On Friday, I had the pleasure of attending a reading for Ruth Tenzer Feldman’s just-released title The Ninth Day at Powell’s Books at Cedar Hills Crossing in Beaverton. The Ninth Day is Ooligan’s most recent publication and is a companion novel to the Oregon Book Award-winning novel Blue Thread.
As the current project manager for The Ninth Day, I may be just a little bit biased, but I love to see Ruth at literary events. Her readings are always informative and interactive, and they usually involve some sort of costume change and props. To help get her audience in the mood for this event, Ruth came dressed in a 1964-style “Jackie O” costume; over the course of the reading, she gradually transformed from a proper lady into a wild hippie flower child, complete with flowing floral wreath for her head and a tie-dyed dress. During this transformation, Ruth read several different sections of her novel, introducing everyone in attendance to the story and teasing those that haven’t yet read the book with a suspenseful scene from the dramatic climax. At one point while she was reading, I looked back and noticed several Powell’s customers had paused their shopping to hear what was happening onstage. Clearly Ruth had won some new fans.
If you missed this event but still want a chance to meet Ruth and get your book signed, you can catch her on Sunday, December 1st at the Oregon Historical Society’s annual Holiday Cheer Author Celebration, where she will be signing copies of both Blue Thread and The Ninth Day. That event will be held at the Oregon Historical Society at 1200 SW Park from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. You can also see her read again on Monday, December 16th at the official launch party for The Ninth Day. The launch will take place at the historic Koehler house, located at 732 NW 19th Avenue. Although this building currently serves as home to the law firm of Kilmer, Voorhees, & Laurick, readers of the series will better recognize it as the fictional Josephson house, home to Miriam and her family in Blue Thread. Attendees of the event will have the chance to enter a raffle for a full classroom set of The Ninth Day for the teacher of their choice.
For more updates on The Ninth Day, be sure to check out the Start to Finish page, where you can read weekly updates about the production process. To keep in touch with Ruth Tenzer Feldman, visit her website and be sure to sign up for her newsletter to get a free e-book of Florrie’s story, which takes place in the time period between Blue Thread and The Ninth Day.