PICTURES FROM NEBRASKA TOUR

SCHULERS BOOKS IN LANSING MICHIGAN

July, 22, 2010: Schulers Books and Music makes its home in a large, airy mall store. The event planner, Whitney, breezes up from the back of the building wearing a simple black dress with a blonde dreadlock wound up in an attractive coil on the back of her neck. Her arms are draped in, what at first glance seems to be a colorful sheer fabric, but are actually artful tattoos. Whitney is smiling, self assured, all business. “Would I like something to drink? Your book has sold well. There is a group in the back waiting for you.”

Fifteen people are lined up in three rows patiently waiting for me to speak, some drinking wine. Whitney describes coming events. These authors are well published, most having won awards, several with bestselling novels. I am humbled to be included in her list of authors.


Whitney introduces me, “….First novel…. self published.” She has mentored a group of bright, accomplished readers, among them, attorneys, librarians, a nun and a physician’s assistant. They are attentive, encouraging me with their eyes and smiles. They want to know what I, the novice author, have to say.


I speak, answer questions, and we have a delightful discussion. After, there is a line for me to sign novels.

I am grateful. Thanks Schulers! Thanks Whitney!

ZIPPING THROUGH NEBRASKA

NEBRASKA BOOK TOUR SCHEDULE:

Public Libraries:
McCook--Monday, August 9th at 7:00pm
Imperial--Tuesday, August 10th at 7:00
Hastings—Thursday, August 12th, at 1:30pm
Grand Island--Thursday, August 12th at 5:30pm
York--Friday, August 13th at 3:00pm

'UP NORTH" TO HORIZON BOOKSTORES

My husband Murray and I took a weekend trip to northern Michigan to sign novels at the Horizon bookstores. “Up-north” is gorgeous with its deep green forests and charming lake towns. Although I was nervous, with Murray’s support and terrific sense of direction, I was able to be open to the experience and had a validating, satisfying time.

The Cadillac Horizon is a renovated, pleasant and roomy bookstore with tables and comfortable chairs. Employees Mary and Casey were welcoming; Mary served me a low calorie, iced mocha coffee that alone is worth the trip to Cadillac. Due to an art fair, the store was quiet. However, a few visitors did wander in. I visited with a “biker” whose husband was canoeing the Pine River and told her about Sparrow’s trip on the Pine. A mother and daughter attending a family reunion listened in the background. A gregarious glass frame salesman, on vacation stopped to chat. All three purchased a novel.
Because most of the people who came in purchased a book, Mary, Casey and I agreed we’d done well. I told them that I’d let them know if Cadillac’s sales beat Traverse City’s. Mary said that after three were sold to hide the novels. We laughed; fat chance of that.

Traverse City Horizon is situated in the heart of the historic district. It is huge with three stories and bargains in the basement. Customers were drinking coffee at sidewalk tables and milling about the store. Families with creative teenagers in tow were stopping on route to Interlochen Art Camp. Parents stopped to visit and many purchased novels. Thirteen-year-old Devyn, an aspiring writer, promised to read “Family at Booknook” and email me her thoughts. One young woman who lives in Adrian, the setting for the novel, purchased a book. A psychiatrist from California was touring the area with his Interlochen granddaughter. He and I visited about our experiences with unwed mothers.

The highlight was a brief encounter with a petite, bright-eyed woman wearing a beaded choker reminiscent of the 60s.

After reading the description, she said, “It sounds good.”

“It’s about a sixteen-year-old in the 60’s who gets pregnant and keeps her baby. Mother and daughter come of age together,” I replied.

She exchanged a knowing look with her handsome husband, then to me. “I was sixteen. My daughter is twenty-five. We had some hard times.”

I commented. “And now you’re happily married.”

“But not to the father,” she said

She has a story to tell, I thought.

This I’ve learned: If I relax and connect with people, I have a rich experience.
Oh, and Ludington State Park has picturesque walking trails around Lost Lake.
Interesting that it was the vacationers in both stores who purchased books. Perhaps they were looking for a remembrance of their trip.

HOME TO NEBRASKA

July 16, 2010

My husband Murray and I are headed to Cadillac and Traverse city Horizon Book Stores tomorrow, Saturday, July 17th. Then were going to spend a couple of nights on Lake Michigan.

NEBRASKA BOOK TOUR SCHEDULE:

Public Libraries:
McCook--Monday, August 9th at 7:00pm
Imperial--Tuesday, August 10th at 7:00
Hastings—Thursday, August 12th, at 1:30pm
Grand Island--Thursday, August 12th at 5:30pm
York--Friday, August 13th at 3:00pm

Libraries and media are very welcoming in my home state. It will be special touring with my sister Monna, whom I see only once a year. An added bonus, I have family in every town and get to see old friends. My niece Becky is on Imperial’s Library Board and will be baking a cheese cake for that event. Hmm good!

I’ve spent most of the last three weeks working out details and haven’t done much writing. Now, I understand why people higher publicists and marketers.

HOW TO GET KNOWN

Jeff Yeager, author of “The Cheapskate Next Door,” intrigues “cheapskates” and cyclists alike. At fifty-two he biked eighty miles from Ohio to Ann Arbor, arriving at Borders in worn shorts with bike in tow. Ann Arbor was his first stop on a speaking, signing, bike tour.

During his last book tour he biked three thousand miles. He also bunked with cheapskates and camped. The money he saved his publisher was donated to libraries. Generosity is included in his definition of, shall I say it again? Cheapskate.

Jeff advocates that living debt free is stress free. My husband Murray and I live within our means, and I wondered if we fit the cheapskate category. One of the criteria is that you have at least one crock pot. We have two, but a really frugal person has three.

Jeff bikes into a signing and dispenses useful information laced with humorous stories about his travels and the people he meets. He has a terrific marketing plan.

I need such a plan.

SCHEDULED EVENTS: Horizon Books in Cadillac, Saturday June 17th, 12:30-2:30pm—Horizon Books in Traverse City, 3:30-5:30pm. Shuler Books in Lansing on Thursday July 22nd, 7:00-9:00pm. My home state Nebraska, August 9th, 15th.

No bike, roller blades or ice skates, but I will fly over the whole of Nebraska, light in Denver and drive two-hundred miles back to Nebraska.

SUMMER MICHIGAN AND NEBRASKA TRAVELS

SCHEDULED EVENTS:

Horizon Books in Petoskey, Saturday June 5th, 3:00-5:00pm
Horizon Books in Cadillac, Saturday July 17th, 12:30-2:30pm
Horizon Books in Traverse City, July 17th, 3:30-5:30pm
Shuler Books in Lansing,Thursday July 22nd, 7:00-9:00pm

My home state Nebraska, August 9th, 15th. Time and places to be decided.

I will talk and read, then hang around, visit and hopefully sign some books.
Horizon Book Stores are welcoming and support Michigan authors. Thank you, Horizon. I’m excited to meet and talk with readers, and traveling north in a beautiful Michigan Summer is an added bonus.

I will be able to combine the Bear River Writing Conference, at Walloon Lake near Petoskey with the talk in Petoskey. (The Bear River Conference is intense, demanding and helpful in honing one’s writing—highly recommended.)

In Cadillac I’m looking forward to reading the humorous scene that takes place on the Pine River.

My husband Murray will accompany me to Traverse City and we will enjoy a weekend on Lake Michigan.

Our twins graduated from Michigan State and we know Lansing well. On July 22nd, at the Lansing event with Shuler Books, we will “dine” at the Roadhouse, a favorite bar.

In Nebraska I will visit my sister Monna and her family. Getting to the small towns of Nebraska is a challenge. To travel to my hometown of Imperial, I fly from Detroit to Denver, rent a car and drive back east 200 miles. Believe me, that is the quickest, least complicated way to get there. However, driving across the golden Colorado and Nebraska Prairie on deserted Highway Six is relaxing, freeing and takes me back to my childhood.

If I plan the trip right I can attend the monthly fried chicken dinner at the Senior Center—melt-in-your mouth chicken like Mom used to make. Also there will be a family celebration. Monna’s kids are having a centennial celebration for her and her granddaughter Carly. Between the two they will have lived one hundred years.

I’m in the process of contacting book stores and libraries in Nebraska; hopefully I can schedule talks in Imperial, and in McCook, Grand Island and York, where my nieces and nephew live.