Monday, November 4, 2013

Diane Hammond

Diane Hammond is the author of the critically acclaimed novels Seeing Stars, Hannah's Dream, Going to Bend, and Homesick Creek. She served as a spokesperson for the Free Willy Keiko Foundation and the Oregon Coast Aquarium and currently lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, with her husband and their corgis.

Hammond new novel is Friday's Harbor.

A couple of weeks ago I asked the author about what she was reading. Hammond's reply:
Right now I’m reading Delia Ephron’s recently released book of autobiographical essays, Sister Mother Husband Dog: Etc. As an essayist she’s new to me, though I recognize her screenplays. Maybe I should say I’m sipping the book instead of reading, because I love it—not only the topics, but the words she chooses, and how she puts them together—so much that I’m double-reading sentences and doling out just one or two essays a day, so the book doesn’t end too quickly.

Six months or so ago, I found myself abandoning book after book within several pages. What the hell? I’ve always been a respectful reader, giving almost anyone at least 50 pages of my time; but now, no. I didn’t know what I was looking for until I found Cheryl Strayed’s collected Dear Sugar columns in Tiny Beautiful Things and was so excited I had to stop reading to pull myself together. Here was a clear, resonant, eloquent voice I wanted to last forever. And now, Delia Ephron.

I count myself lucky to have found them both.
Learn more about the book and author at Diane Hammond's website and follow her on Facebook.

Read--Coffee with a Canine: Diane Hammond & Petey and Haagen.

The Page 69 Test: Friday's Harbor.

My Book, The Movie: Friday's Harbor.

--Marshal Zeringue