(Feel free to e-mail me at kate@katejacobsbooks.com! Simply say hi or invite me to call in to your book club.)

And now it’s here: My new novel, Comfort Food is in stores. And the paperback of The Friday Night Knitting Club is a bestseller! One of the great things about coming to do readings and signings in all of these great places is that I get a chance to travel around the country and meet all of you. It’s going to be a lot of fun!

The podium and crowd at Powell's Books in Portland.

Sunday, May 4: Cooking up a Storm

There's a new website in town, and it's all about Comfort Food. Take a peek over to www.comfortfoodnovel.com and you can see what I've been up to lately. (Well, with the help of my husband Jon, my pals Sara-Lynne and Rhonda, and all my friends and colleagues who voted on the many color options. It's been a team effort.) This new site is the online home of the CookingChannel – the cable network on which the show Eat, Drink and Be appears. Never heard of it? That's because it's all fictional, part of the world of Comfort Food and its characters. But the site is a lot of fun, with quizzes, recipes (such as my grandmother's homemade buns (coming soon!) and my friend Alissa's gazpacho) that inspired some of the shows in the novel, and an online game for all of us to play when we're procrastinating. (Don't pretend it's just me who does that…)

Visit the site dedicated to Comfort Food the novel

Saturday, May 3: Packing Problemo

Time to start planning outfits for the Comfort Food tour. You know, I've always been on tour when it's wintery. What should one wear for May? I know: I'll just wear sweater sets, like I always do. I'm off to the drycleaners this morning and then it's on to packing. (Okay, I'm kidding. I'll be packing about 30 minutes before I have to leave for the airport. But I am really going to the dry cleaners in about five minutes from now.) I'm excited to visit some new stops on this tour: You can see a complete list with dates and times on the Events page. Starting on May 6 – the day Comfort Food hits the shelves – I'll go to Oakland, Pleasanton, Petaluma, Denver, Edina, Minnesota, Skokie, Downer's, Grove, Detroit, Lansing, Charlotte, Vancouver and Hope, BC. Yes, I'm coming to my hometown and I'll be at The Blue Moose Café on the afternoon of Sunday, May 25!

Friday, May 2: Book Clubs Update

Thanks to Emily for the pic.

Just wanted to share this photo from a March book club call-in I had with Emily and her Michigan book club! Thanks for sending the pic. We had a great chat at that meeting. And I am having such a wonderful experience "meeting" readers over the telephone: I've talked to groups in California, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, Washington, Missouri, Illinois, Texas, Connecticut, Arizona, Michigan, North Carolina, Georgia, Arkansas, New York, Ontario, and even Grenada! So drop me a line if you're choosing one of my novels for your book club. I've already started scheduling telephone calls to discuss my new book, Comfort Food, which will be in stores on Tuesday, May 6!

February: Frozen fun

Fun in Toronto's snowstorm

Okay, I'm actually writing this in April. I kinda skipped out on blogging for awhile there, didn't I? That's because I've been super busy writing a new book and working on a redesign for this site that'll be launched next week. But I didn't want to skip over the great time I had in Toronto in Feb. You cannot imagine how unbelievably cold it was – the worst storm in decades or so the weatherman said. Ack! In about a millisecond after exiting the airport terminal, I had a vivid flashback of the winter months when I attended university in Ottawa, another notoriously cold Canadian city. And yet in spite of the huge snowstorm, the bitter wind, and the icy streets, I had a fabulous time. Had a chance to see some family and old friends, and also spent a delightful afternoon at In the Loop, a cute knitting & coffee shop that was the perfect warm-me-up antidote to that crazy weather. Not to mention the fun I had elsewhere: at the intimate event at Type, the great chat with ET Canada at The Naked Sheep Knit Shop, and the delightful evening at the liquor store! Yes, I had a book club event at the world's most elegant liquor shop in Bayview Village as part of the LCBO Cocktails and Conversation series. (Both the cocktails and the conversation were very good, btw. Some sort of chocolate martini raspberry tasty delight concoction. Yum!)

Thursday, Jan 31: Packing Up

So I'm loading up my suitcase again. Going to enjoy a little rest and relaxation with my better half – and perhaps do a little research work for future projects – before I arrive in Toronto. I'm so pleased and excited to do some promotion for the paperback of FNKC in Canada! There's a reading and signing on Monday, Feb 11 at Type bookstore, which looks very, very cool – I Googled it – and then I have another fun night with the LCBO Cocktails and Conversation. All the info is on the events page and I hope to see you there!

Friday, Jan 25: Home Again, Home Again
Kate and Jon - at last!	Back at the house, unpacking, doing laundry, and reconnecting with my husband, Jon. And with Baxter, of course! Just nice to hang out, as a family, watching all the Project Runway episodes that aired while I was on book tour. Can you think of a better day?	The Baxter boy

Thursday, Jan 24: Photo Finish

Katie & Kate

Well, wouldn't you know it? My last event of the tour and I end up getting a little misty-eyed, thanks to a reader at Vroman's who wanted to know more about my own grandmother, Nanny. Seems this reader loved Georgia's Gran and wanted to know about my own relationship with my grandmother. Yes, she was opinionated, a great knitter, a great cook, and had endless energy to play cards and chat about life. I loved to listen to her talk about the olden days; she made everything, in retrospect, seem like it had been an adventure when truly it must have been quite difficult. That is one of the hallmarks of a great storyteller, I think. One of the first things we did when we would arrive at Nanny's house was sit down with the old photo albums and just look at the story of our family; one of the things I did at Vroman's after my reading was purchase some new photo albums to organize the big pile of photos I have sitting in a box at home.

Wednesday, Jan 23: Lovely La Jolla

Several states away but it was still raining! That's January, I guess. I mean, I grew up in British Columbia, which is so green because it always rains, but I moved away to avoid all that wet stuff. (Well, not true. I moved away to get into journalism. But discovering that every other day doesn't have to have rain was its own revelation. But enough about that. Back to the tour update!) Had a very nice, intimate group at Warwick's – this crowd was filled with very thoughtful, perceptive questions. We had an invigorating chat about the writing process and about FNKC, and I really appreciated the energy and enthusiasm everyone brought to the room. Thank you.

Monday, Jan 21 & Tuesday, Jan 22: Texas Two-Step

The rainy Houston weather surprised me; I was glad I had my winter coat. But that didn't dampen my enthusiasm for traveling around the city, signing books and getting to the signing at the Barnes & Noble. (My favorite moment was when an older gentleman, who had patiently sat through the reading and the Q&A, brought up several copies of A Sister's Wish by singer-songwriter Kate Jacobs. And he was clearly disappointed when I explained that I was not she. "Well," he said, "You do a good job of reading anyway.") Also had a chance to meet the owners of Yarntopia from Katy at the book signing at Barnes & Noble, which was good because the three of us did a taping the next morning for a morning tv show called Great Day Houston. And we all did some knitting on air! I must say, I'm still getting used to this tv thing – and I'm glad I just brought this easy scarf because I had to concentrate on keeping my hair out of my face and speaking intelligently! And then it was on to Dallas, where there was a huge turnout of about 75 people at the Barnes & Noble on West Northwest Highway. I went to the customer service desk to let them know I was there and a woman behind me in line asked, "Are you Kate?" That always surprises me. So I nodded, then asked her how she know. "Because you look just like your picture," she said, pointing to the big poster with a photo of my head right next to me. (Duh, Kate!) It's cool meeting readers and getting a chance to chat individually when I sign their copies of the book; it remains startling to see my face on a poster. (At least I had my hair blown out in my author photo, though.) Thanks to the owners of The Shabby Sheep who brought several customers along with them, to Fresh Fiction Fan, and to my husband's cousin Michael, who came to my event – he and his friend were the only men and everyone kept asking if they were security!

Saturday, January 19: Mutuals in Omaha
Finally, a chance to sit down in a knitting shop! What a treat. String of Purls in Omaha is a wonderfully warm store – literally! There's a roaring fireplace and a comfy assortment of easy chairs and sofa, plus tables for classes and a tremendous range of yarns. (Organized by color, just like Walker and Daughter.) I was duly impressed, but all the more so by the welcome from owners/managers/staff Robin, Becky and Becky and Sheryl ("with an S!"). Another owner, Susie, was away but clearly this is a team who works together well, judging from the sense of camaraderie that abounds in the store. I also had a chance to meet the members of the Nebraska Knit and Crochet Guild and sit down with them for a little bit. I snuck in a few rows on the scarf I'm making for my niece, and also had time to pop in to The Bookworm for a cup of tea.
Warming up the crowd	Guild Girls	Indoor snowman!

Friday, January 18: Power Lunch

I learned a lot about football in Milwaukee! And about bundling up in the super freezing-cold, bitterly windy weather. (I know, I know, I grew up in Canada…but I'm telling you, this California livin' has given me thin blood.) I was wishing I had ear muffs. But being chilled was worth it because I had a ton of fun speaking to the people who attended the Jane and Kidd (WMYX 99.1 FM) Power Lunch at the Intercontinental Hotel, with books provided by Schwartz's. I was especially tickled to meet the folks who had seen me on The Morning Blend on the local television station and made a special trip. Thanks!

Thursday, January 17: Delightful Dayton

Speaking at Books and Co in Dayton

My trip to Ohio was really lovely, and the event at Books and Co in Dayton was attended by the enthusiastic lunchtime knitting group and owners of several area shops. I was delighted by one reader who had been given a copy of the UK paperback by a friend overseas and who bought the American version to send back to her (signed, of course)! Plus I got a kick out of one woman, while signing up for the newsletter on the pad of paper being passed around, raised her hand to let me know, pointedly, that she didn't want any spam! I won't be sending any – I promise that it will be all I can do to send out newsletters on a timely basis. This reader, who really was so sweet and came up for a chat afterwards, also wanted to know exactly what my email address is. And that would be kate@katejacobsbooks.com

Wednesday, January 16: Tote that Bag

Hello, updated website! Check out the new Books page, with the first chapter of Comfort Food, or sign up to chat on the message boards. Confidential to everyone: When you sign up for the newsletter now, you'll automatically be entered into a drawing to win tote bags emblazoned with The Friday Night Knitting Club cover and/or a signed copy of the paperback. (Later in the spring, I'll give away Comfort Food totes.) It's just something that's a little bit fun, and frankly, I get so many positive comments on my own personal tote that I thought this was a great way to share them with all of you! And then it was on to Cincinnati, where I had a really fun time at Borders with manager Dulcie and her staff, and a very nice group who laughed at all my jokes. And there's more good news today: FNKC is now #7 on The New York Times bestseller list! Wow. Simply wow…

You could win a tote bag!

Tuesday, January 15: Louisville, KY

The Barnes & Noble in Louisville had a jam-packed crowd in the café – thanks to so many knitters who had been invited by Sophie's Yarn Shop – and I was invited to call in to two book club meetings this spring! I'm filling in lots of book club spots on my schedule, so if you would like me to telephone your club when you read FNKC, please be sure to send me an email when you have your date picked out! Later on, I was giggling as I was packing up for my morning flight: My bags are getting so heavy with all the shampoo and conditioners I'm picking up at the hotels. Do you do that, too? I just can't leave that cute little stuff behind – and because I am moving from city to city, I have more than I can use. I must admit, I get a little thrill when they have separate shampoo and conditioner and not just that one bottle of conditioning shampoo. I have visions of presenting endless houseguests with their own little toiletry packages or I've heard that these little sample sizes make great donations to women's shelters.

Monday, January 14: "Birthday" Bamboo

Six different knitting shops – and their customers – came out to the signing at the St. Louis Borders. Just a lively, energetic crowd. I was talking a bit about the book when I inadvertently said I was 34 years old "today" – I meant to say I am currently 34 years old (my birthday is in June) – when about ten people immediately wished me a very loud "Happy Birthday!" How sweet is that? Of course, they startled me so much that I nearly had a heart attack and then I am sure I turned beet red for saying the wrong thing. It's not easy getting up and talking to a crowd every night and I am so appreciative of everyone who's been so welcoming. Special thanks to Susie and Brooke from Kirkwood Knittery and Juli from ChiaoGoo who sent along a special gift box of bamboo needles. I was dying to open the box but that had to wait until later as I needed to read Chapter One to the fantastic crowd of readers who came to the event!

Saturday, January 12: Memphis Memories

What was neat about today is that I got a chance to really sit down and spend some time with the member of the knitting group that meets at the Davis-Kidd Bookstore in Memphis. And they were so welcoming and funny and ready to enjoy a good bottle of wine; too bad I had to get up and read in front of everyone or I would have had a few sips myself! Thanks to Diane Thornton, and Katherine at Davis-Kidd for putting together such a great afternoon!   The Davis-Kidd Booksellers Knitting Group

Kate with Katherine from Davis-Kidd Booksellers

Friday, January 11: Knit Time

Reading to folks at Borders in Nashville

It's always a kick, especially after I come to an event and share with everyone just what an obstinate teenager I was and how insistent I was that I wouldn't learn how to knit, and then find out that someone has taken up knitting because of FNKC. How great is that? So thank you to the sweet young woman in the front row, who was so enthusiastic about the craft and about the novel. Of course, I can knit these days, and I've been schlepping around a giant suitcase half-filled with yarn because I keep thinking I'll have all this free time! (Note to self: there is no free time on tour!) But I am too busy traveling, sneaking in naps on the plane – I have the most amazing Brookstone travel pillow that I want to sleep on forever – and reading all of the lovely emails I'm receiving. Thanks to the Borders in Brentwood and to Threaded Bliss Yarns!

Thursday, January 10: Divine Decatur
The day started off with more great news: FNKC is #20 on the USA Today bestseller list! What a thrill! I opened the door to my hotel room, ready to head out on another day of the book tour, and there was a copy of the paper on the doorstep. I began idly reading the news section when my friend Sara-Lynne called and told me there was a write-up in the books section. Paper was flying as I turned to the right page; I carefully tucked away that piece of the paper to cherish.
And then it was on to a flight to Georgia! Upon landing, I called to say hello to Monica at Why Knot Knit, where we did a great signing last spring, and then traveled on to Decatur. Or, as my friend Jen likes to say: Decatur is the Berkeley of the South. (I promised her I'd put that in – she's trying to make everyone move here and I can see why!) It truly is a great town.	The terrific crowd Signing for readers
Jen and I met years ago at Redbook and she now makes her home in Decatur, so it was a blast to see her at the wonderful event hosted by the Georgia Center for the Book at the Decatur Library. There was a big crowd, thanks to Susan Nease of Nease's Needlework, and I had the opportunity to meet Carol McCullough, who is part of a great book club in Georgia that invited me to telephone last summer. And we had so much fun – I swear we laughed and laughed – that they got in touch with the Georgia Center for the Book. So tonight's event was truly all about making connections and building community.

Wednesday, January 9: Richmond, Virginia

Where to begin? This was a huge day. For one thing, there was such a warm and nurturing crowd at Fountain Bookstore and some wonderful folks from The Knitting Basket; it was like sitting down with a bunch of oldfriends. For another, the parents of my friend Dani (she of the Redbook gang and the very talented designer of WalkerandDaughter.com) came to the reading and it was so wonderful to see them! For yet another, Kelly Justice, the new owner of the store, took me over to meet some of her friends in the James River Writers' Group, where I met a very charming David L. Robbins. (It's always a thrill to meet other writers.) And, finally, I was able to call my parents back home in Hope, BC and let them know that FNKC entered The New York Times bestseller list in its first week as #12!!! This kind of stuff only happens because of reader support, and sincere thanks to each of you who purchased the book.

Tuesday, January 8: Reading in Ramsey	Books display
This is a special date: My grandmother, Nanny, was born on January 8th at the turn of the century. And even though she passed away in 2000 at the age of 99, I think of her often, particularly as I promote FNKC. You see, Nanny was an amazing knitter, and, more than that, a wonderful person. Opinionated, too! I used to call her when I was in grad school at NYU and terribly lonely, and she'd always give me a boost by telling me that she thought coming to New York was a tremendous adventure. I have no doubt she'd get a kick out of the book, and especially at the relationship shared by Georgia and her Granny in The Friday Night Knitting Club.
Tonight's reading was at a lovely Borders in Ramsey, New Jersey, and it was packed! Thanks so much to the owners of Close Knit, whose knitting club came out in full force. And I was particularly delighted by the little girl who came up to me at the end and had me sign a book for her because she wanted to meet, as she said, "a real, live author." Nice to meet you, Jillian!

Monday, January 7: Reading in the Big Apple

How serendipitious: An old colleague with whom I'd lost touch was walking by Barnes and Noble at Lincoln Triangle and saw a big poster with my photo advertising the night's reading. I guess that answered his question about "Whatever happened to...?" What a treat when he came inside to say hello. Doesn't that seem so fitting for a book that's all about community? In fact, the reading and signing tonight was all about friends, old and new, in a huge way. I was thrilled by the surprise arrival of my husband's aunt and cousins, and completely stoked to have so many of my dear friends who still live in New York come to the event. (We all went out for a great dinner and some very nice wine afterwards.) You see, coming from my very small town to Manhattan in my early twenties was a daunting experience, and these relationships are what helped make the city a home. Just as the members of The Friday Night Knitting Club create their own sense of community. Also in the audience were the people who help make my writing life run smoothly: my agent, Dorian, publicist Melissa, and marketing director Kate, and my editors Rachel and Shannon, who brought their embroidery and knitting respectively. Many knitters were interspersed throughout the crowd, including some folks from YarnCo. And I just learned a second-floor shop called Annie & Company recently opened a new knitting section – and it's only a stone's throw from my old apartment! What is so neat about having knit nights with different stores before every signing is that it's a great way to celebrate all knitters, beginner to advanced, and to also highlight what is unique and yet similar between yarn shops. I so very much wanted Walker and Daughter to be an Everystore, to represent all that is warm and welcoming about the knitting community, and everywhere I go people tell me that Walker & Daughter reminds them of their local shop, which I take as a great compliment. Finally, it was a special pleasure tonight to connect face-to-face with some of the wonderful people who have met me through my MySpace.com page – two of whom told me they have just started their own knitting groups. Very, very cool.

Sunday, January 6: New York, New York

A red-eye flight brought me to the city that I love: New York. This is my longed-for day to catch up with all my friends in the city! A highlight is the chance to spend some time with Dani, a pal from my Redbook days, as well as my fellow knitter, Megan. Not to mention that I'll get to see my niece Emily, and her mom, Robin, when I'm here. (Many of the things Georgia, Anita, and James enjoy doing with Dakota are based, in part, on some of the fun stuff Emily and I used to do together. One of the great joys of marrying my husband is that I got to inherit his niece!)

Saturday, January 5: Wine Country

Ready to sign!

Finally, a chance to see Sonoma and Marin Counties in the daylight! Simply gorgeous. The rolling hills, wine country, and the amazing little towns like Mill Valley, where we stopped in quickly to Peet's and had a cup of tea. The day began with a quick visit to Sonoma Yarn to meet Tillie's great little dog Frances Purl – and to see her lovely shop, where two young girls were learning how to knit at her big table at the back. What a treat. And then it was off to the afternoon's signing at Book Passage in Corte Madera, where I was welcomed by the wonderful staff and joined by a good group of folks who'd braved the still-blustery winds to come to the event. All in all, I am so very pleased I was able to get onto a flight and get here!

Friday, January 4: Travel Travails
Up bright and early, I made it to the airport with more than enough time to make my early morning flight. Too bad Mother Nature wouldn't cooperate! We were on the runway, all ready to go, when our plane in Seattle turned back to the gate and our flight was cancelled, thanks to that massive windstorm in the Bay Area. After a long day at the airport, including a flight to Oakland that couldn't land and returned to Seattle, I finally made it in to San Francisco and then out to Reader's Books in Sonoma. Did I ever feel like something the cat dragged in! But store owner Lilla was so welcoming and it was such a boost to see the very patient crowd who knitted through the delay and stayed to wait for what was a very enjoyable evening. It was also a particular pleasure to meet Kandi from Unicorn and Tillie from Sonoma Yarn, who also brought out her group of knitters. Thanks!
The blur of being stuck in an airport	The colorful joy of a Sonoma Yarn

Thursday, January 3: Return to Seattle

I returned for a reading at Third Place Books in Bothell, near Seattle, and this time – unlike last year – I didn't get lost! There was a super crowd at the store, and everyone was so enthusiastic and welcoming. It was a very energizing evening, and it was especially delightful to meet the folks from A New Yarn, who donate proceeds from their knitting to help prevent domestic violence. Talk about women helping women! Confidential to everyone who came to Third Place: I completely forgot to ask you to write down your email addresses if you want to receive my (infrequent but informative) newsletter! I do hope you'll sign up through the website.

Wednesday, January 2: City of Roses & Rain

The Friday Night Knitting Club is out in paperback – and I am on the road again! The tour kicked off with a great event at Powell's in Portland, Oregon, which was my first trip to that very famous bookstore. It was huge and wonderful! Books galore. Thanks to Close Knit and The Naked Sheep Knit Shop, who put together a knit night before the signing. What also made my stop in Portland fun is that I was joined by my husband, Jon, who lived there years ago. So it was rather neat to walk around downtown and check out the Pearl District and have him tell me what it used to look like back in the early 90s, before all the cute shops and galleries arrived. (Personally, I like all those cute shops!)

Chatting with the terrific folks who came out to Powell's Books