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?
