Because it was in Publisher’s Weekly this week:
Megan Lynch at Riverhead has acquired world rights to Wendy McClure‘s new book, The Wilder Life, via Erin Hosier at Dunow, Carlson and Lerner. This humorous first-person narrative exploration of the life and work of Laura Ingalls Wilder retraces her real and fictional pioneer journeys, while also reporting on the phenomenon of Wilder’s contemporary fandom. Riverhead published New York Times Magazine contributor McClure’s I’m Not the New Me in 2005, and will publish the new book in 2010.
This is all to explain what I’ve been up to the past couple months (writing, thinking, proposal-writing, and selling), and what I’ll be doing for the next year (writing, writing, traveling, writing, churning butter, writing). You might have guessed from my most recent BUST column that I’ve had Little House on the brain, and I decided to do something about it.
I’ll say more about this when I get a chance, but I have to go grind some wheat flour now. Happy Friday!
anne says
CONGRATS, lady! WOOOOO! Will there be some kind of food-themed launch party for this one, too? I’m thinkin some corn mush and moonshine!
Nicole R. says
Can’t wait for it! Growing up in Kansas, my mother bought me a lot of her books, so I have fond memories of those stories. However, I love your sense of humor, so I’m sure it will be fantastic fun to read your spin! Good luck with the writing!
Annika says
That sounds amazing! I am Wilder obsessed myself.
Jaydub says
Congrats! I read all of the books as a kid (and wondered, for longer than was probably reasonable about how I would get by in life without knowing how to churn butter) and I was *just* thinking that I should reread the daggone things. Perhaps I’ll do so as a lead-up to your book’s release. I can’t wait!
Rob R-H says
Congratulations, that’s awesome news!
rebecca says
Lady CONGRATS! I’m a huge fan of Little Half Pint on Twitter — and I’m at Riverhead too, they are lovely and wonderful and the best — whoo hoo! Sweets for the sweet. 😉
Lisa says
Big congratulations! I can’t wait to buy and read said book.
Weetabix says
This is so amazing and incredible! Congratulations! Squeee!
Devlyn says
Wow, that’s really awesome. I’ve been wanting to re-read those books (as I haven’t since I was around 12), and this sounds like a fantastic supplement.
shauna says
Congratulations again Wendy! Such a freakin brilliant idea for a book and cannot wait to read it 🙂
Corrie says
I enjoyed I’m Not the New Me so I hope to read your new book. I’m a geek about writers (even being a tour guide at two writer’s homes). Sounds great!
shiman says
Congratulations, this is so kickass! One of your earlier posts (here? Twitter?) got me curious to read the Little House books…I had never read them as a kid. And they were so good. I cannot wait to read your writings!
Andrea says
That will be awesome! I wish I could read it right now.
PastaQueen says
Congrats, Wendy! If you churn the butter, I’ll be happy to eat it 🙂
Jen says
What an amazing idea for a book. If you decide you want to make the whole trousseau that Laura made for her wedding, though, you may need to check into an insane asylum.
Jen says
P.S. Congratulations!
Cinnamon says
Ah! Wonderful! And I’ll totally churn you some butter in my MixMaster if you like. 🙂 Congrats, Wendy. Can’t wait to read it.
april says
Oh wow, you are one of my favorite writers and I am rabidly enthusiastic about this topic- great idea, sure to be a great book. Congratulations! Jealousy is the sincerest form of flattery, right?
wow!
ps. I was so sad last summer when the leg of my roadtrip where I got to go to Missouri and see Pa’s fiddle got canceled. Pa’s fiddle!
Kristy says
What a relief. Just last week, I was wishing the lady who introduced us all to Caucasian Shashlik would tackle the Ingalls Mystique.
Well played.
K says
Congratulations! The book sounds cool (said she profoundly).
I read and liked all the books as a child, though they aren’t nearly so much of a phenomenon in the UK (though the TV adaptation was popular, I think. It was before my time).
Farmer Boy was always my favourite, though now I can’t really define why.
andi says
Awesome! I too have not read those books since I was around 12, but I can’t wait to read YOURS!!
Gwen says
Congratulations, Wendy!
comebacknikki says
Congratulations! I can’t wait to read it!
Marianne says
How awesome – congratulations!
Laura in L.A. says
Oh, Wendy. You inspired me to re-read my whole “Little House” set! I even replaced some of the rattier paperbacks with new copies, because you also told us to buy books. :):)
I will be so excited to read your new book–I know it will be terrific!
Love, Laura
Katie in Texas says
Please tell me that there’s a chapter devoted to “good brown smell!” I’m a Little House FREAK and I’m so excited!
Al says
FANTASTIC! Wendy, I cannot wait to read this. Congratulations!
Amy F. says
Yay Wendy! Congratulations! I can’t wait to read the new book!
rainbowthespian says
OMG good brown smell. That is hilarious.
My sister used to get her kids to eat things phrasing things like they did… Something about “good broth” with their beans…
I just posted on LJ but I wanted to say, hey! I’m Wendy too!
I will definitely be watching!
Bonnie says
Oh my god. Write the book TODAY, and overnight the manuscript to me tomorrow. I cannot wait until 2010.
I named my little sister after Laura Ingalls. I found your blog after reading your book which I thought was great. I really, really can’t wait to read the next one. That’s the best book idea I’ve heard all year! Sure, it’s early yet, but I am ready to declare it the winner.
Laura Ingram (G.G.) says
This is awesome news. I’m going to eagerly anticpate your new book. I’m LIW-obsessed myself (not a surprise, probably, considering my name, and the fact people get it confused with Ingalls all the time).
Best wishes on the rest of the writing and publishing process!
Vanessa says
So very cool!! I can’t wait to read it. What a great idea for a book. Good luck writing, researching, travelling and churning butter.!
jana says
Holy crap, I LOVE Laura Ingalls Wilder. This project sounds amazing. I can’t wait for it to come out!