It's been an incredible couple of weeks. Along with the launch of
Of Grace and Chocolate, the book signings, a couple of interviews, and navigating the freeways of
Insanity the Salt Lake valley, I was also swimming the emotional waters of a dear friend's upcoming wedding, the announcement of my own daughter's engagement, and the passing of my husband's grandfather, all while wearing a back-brace as I tried to heal from a back injury I sustained during Christmas break.
O_O
I did use the word
incredible, which does mean unreal. Unbelievable. But is used so often as a synonym for wonderful, amazing, fantastic. Which it also was.
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| Me and the soon-to-be Sherrie Willley |
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| Ready or not... |
But, my friend's wedding is tomorrow (best wishes, Sherrie!), my daughter is engaged to a kind, smart, incredibly grounded young man who adores her and we have a great start on wedding plans, my husband's grandfather was 99 years old and had lived a very productive life, and his passing brought a lot of family together to celebrate that life.
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| My nephews and my own two gumballs after the funeral. |
And the book signings were fun, full of anxiety and laughter and lots and lots of smiles. I got to see so many friends, my time in Salt Lake was adventurous and rewarding, and the food was wonderful, amazing, fantastic.
Ruth's Diner. Thai Village. Bombay House, anyone? *my mouth just watered*
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| Marion Jensen, me, and Robison Wells talking shop. And eating butter, apparently...with ketchup... |
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| ...at Ruth's Diner up Emigration Canyon. |
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| My signing table at Spanish Fork Seagull Books. A dozen people came in while I was there. I sold 3 books. I'm calling it a success. |
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| Pretty. |
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| Carrie Moeaki and Leah who was half that size last time I saw them! |
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| This happy customer bought FIVE books! |
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| Meet my cousin, Jill Hammond, my main character's namesake, who gave one of those books away in a drawing at her book club where I was a guest author! |
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| But before book club she took me to Bombay House for dinnerI WANT SOME NOW. |
After all that, I came home to my family who missed me, and friends who treated me to a hometown book signing here in Cody at The Thistle, my favorite gift and book shop. It was such a great turnout the books at the store sold out in the first hour, and the owner bought my stash from home! There were still a couple of people who have to wait until more books arrive. It was a very welcome "welcome home".
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| Rochelle Slight, the driving force behind the signing, Cathy Okada, whose last name I used for a character in the book, and Carla Parsons, who made me write fiction. THAAAANK YOOOUUUU. |
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| Friends and their daughters enjoying the store. |
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| My friends Brook and Lisa, yay. |
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| Sweet Arlene and Susan. Arlene got the last store copy. |
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| Rebecca and Afton. See? No more books on the table! |
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| Lette, who is SOOO ready to have that baby. |
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| My lovely host, Carol Bell of The Thistle. We had so much fun! |
I'm. So. Tired.
And grateful. And happy. Can we do it again?
Being an author is kind of awesome. And scary. Who knew?
