untold. Faded memories re-emerge in Emily's dreams, shedding new light on the mystery of of her three-year-old twin brother's tragic drowning. His death haunts her-the only person present when the lake silently swallowed him. Complications deepen when ladies' man Jack Connor attempts to restore their friendship and reignite their lost love. Secrets collide in the lives of those Emily loves, hates, and needs to forgive, Somewhere in the middle of it all , she may discover a person she never knew . . . herself. "Language of the Lake" is published in association with Books and Such. It will be launched Feb 3, from 2 to 5 at Hein & Company in Jackson. Kathy will read chapter one. Following the event Kathy will leave on a nationwide promotion tour scheduled by her agent, Wendy Lawton. Yes, needless to say, Kathy's post partum blues have faded away, a thing of the past. She's rarin' to go. Come hear for yourself Feb 3.