All this summer I’ll be building a lemonade list. In The Lemonade Year, Nina is a food photographer shooting for a book called 32 Ways to Make Lemonade. She’s having her own lemonade year and it will take a twist or two to get it right.

Enjoy numbers 4-7 on the list.

#4 Blueberry Lemonade Float

#5 Mango Coconut Lemonade Slushy

#6 Rosé Lemonade

#7 Dragon Fruit Lemonade

Watch the video here and get all the recipes below it. (The video does them in a different order, but this is how they are written below it. A little strange, but the funky music makes up for it.)

Get the whole lists as it builds over at Lemonade 32 Ways 

Drink up and stay tuned for more!

Amy

Fiction Addiction! What a great name! It was my pleasure to be one of the featured writer’s in this shop last year on Independent Bookstore Day. Thank you for having me last year, and I hope this year has been a wonderful for you! Ya’ll visit this Greenville, SC store for your fiction fix!

Hub City Bookshop!

I was thrilled to get to read in this shop along with fantastic author Elaine Neil Orr. One of my favorite things about doing this tour has been meeting other authors, especially seasoned ones who have wisdom to share with this newbie.

It was my pleasure to spend the afternoon in this lovely shop and to get to sign their author wall. Check out their store and the whole Hub City Writers Project!

The very first reading that I did for The Lemonade Year tour was at this amazing little store. Friend and fellow Press 53 author, Steve Mitchell is co-owner of this indie. I read on Friday the 13th and it was fantastic. This first official leg of the journey set a great tone for the whole tour. I was able to stay with friends, Dave and Judi Hill, whom Greensboro, NC would not be the same without, and I was honored to have some Wildacres Writers Workshop faces in the crowd.

It was a lovely experience. Come visit Scuppernong Books in Greensboro, NC

Oh my, Bookmarks! This bookstore had me at hello. The second stop along my tour was a gem. Tucked in what seems like an alley in the heart of downtown Winston, Salem, I had to hunt this shop out a bit, but man, when I found it I didn’t want to leave.

You walk through a little alcove and then step out into to light to see this amazing little brick store hiding there like a treasure. Inside, wait for it… there are books and beer. Folks. Books and beer. Two of my favorite things in one place. A haven.

But seriously, I can’t tell you how much I loved this reading. The chairs were filled and the faces were smiling. My Press 53 family was there and I got to spend the afternoon with a friend and ZTA sister I hadn’t seen in far too long. (Laura, it was worth the trip, just to see you!)

I’m getting a little choked up thinking about this reading.

Kevin Watson, editor of Press 53 has been such a champion of my writing and having my story collection published with him was an important milestone for which I will always be grateful. (Check them out!)

I had such fun at this reading. Laughs all around. It goes down as one of the best for me! Thank you, Bookmarks and all my friends in Winston! I love you dearly!

My next shout out goes to one of the most beautiful bookstores I’ve been in: Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, NC.

This shop is an oasis. You think you’re in any given strip of shops, busy streets, big parking lot.. then you go inside and you call home and tell them to pack your things and ship them on the next FedEx truck. Ok, I didn’t do that, but I thought about it. (Quail Ridge, ever think about turning a supply room into a tiny B&B (bed and book) for writers to hole up and work. I’d sign up!)

This reading was extra special because there were so many friends there that it was like a little reunion. I had the pleasure of reading with friend and author, Leah Weiss. Friend, Mamie Potter–Miss Quail Ridge herself was there (what a great place to work), and friends I don’t see often enough sat in the audience.

I can’t wait to get back to this shop!

My next shout out is to Page 158 Books in Wake Forest. I cannot speak highly enough about Sue Lucey and the staff of Page 158. I had one of the best reading experiencing of my life at this shop.

First off, they have wine… just kidding! They do, but that wasn’t what made it wonderful. When a bookseller falls in love with your book and comes to reading with post-it flags sticking out all through the pages and can quote passages of the story to you… well, there’s not much better than that.

Sue and Page 158 Books have been such a crazy-amazing champion of The Lemonade Year, and I am forever grateful. Thank you! My heart is yours! (T-Rex had a great time, too!)

My next shout out is to a great indie, The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines, NC. I had a wonderful time at this store. This whole section of town was fantastic. It’s like a dream. Really. Peaceful streets with gorgeous shops–there was even a dry goods store than had a little tribute out front for the book. (Ok, accidental coincidence, but still.)

I had never been to Southern Pines before and honestly, I thought I wasn’t going to find it. My semi-intelligent phone has a GPS feature, but it’s doesn’t always know where I am, so giving me directions to where I’m going sometimes proves wonky. I had to go old school and us the original GPS: fervent prayer to God to help me find where I was going.

He got me there. If you have never been to this town and to this store, please go. Make a day of it. I wish I had had more time to spend there. I would love to have strolled the streets and the shops letting time fall away the way you can in towns like that.

Hmm, sounds like I need to plan a road trip…. T-Rex, pack your bags.

April 27th, 2019 is National Independent Bookstore Day: I’ll be posting about some of my favorites! Not only are these great shops, they are stops along my book tour from last year, so I’ll be posting some pics and memories from the trip. Join me today for a virtual tour of some great bookstores!

First stop: Malaprop’s Bookstore and Cafe!

I was overjoyed to have the launch of my first novel in my very own local store, my happy place, and my home away from home. It was wonderful!

The wonderful Caroline and Lauren of Gold Leaf Literary helped me set up the tour and worked with Malaprop’s to prepare the most gorgeous book launch.

You can find me often sitting in “my office” (the cafe) writing on a current project or making this post, for instance. I love this store!

Come visit this amazing pillar of the community in Downtown Asheville, NC!