These are the best of times for Monica Wood.
She grew up in the town of Mexico and now lives in Portland. She's out with a new novel called "The One-In--Million Boy."
Her career has been humming along nicely over the last few years - with a memoir and a play - but with this book, it has suddenly soared.
The tour has taken her to England, where she fell in love with that country's book culture.
The story, about a boy who works for a 104-year-old woman, his death (no spoiler, it's on page 2), and the way his father steps in to fill the void, has been lavishly praised and the book will be sold in some two dozen countries.
She'll be appearing at libraries and bookstores in the next few months to talk about "The One-In-A-Million Boy," beginning on Wednesday at Nonesuch Books in South Portland.