We are home now, and getting settled back into life in Sacramento. We arrived exactly two weeks ago tonight and hit the ground running. Whew! We got our flu shot the very next day (and that wiped us out!) Then there was Halloween. Then dashing to the printers to make up postcards and bookmarks. There was the election last Tuesday and several days of madly reading the propositions on our ballot ahead of time. I had already set up a book signing at Time Tested Books last Thursday, and books had been delivered, so there was just the matter of firming up details and sending reminder invitations.
And then the day itself arrived, November 8th, and I have to say, it was so much fun. I had a good turn-out of neighbors, teaching friends, art friends, poetry friends, and friends from my critique groups. It was like a reunion. Here are a few pictures to capture the spirit.
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| When I first walked in the door, before the book signing, this lovely lady was purchasing my book! My first signing! |
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| On the far side, Kristina Halvorsen and her husband, Patrick. She taught at my beloved former school, Elder Creek Elementary. |
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| Kristina's husband, middle. On the right, Don Brown, former team teacher at Elder Creek. On the left, Don's beautiful wife, Ruby Alcartado. (Later, I read early drafts of Carnival of the Animals to Don's class for feedback. They gave great suggestions) |
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| Several writer friends from critique groups here and another colleague, from Elder Creek, Shari Beck, smiling at the camera |
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| My current critique group who made this a better book: Jen Hansen, Skeeter Britton, Nancy Herman, Rosi Hollinbeck. We were only missing Randall Buechner. On the far left, Shirley, whom I've met at SCBWI events. |
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| The group again — "Storytellers", all excellent writers. 😍😍 |
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| Next to Nancy, Marsha Sylvester from my other critique group, "Story Catchers". Another good writer. |
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| Oh what memories. Tom Fante close right, from a years ago group, "ASH" (Alumni of Sands Hall.) What a great group that was before before people moved away, went back to school or got involved in other projects. Other members of the group: Naomi Williams, David Hagerty, Nancy Herman, Skeeter Britton, Randall Buechner. |
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| Part of the crowd |
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| Veronica and Norma, two lovely ladies from the poetry group I attend at Hart Senior Center. The pretty lady with the golden scarf is our former neighbor, Alice Welborn |
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| And this was a thrill and surprise: Former students from my after school Art Club at Natomas Community Center and their mother. The second sister who was a student isn't in this picture, but they both were such good artists. (The younger one here was too young for the class then.) |
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| Wrapping up with Skeeter and Jen. |
This week I'll be visiting students at Matsuyama Elementary School, and I'm really looking forward to that. I love school visits, and I've visited Matsuyama before for earlier books (Imogene and the Case of the Missing Pearls, Dragonella). Both times it was a wonderful experience.
About Time Tested Books. Theoretically t's a "used book store" but they order and stock contemporary books as well. They are a wonderful bookstore and one of my favorite hang-outs in Midtown whenever I have time to amble and browse. I do stock some ebooks, but I love the feel of print books and the atmosphere of book stores. Books that I re-read tend to be print books.
How about you? Do you have a favorite book store where you like to hang out? Do you attend book signings? Do you prefer ebooks or print books?
Congratulations. It looks like a lovely end to a very busy period.
ReplyDeleteThis dinosaur prefers 'real' books to e-books. There is something about the weight, the smell, the texture... And I find them easier to flip through looking for that quote I remember too.
Oh, EC, I so agree. All of it. You said it so well: ". . . the weight, the smell, the texture . . ." and finding quotes. You bet. Thanks for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you had such a great book signing experience. I admire you for getting it together so quickly after returning from your trip.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Natalie. It was a bit of a scramble! :-) Have a nice afternoon.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful support group you have! And it must have been an exciting night for you. Congratulations and continued good luck. Enjoy the ride :-)
ReplyDeleteA busy time but fun, no doubt!
ReplyDeleteLove the photos of you in authorly mode, and the cozy store replete with brick walls, your readers and supporters, and, well, loads of books. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kenda. They really are wonderful friends. I feel very blessed.
ReplyDeleteMirka, that is such a cool bookstore. Once I went for a walk and went in to browse and hours later my husband called the store. Peter, the owner, said "It's for you." My husband wanted to know "Whose turn is it to cook?" Peter said, "Well, he knew where to find you." :-)
ReplyDeleteVicki, thanks for stopping by. It really was a lot of fun.
Well, I see I should have kept the comments separate. Vicki, it really was fun. It was a chilly, dark evening with the time change, and I so appreciated people turning out for it.
ReplyDeleteCongrats! So proud of you, you look incredibly natural signing!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Tanya! What a nice compliment! Wish you could have been there. Canada is so far away or I could attend your signings as well. Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a wonderful event. Love seeing all the pictures. So happy for you that you had so many people come out and support you. Awesome!
ReplyDeleteI love bookstores and am lucky to have quite a few in my area that I like to visit. I only read print books (don't have an ereader) and I try to go to author signings and events whenever I hear of them- and they are close enough. :)
Have a fabulous weekend!
~Jess
Hi, Jess! I love bookstores, too. And while I do download some books on Kindle, nothing beats (for me) a print book that I can hold and turn pages and feel the pages beneath and between my fingers. In Midtown, we don't have as many independent bookstores as we used to, sadly. But I have two favorites — the Book Collector and Time Tested Books (where I had my signing.) Also The Avid Reader and Beers Books. But I feel lucky for those. Two of them I can walk to, and the other two are a very short drive.
ReplyDeleteHope you had a good Thanksgiving.