Category: Promo

My book (signing) report

Things I learned at my book signing:

Kirstin Cronn-Mills, my never camera-shy daughter, me, West Jr. High principal
  • Nerds are much more popular than Smarties. (Note level of candy in red bowl vs. blue bowl.)
  • Giving away free candy is hard. (Don’t take candy from strangers still runs deep, apparently.)
  • Even if you sit at a table with a large stack of the same book, a sign that says you’re signing the book, most people will not realize you’re the author.
  • Some of these people will ask for directions to the restroom (straight back, take a left at information, then a right at the blue frog).
  • Having someone shake their head and wrinkle their nose after you describe your book to them is more funny than awful.
  • Spending fifteen minutes recommending every book you can think of for someone’s reluctant reader son is a lot of fun.
  • Talking to a fellow debut author (Kirstin Cronn-Mills) is both fun and therapeutic.
  • Signing all the stock is also lots of fun.
  • Sitting by the door, during a Minnesota winter, is not.

Most important, I learned that it wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be to talk to people and that I’d do this again in a heartbeat.

Today’s the (upbeat) day!


You Are Upbeat


You are dreamy, peaceful, and young at heart.

Optimistic and caring, you tend to see the best in people.

You tend to be always smiling – and making others smile.You are shy and intelligent… and a very hard worker.

You’re also funny, but many people don’t see your funny side.

Your subtle dry humor leaves your close friends in stitches.

Today’s the day. The Hopkins West and North Jr. High Book Fair. Are we excited? Yes, we are. Are we ready? We think so:

  • Smarties and Nerds (they’re holiday Nerds!)? Check.
  • New outfits (me and Kyra)? Check.
  • A sunny, if cold, day? Check.
  • Camera? Check.
  • Debs bookmarks and such? Check.

I think the only thing I can do now is smile a lot. Wish me luck! If I get any good pictures, I’ll post them here in the next few days.

How many more shopping days?

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The Debs are everywhere this holiday season!

As you can see, Darcy is working overtime on December 5th in Chicago. I guess I will be too, since I’ll be signing–and volunteering–at the fundraising book fair for Andrew’s Jr. High. You know what that means, don’t you (other than the fact I have ample opportunity to embarrass my offspring)?

Not only will I sign your copy of The Geek Girl’s Guide to Cheerleading, but I will wrap it for you. (Because I’m also scheduled to work the gift wrapping table, if you haven’t already guessed.)

Hope to see you there!

And for more information on Debs signings this holiday season, check out the link below.

Darcy:

December 5th, Holidaze with the Debs:

1-3 p.m.
Borders
161 N. Weber Road
Bolingbrook, IL
Including: Cynthea Liu, Saundra Mitchell, Aprilynne Pike, Kristina Springer, Darcy Vance, Lara Zielin

7-9 p.m.
The Book Cellar, Inc.
4736-38 North Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL
Including: Cynthea Liu, Saundra Mitchell, Aprilynne Pike, Kristina Springer, Darcy Vance, Lara Zielin

Charity:

December 5th, First annual Hopkins West Jr. High Book Fair:

10 a.m. – 2 p.m. and 4 – 6 p.m.
Barnes and Noble Ridgehaven Mall
13131 Ridgedale Drive
Minnetonka, MN 55305

The Austen Inspired First Line Contest!

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that an avid reader must be in want of these new YA books!

Prada & Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard and The Geek Girl’s Guide to Cheerleading by Darcey Vance and Charity Tahmaseb
If you want to enter a contest to win these books, visit this entry and complete the sentence: “It is a truth universally acknowledged….”

Me, on the radio

Well, the interview went well, from the perspective that I didn’t faint during the middle of it. I say, whenever I don’t faint in the middle of something, well, that’s a good day.

Did I speak words in the English language? That remains to be seen (or heard as the case may be). I’m not sure I have the nerve to listen.

However, if you have the nerve, it will air this Thursday at 10:30. I’m up first, followed by the lovely Sarah Ockler who will talk about her YA novel Twenty Boy Summer (up next on my TBR pile). 

Rachael’s show, The Weekly Reader, is part of the Minnesota Morning programming at the station. You can listen live online, if you so choose. If you’re using Windows, you’re probably already set up for Windows Media Player. Click the link and the program should launch and after it buffers, you’ll hear the show.

Adventures in Danville

Our adventures in Danville this weekend. I’m testing out the gallery function here on WordPress, mainly because I’m feeling oh, so tired, lazy, innovative.

Click on a photo to see the larger image.

Andrew was dying to go to Big Boy (don’t ask, I have no idea why), which we finally did after we went rollerskating and played laser tag on Sunday.

This morning on the way to school, I asked Kyra what her favorite part of the trip was. She said, “Meeting Darcy.”

Awwww.

Not exactly live blogging

I really wanted to live blog the book signing, but couldn’t get a signal on my laptop. So … I decided to “live blog” anyway, only put it on time delay.

No pictures yet, since my camera has decided not to talk to my laptop, but Andrew played roving photographer and got some nice photos.

I’m glad I did take this little notes, because I’m not sure I’d remember anything, or at least coherently. We sold all the books on hand, and with the extra orders, ended up selling 54 books! Amazing!

Everyone was so nice and it was a really great experience.

So, here you go, live blogging:

1:48:cannot get wireless connection. Decide to put live blogging on  time delay.

1:49: My daughter is skipping around the room like a maniac.

1:57: just signed a book. It’s almost time and I’m freaking nervous.

2:00: Okay, it is two o’clock and we haven’t officially started. I may have a heart attack.

2:06: Clearly I’m behind the power curve. We’re signing first.

2:07: Just met Jen from TRT! So. Cool.

2:15: Our books are all gone. We sold them all. Dude!

2:19: We are now signing bookplates

2:23: My kids, running amok.

2:26:Darcy’s giving her cheerleading/expectations talk.

2:27: Did you know Steve Martin was a cheerleader?

2:28: So was Kirk Douglas

2:30: So was Ronald Reagan.

2:33: And Ruth Bader Ginsberg (Dude!)

2:34: Local historical cheerleaders now! So cool. We’re making them stand up (but not cheer).

2:36: Darcy’s mom!

2:48: We’re done!

2:49: Snacks!

3:00: Wait! Q&A, then the snacks.

3:18: Bathroom break for my daughter.

3:21:  Off to see Lincoln without a beard (this is my son)

3:27: Signing more bookplates for book orders.

3:30: My kids have vanished. Am hoping they are with Lincoln.

3:50: My kids return and it’s time to leave. I eat one cookie.

Traveling Geek Girls

We’re going to be all over the ‘net this week. Well, we’re some places anyway–and we’re giving away signed copies of The Geek Girl’s Guide to Cheerleading at both spots. 

First, we’ll have an interview up at Em’s Bookshelf. How many interviews have you read that end in a zombie attack? Exactly. You need to head over to find out how that all ends.

We’re also in the Author Spot at The Long and the Short of It. Today, Darcy asks me some hard-hitting questions. Want to know what you can cook in a paper bag? Head on over to find out.

And … updated to add Jen in MI, a wonderful friend, writer, and cook has a lovely take on Geek Girl’s Guide. Thank you, Jen!

In. Stock.

So, our official release date isn’t until Tuesday, but we just got word that The Geek Girl’s Guide to Cheerleading is in stock at Barnes and Noble! Darcy was so excited, she called me on my cell.

We put a call out on the Geek Girl site. If you’re out and about this weekend/next week, and see Geek Girl in the wild (or on the shelf), snap some pictures and we’ll post them on the Geek Girl blog.