My book!

It arrived! The box of books. MY book!
The Amazon delivery guy had barely stepped back into his van when I was out the door, lifting  the fairly heavy box of 75 books as if it weighed nothing. But, of course, it was everything!

Inside was 10 years of work, and 15 years since The Power of Bread's story began. All those years packed inside a 19.5 X 13.5 X 7.5 box, waiting to be opened.  Just beyond the cardboard flaps lay a finished product, a celebration; yet I stood, momentarily, unmoving. Reflection seemed in order, for cups of tea and pondering the process. But not now... later – when I'd pull out the file folders of first, second and fifteenth drafts and re-live it all.

I cut through the tape, and there they were!  There they were...

The title
My name
​Madeleine's beautiful and inspired cover
The story!

​Yes, I did. I cried.

---

The next day I drove to Little Rock (30 minutes away), with books wrapped in bows for family. Drew already had his copy in California, daughter Katherine and family's copies were in the mail to Maine. I was on my way to share the book with my first, and most important, in-person audience. It felt like a gift I was giving myself.

 

We met, socially distanced and slightly shivering, in Elizabeth and Ben's (behind the camera) backyard. I presented them each a book and began the story.

"Tomorrow is our Breads of the World Festival," said Ms. Goodwin..."

The Power of Bread was at long last where it belonged – in the hands of readers. 

Dedication

To my dear grandchildren ~ Luke, Nate, Ruby, Anna, Robert, Matthew and Hazel~ and to children everywhere, the world's best hope for peace.



*****************************************************************************
Back cover with summary...

---