Tamra Norton's Blog

By Tamra Norton


Yup--you read that subject line right! I got a letter in the mail yesterday from LAURA BUSH! :D Since she used to be a children's librarian and since my book deals with deployment, I decided to send her a copy of my latest children's novel, MAKE ME A HOME (signed, of course with just the right amount of sucking up.) :)

So what did I find in my mailbox today but a huge envelope with the words THE WHITE HOUSE in the upper left hand corner. The first thing I found inside was an autographed picture from our first lady, and I thought, what?! But then I noticed a smaller piece of stationary (with the embossed presidential seal at the top) and a personal letter from Mrs. Bush! Come on, come on--I know you want me to tell you what it said. Okay, you talked me into it...

Dear Ms. Norton

Thank you for your letter and the inscribed copy of your book, Make Me a Home. You are kind to think of me, and I appreciate your generosity.

President Bush and I are grateful for your words of support. He joins me in sending best wishes.

Sincerely,
Your BFF,
Laura Bush (only it's not typed! It's her John Hancock--right there at the bottom of my letter!!! Okay, and I added the BFF part, BUT I'm sure that after she actually READS my book, she's going to like me so much that she'll invite me to The White House to eat some BBQ with her and "W"! I can't wait!!! :)

By Tamra Norton

Great news! My sixth novel, MAKE ME A HOME, sequel to MAKE ME A MEMORY was just accepted for publication by Bonneville Books, an imprint of Cedar Fort Inc. I'm very excited about this book which rounds out the saga of 12-year-old Allie Claybrook whose dad, a soldier in the US Army has been deployed to Iraq for a year.

I had so much fun writing this story. Even though it's a sequel, MAKE ME A HOME is a complete story in itself. As I wrote it, I laughed, cried, and re-lived many-a moments from those unforgettable "tween" years. There's even a titch of puppy love. If you've enjoyed my other stories, I don't think you'll be disappointed with this one.

I don't have a publication date yet, but I'll let y'all know when I hear back. Now on to finishing my next YA novel which is half written...