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Nora Roberts's |
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Ani's Report from Seattle
Susan (Sally00) picked me up at the Seattle ferry about 12:15 pm. We headed straight into Bellevue to scope out where the Barnes & Noble was, where we were meeting for dinner and to find a gas station.
We found all and stopped for some lunch. It was so good to hook up with Susan again. It had been almost 2 years since we'd last seen each other. Both on Sunday and the previous time we'd met, we had Mexican food so decided it must be a tradition.
After lunch we went back to B&N. We met up with Linsay, who had kindly sent me the tickets. She gave me a bunch of Hooked on Nora buttons for our group and advised that we buy our books ahead of time. So we went and got our books. I picked up one for Jemme, who couldn't make it (due to her grandmother's death) and one for Bethie H. Susan picked up books for both Borabora (Jill) and Betsy. I also grabbed a copy of Moon Shadow, which I hadn't gotten yet.
We sat out in Susan's car then and waited for Nicki (ecmommy) and Laura (MzSimpson) to show up. We'd told them to meet us at Barnes. Nicki showed up and came and sat in the car with us but still no Laura. So I called her MIL a second time and she said she'd left an hour earlier! We finally decided that maybe she was at PFChangs, and we should wonder over there. It was only a couple of blocks away.
Nope, no Laura. Oh wait, there she is! She was in the bathroom. In short order, here came Zippity (Julie) and her mom, Zippity's Mom (aka Carol), Deneice, Persephone (Erin) and Persephone's Mom (Lori). And Riley, whom we hadn't seen since early last year. No Leila (Susan's SIL) or Chrystie but we went in anyway. Leila showed up minutes later. About 15 mins into appetizers a waiter came by to tell us that Chrystie was on her way in.
Susan, who is a big Chang's fan, suggested we order family style, so that's what we did. Lettuce wraps (both chicken and vegetarian), 3 kinds of chicken (honey, kung pao and Chang's spicy) and Mongolian Beef, plus lo mein noodles. Deneice ordered some kind of tofu something or the other. And that was just our end of the table! LOL
After we'd eaten, we all were taking pictures of each other. The screen on my digital is kind of dark so I'd have to find something on the table to zero in on (the restaurant was dark also) and move up until I could find people's heads. Amazingly the photos turned out fine!
We finally decided we should all walk back over so anyone who hadn't purchased their books yet would have time to do so. I was proudly carrying the wand the SoCAL Adwoffers had sent me for my birthday. I'm sure the Seattle traffic was wondering about this mixed group of women, all ages, being directed by a woman with a glowing, colour-changing wand. Speaking of all ages, Lori, Julie and Deneice were all celebrating their birthdays on Tuesday, and Leila's birthday was on Wednesday! How's that for coincidence?
People were already sitting down where the Q&A was going to take place. Everyone, except one woman who was complaining that Nora wouldn't sign her books from home, were in a festive mood. I would guess there were about 50 of us but numbers are not my strong suit. There were even a few guys in the audience.
Laura and I just kept grinning at each other. And then, Nora came out. I saw her before Laura and said, "She's here! She's here!" At that point, I actually got light-headed.
Nora did a Q& A and no one asked when Eve and Roarke were going to have a baby! Someone asked where she could find Roarke and Nora replied that if she knew, she'd be looking for him herself. She gave a really good talk (in response to a couple different questions) about how writing, besides being a craft and an art, is also a job. She gets paid for what she does and if she doesn't write she doesn't get paid. Really demystified a lot of it.
Someone asked her if she kept creative control when she sold a book to be optioned as a movie. She said, nope, that's why it says BASED on a novel by Nora Roberts. She said she gives them good material to work with and if they choose to muck it up, oh well. She's been paid and she's spent the check, move on.
She was funny, she was forthright, she was wonderful. Laura asked if she knew how many Adwoffers were there that night and she gave Adwoff a plug!
Then it was time for the signing. We were rearranging ourselves (getting off the floor and forming a line) when I hooked up with Susan again. She took one look at me and said, "Are you okay?" "I think I peed my pants." Laura looked and said, "No, you didn't." LOL
Susan quickly unwrapped a chocolate for me (my hands were shaking too much) and fed it to me. When I got the sugar rush I felt a little better. I, honestly, thought I was about to faint!
Susan went first and I couldn't tell you what she said or what Nora said to her. I was too busy watching Nora sign the books. It was mesmorizing for some reason. It was my turn and Nora thanked me for the gift I gave her (a white, grey and olive green pearl bracelet with silver Celtic knot spacers--she didn't unwrap it then) and I said, "That's okay." then I said, "Thank you" when she handed my books to me. I started to turn away and then in a tiny little voice asked if I could have my picture taken with her. I'm not kidding, I probably looked like the biggest idiot. Of course, she said yes. In fact, she said "Of course!"
Once I moved away and rejoined Susan, with a HUGE grin on my face, I was better. I moved back so everyone could hand me their cameras and I could take their photos. I even encouraged Nicki to tell Nora she'd driven all the way from Montana. Yep, I was encouraging to others but a big weenie myself. :-)
After we'd all met her, we were asked to move on since we were congregating. We all met back at Susan's car and traded books and hugs and laughed. It was great!
I really want to single out both Nicki and Susan who came from such vast distances and just made the signing that much more special. It was great to meet some new-to-me Adwoffers, Persephone and Deneice. We're already planning another NW Noraholics get together after the first of the year, so I expect to see you there!
Julie, Chrystie and Riley, it was great seeing you again!
That was our time and, even being tongue-tied and acting like an idiot, I wouldn't have traded it for the world!!
 & her mother (Lori) |
 & Sally00 (Susan) |
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 & ECMommy (Nicki) |
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 representative) & ani |
Nora Roberts's Northern Lights' Tour 2004 is
© 2004 by Nora Roberts and ADWOFF
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