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A Joyful Noise

the miles between

In my travels, two things

September 5, 2009 by Melodye Shore

I spied a bushel basket of pomegranates at the supermarket today, alongside an enormous display of watermelons. They were waxy-perfect, more exotic than the ones that grew in my grandmother’s backyard. Nana’s were dark crimson, not cherry red, and they were etched with brown patches that looked like the freckles on her wrinkled hands. Still, and although it’s a bit early in the season, they reminded me of her, so I decided to buy one.

 

The grocery clerk dragged my produce across the scanner, with nary a single glance in my direction. He mumbled something in Spanish–granada, I think–as he rolled the pomegranate toward the bagger.

 

“Have you ever eaten one?” I asked.

 

No answer.

 

“My grandmother had a tree…”

 

His head snapped up. “Mine, too!” And in that split second, we recognized each other as kindred spirits. “Listen, sprinkle some lime juice on the seeds. Add some salt and pico de gallo….” His eyes sparkled wet as he shared his grandmother’s secret recipe. “Try it,” he urged, “You won’t be sorry.”

 

Maybe I’ll experiment with that recipe one day. But this afternoon, I resorted to my favorite way of eating pomegranates: fresh and unadulterated, seed pearls oozing red as I removed the crown and tore into the fruit.

The seeds were sugary, sour, crunchy, juicy–a sunburst of flavors and textures, just as I’d remembered. I split the pomegranate with my family, realizing anew that it’s not the flavors I love most. It’s the sharing, the sense of communion that this sticky fruit inspires. Likewise, that’s the delicious take-away of my grocery store encounter.


You may remember that I took an ARC copy of THE MILES BETWEEN on a tour of the Orange County Fair. So much fun, and the book itself is awesome. At the very moment in which Destiny finds her life at the crossroads, she finds a beautiful pink Cadillac idling at the curb. Carpe diem, she thinks, and she embarks on an incredible road trip.

This is a high-speed read, with thematic signposts any teenager can relate to. With that in mind, Mary, would you please inscribe the autographed copy I won (!!) to Girls Incorporated of Orange County? I’m thinking it’ll be a wonderful addition to their library. And yours, my LJ friends, if you haven’t already treated yourself to Mary Pearson’s latest novel.

Inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold sm

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Posted in: Uncategorized Tagged: nana, pomegranates, the miles between

THE MILES BETWEEN: A Novel Adventure

July 23, 2009 by Melodye Shore

Mary Pearson’s latest novel, THE MILES BETWEEN, is on a cross-country road trip—a tour that will shuttle advance review copies (ARCs) from San Diego to New York City. If all goes as planned, the ARCs will arrive in NYC by the book’s September 1st publication date.

I love escorting people around this place I call home! So…given the opportunity to chauffeur Mary’s new book around Southern California, I grabbed my car keys and hit the road.

oc_map

In this slideshow (link opens up in a new tab) The Miles Between travels  through a little slice of Orange County. What speaks more to the idea of summertime adventures, I ask you, than the local county fair?

Sneak peek:

Phillip_FarmHand_and_Oxen

Want the ARC to visit your hometown? Honk Comment below by 6 a.m. PST on Monday, July 27th, and ask that your name be included in the drawing. (You can ride shotgun, of course, but please review the rules of the road before offering to take the wheel.)

Posted in: Uncategorized Tagged: mary pearson, orange county fair, road trip, the miles between

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