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Jean Marie Ward ([personal profile] jmward14) wrote2007-04-03 01:46 am

Waldenbooks Signing (With Pics!)

Sending a big thank you with smoochies to Store Manager Tracy McPeck, her colleagues Stephen and Susan, and all the staff of the Landmark Mall Waldenbooks in Alexandria, VA.  The Landmark Waldens' is my neighborhood bookstore.  Literally.  It's only a mile walk from the house, and I usually make the trek at least once or twice a week.  I suspect this was why Tracy kindly extended the invitation to hold my first signing for With Nine You Get Vanyr at the store March 31.  Either that or my famous puppy eyes routine finally got to her.  :-)
Fortunately, it turned out better than anyone could have imagined.  Friends and family attended in force, prompted by my nagging--er, informative emails and the items I sent to local newspaper events calendars.  One friend read about the signing in The Alexandria Gazette.  She said the item featured a picture of the book too.  (I so need to see a copy of that paper!)
In short, we sold out.  And the store promised to order more.  Well, they have to.  Mother wants three to send to the former chief engineer in her apartment building, her friend the cop and her priest.  And what Reyah wants--er, what Mother wants, Mother gets or there will be consequences.

Stephen, Jean Marie & Tracy at the Landmark Waldenbooks

Stephen (left), Tracy (right) and me at the Landmark Waldenbooks following the March 31 signing.

The post-signing party.  (You knew we'd have one.)

The after-signing party.  You knew we'd throw one.  One of the two main models fo the goddess Reyah is the seemingly frail lady in red to the right of the picture.  Trust me, she's much scarier than she looks.

And the best part--when it was all over, Tracy told me I was her favorite author.  Ever!  It simply doesn't get any better than that.
Hugs and grins,
Jean Marie

[identity profile] hutch0.livejournal.com 2007-04-04 10:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, you darling girl, that did my fratchy old heart good. I wish you many more occasions like that.
Big Hugs.

[identity profile] jmward14.livejournal.com 2007-04-05 02:44 am (UTC)(link)
{{{{{hutcho}}}}}
How's it going?
The Mother is now planning for Easter. She wants to dine at the Ritz Carlton brunch because she and her favorite cop can go directly from Mass. He's six-foot-four, less than a third her age, and she wants him to become a priest. He can't marry her, you see. She'd lose her pension.
Hugs and grins,
Jean Marie

[identity profile] hutch0.livejournal.com 2007-04-05 09:54 pm (UTC)(link)
(That sound you hear is my jaw hitting the floor...)

[identity profile] jmward14.livejournal.com 2007-04-05 10:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Fortunately, the cop hasn't a clue what's going on. He thinks he's performing what Catholics call "corporal acts of mercy"--e.g., helping out the elderly.
I love speculative fiction. It's the only genre that can approach the weirdness in people's heads.
You might want to put some ice on that bruise. Don't want Bogna to think I'm abusing you. :-)
Hugs and grins,
Jean Marie

[identity profile] hutch0.livejournal.com 2007-04-05 10:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, I don't know. `Corporal acts of mercy' sounds awfully euphemistic, don't you think...? ;-)

no subject

(Anonymous) 2007-04-20 03:23 am (UTC)(link)
JM, No fair. You mom can't help younger men find her delightful. Anna Nicole fell in love with a delightful older man. Can't the reverse happen. :-)

Love you and so proud that you are "makin your dreams" reality.

This is so exciting. I brag about you so often. I know an author.

Iris