Feb 1- 2009
Some Signings and Appearances Since Last Blog
To be honest I don't really remember all of the dates/ places I have been since my last post. Not that I'm implying there was a massive swarm. I'm hardly on a publicity circuit for the next big thing. I just mean that I had a few, and am sure with a little effort I could find the dates, places, and times. But really- does this mean much to anyone? I mean, I don't really care and I'm the one hawking the book.
So I will do the best I can with my Diet Coke addled recall.
Let's see I spoke at the holiday banquet of some Masons. Great group of guys and gals (spouses were in attendance). My oldest pal Kevin came out with me since my wife and daughter were out at another holiday gathering.
For anyone who thinks the Masons are the secret rulers of the world, heirs to the Knights Templar or anything like that I advise you to attend a meeting sometime. I'm not a Mason, but like you I've seen that movie, read some literature and wondered what the fuss was all about.
Well, let me give you the scoop- they are a group of professionals in various fields, varied in age, who happen to be civic minded, and like to support charities. They held a business meeting without mention of anything remotely sinister or secretive. Nada on the Holy Grail or the Illuminati or the faked moon landing.
Anyway, the night went OK. I was more nervous than I should have been, and its' always a bit disconcerting with the audience faces away from you and stares at the powerpoint screen instead. So all in all I probably gave a less than stellar performance, but they were very kind and gracious.
After the Masons I did a couple of signings at one of the absolute coolest historic places in Charleston- The Old Powder Magazine. Ca. 1712 this building is a real treat just to sit and hang out in. The Director of the place, Alan, is a super-nice guy and I am honored to call him a personal friend as well. The people you meet here are a real cross-section of tourists- some are tourists-tourists while others are tourists-family of locals- exploring the sites. Most of the time they are happy to talk and interact with you. Say what you will about tourists, but people on vacation tend to be happier than those punching the clock.
I also did a Barnes and Noble signing with 4 other local authors. They all showed and we kept each other company. Its' infinitely less sad when there are five people hanging out and laughing, than the way it sometimes goes at those larger book stores.
I've done a few where you are isolated and the customers at the store, who've never heard of you, and only there for coffee avoid you like the plague. Afraid you'll try to rope them into a sale, they avoid eye-contact and leap past you like your table like a bleeding gazelle in front of a lion. Hey, I'm not faulting anyone. I've done it too, and will do it again in the future. As much as I'm in bookstores I would go broke if I bought a book every time an author was there signing. There is just no good way to do this, feigned interest is even worse, so this is probably the lesser of evils. I do try to smile and say hello now, and keep my pace a littile less panicked (Note to any readers...if you fall as you pass an authors table we will start heaping books on you, whatever touches you must be purchased....sorry these are long-established rules).
I did an lecture at a community center in Summerville, SC (part of my whistle stop 3-city tour....just imagine the tour shirt)! Par for the course I got us lost and was slightly late. My lovely wife did not fling me out of the car and run me over as I'm sure she wanted to (and rightly deserved). I have a terrible, terrible time with directions and get lost all the time going anywhere new. My father in-law even bought me a GPS for my car for Christmas, but I had managed to leave it at home this time....smooth.
The lecture went well even after I decided to wing it and not use my notes...a bit scattered for my tastes but the small group of folks who came out did seemed to like it. Definitely a group I would come back to for any future projects.
I did have an SCV thing, but I canceled it because we were slated to get snow that evening. It fizzled and the great storm of '09 came to naught. I have it rescheduled for Oct. Whew! I was worried that I had left them in a lurch and would be mad.
And that is that. I'm doing another community thing on Tue and another Mason thing later in the month.
Oh, I got a sweet mini write-up in the latest Charleston Magazine. I'll see if they'll let me post it. OK, will try to keep this a little more current. You never know when I might say something interesting. You don't want to miss that do you?
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