Living the Dream

There are many times, my Minions, when I sarcastically refer to my chosen profession as "living the dream"...like when I'm sobbing into my kleenex about something horrible I've done to Vlad, or when I'm on my hands and knees picking up unidentified ickies as opposed to actually writing. But my launch week...well, I really was living the dream.

First, the event at Mott Community College went pretty well--sold some books, but the best part was my conversation with the B&N manager (if you live in or near Flint, MI, you simply must shop at the Barnes and Noble on Miller Road--tell 'em I sent you; they know me there) and CRM afterward, when we were talking about books and kids and boys and how hungry they are to read. They asked if I could come out the next day and do a quick signing at their HUGE store and of course, I said yes. The manager, Dan (ie "my new best friend, next to Katie, the CRM") called the manager at Hot Topic and asked them to help push the event, which they did (Yay!). So...the next day after decorating for my big vampire-school-dance-themed party (yeah, more on that in a bit), I race over to B&N and not only do I share the joy of a front window display with James Patterson, JK Rowling and Stephenie Meyer......but Stephenie Meyer and I share a table right inside by the front door. I also have an entire endcap, and a special place next to Meg Cabot in the Teen section, AND a separate display on the customer service counter. My signing table is right inside the door and every 15 minutes my new best friend Dan says things like, "If you've finished reading Harry Potter, you're going to love this new book by Heather Brewer, folks--trust me, you'll want to get up to the front of he store and meet her now, because soon she's going to be so big that she won't be able to get out and do signings much." I give away cookies (the easiest way to sell books is to utter the magic words, "Ya wanna cookie?" Trust me.), mini bottles of water, buttons, candy, and in an hour, I signed and sold a lot of books. Afterwards, Dan tells me that they had a big employee meeting the night before and it was easily decided that MY BOOK is the one they want to put their "big push" behind, because it's so "desperately needed".

Yeah. I know. :D

Then that night's the party, which was so amazing that I can't even describe it. (Actually, I can--the room was draped in red and black, many people came from all over, the food was excellent and people are still sending me compliments...) And B&N sold a ridiculous amount of books, and eventually left happy as clams. I floated through the rest of my trip and came home to the great PW review. And then, as if that weren't enough, EGB was chosen as B&N Pick of the Week, and I had another excellent signing at the amazing Borders in St. Peters, MO, where I met a ton of people and sold a ton of books (and met my new best friend, Fran).

I'm blessed. And thankful. And grateful.

Life doesn't last forever, Minions. And I thank my lucky stars that mine is so full of goodness. No matter what happens, ever, I'm thankful that I'm truly living the dream. And I'm thankful to you, all of you, for making it possible.