My 1st Book Signing...Truly Grateful

I survived a whirlwind week after returning home safely late last night from my 1st book signing.  So, how did it go?  Awesome!  It was what I had hoped for and so much more!  As we drove into town the night before, my dad was admiring all the corn fields and my mom was trying to take pictures of them all (as if she'd never seen a corn field before!)  We also watched the temperature drop as we got closer to my aunt and uncle's house.  Ahhh, the cool weather felt good...it felt like fall!

The next morning I woke up nervous, but ready to go!  I didn't really know what to expect or how many people would show up.  But, since the signing wasn't until later in the afternoon we had some time to visit some family.  We drove out to my other aunt and uncle's house so my dad could "play" in all of their gardens.  It was his equivalent of going to Disneyland.  He was in heaven!  Checking out their rows and rows of beautiful tomatoes, ground cherries (love!), cauliflower (so that's how they grow), and the biggest cabbage you've ever seen!  We brought home one that was 12 lbs!  The next garden had pumpkins...orange and white ones!  Beautiful!  In another garden they had popcorn corn stalks growing...yellow and white.  Who knew?!  Butternut squash, acorn squash, carrots, and I know I'm forgetting a ton of other veggies.  All perfectly grown and looking wonderful.  And of course, a whole lot of sweet corn that my dad absolutely had to bring home!  So, after a morning of what seemed like a bountiful farmers market, we headed back to my aunt and uncle's house where we were staying for a quick lunch before heading in town for the book signing.

As we got to the library, there was a sign with the flyer they had made (and that was posted ALL over town) posted outside the door with balloons on it.  Growing up, I spent numerous hours at the old library going to story time and other activities there.  But, I had never been in the new library until now.  It was beautiful!  I was thoroughly impressed by the look and feel of it inside and they recently added on a new area up front where our tables were set up for the book signing.  So, this was the first time the new area was really getting to be used for something special.  The kids area was creatively decorated and there was a whole basement level that we didn't even have time to see.  I was thrilled to be in that place for this special occasion.

As we walked up to the table a complete and unexpected surprise sat on my signing table...2 arrangements of flowers!  I thought maybe the library had bought them as decorations.  But, when the librarian told me they had come for me I almost cried.  They were from 2 of my aunts...one who lived there and the other from my aunt in TX.  I was overwhelmed by their thoughtfulness.  We got set up and 20 minutes before the signing officially started I had my first customer!  And then another...a family relative (who was directly related to my great aunt that died the week before at age 105).  And then the stream of people started!  I had given both my parents a job to do...my dad was supposed to take the money and my mom was supposed to get people to fill out a contact card and give them a receipt....nothing too hard.  Except, that I think most people were just as excited to come to my book signing as they were to see my parents!  We have a huge extended family in this town, so we know a lot of people...or at least my aunts and uncles and parents do!  So, needless-to-say my dad walked off the job after taking just 2 payments!  He ended up talking to just about everyone who came in...which I kind of expected since he used to be a farmer there and I knew everyone would want to talk to him.  My mom walked off the job for a little bit, but then saw that I was struggling to sign books, take money, write receipts and get people to fill out contact cards all by myself!!  So, she came over and started to help out a bit.  It seemed like a non-stop stream of people and I tried not to talk too long with any one person as I would always see someone standing behind them patiently waiting.  But, it was hard especially when I haven't seen many of these people since we moved or in several years.  Sooo many that came were very close family friends, actual family or friends.  It was SO wonderful to see ALL of them!  And some were complete strangers that had seen the promotions in other local newspapers and had adopted themselves or one gentlemen even drove an hour just to get a book for a friend.  Wow.  Thank you!  Two hours went by quickly...but, it was fun! 

One of the most meaningful conversations I had was with a very special lady who ran story time when I was growing up there.  I was so excited to see her!  I told her about all the things I remembered about story time and she was just thrilled to hear all of my fond memories.  I told her that it was because of her that being in this library now and having my 1st book signing here was so important to me and that it meant so much to me.  And, that I loved how the library had evolved and was continuing to grow.  It's such a wonderful building and it's because of the foundation that she built!  She's such a tremendous advocate for reading.  She still promotes it in surrounding communities today even though she retired many years ago.  Plus, she brought me an unexpected surprise in a little gift which was so thoughtful and touching.  I'm so glad she was part of my childhood and I was able to learn from her.  What a delightful lady!

As we got back to my aunt and uncle's house and read through the names of all that had come that first day, it was fun to hear about the conversations my parents and I had with them all.  And, since my aunt is my dad's oldest sibling, she had great insight and was able to connect all the dots for me as to how we're related to them, if we were.

The following morning I got everyone up and going since the book signing was right when the library opened around mid-morning.  As we arrived, one of my dad's cousins who used to be the library board's president showed my dad around downstairs and told him about the growth and expansion of the library.  They are currently building a reading park across the street.  We got all set up and one of my cousin's arrived.  She works in a library at a high school nearby.  She bought a book for their library and never thought she'd be talking to them about one of her cousin's books.  Seems strange to me too.  So, we talked for awhile until a gentlemen and his wife came up and wanted to ask a few questions.  After that, the wave of people began.  It seemed a tad slower than the day before as I was able to manage signing books, taking payments, writing receipts and getting people to fill out contact cards all by myself the entire time!  Yes, no help from the parents at all!  They're both fired!  ;-)  But, it was because more family and friends showed up and it was fun to catch up with all of them.  We actually had around the same number of people show up on both days so it was a great turnout!  Two of my teachers came and it was great to see them both!  Two of my dear friends showed up...both funny, goofy, lovely and amazing gals that I'm so glad I can still call my friend!  Several ladies that came told me that they were my dad's cousins, which I had assumed I'd get a lot of since we were back in our hometown.  I had heard their names before, but don't really remember meeting them as a child.  I recognized many faces from the community, but didn't know their names until they told me.  And, another one of my cousins came which was a little bit of a surprise since his oldest son was getting married later that day (and where we would be spending our evening).  But, I'm so happy he came! 

I'm truly humbled by all of those who came out to support me...friends, family, the community and complete strangers...to show their love, encouragement and excitement for my book.  It was still strange for me to walk down Main St. and see just about every business with the flyer promoting my book signings up in their windows...one after the other after the other.  Amazing.  Even after all these years this community is still supporting me.  Honored.  And, one family friend told my mom that the flashing digital sign that's in the middle of town was promoting my book signing on Friday.  What?!  I was on a digital sign?!?!  Holy cow!  Wish I had gotten a picture of that!  I've never been an autograph person...I've always thought they were silly...getting them from athletes or celebrities.  I'd much rather have a picture with them than an autograph.  And, now people want my autograph?  It's really strange and I don't think I'll ever get used to that part.  But, now people have the book and I'm curious to know what they think of it...if anything surprises them.  Holy moly...I guess this is real now, huh?  Yes, I'm still taking it all in...but feel so blessed by this past weekend.

So, now that the 1st book signing is over and most of my family have either seen the book cover or have bought the book I want to share the significance of the book cover.  In the back of my mind throughout the publishing process, I always wanted a picture of a barn on the cover but just didn't know what else I wanted on it or how it should look.  As you recall from previous postings leading up to the books being printed, the book cover was the very last thing to get completed and it was done at the 11th hour...just in time!  When I had gone back to my hometown in June for my class's reunion (the one I would have graduated with if we had not moved), I had driven over to our old farm to just sit and reflect there for awhile.  There's not much left there except one part of our old huge barn.  That's the only building left there...one last piece of my childhood still standing.  So, I took a couple pictures of it.  It was a drizzly day out, but I got some good pictures of it.  I had sent one picture of it to my publisher to see if they could incorporate it into the book cover.  I wanted good corn and a beautiful sunset, too.  But, apparently it's very difficult to find good corn and a good sunset together.  So, this cover was really pieced together with all the things I wanted.  I love the book cover!  It's bright, has great colors and it has our barn on it!  Our barn!  A piece of my life, my childhood, my family's life and legacy...one piece still standing and now will live on as part of history on this book cover!  My aunts, uncles and cousins that came all knew it was our barn.  They knew...and loved it!  I love that I can carry that piece on to other generations. 

I don't think I've completely conveyed how much it meant to me to have my 1st book signing in my hometown, with friends and family or exactly what the book cover means to me because it hasn't all completely sunk in yet.  I know it's real, but to completely receive all the love and support I've been given over the past weekend is overwhelming.  I'm humbled.  I'm blessed.  I'm honored.  I'm truly grateful.