Eleven local authors appeared at three different independent bookstores. Beth M. Wood, Donna Volkenannt and I appeared at The Book House. They sell used as well as new books, and were delightful, hospitable, and accomodating hosts.
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| This is The Book House. It's on Manchester, 3/10 of a mile west of McKnight, and is betweenTitle Max and a Computer Resale shop. It's easy to miss, because it's set far back from the road, but well worth the screeching of brakes to make the sharp turn to ensure you don't miss it. Three floors of books, each floor covered--floor to ceiling--with books. And...it's haunted! |
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| Here are the four writers who appeared at All On the Same Page--a Creve Coeur bookstore. From left to right is Nina Miller, Patt Pickett, T'Mara Goodsell and Theresa Sanders.  This is T'Mara Goodsell. She not only signed books, she entertained multiple suitors (they were like bees after honey, there was such a flurry of activity and attention from Tammy's male groupies), and she also chatted with fellow WWWPs. T'Mara and Theresa Sanders did the behind-the-scenes work that made the day run smoothly--the press releases, the emails bouncing back and forth, the "drive bys" to ensure the directions were right and all the other tasks they handled with efficiency and grace.  Here are three of the authors who appeared at Main Street Books. From left to right is Linda O'Connell, Cathi LaMarche and Pat Wahler. Not pictured is Lynn Cahoon, the 4th author who signed at this St. Charles book shop.  T''Mara Goodsell, Theresa Sanders, Pat Wahler (working the crowd) and Donna Volkenannt (her gorgeous hair serving as her only calling card, from this angle) at Main Street Books |
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| Linda O'Connell, one of the WWWPs, is not new to Chicken Soup nor is she new to book signings. I think this was her 8th signing...this week.  Donna Volkenannt was one of the three writers signing at The Book House. She generously shares calls for submissions, she's a wonderful friend and critique-er AND she's the most recent winner of the international Erma Bombeck humor writing competition.  Beth M. Wood is the other writer who signed books with Donna and me. She is one of the five founding members of the notorious writing critique group, the WWWP. |
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| Lynn Obermoeller |
Saving the best for last...Val. Val the Victorian, Missouri's own JD Salinger, made a rare appearance. Each of the WWWPs and Donna got a private sitting with Val. This was an unprecedented public appearance, as many expensive arrangements had to be made. The pope-mobile had to be rented for the hour-plus trip (each way)...otherwise, she would have been injured, as her fans were lined along the highways with pens, ready to hurl them at her in their eagerness for her autograph. A sky-writer was hired to scrawl across the skies "Val is coming to The Book House around 5:00" in case there was anyone in the Missouri/Illinois/Iowa area who had missed the earlier blog postings trumpeting her upcoming debut. And two of those giant spotlights were set up, to criss-cross across the night sky, to help the many groupies find the spot.
We not only got to meet Val, we also got to chat over cocktails and cheese balls with Hick and The Pony. (The Genius was at home. He didn't want to be eclipsed by The Pony, I imagine.) Fudge was offered to her long before Saturday (I made it without nuts--as per her preference, even though it's against my religion to make fudge sans nuts), and since Val's family is the bartering sort, she brought her famed Chex Mix to trade. (It's real and it's spectacular...)
I got to hook her up with one of my favorite books about writers, Haunted, by Chuck Palahniuk. I hope she enjoys it...it's truly twisted but is--in my opinion--a gem.
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| Val the Victorian |
I apologize for the scads of photos. I usually am not crazy about posts that have nothing but pictures of silly things like vase after vase after vase, but since there are lots of blog friends who were unable to attend, I thought I'd fill this post with pictures...just this once.
And if you were looking for a picture of me, happily, there are none. I am part of the witness protection program, so photographs of moi are not allowed...
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Love the coverage, but there is a glaring omission here that needs to be rectified. No worries, though, because I have pictures of you that I plan to post at a later date! A great time was definitely had by all!
ReplyDeleteOh, you are right about that. The omission is "glaring." Thank you again--you and Teri--for including me. It was definitely a blast.
DeleteThe Book House sounds like Shay Heaven. Tell me there is an elevator, though. Please. I have consulted the knees and, nope, they still don't like stairs.
ReplyDeleteShay--Have you ever been to Portland, Oregon? There is a 4-story bookstore there called Powell's. It's a religious experience. Used books. New books. It's amazing. You leave the place dazed, tired (but happy) and very, very broke (because you spent $118 on the four bags of books you bought).
DeleteOh My gosh was that fun! We do not need a reason to PARTY, let's do it again. Lots of food pantry donations and books sold and photos of you floating around. That Val is a hoot. I saw the police escort her down Manchester.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Was Val "escorted" because she flashed someone, thinking the parade behind her meant it was Mardi Gras and she was jonesin' for some beads? Did she try to steal some Krispy Kremes for her boys before leaving BigCityLand, and the police were trying to ensure she left the city boundaries without further incident? Or had someone slipped her a bucket of fudge and the cops thought it was not fudge but instead some dry erase markers stolen from a school vault?
DeleteInquiring minds want to know...
Funny how Linda managed to work the word ESCORT into her comment. I'm onto her insinuations. Rumors of my illicit behaviors have been greatly exaggerated. I have no need to drape myself with beads, as my beauty shines from within, requiring no adornment. My boys have no need for Krispy Kremes because they are comatose from excessive fudge consumption. I sang like a canary about those dry erase markers. Informed the heat that maybe, just maybe, they might find those markers on a person who has an inordinate number of blue pens. The police accompaniment was for Hick's protection. A man who has been shot at twice in one week in Backroads does not enter the city limits lightly.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the Palahniuk. The Pony thanks you for his Ender's Game. You, ma'am, are a giver. And the Thevictorian family is here to take.
Val--Don't thank me before you read it. You might find it too twisted to enjoy.
DeleteAnd yes, Linda is clever that way. She APPEARS like she is a "proper lady" but underneath that prim exterior lurks a SD and SA.
When one of your stories is published in an anthology, we will travel to YOUR book signing, buy our books, get them signed, and then get our annotated tour pamphlet from you, so we can travel around and see all the sights before we head back to the city.
After sheer exhaustion, sometime this week I hope to post my own photos that will include you! he he he. I had such fun basking in all of my friend's glory... however, I ate too much chocolate.
ReplyDeleteAs did I. I tried (many, many times) to pawn a whole bag of candy off onto Ella, and then Jack, but Beth (and Ella) kept foiling my attempts. So, I have eaten quite a few over the past 12 hours. Yikes!
DeleteCan you pixelate the face so I am unidentifable? OR photoshop me so I look just like Sofia Vergara? Or Selma Hayak? Either one would be great.
The Book House looks charming! I am sorry I missed the whole deal. But I do plan on coming to the gelato gig and hearing Lynn. I'm so sorry you can't be there as one of the authors, but as my chauffer you are still very integral to the whole evening, so don't feel slighted.
ReplyDeleteAnd I also love Donna V's hair! It is stunning, and very recognizable.
Yeah, Marcia, the chauffer. That's a wonderful consolation prize! ;)
DeleteSaturday's adventure with the Chicken Soup group was one for the books. And visits from Val and family and Lynn and Margo were lots of fun. Sioux, you are so much fun to be around. I hope I can contain myself next Monday for Lynn's reading.
ReplyDeleteDonna--You're not supposed to contain yourself. We're resident hecklers. That's why we're going...;)
DeleteActually, I'm hoping that some of that romance-writin' talent rubs off, when I'm around you and Marcia and Lynn, because I'd like to try my hand at a submission for the Valentine's Day collection...
The photos are awesome! I'm so glad you shared them. Y'all do so much together. What a lucky group of ladies you are.
ReplyDeleteI DO consider us fortunate. It's a great group of writers, and we do have a blast.
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