I had a lovely book signing experience at Read It Again on Friday, April 18. I don't think a bestselling NYT author could have been treated better by the wonderful bookseller, Grace Galloway. Grace went to a lot of trouble to bring customers into the store and to make me feel at home, even going so far as to set up a signing table that mimicked the cover of The Legacy (see picture). I met a lot of folks who had been lured in by Grace's wonderful promotions, a lot of local friends made it to the signing, and the wonderful personal chef of my acquaintance, Chef Norie, served snacks, treats, and wine with a German theme. I know not every book signing event I participate in will go this well in the future, but this sort of thing is one of the reasons I love being an author. It makes up for the hours of loneliness, stress, rejection, and isolation experienced by most authors as we claw our way up the ladder of success (if we ever do).
What astounded me is speaking with people who thought I was a genuinely accomplished person because I'd written a book. People, some of whom were a little tongue-tied when they met me, who treated me as though I was a bit of a celebrity because of that book. People who sat and chatted with me and shared their stories and asked me for mine--who had never met me before. The book was a connection between me and them, and it made me realize, not for the first time, that is the REAL reason why I write. To make that connection, to touch the hearts and minds of people I've never had the chance to meet, to bring them into my world for a little while and show them that love is WORTH the trouble, worth the pain, worth the investment of the heart. I love writing romance, I love the happily ever after ending, and if others can identify with that love, too, I'm so happy to be the one to help them get there.
Thanks to Grace and Norie for making my launch party a resounding success. Remember, Read It Again has signed author copies in stock while supplies last, so if you want an autographed copy of the book and plan to order it anyway, you can contact Grace to buy and she'll be happy to ship it to you.
TJB
2 comments:
I just finished The Legacy tonight. All I can say is I loved it, loved it, loved it!
Honestly TJ, the entire time I was reading I kept thinking, "This is a debut novel?" It was crafted with the expertise of a seasoned author. The action was great, the rising stakes greater, the sizzling romance that shone through the darkness of that historical era was not only believable, but highly erotic.
Girl, I think you missed your calling! Where is my fan?
LOL! Thanks, Robena. So, maybe I have a future in this business? :-)
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