A Reading and Book Signing at Swan's Fine Books in Walnut Creek

Last Sunday I had the pleasure of reading an excerpt from my book, Imogene and the Case of the Missing Pearls, at a wonderful bookstore in Walnut Creek. Swan's Fine Books, owned by Laurelle Swan, is located in a small shopping center at 1381 Locust Street, Walnut Creek. You can learn more about this fabulous bookstore at her website HERE. Let me just say "fine" is an accurate word to describe this shop. There is a treasure trove of rare and fine books, early editions, signed editions. Many are expensive, as you would guess, but many are also quite affordable for those on a more limited budget.

Laurelle, introducing me.

First, Laurelle introduced me. And then I talked about the background to my book, and then read the excerpt mentioned in the picture above.

Dear family friends.

One of the great pleasures of bookstore signings is the opportunity to get together with a lot of book-loving friends.

Another pleasure is the opportunity to browse books before and after. So I was in book heaven in more ways than one.

Great audience.

Dear writing friend on left; a mother
 and daughter on the right who saw Laurelle's flyer. 

Good friends and good listeners!

College chum and fellow
book lover. 

 And of course, it's always fun to sign those books!

Book club friend.

Dear family friend.

On right, a SBCWI friend

More dear family friends.

Socializing afterward.

We started at three, and by the time the talk, the reading, the signing were over and we did a little socializing, it was time to go. Afterwards my god family had dinner plans for Rajan and me, so off we went for a very enjoyable evening. This was truly an afternoon to remember. Many thanks to all who came. 

And many thanks to Laurelle Swan for this opportunity. If you are in the area, do stop by her store for a treat you won't forget. Both Rajan and I bought books there. (I can never leave a bookstore empty-handed.) So did some of our friends. 

Meanwhile, how about you? Do bookstores have a hold on you? Can you pass hours and hours browsing books? Like me, are you unable to leave a store empty handed? 

The Book Signing

I'm celebrating Wednesday's book signing at Time Tested Books in Sacramento. It was such a wonderful evening, and we sold out the books! But the fun part was introducing friends to friends and seeing all those warm, supportive faces. I've done signings in the past at schools, but this was my first bookstore signing. I have more pictures about the signing and also Peter Keat's wonderful bookstore, Time Tested Books, at my other blog next door: Elizabeth Varadan's Fourth Wish. 

Fellow writers and teachers

Maddy, the star of the super
trailer her dad made for the book.
She was the perfect Imogene.

I was reading from my book.

They were such a good audience!

I've been busy setting up readings and school visits and the like these past weeks, so I haven't really done much posting, but come back next week for a review of a terrific mystery -- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle figures in it . . .



Meanwhile - Celebrate the small things and join the hop. The link list is at Alexa Cain's great blog HERE, and her co-hosts are
L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off The Edge
Katie @ TheCyborgMom           Check them all out.         

Celebrating an Art Show and a Book Signing Coming Up

Today I'm celebrating two nifty events coming up, one soon, and one next month.

The soon one is tomorrow: My after school art club at the South Natomas Community Center is having their art show in the window of University Art Store, at J and 26th, in Sacramento. These kids are wonderful artists, ages 8 to 13.

The one next month is a book signing I'm having at Time Tested Books, on 21st St. between K and L, in Sacramento. I'll post about it again, closer to the time. But this is for my new book, Imogene and the Case of the Missing Pearls, set in Victorian London and featuring a ten-year-old girl who helps Sherlock Holmes find her mother's missing pearls. (You can learn more about it by pressing on the book cover in the margin.)

This is a fun blog hop, and you can read other neat celebrations at Lexa Cain's blog, sponsored by L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off The Edge and Katie @ TheCyborgMom . Also you can link up to other sites and add your own link. Enjoy. Be sure and visit Lexa's blog. And have a great day!