Wow, what a great event! Louann from Distant Lands had stopped by the Travelers' Tales booth at BEA a few times to let us know how much they were looking forward to the event, and it showed. When I arrived they had a big frame around our Sand poster in the front window display. Then I remembered that they are part of our month long promotion with the Independent Travel Stores Assoc. Guests had called in to reserve seats and all in all there were more than sixty people at the event. We sold out of all 20 of their copies on hand. I had brought extra, and was able to sell them a few more so they wouldn’t be without tomorrow.
Contributors Lori Mayfield and Suzanne Schlosberg were there and I have to say, having a group of readers is much more effective than just one author. Lori and Suzanne were terrific readers and had the crowd howling. I can’t wait to read Suzanne’s next book, The Curse of the Singles Table: 1001 Nights Without Sex, due out next spring from Warner books.
I read from a story I hadn’t before, Christie Eckardt’s Panties or Prison and that got some chuckles out of them too. In fact, they weren’t ready to be done after we had done our bit so I read a few more sidebars. Question and Answer was light, but the book signing was long. One woman bought five copies. That’s the most I’ve seen anyone buy at one time yet!
As I was walking out the door to go have dinner with my family and friends, Louann asked us what we were bringing her next. I told her I didn’t know but that I’d be down in Southern California now and could do another one for Sand. She jumped all over that and asked that we call her to book for September. If it’s in the budget, I’m sure we will.
Great news Jen. Distant Lands is a wonderful bookstore and has always been so supportive of Travelers’ Tales. It was lovely to see LouAnn and Angel at BEA and I am glad that they had your poster so prominently displayed. Great work. Now don’t forget those thank you cards!
Susan, you are a woman after my own heart with your “Now don’t forget those thank you cards!” Important, very important.
A thank you is never out of vogue, always highly regarded and a reflexion of the person who sent it.
2 moms – what else can a son/daughter want? I love ’em both.
Yes, thank you Susan and Mary for your reminders. These are important for fostering good relationships. And most importantly, good manners! I can’t have my grandfather saying I don’t have any grace and tack.
This was such a great event. You did a fabulous job with the readings, as did Lori and Suzanne. It was my first time seeing Distant Lands – what an incredible store! Also wonderful joining in for dinner. Please pass the antipasto 🙂
I just spoke with the manager at Distant Lands in Pasadena. I was calling to thank her for the successful Sand event this Monday night. She said that Jen’s event was the FIRST time their store had ever sold out of all copies of an author’s title during an event, and that they we glad Jen had brought more copies because they needed them! As Jen mentioned, Distant Lands wants to have her back in the Fall. Great news…