Same Page Book Festival

As I write this on Tuesday morning, my heart aches for all those impacted by the massacre in Las Vegas. How can we be so cruel to others? I’ve had to turn off the TV. I can’t fix what’s wrong with this country. All I can do is pray. I hope you will join me in that powerful action.

But as we know from other experiences, tragedy happens and then somehow life goes on, changed in indescribable ways, but still goes on.

So, I turn your attention to my fabulous trip to Decatur, Texas last Saturday afternoon. Bob kindly went with me, moving his Saturday work to Sunday. I don’t know if you’re aware, but books, even paper-backs, are heavy. Maneuvering the two bags, the pole, and banner is much easier when Bob does it all. 😊

The Decatur Public Library put on the Same Page Book Festival, and it was the first event of this kind they’d done. Maybe because I knew that going in, my expectations weren’t high, but boy was I surprised. They were organized and had things planned to the T. Lots of staff and volunteers to make sure things went off as planned.

Charlotte Canion gave an opening presentation at 1 pm. She’d written a memoir, YOU HAVE TO LAUGH TO KEEP FROM CRYING, about caring for her aging parents. She did make us laugh through our tears. She is a gifted presenter.

Then we moved to two breakout sessions. One was with Alan Bourgeois with Texas Authors, an organization all Texas authors should belong to. 🙂 You can see him in the background of the picture above.

 Alan Barecka

The other session included Alan Berecka, a poet, and Weina Randel, winner of the RWA Rita Award for her work of historical fiction about young girl in China who became the Emporer. Yes, I mean the Emporer, not the Emperess. The third person in the session was me! We read parts of our works and I gotta tell you I found these two authors a bit intimidating. I write genre fiction. He’s an award winning narrative poet—very good stuff I might add, and she a Rita Award winner for historical fiction.  However, several folks told me they really enjoyed my reading from ACT OF TRUST, Book 2 in the Second Chances Series. I was grateful to hear that. 

Next, we sold books. And did I sell books! Let me tell you, more than at any other book event I’ve ever attended. Two people actually bought the whole set—all six books!

Big thanks to Sharon Walker

and Susan Anderson

.

You made my month, not just my day.

Then we had another breakout session. I was with the same two people as above, and we talked about the publishing experience. Other authors did readings in a separate area: Mike Hawron, Beth Honeycutt, and Tweed Scott.

The last presentation was given by Julia Heaberlin, author of BLACKEYED SUSANS, a thriller scheduled to be made into a movie. Her latest book is PAPER GHOSTS. She talked about the forensic side of a crime and the importance of research.

And then we sold more books and packed up to head home.

I want to thank Alan Bourgeois with Texas Authors for making me aware of this event. Huge thanks to Patricia Peters and her staff and volunteers at the Decatur Public Library for putting on such a super fun event. Denice Herrera, Jacquie and Sharon were especially helpful.

I liked that it was more than a book sale, and that readers and writers got to hear from some really interesting folks, including moi! 😊

This shows my new banner, which I designed!

When was the last time you went to a book signing? How far is too far to drive to one? Have you ever bought an author’s entire set of books? Love to hear from you and let’s keep Las Vegas in our thoughts and prayers.

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