Touring in my back yard

Okay, so I wasn't literally in my back yard. But I was at the Champions Forest Barnes and Noble in Houston, which is pretty close. Banff School asked me back to be their guest author for their book fair and it was a great afternoon chatting and signing Dreaming Anastasia and Haunted. Talked with Banff students, my own readers, customers who popped over to the signing table... Later the Banff team (aka my friends Deb and Wanda) and I and the husbands had dinner. Food, friends, wine - a winning combination all the way around. Even had some of my own students stop by to get a book, which is something that gets me happily sentimental and thankful. A huge thanks to CRM Lillian, who arranged such a lovely table and signage and who is always a true pleasure to work with. She is made of awesome. Plus I adore this particular B&N; it's an older one story store with all the benefits of the chain but the more intimate feel of a smaller indie. Truly - if you're in Houston, head to this store on 1960 West. You will be glad you did.

Here's me and Banff team below

CRM Lillian and me

My very own students saying hi!

Back from LA

Okay, so first let me explain - the only way to pack for a cruise and THEN a book tour is to bring multiple, but slightly different, white t shirts that I can wear with jeans, Converse (red or black) and a black sweater and roll those up in a corner of the suitcase that's already packed with vacation stuff. So yeah, yeah - it looks like I never changed clothes. Get. Over. It.

LA was wonderful! Huntington Beach, Glendale, Pilgrim School, Taft HS - it was a grand tour and I had such a blast meeting everyone. After six days away, I need to get back into the real world, but it was fun while it lasted. (Btw, if you've never cruised - this whole 24 hour room service thing was a revelation. PB&J sandwiches on demand. Seriously? I'm in heaven. And something called chocolate melting cake... but i digress.

Thank you!! to the CRM's at the Glendale and Huntington Beach Barnes and Nobles. Your stores are fabulous. And the students and staff and especially teacher/librarian Kathleen Sheppard (who should get a medal for her wonderfulness) at Taft HS in Woodland Hills - you guys all rock! Best school visit ever. We talked books and fairy tales and life journeys and writing and even did some Haunted t shirt giveaways. Literacy and reading are alive and well in sunny So Cal! Everyone reading this should go hug their teachers and librarians and booksellers. The world is a better place because they're in it.

And Glendale B&N was especially fun because I got to be there with my intrepid cowgirl agent, Jen Rofe, who was my escort for the day and who took me to Portos Cuban bakery where I ate my weight in potato balls and chicken empanadas; and authors Lauren Strasnick and Ken Min, who stopped by for the fun. Plus Lauren's dad Kenny Stras, and Jen's parents and their friends. And even the delightful Kelsey - who was part of the bachelorette cruise and came to hang with the writers for a night.

Plus I got to drive another Kia and I am now a veteran of LA traffic. The 405, the 101, the 5, the 134? I've been on them all. And lived to tell the tale. Even squeezed in an hour at the Getty museum. Do you know that you park and then take a tram up a beautiful mountain? I didn't want to leave.

Next up - Salt Lake City at the end of the month.

Me with my sign at Glendale B&N
The amazingly wonderful students at Taft HS

My Spirit Club helpers plus friends at Taft

The only pic I took at Pilgrim, but you have to love a school that has this as you walk in the building

in Huntington Beach B&N

On the Road Again: Haunted Tour Update

Getting ready to hit the road again on and off for a few weeks. It's a bit hectic, but I am very much looking forward to all these events. Last year at this time I was headed into the unknown of thyroid cancer surgery. That I am here and writing and currently cancer free is its own reward. That Sourcebooks is sending me hither and yon to meet readers and bloggers and assorted passersby is icing on the cake. So when the balancing act gets tough, I take a breath and remember this.

Here's the rest of the HAUNTED tour!
Hope to see you!!
First stop - the west coast. California, here I come!

Monday, March 14, 7 PM
B&N Huntington Beach, CA
7881 Edinger Ave.

Tuesday March 15, 7PM
B&N Glendale, CA
The Americana at Brand

Saturday, March 26, 2-4 PM
B&N Champions Forest at 1960
Houston, TX

Thursday, March 31, 7PM
King's English Bookstore, Salt Lake City, UT

Friday, April 1, 6:30PM
B&N Layton, UT

Saturday, April 9, 10-4 PM
Houston Teen Book Con
Alief Taylor High School
Houston, TX

Thursday and Friday April 14, 15 (TBA)
signing at Texas Library Association
Austin, TX

of book tours and authors and other stuff

Sarwat Chadda entertains the crowd with Templar Knight tales and Billi SanGreal's story
Rachel Hawkins reading a chapter from DemonGlass and Sophie Mercer's further adventures

Mundie Mom Kathy and me.

As my Borders signing for this weekend was postponed (yes, not cancelled but postponed while my local Borders waits for the banks to finish doing whatever needs doing before they can order books for bigger events again), had some time to pop by my favorite Houston indie Blue Willow, where I not only got to say hi to Valerie and Cathy (who have asked me to be part of Houston Teen Book Con!!) but stayed for the reading/signing of the dynamic touring duo - my pal Sarwat Chadda (Devil's Kiss and Dark Goddess) and Rachel Hawkins (Hex Hall and Demonglass), both being toured by Disney Hyperion.

I loved hearing both of their author journey stories - had not known that Rachel used to be an English teacher until it began to suck her soul (teaching has a way of doing that...) Plus she's funny. Really funny, actually. As is Hex Hall, which I've just started reading and am totally enjoying! And Sarwat hinted to us about his recent trip to Hollywood...big doings coming for this deserving chap, methinks.

Let's just say that a good time was had by all and that I also got to meet and chat with various booksellers and bloggers, including Mundie Mom Kathy and cariblogs - who introduced me to Cynthia from A Blog about Nothing and Lena from Addicted to Novels and others! This is my favorite part of book events - talking with people who love books, support authors and books, write about books... well you get the picture!! Books rock. And book bloggers - you rock even more!! Thank you Cathy Berner for graciously introducing me as a Teen Book Con author.

Okay. Must write now. Really.

Til next time...