Jennifer Chiaverini, New York Times best-selling author of the Elm Creek Quilts series of novels, was our keynote speaker on Friday night at Quiltmaker‘s recent Block Party in Williamsburg.
She shared her journey as a quiltmaker and author. She never anticipated when she wrote her first book about quilters that it would turn into a series.
The Giving Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini will be released October 30.
With 19 books already published, #20, The Giving Quilt, will be released October 30. She’s already working on the next one, to be released in 2013.
She delighted our audience with a sneak preview reading from her pre-release copy of The Giving Quilt. In this story, Sylvia and the Elm Creek Quilters are holding “Quiltsgiving,” a free week-long quilt camp to make quilts for Project Linus. Project Linus is a real-life organization that provides handmade quilts and blankets to kids in need.
I was thrilled to hear about this fictionalized connection to Project Linus—Quiltmaker has supported this worthy organization with a pattern in our Jan/Feb issue for many years. You can find all 14 of our free Project Linus quilt patterns at quiltmaker.com/projectlinus.
Then, the evening got better. As Jennifer closed her session with questions from the audience, a woman spoke up and offered to pay Jennifer $25 for the pre-release book. From the other side of the room, someone else said she’d pay $50.
Jennifer and I auctioned off the pre-release copy of her book.
Jennifer had already told me that she would give the book away—but we hadn’t decided how we were going to do that. Spontaneously I suggested to Jennifer that we hold an auction for the book with the proceeds going to Project Linus. And so the bidding began!
Jennifer Chiaverini, left, and JoAnn with The Giving Quilt
Here’s JoAnn, the winning bidder, with The Giving Quilt signed by Jennifer Chiaverini. I’ve sent the generous donation on to Project Linus.
I love her books, I share them but want them back…..I usually give my books to the library for their book sales, but hers I keep
Have all her books. She is a wonderful author and I am lucky enouh to say friend. Her books are ones that touch your heart and tbe characters have become family.
The book “auction” was fun. My bids weren’t high enough. Alas, I will have to wait ’til October for the book.
Does anyone have a complete list of Jennifer’s series, in order of release?
Judy, You can go to elmcreek.net and find the list of Jennifer’s books. Have a great day!
Krista
Love all her book ….can’t wait until October for the new one to come out.
I have all books and am about to begin reading # 10 in the series…I am so fascinated with these, I wanna read them all right now! and I am wanting to make each of the quilts I have already read about. (I have the quilt pattern books, too! I am awaiting the release of the newest addition to my collection…now I need to find her fabric Jen’s fabrics!
*~*CAROLE*~*
http://www.fictfact.com is a great resource to find your favorite author’s series and a listing of them in order of publication; it will even alert you to when new books are coming!
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I love the few books of hers that I have read but unfortunately. Cant afford to buy them. Waiting for them to show up in the public library…
Wow! I wish I could have been there. I just recently finished reading The Union Quilters (loved it!) and now I’ll look forward to reading The Giving Quilt.
Jennifer Chiaverini is a great author and I love all of her books, of which, I have them all. Thank you to Jennifer for the generosity to auction off her book for Project Linus!