I’m thrilled to be coming ‘home’ to Brooklyn to appear at the Brooklyn Book Festival. This festival has become huge in record time…proving once again that Brooklyn is a world class cultural center as well as a fertile breeding ground for writers and readers (must be all those nutrients from the Gowanus Canal!) Please come and see me in Brooklyn.

I’m going on the road! Here is my schedule as of now. Hope to see you soon, in a bookstore near you.

May 29, Westhampton Beach, NY…Open Book, 6pm.

May 3oth, Easthampton, NY…Bookhampton, 4pm.

June 3rd, Woman’s National Democratic Club luncheon. Washington, DC.

July 21, Southampton, NY. Rogers Memorial Library. Noon – lunch and chat.

July 22nd, Southampton, NY. Southampton Writers Conference TBA.

August 13, Sag Harbor, NY…Canio’s Books, time TBA.

August 14, Easthampton, NY. Easthampton Library Author’s Night (ticketed event). 7:30pm.

On New York’s NBC Channel 4, Bill Goldstein recommended Major Pettigrew as just the right book for spring. I shared air time with Cathleen Schine’s wonderful The Three Weissmans of Westport. View here.

Listen here to my recommendation of three novels of manners that were not written by Jane Austen. While Jane is the true master, the novel of manners, in the hands of other authors, continues to show up the world for what it is. Small domestic squabbles mirror the largest of world issues and we don’t seem to get any better at being kind, do we? I was very grateful to be invited onto NPR’s famous All Things Considered, to read this piece.

Major Pettigrew has obviously been on a campaign to win hearts and minds and has achieved his mission in an unexpected record time. Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand has just made it onto the NY Times Bestseller list at #14 (tied with #13). In addition, Indiebound, which represents the nation’s independent bookstores, has him at #3 on their bestseller list.  The Washington Post debuted him at #9 and he is popping up on other lists as we speak. I am overwhelmed at the response to what was supposed to be a small literary debut.  Thank you to all who have written to me to say how much you’ve enjoyed the book.

As a stay-at-home mother, and part-time writing student, in Brooklyn, I would make time whenever possible to listen to WNYC’s Leonard Lopate interview writers as they came through New York City to promote their newest books. It is a dream come true for me that this this Tuesday, at 1pm, I will be sitting in Leonard’s studio discussing Major Pettigrew. Look at me – I’m already calling him Leonard! Please listen and maybe even call in.

Waterstones, the UK’s leading bookstore chain has selected Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand as one of its twelve New Voices for 2010. I am so happy to be included in a list that, for the first time, features all debut authors.

Janet Maslin, of the NY Times said of Major Pettigrew, “It’s about intelligence, heart, dignity and backbone. ‘Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand’ has them all.” The Times of London said, “words can’t convey the slow-burning pleasure of this novel.” It has been a very exciting few days at the Simonson household as we approach tomorrow’s launch date with these wonderful reviews to bolster spirits. Launch jitters were calmed by a little champagne and a lot of teasing from the teenage members of the household; who are determined to remain unimpressed until they see the movie version! Thank you to everyone who has supported the Major. Fingers crossed and here we go…

It will be such a pleasure to ‘come home’ to the beautiful village of Westhampton Beach and read at my local bookstore, the Open Book, run by the wonderful Terry Lucas.  I’ve been visiting Westhampton Beach (the quieter, family-friendly Hampton) for many years and I have seen Terry work magic to keep an independant bookstore open all year round in a village that is busy in the summer but sleepy all winter.  I will be reading at 6pm on Saturday May 29th, and I hope my friends and neighbors will turn out, not just to say hello to me, but to show their support for Terry and her staff.  Flip-flops ok!

The Corner Bookstore (Madison and 93rd) has invited  me to read and sign books at 6pm on Tuesday, March 16.  I hope you can join us.

The IndieBound NEXT List has selected Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand as its #1 Pick for March.  This is especially gratifying news as this list is compiled through nominations by independent booksellers nationwide.  I am so thrilled to have this support for my debut and I would like to thank all who toil to keep bookstores open in their communities.  Support your local bookstore!

Barnes and Noble has selected Major Pettigrew for their Discover New Writers series, summer 2010.  This is such an honor and I am looking forward to casually hanging around those nice ‘Discover’ displays in my local B&N!

Please join me and many friends, old and new, as I launch my book in my longtime home city of Brooklyn.  Thanks to the owners and staff at Bookcourt on Court Street for inviting me to read in their amazing store.  Bookcourt has stood at the heart of the Broooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill and Boerum Hill communities for many years (I remember wrangling my way through the door with babies) and helps make the big city feel more like a warm and friendly village.  See you there.

Please join me as I launch Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand in Washington, D.C. with a reading at Politics and Prose at 6pm on Saturday March 13.  I am delighted that Washington’s most renowned independent bookstore has made room on their busy calendar to invite me and I hope you’ll come by if you’re in the area.  Bring lots of questions – it’s awfully lonely up on a podium when no one has questions.

On Bookstore Shelves March 2, 2010, Random House announces Helen Simonson’s debut novel, Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand.

You are about to travel to Edgecombe St. Mary, a small village in the English countryside filled with rolling hills, thatched cottages, and a cast of characters both hilariously original and as familiar as the members of your own family. Among them is Major Ernest Pettigrew (retired), the unlikely hero of Helen Simonson’s wondrous debut. Wry, courtly, opinionated, and completely endearing, Major Pettigrew is one of the most indelible characters in contemporary fiction, and from the very first page of this remarkable novel he will steal your heart.

Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand will be available in the UK in July 2010 from Bloomsbury Press.