Moth in the Window - Now available at Etsy Shop!

I pushed myself to finally open that Etsy shop I have been keeping in the closet for the past year!

My inspiration was reading Lynn Krawczyk's Smudged Textile Studio blog and looking at her amazing website.  Then I noticed that she has a link to her book, Intentional Printing, at her Etsy shop. That was enough to push me into action.

If you would like to order a copy go to my Etsy shop!

This fabric collage to also now available on Etsy.

"Pieces of My Heart" - Fabric Collage by Mary Lachman

Oxford Public Library hosts Moth at the Window

Last month I had a reading at the Oxford Public Library in Oxford, CT.  Dawn Higginson, the director, and her staff were wonderful, served pastries, and took photos. Thank you to everyone who braved the cold rain that night to come to the reading.

I am taking a short break from my book tour for the holidays but will resume soon. I will post the schedule for 2015 online at the website www.MothAtTheWindow.com

Moth at the Flanders Nature Center

Copies of Moth at the Window are available at the Flanders Nature Center every Saturday and Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., thorough December 21st.

Flanders Nature Center is a wonderful local farm and open space with hiking trails and family activities year round. It is located at 5 Church Hill Road in Woodbury, CT.

If you have not been to Woodbury it is an exceptional, quintessential New England town with plenty of antique shops, restaurants (including the Carol Peck Cafe and Curtis House), and things to do.

This year the Artisans Market at the Flanders Nature Center is 6-rooms full of goodies from fiber art to wear and hang, to birdhouses, bat houses, painted sleds, and pottery. Chocolate, Nature Center wool, honey, and maple syrup round out the offerings. Shop early for the best selection!

Flanders Nature Center and Land Trust
5 Church Hill Road
Woodbury, CT
phone: 203-263-3711

Moth at the Window a reading at the Oxford Public Library

This past Thursday was cold outside but a warm crowd gathered to hear me read from Moth at the Window at the Oxford Public Library.

Thank you to Dawn and the library staff for this wonderful evening. And thank you to everyone who turned out!

Presentation at the Indiana University Alumni Fall Conference October 1959

These are a few excerpts from the speech Dr. Grover W. Clayton delivered  to the I. U. Dentistry Alumni Fall Conference, October 3-4, 1959 in Bloomington, Indiana.

"We don't know how to eat nor do we know what to eat. Most of us eat what tastes good and that is usually the wrong thing for us to eat."

"Dr. Boyd S. Gardener of the Mayo Clinic made a tour of Europe recently, and states that he saw more teeth extracted in the British Isles than in any other country."

"Why did he find this condition? Because for generations they have been eating the wrong kind of food. Too much soft food; too much canned food, all of which has been lacking in vitamins."

"It was never intended that man should depend upon the grocery store and the bake shop for all that he eats. With the type of food we eat and our way of preparing it, the most of us could get along very nicely with a spoon and a straw."

"White flour has most of the food taken out of it. Crack some wheat in an old fashioned coffee mill and cook it for breakfast cereal. Nothing is as good for you, and nothing is as cheap. Oatmeal is not a good cereal. It lacks some of the elements the body needs. Put a rat in a cage and feed it nothing but oatmeal and water and its teeth will decay. Eat tomatoes or oranges everyt day and all the raw fruit you can get. Eat lots of raw cabbage and other raw vegetables. About 5 ounces of meat per day. Not all port. Eat fish often."

Clark Memorial Library - Mary Lachman Talks about Moth

Thank you to everyone who was able to join me last night at the library for a reading from Moth at the Window!  It is so satisfying to have folks enjoy GWC's poems as much as I do.

Thanks also to the library team who provided refreshments and made me feel so welcome!

BlueInk Review

Moth at the Window: Poetry of Grover W. Clayton and Recollections of Indiana
Mary F. Lachman
Xlibris, 165 pages, (paperback) $19.99, 9781499022520 (Reviewed: October, 2014)

Moth at the Window: Poetry of Grover W. Clayton and Recollections of Indiana by physician Mary F. Lachman is a thoughtful, well-contextualized collection of the author's late grandfather's poems.
Lachman's grandfather Grover Washington (“G.W.”) Clayton, who became a country dentist, was born in Indiana in 1884, 68 years after Indiana became the 19th state. The poems here are from Washington's handwritten journal, rescued from an attic by Lachman, and were written between 1927 and 1959.
Lachman organized the poems by genre; sections have titles such as "Fruit of the Land," "Chase the Piglet and Other Stories of the Road," and "Heaven Waits." Each section is prefaced by a brief prose piece that gives regional background information and homey family memories, such as, "The [Southern Indiana] soil is very fertile..." and "Everyone liked peaches, even my cousin Jim Harbin's cocker spaniel. The dog would follow the peels to the composts pile and devour them."
The poems themselves, most rhyming, are lovely and grounded in physical detail, such as "Autumn Time (1934)" in which the fourth stanza reads, "The tickle grass is blown from place to place, / And Spanish needle vies with beggar lice / To aggravate and cling to man and beast.” The repetition of the "s" sound in grass, place, Spanish, vies, lice, and beast unifies the stanza and emphasizes the solemn end of each line. The pieces embody a time in America's past when many people lived close to the land and their direct interdependence with the seasons was taken for granted.
The book features numerous photographs of Clayton and the author's family in what can seem like a simpler time in America; they inhabited a stoic, family-oriented, farmhouse culture that is hard to find now. Combined with the clear-eyed, attentive voice of the poems, the prose and photos create an enriching collection that many readers will appreciate.
Also available in hardcover and ebook. 

Author Talk/Signing - Mary Lachman at Clark Memorial Library

Next Tuesday (Election Day) I will be reading from Moth at the Window at the Clark Memorial Library in Bethany.  I hope you can come. Bring your questions about self-publishing and I will do my best to provide a few answers. Afterwards I will sign copies of the book for anyone who would like to purchase a copy.

Clark Memorial Library
538 Amity Road
Bethany, CT 06524
203-393-2103

An excerpt from "Autumn" in Moth at the Window

Last week a Facebook friend suggested that I add an excerpt from the book to the website. So today I added G.W. Clayton's "Autumn". Here is a short excerpt.

"Summer's bloom is almost gone
And the nights grow chill and clear.
Evening overlaps the day
Bringing thought of fireside cheer."

To read the poem in its entirety visit Moth at the Window.com and click on the "Excerpts" page.

Winner Announced

Last Saturday I was signing copies of Moth at the Window at Bank Square Books in Mystic, CT.

Everyone who stopped by could enter a drawing to win an original handmade notecard.

Today I am pleased to announce the winner is Karen Fairbrother!

Around the World Blog Hop - Round 2

Last week I posted in the Around the World Blog Hop thanks to an introduction by Carol R. Eaton Designs.

Today it is my turn to introduce Diane Cadrain.

Diane is a lawyer and freelance writer who specialized in employment law.  She is a clever and highly creative Connecticut woman. She learned embroidery from her grandmother, but has also made clothing. Diane exhibits throughout Connecticut. Her artwork includes hand-painted fabric, felted wool, embroidery and beading. Please visit her blog: Stitching-It-All-Together 

Diane with her dogs Java and Mocha

  

Bank Square Books hosts Mary Lachman and Moth at The Window

Bank Square Books is a phenomenal independent bookstore in the heart of downtown Mystic, CT across the street from Mystic Pizza and just south of the bridge. If you want to visit a quintessential New England town and browse in shops, Mystic is the place.

Before my signing I had lunch at Bravo Bravo. It was spacious and modern with large windows and a view of the water. The waitstaff was attentive. The fresh bread and olive oil were amazing. I ordered the buffalo chicken pizza with gorgonzola. Yes it was decadent, but what the heck. It was spicy and would have been perfect with a beer, but I had water. My friend had the codfish BLT lunch special. It came with a side salad and looked delicious. Both the pizza and the sandwich were made with that same good bread dough.

The staff at Bank Square Books were pleasant and cheerful and it was the perfect day to explore the streets of a waterfront community. During my book signing I met so many wonderful people who stopped to chat. There were folks from Illinois, Pennsylvania, Florida and Ohio.  There was a group of 6 or 7 women who meet every year to select the 'reads' for the following year.

Thank you to everyone who stopped to talk, enter my drawing, and pick up a copy of the book. I hope you had as much fun as I did!

Just in case you didn't have a chance to visit Bank Square Books on Saturday you can still pick up a copy of Moth at the Window there. And if you hurry you can get one of the autographed copies!

Bank Square Books
53 W. Main Street
Mystic, CT 06355
860-536-3795 
www.banksquarebooks.com

I will announce the winner of the notecard giveaway later this week.

~Mary

Around the World Blog Hop

I was invited to participate in the Around the World Blog Hop by fabric artisan Carol  of Carol R. Eaton Designs. Carol creates amazing hand-dyed, stamped, painted, and stenciled fabrics that she sells online and at regional events. Her blog is a source of inspiration and step-by-step instructions for many fabric techniques.  

I am thrilled to introduce two artists that I have invited to participate in the Around the World Blog Hop: Ruth Anne Olson and Michael Scaramuzzino.

Ruth Anne Olson a friend and member of SAQA-CT. Ruth Anne creates textile art, quilts and home accessories with an eye for subtle color change and fabric. She frequently uses hand-dyed cottons. And did I mention that she is a mathematician too? Visit her blog at http://www.ruthanneolson.blogspot.com

Michael Scaramuzzino is an amazing young professional illustrator and 3-d digital modeler who will stun you with his designs. Originally from Connecticut, he now lives in Massachusetts and has a B.F.A. from the Monstserrat College of Art. Michael illustrated the cover to Moth at the Window. Visit his website and blog at http://www.michael-scaramuzzino.com

 Q&A
1. What am I working on?

Today I am organizing myself for a Moth book signing this Saturday, October 18th at Bank Square Books in Mystic, CT http://www.banksquarebooks.com. 

I am also writing a proposal for a second book that I would like to pitch to small publisher.

2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?

Moth at the Window is of higher quality than many self-published books. It looks just like a book you might order from Random House.  I used an editor review and edit the text before it ever went to print. Also, the publisher, Xlibris, also did a phenomenal job formatting the text and choosing the font for the cover. I self-published because I did not want to spend time pitching the book to publishers.

Moth at the Window is also a multi-genre book. This is unusual since most books are in a single category: fiction, nonfiction, poetry, etc. Moth combines poetry, stories, and tidbits of history.

You might  enjoy the website http://www.MothAtTheWindow.com

3. Why do I write/create what I do?

I write about what I know. I like stories about people and the times they lived in. I enjoy trying to understand a person’s perspective in light of the historical events occurring around them. I am fascinated by ordinary people’s lives.

4. How does my writing/creating process work?

I prefer to write in the morning. I find that it is easier to formulate my sentences then. However, since I have the alarm set for 4:20 a.m. on weekdays and a long commute to my day job my writing I can rarely indulge myself. Instead, I write in the evening, after dinner, and on the weekends. And rainy days are the best!

Book Signing at the Woodbridge Town Library

I want to thank everyone who came out to the Woodbridge Library on September 16th to make my first book reading/signing such a success!  Here are some of the photos from the evening.

Betsy and Hout

Displaying the Suffield Bicennenial t-shirt

Chatting with friends

Some of the attendees

G.W. Clayton and Crest

Recently a cousin told me that Doc Clayton was one of the first dentists in Sullivan County to begin recommending Crest toothpaste to his patients. It was 1956.

Around that time Proctor and Gamble had just completed the first clinical trial that proved that the addition of fluoride to toothpaste (Crest) was effective in preventing cavities! Here is an advertisement from those days.

The Details in the Art of Michael Scaramuzzino

Take a look at the cover illustration of Moth at the Window. Pick up your copy or if look at the image online (http://www.MothAtTheWindow.com)

The moth is stunning. It was created by Michael Scaramuzzino, a professional artist, in Massachusetts. Michael is a graduate of the Montserrat College of Art in Beverly. He is passionate about pen-and- ink illustration and 3-D modeling. 

The moth was created with pen-and- ink and watercolor. First Michael draws the image in pencil. Although some artists freely sketch at this point, Michael tends to incorporate significant detail in this phase. Then he uses a Micron permanent marker to trace over the pencil lines and add additional detail to the illustration. In the final phase, Michael uses dry pan watercolors to ink the final work.

This is an example of Michael's pen-and-ink work for Astral Parasites, an exhibit at the Montserrat Gallery in 2013. Notice the incredible detail.

See more of Michael's work at    http://www.michael-scaramuzzino.com

Mark your calendar for Woodbridge

I am kicking off the book tour for Moth at the Window at the Woodbridge Town Library on Tuesday, September 16th at 7:00 p.m.  I will be reading some poetry, telling a few stories, and showing a few pictures. There will also be a raffle for a free giveaway. I hope to see you there!

Winners Announced for "Moth at the Window"

Over 640 individuals entered the Goodreads book give-away for Moth at the Window.
Congratulations to the following 10 readers!

• Daryl M - Winnipeg, Manitoba
• Antoinette L - Cerritos, CA
• April T - Overland Park, KS
• Cassi M - Riverhead, NY
• Tressa W - Lansing, MI
• Crystal L - Hamilton, Ontario
• Daniel M - Weymouth, MA
• Phyllis E - Blythewood, SC
• Cyntia B - Moreno Valley, CA
• Diane W - Dayton, OH

Book Tour

The first stop on the Book Tour is the Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association tent in the 

CONNECTICUT BUILDING 

at the BIG E in Springfield, MA September 12-28.

I will be signing books there
Friday, Sept 12th from 4-7pm
and
Sunday, Sept 14 from 10am-1pm

Drop by and say hello!

Book Giveaway!

I am sponsoring a Book Giveaway through Goodreads.

There are 10 FREE copies available to anyone through the Goodreads website http://www.goodreads.com

Sign up today for your chance to win!

Summer Night

When the sunset comes to me and the soul shall take its flight,
May the journey peaceful be as a balmy summer night.

Just a little tidbit from G.W. Clayton's poem "Summer Night" in Moth at the Window 

Moth Delivery!

I have to hand it to Xlibris. I placed my first order for Moth at the Window on Thursday, July 17th just hoping to receive them in time to participate in the Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association (CAPA) tent at the Big E.

Well, guess what was waiting for me at the front door yesterday? Yes, you guessed it....the books. Now I can meet the CAPA dropoff deadline and begin author talks at the library.

Indianapolis 500 and "Moth at the Window"

Welcome to the Moth at the Window blog! 

If you started reading the book you know that G.W. (my grandfather) and Cyrinthia (my grandmother) married in 1911. 

On May 30, 1911 the first  race was held. Ray Harroun won that day with an average speed of 74.6 mph. 

Click below to watch a You Tube video from a historic news reel. 

• News Reel from the Indianapolis 500 

Charles Bigelow and mechanic in Mercer car, 1911
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Charles_Bigelow_and_mechanic_in_Mercer_car_1911.jpg