Meet author Sarah Quigley at book signing Thursday, May 28

Litchfield native Sarah Quigley, formerly Sarah Bruesewitz, a 1994 graduate of Litchfield High School, will be featured at a public book signing for her young adult novel titled "TMI," at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 28, at Cricket Meadow Tea, 113 Sibley Ave. N., Litchfield.

“I’m really excited about it,” Quigley said of her return to Litchfield. “My family moved from Litchfield two years ago, so I haven’t been back for two years. It will be fun to come back.”

Quigley’s first novel, “TMI”, was released by Dutton Children’s Books, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group, earlier this year. And it has earned good reviews from its young adult target audience.

For Quigley, the book and the attention she has received for writing it offer many “pinch me” moments. But maybe nothing is more surprising than the way in which Quigley was discovered as an author.

Though she has loved writing for most of her life — she created a series of stories about two friends while an elementary school student, binding the pages of her stories between cardboard pieces to create a book — she never really expected to write for a living.

“It was a dream, but I thought it was not a realistic one,” Quigley said. “I thought writing was going to be just a hobby. The goal was not to be a professional writer.”

While in New York, Quigley began writing a blog, titled “Sure Thing, Babs” in her free time. The blog, a collection of humorous thoughts, rants and real-life tales, wasn’t anything one would find unless they
were actually looking for it.

And yet, in 2005, Quigley received an e-mail from an editor at Dutton Children’s Books. While doing Internet research for another book she was editing, the editor ran across Quigley’s blog. “She said, ‘I just spent too much time reading your blog (and) believe your writing style would fit in well with a young adult book,’” Quigley said.

At first, Quigley thought she was the target of a practical joke. “But I looked it up online to see it was for real, not a joke,” Quigley said, laughing at the recollection.

Several correspondences followed, and Quigley and the editor eventually agreed that she should give a novel a shot.

Quigley has three Minnesota signings — including in Litchfield — lined up next week. Finding her book on Amazon.com and in bookstores might provide a rush of pride, but Quigley maintains an “aw, shucks” approach to being an author.

“I was just so thrilled someone wanted me to write a book,” she said when asked about the contract she negotiated with her publisher. “I would have taken an ice cream cone and a couple of two dollar bills.”

To read the complete story, see the print edition of the Litchfield Independent Review for Thursday, May 28, 2009. Brent Schacherer is editor of the Litchfield Independent Review. He can be reached at editor@independentreview.net.