From
Nora
-- added on Thursday, April 5, 2001 @ 9:30 P.M.
From
Nora
-- added on Thursday, April 5, 2001 @ 2 P.M. |
Debby
From Nora -- added on Thursday, April 5, 2001
@ 1:30 A.M.
Forgot this one.
In the second bookstore for stock signing, my
escort has to drop me off as there's no place to
park. I go in, go downstairs as instructed and ask
for James. They have to find James. One of the
clerks--goofy girl--comes over and says: "Oh, the
famous Nora Roberts. I don't read your books. Ha ha
ha."
Now, my ego is not quite so big as to allow me
to believe everyone on Planet Earth reads my stuff.
I am not overly troubled or disturbed that this
person doesn't read my books. I am puzzled,
however, by the stupidity and the rudeness that
pushes some people--particularly a bookstore
employee--to make this announcement to me. I'm
there to do a job, which benefits the store and
myself. I'm not looking for kudos, but I'm sure not
looking for moronic rudeness either.
There, I feel better. LOL.
She is fortunate that though I'm into week three
on the road I maintain enough dignity--or maybe
it's just the fatigue--and didn't just back hand
her and walk out.
But I do believe I may request Publicity Liz to
take that particular stop off my slate, and to let
management know why. Much smarter for this girl to
have said--"Hi, welcome, let me go find James for
you." And leave it at that.
Oh, and despite somehow missing this single
reader, The Villa is number three on the
Times for week two, and Betrayal is number
nine for week four.
Nora
From Nora
I love The Tattered Cover. It's such an amazing
place. One of these days I'm going to have time to
check out their Fourth Story--restaurant.
Had to dash to Waldens in the mall across the
street for the TC first. And I do mean dash. When
Lisa called in to tell them we were on our way and
confirm, she found out they'd moved from the first
level, directly across from the TC to the second
level, other side of the mall.
Parked the car at the TH--which is always a
challenge. This multi-level lot has turns shaped
like a paper clip. Narrow loops which Lisa always
handles with such ease.
Then we run down two flights as one of the TC
elevators is out of order, run across the street,
into the mall, up a flight of steps. Reminded me I
need to get back on my Nordic Track. LOL.
Waldens had The Villa ready to sign, and
gathered up paperbacks while I knocked them out.
Got to the TC right on time.
Jennifer's handled my events there the last
three years. We've got it down. <g> A nice
crowd with familiar faces scattered throughout. I
was feeling the long day and the time change by the
end of it, but reminded myself that other than an
early radio phoner, I had most of Thursday to
recoup and organize before we head down to Colorado
Springs.
Had a drink with pals Debby and Diane in the
bar--I needed to take alcohol internally for my
signing arm. Checked in with BW who arrived home
from SF safe and sound.
Phoner's done. I may take a brief mid-morning
nap, then pull all this together.
Need to check on the weather in Boston. I'm a
little afraid.
Nora
From Debby
Location ... Denver, Colorado ... Tattered Cover
Bookstore
Date ... April 4, 2001
Yup, these are pics of Nora signing for some of
the 150+ who attended last night at the Tattered
Cover. Pic 2 is a "crowd" shot, about 1/2 way thru
the evening. Pic 3 is Nora with Diane and myself.
(note from ADWOFF:
pictures will be online after 9 P.M. EST
tonight!)
While I offered (kinda) to be the one to send
the pics, I didn't realize how bad I am at relating
the details of the signing event. Nora will write
about her experiences, so I guess I can say that
the crowd adores her, and is always a good one
here. While I think some may have been disappointed
Nora didn't "read the 1st chapter from the book", I
know they all appreciate the casual and friendly
atmosphere of the Q&A. I was personally
surprised at the lack of those "eye roll" inspiring
questions we have all heard ... "when is Seth going
to have his own book..." "when is Eve going to have
a baby.." etc. Maybe it was a group where the
talkers are all interested in the craft of writing?
There were questions along the lines of "what
inspires you", "who was your mentor", "as a writer,
how do you ..." All of which Nora answered, and to
which I just have to grin.
Nora has stated before she doesn't believe in
writer's block, and so I was not surprised to find
out that she didn't have a mentor (and no, she will
not be a mentor ... drat, there goes my writing
career!), she doesn't get inspiration from the
outside world at large (the voices in my head are
now saying "see, we are important!"), she doesn't
track how long it takes to write, or how long one
book took vs. another.
As always Nora was quick, funny and personable.
As for fashion of the evening, black is the word.
Nora was in a black Armani pants suit, with a black
mock-turtle neck front-zip top. Accessories were a
marchisite bow-watch pin (a beautiful pin of her
grandmother's), wide hoop earrings with pearls on
them (oh so pretty!), and several thin bracelets -
one with a story about finding it when she was
bumped from a flight?
Oh, and Nancy - shoes were black microfiber pump
style by Magli. <g>
I hope this is ok, I'm not the best reporter -
Sincerely, Debby / SnowBear
From Nora
I have a little hotel time. Really great to be
able to relax, catch up on sleep, and just hang out
in a quiet room all by myself. Ahhhhh.
Anyway, there's this post on my guestbook today
from a reader who tells me she hates the `new'
suspense element I've started adding to my books.
She doesn't need that stuff, the cheap thrills,
etc. Asks me to stop writing that stuff, or leave
it to the Robb books, and get back to romance.
First, I've been writing romantic suspense for
years. Eight books for Bantam, and what, about ten
for Putnam. This is hardly a new element in my
work. My spring hardcover is a romantic suspense.
So why does she buy the book if she doesn't like
suspense elements? Clue me.
She likes the trilogies. Fine and dandy. Stick
with them.
My bafflement is, and continues to be, readers
who feel they have the right to tell you what to
write. They believe they can dictate your content
and style so that it suits their individual needs,
fantasies, tastes. This type of person doesn't seem
to realize while they're powerless to order up a
book to taste like an entree on a menu, their power
is in the bookstore. Buy or don't buy.
And while I'm on this little rant, let me add
that this same type of reader will often skewer you
if she feels you're writing the same sort of story
over and over, will claim she wants something
different. But when you do different, she's annoyed
because it's not the same. LOL.
Which is why, as writers, we can and must write
the story as it demands to be written, not as the
phantom reader directs.
At one of the CA signings--natch--an attendee
asked me about having some of my characters smoke.
It turns her off to have a character smoke. Well,
sorry about that. People do. You can't align the
book toward today's political correctness either.
Can you imagine what would be written if everyone
produced books that followed a designed moral or
societal code. And who would design it?
Next thing you know, I'll have a vegan scolding
me for having characters as carnivores, or who wear
leather or fur.
Go figure.
Nora
Nora's The Villa Tour
2001 