Yesterday's event was wildly successful...

[catherineldf]

by just about any standard. We got about 35 or so folks in attendance even though True Colors' A/C had conked out. They cheerfully sat through our readings despite the heat, then bought a LOT of books. This is my case, translated to 9 copies of Night's Kiss, at least 1 copy of Crave (may have been two; I lost count) and a copy of Haunted Hearths. Copies of Women in Uniform, the antho we all have stories in, sold well, as did Pat Cronin's new romance novel Soul's Rescue, and Lori's novels also sold briskly. (Side note: It has been a rough, rough summer down at True Colors Bookstore from a financial standpoint and things need to pick up if we'd like the Twin Cities to continue to host the oldest feminist bookstore in the world. They can order books, they've got a fine range of kid's/YA books, lots of used books and books on tape, and a good selection of various new titles, particularly of lesbian interest. Please think about checking them out when you're out and about shopping and encourage other folks to do so as well. The next couple of months will be critical to ensuring the store's survival as their 40th anniversary looms.)

Back to the events of the day. This was Jessie and Pat's first public reading ever, and they both did excellent jobs. I'm looking forward to reading Jessie's new mystery series when it starts rolling out from Midnight Ink Press next year. Lori Lake also has some new books in the pipeline including a new book in her popular mystery series. Pat's also got some new projects in the works, which I'm looking forward to checking out. We all had a lively book signing sessions at the end of reading as well as a lot of catching up.

Afterward, I was whisked (figuratively speaking; I drove myself and made a stop at home to change clothes first) off to a lovely lesbian mystery writers' barbecue attended by my fellow authors, their book group and the marvelous Ellen Hart. Lots of interesting discussion about the impact of ebooks, publishing, distribution and the upcoming Creating Change Conference for 2011 (it'll be in Minneapolis - yay!) which is currently looking for program proposals. In short, an excellent time.
Then it was off to the train station to pick up Jana, newly returned from her (very fun) book binding vacation; Amtrak was early this time, which almost made up for the debacles on the way out.

And I have just noticed that the Lesbian Fiction Book Club down at True Colors has picked Night's Kiss for their September title. Coolness! (again figurative, seeing as it feels like 100 F out there right now. Ick.)

Comments

[thaedeus.livejournal.com]

Yay!

Love hearing about all the success!

Z

[catherineldf.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :-)))

[tagwn.livejournal.com]

Sorry, I was home being grumpy, between the heat and not being comfortable when sitting. But I'm glad it went well. And glad you have Jana back, as are, I'm sure, the cats.

[catherineldf.livejournal.com]

No problem. It was pretty toasty so you would have been uncomfortable. Hope your back is feeling better!