My second novel now has a title and release date! Today We Go Home will be available August 6, 2019.

The Girl Who Wrote in Silk is on the list of “Amazing Books About Being a Woman in the Modern World” by Ezvid Wiki. See the video and list here.

I am thrilled to announce that I have signed the contract for another book with Sourcebooks for publication in spring 2019. Stay tuned for more!

The Salt Lake County Library System has chosen The Girl Who Wrote in Silk as the winning title for their July-October, 2016 Reader’s Choice Award. Thank you!

The Women’s Fiction Writers Association chose The Girl Who Wrote in Silk as the winner of the Debut Category of the Star Award. Thank you, WFWA!

View the press release here.

The Girl Who Wrote in Silk was chosen as the winner of The PNWA Nancy Pearl Book Award in the best book mainstream or literary category. Like Nancy Pearl, all judges for the contest work as librarians.

Here is the beautiful cover for the Polish language edition of The Girl Who Wrote in Silk. I’m told the title, “Jedwabna opowieść” translates to “Sequins.”

The Girl Who Wrote in Silk has been chosen as one of three finalists in the Outstanding Debut category of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association Star Award Contest. Winners will be announced on September 23, 2016.

Women’s Fiction Writers Association

The Large Print edition of The Girl Who Wrote in Silk is now available. Get your copy from your local bookseller or at one of these online retailers:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Thorndike Press

Check out the review of The Girl Who Wrote in Silk by Jocelyn Eikenburg and interview with yours truly on the Speaking of China blog. Here’s a quote:

“Some books are so captivating that I even cherish the memories of scrolling through the pages with my e-reader in hand. The Girl Who Wrote in Silk by Kelli Estes is that kind of book.”

Jocelyn asked me some interesting questions that I don’t think I’ve answered before regarding the book. Read the full interview here.

All of us authors have a dream of hitting the USA Today Bestsellers list, but I truly did not think it could happen with my debut novel. But, it did! THANK YOU to everyone who has purchased The Girl Who Wrote in Silk, written a review of it, and told your friends about it. Because of you, I am #99 on the USA Today Bestsellers list for the week ending 12/10/15. Woohooooo! See the list here: http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/best-selling/week/2015/50/page/10/

I’m thrilled to announce that The Girl Who Wrote in Silk will be published in the German language under the label of Page & Turner Verlag, a publishing house within Random House Germany. Slated for publication in October 2016, the book will be titled “Die SEIDEN-INSEL,” which translates as The Island of Silk.

I would love to attend your book club meeting to discuss The Girl Who Wrote in Silk. I live in Washington State, so local meetings would work best for in-person visits but if you live elsewhere, I could join your meeting via Skype. Email me at info[at]kelliestes.com with details and to schedule!

Great news for those of you who prefer to read books with a larger print! Thorndike Press will be publishing large print editions of The Girl Who Wrote in Silk, available April 2016.

The Girl Who Wrote in Silk is in the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Holiday Catalog! Check it out on page 5 and find other great gift ideas for the holidays! http://www.pnba.org/holiday-catalog.html

Feature article | Book review

To read more about the true history that inspired The Girl Who Wrote in Silk, my publishing journey, the writing advice I’ve received, and my own advice to aspiring authors, visit me on author Amy Sue Nathan’s blog Women’s Fiction Writers!

For a glimpse at how The Girl Who Wrote in Silk came to be written, check out my guest post on my friend, author Jane Porter’s blog!

The audio version of The Girl Who Wrote in Silk will be available from Blackstone Audio starting July 7th! The book is read by Emily Woo Zeller who is a performing artist and yogi based in New York City.

I stopped by the Portland Book Review site to talk about Portland’s experiences during the time of anti-Chinese riots and expulsions. How did Portland react differently than Seattle? Check it out here.

This means that independent booksellers around the country who are members of the American Booksellers Association read the story and loved it so much they nominated it to be on the list. I am so honored to be chosen! Look for the July list to be posted here. Thank you ABA!

Booklist is a book review magazine published by the American Library Association.

“Carefully crafted and perfectly paced, the novel takes readers on a deeply satisfying, memorable journey. Part mystery and part romance, the novel is also a fascinating look at an often forgotten period of Pacific Northwest history and a moving reminder of the stories we all share.” ~Carol Gladstein, Booklist

“The interconnected lives of women a century apart is at the center of Estes’ tragic yet uplifting novel. The fast pace allows readers to quickly change gears from one time period to another. Though some may find themselves far more fascinated by the characters in the 19th century story than those in the present, everyone will be eager to understand their connection. Estes sheds light on a dark period in Seattle’s history that is sure to interest those seeking unusual historical details long hidden from history books.” ~Kathe Robin, RT Book Reviews