To say the last few days have been eventful is an UNDERstatement.
First, there's been the blog tour!
If you haven't checked it out, please do! I've worked hard on those interviews and essays, and I think you'll enjoy them. The links are all on my event page. (More this coming week too!)
Next, first school visits and signing!
The very FIRST book signed. I'm not kidding! My pen was poised above the page and I realized that I had not come up with a line to sign under. (I say "Happy Trails!" on The Dirty Cowboy, and "Keep fighting!" on Lucy, and so, what should I say here...? Quick, think of something! Came up with "Take flight!" and I like it too!
These were arranged by Anderson's Bookshop. (Thank you Anderson's!) They were SO soon after publication (3 days!) that there was simply no way anybody could have read the book, but that was part of the fun -- every kid there knew they were the FIRST ones to see this book, hear my presentation, and read the book. And they were buzzing afterwards -- it was WONDERFUL. (I'm hoping to have more school visits, and so I'm going to take what I learned this time and apply it to my future presentations.)
Thank you and hello to Anderson Elementary and Henry Puffer School! (Also, to the boy who asked why passenger pigeons were named "passenger pigeons," here's what I've got:
The generic epithet translates as 'wandering about', the specific indicates it is migratory; the Passenger Pigeon's movements were not only seasonal, as with other birds, but also they would mass in whatever location was most productive and suitable for breeding.
That's from Wikipedia. Good question!
At Anderson's Bookshop. YAY! Thank you Anderson's for arranging all of this -- I had a wonderful time!
The book signing was fun because it was filled with friends from different parts of my life. I loved that! And BECAUSE they were friends, I could ask them for some feedback on the presentation, so it gets even better next time.
And then today . . . Ah yes!
I'm one of those people that loves a crowd, loves speaking, but afterward? Well, I need to have a moment to re-group. I did that. I went running to remind my body that it is a body and that it likes to move. I started some bread. I cooked a big "Amy's Diner" lunch for Phil (roasted vegetables and a big scramble using Cajun-style leftovers from last night). I worked on my photographs from yesterday, which is always sort of meditative. And tonight? I'll go to a play. (You can get cheap day-of tickets at some Chicago theatres, but you need to know to ask -- that's my tip for those of you who visit Chicago. Please visit! Chicago is one of my all-time favorite places.)
I've got one more interview for my blog tour -- so I'll get to that tomorrow. Now what's for dinner?
Photos are from yesterday. Hope you enjoy!
My favorite? See below. I like the funny ones, and the one of the dwarves from the Hobbit looking over my shoulder made me laugh out loud. You know, how those Old Masters have those angels/muses/devils in the corners of their paintings? What are MY muses . . . ? And it's more appropriate than I want to admit!
