Thank goodness it’s April! While winter often felt endless this year, now that it’s finally spring and the illnesses and setbacks are behind us, I realize I need to post some updates about some great events lined up for the next few months.

Incredibly, a year ago today was the official pub date for In the Kingdom of the Sick. I more grateful than ever for the constant support, encouragement, and enthusiasm for the book and the issues it raises, for the press and publicity it received last spring, and the ongoing interest and opportunities to discuss these issues further. The paperback version of In the Kingdom of the Sick is set to pub this July, and I’m looking forward to more events, posts, and activities leading up to that.

On May 3, my friend Cheryl Alkon and I are presenting a session on writing nonfiction/health books at Grub Street’s Muse and the Marketplace literary conference at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel. It’s a wonderful three-day event “designed to give aspiring writers a better understanding about the craft of writing fiction and non-fiction, to prepare them for the changing world of publishing and promotion, and to create opportunities for meaningful networking.” I always wanted to attend when I was in graduate school and just starting to look for an agent, so I am really thrilled to be able to present.

If you’re in the Madison, WI area, I’m participating in a panel on electronic medical records at the University of Wisconsin-Madison on May 9. It is described as “a free public dialogue exploring electronic medical records (EMRs), a rapidly disseminating technology with great potential impact,” and is free and open to the public.

More locally, I’m participating in the “Connected Patient Panel: Exploring the Role of Online Patient Support Communities, Twitter Chats and Patient Advocacy” for the New England Society for Healthcare Communication’s Spring Conference (NESHCO). It’s on Thursday, May 15, 2014 from 12-1 pm at the Mystic Marriott Hotel & Spa, Mystic, CT.

And up next on the personal side? An update on my C25K training and thoughts on why I really like running—even if I am still a struggling novice.

Thanks again for all your support, and for listening despite the unintended silences!