From
Nora
-- added on Tuesday, April 17, 2001 @ 9 A.M.
From Nora -- added on Sunday, April 15, 2001
@ 1 P.M. |
Lia
(4/13) |
Linda
No time or energy to post before.
It was awfully good to wake up in NY Friday
morning. Had to meet Publicity Liz at noon to go
over to the B&N at Rockefeller Center for a
lunch time signing. Since I pulled it altogether by
ten-thirty, I bopped over to Saks for a quick
shopping foray. Got the pale blue leather jacket
I'd been eyeing in Armani from city to city because
NY had my size. Yay! And a nice cocktaily dress
with jacket, very summery, for RWA. I'd have had
more time to poke but had to wait for the fitter as
the dress needed to be shortened considerably. Why
do designers continually try to push that mid-calf
length on women? I can't think of any body type it
flatters. With boots, sure, but this is a spaghetti
strap deal.
Back to the hotel, after a quick pass through
the shoe department just to look.
I go up to my room thinking I'll grab a DP out
of the fridge, freshen up, and I can't get the door
unlocked. Hear the phone ringing as I'm fighting
with the key, know it's Liz telling me she's here
and to come down to the lobby.
Run back down, tell the desk, get new key, find
Liz. So happy to see Liz! Publicity Amy and the
adorable Cindy from Berkeley are in the car, and
off we go with new driver Tom.
Never signed in this store. We're trundled off
the the bowels to sign holds and stock. They have
lots of security, and the coordinator is terrific.
Up we to to the signing area. Nobody. Hmm, we
think. Early lunch. We weren't expecting a big
crowd as it's 12:30 on Good Friday. But apparently
the set-up here is to have people line up outside
and come inside in small groups. Turns out we need
the full hour after all.
Best is Isabel and Lynda from Silhouette come
by, and Mary Theresa, and Jodi from Writer's House.
It's like old home week. As we head out I spy
Tracie from Silhouette--they wouldn't let her past
security as she was late. LOL.
BW's also arrived, with a pink rosebud for me.
Awww.
Liz takes me and BW and Amy to lunch at the
restaurant with windows down at the ice rink. Fun
stuff. Lots of skaters as it's a gorgeous day.
BW goes with me to hunt shoes. I bag two, which
still hasn't quite met my shoe needs for this trip.
Then we head over the the tall man's store as he
needs a new spring jacket. I talk him into a
gorgeous suit as well, and a couple shirts. The
sales clerk is very pleased with me.
Back to the hotel to zone out for a bit. We're
off to Long Island soon enough for the evening
signing. There's enough time to snag a quick bite
to eat beforehand.
Fatigue's caught up with me again. Good crowd at
this neat indy I've done a couple times. Cable TV's
there, too, so we get a two for one hit. I like the
guy, Bob--I think--in the front row who's a big
fan. He's dragged his wife along. It's a nice
balance to the women who often drag their husbands.
Back to the hotel, fall to bed. Must rise at
five-thirty for Buffalo.
Nora
From Lia -- added on
Friday, April 13, 2001 @ 11 P.M.
OMG!!!!!!!!!!
I just got home from the most wonderful trip to
Manhattan. lol. The world’s greatest writer Nora
Roberts was at Barnes & Nobles in Rockefeller
Center and I was first in line! I thought I was
going to be the last person and I would never meet
the Goddess. I couldn’t sleep last night! I was too
excited and couldn’t wait for today to come more
quickly. I wanted to leave at 7 in the morning
(Nora was going to be there from 12:30 P.M. - 1:30
P.M.) but me being me I wanted to go extra early.
When we (me, my mom, and my annoying little
sister) arrived to Rockefeller can you guys believe
that we couldn’t find the store?! I was on the
verge of tears and ready to ripe my red hair out
from my roots (my hair was a mess due to the
drizzle that surprised us this morning). Well I
didn’t let my bad hair day or the fact that we were
actually LOST! stop me. Nope. Not at all. We kept
asking around and around until we found the store
at about 10:00 A.M. We went inside and me being a
full pledged Noraholic freaked when I saw the sign
announcing the signing. I walked around the store a
bit looking at her books, the display of The
Villa and such.
Finally going around the back to get on line I
was the first and only one there for a good hour.
Then some more Noraholics started to show up. It
was coolz. Well I started to get really nervous and
this lady who said this was her third time meeting
her came over to talk to me. “She’s really nice and
sweet. She’s actually a small lady compared to the
photos. She’ll smile and talk to you and take
pictures.” Of course I knew she was sweet and
really coolz! lol. But it still was cool to hear it
from somebody else who actually met her before.
Me and another girl who was second in line were
the only teenagers there. Of course we discussed
the cone shaped mysterious object Roarke found and
took in Witness In Death. LOL. She didn’t
know what it was either. hehe. Well when the time
came and the door was opened I thought I couldn’t
move. I thought I was actually going into shock. I
was in all black with this rad shirt and a silk
thingy cape on (the same outfit from my birthday)
and my hair was a total mess. I looked kind of
scary, I actually thought of wearing something
Mavis would wear, but I thought that would really
scare some people. LOL. Oh well. Well I walked in
and there she was!!!!!!!! NORA ROBERTS!
She was all in black, black trousers, black
shirt, a black blazer with a really cool pin, and
these hot black boots. I myself was wearing my
granny boots. =).
She was surrounded by some women, my sister was
recording all of this. Yes, I’ve seen it a bunch of
times already. lol. They were embracing the Queen
and chatting. Then all of a sudden I get shuffled
towards her. I must have been a scary sight, but
she didn’t look like she minded.
“Hi.”
“Oh my God. I can’t believe I’m here. You are so
cool!”
Laughing, “Well I’m glad you could make it
inside.”
“Oh my God!”
Then she signed my book.
“I love the In Death series.”
“That’s nice, I enjoy writing them.”
Then I took a picture with her....I don’t think
I was worthy of being so near her. She was amazing.
She rocked and was so sweet. I hope my first
encounter with Nora won’t be my last. My dream is
to be a writer, and she’s touched my heart and been
a great inspiration in my life. I’m still kind of
in shock guys. Please bare with me.
I’m 17 and a junior in high school. =)
Take Care,
LiA...
From Linda (saw Nora on
Long Island)
Greetings from Long Island (or Lawn Guyland for
those of you who haven't listened to enough Billy
Joel). After thinking it would take a road trip to
see Nora this tour, it was finally settled that she
would be coming to Huntington. The joke is that
Huntington is on a county line, but the majority of
L.I. is still to the east. So I ONLY had to travel
in an hour from Bohemia (hey, it's 25 miles, and I
was against the traffic!) Coming out from N.Y.C. is
a disaster. Luckily the time was 8 P.M., which is
realistic.
Although I have seen Nora multiple times, I was
nervously excited as the time grew nearer. I had
been searching for a split of L.I. champagne, but
it seem they don't bottle that yet, only giant
bottles, which I didn't want her to have to lug
around ... and I really don't know if it's any
good. So my offerings were the D.P., and Easter egg
of M&M's and went around my garden and cut 4 or
5 different daffodils, heather, forsythia,rosemary
and witch hazel into a bouquet. Seemed a gardener
would miss these things, being away. And that was
her comment - that she was missing her daffodils in
bloom.
Nora is beyond a saint for doing tours like
this! I traveled just the first part of the
vacation week, and have come to the conclusion that
traveling is like child-birth; God lets you forget
the reality so you are willing to do it again! So
Nora I salute you, and hope you get therapy soon!
She made several jokes about her brain having
melted and yearning for a normal day.
Arrived at the Book Revue, very close to 8, but
there is no black car in front, so I was safe.
Larger crowd than last time(2 years ago)and larger
than J.E. Counted close to 100 chairs, almost all
filled, had no trouble getting 2nd row. Noticed
lights and camera man, being filmed for Metro
Channel. Camera Bob said air date is usually within
2 weeks, so I'll keep an eye out. Nora was there
within moments of 8 o'clock (same outfit as N.Y.C.
read Lia's) There was a Q&A, much repeated
stuff ... where do ideas come from, based on people
you know, normal writing day , the blizzard story,
sort of the Seth question, The BABY question, read
Robbs in order (that answer was Yes, Get Naked and
jump right in), what she did before writing, type
of questions.
I asked about books for 2002 (hey I have the
magnet for 2001), so I did learn of a few new
things. The spring hard cover is called The
Three Fates and is a quest book taking place in
Prague, Helsinki, Ireland, U.S. as the search is on
for ... the three fates. Short story book is
Once Upon a Kiss. Fall Robb is Purity in
Death but can't remember spring title. Probably
the Cordina year, too.
They have a tee-shirt, book raffle, and make
several people very happy. Had also given out a few
of those I've been Betrayed buttons, but I
didn't get one. Signing starts, and that is also
filmed for a while. These are great on cable
because you hear all the questions people don't ask
out loud.
I made it a point to be near the end, and didn't
even get on line for a while. Chatting, and the two
ladies in front of me ask me where I'm from, I look
familiar. Turns out they were also from Bohemia.
Yeah, it's as little as it sounds, but not that
little! We must all be library regulars.
Was surprised to look up and see BW across the
store. I mention this to my two neighbors, and they
are thrilled to spot him. A few minutes later he
was walking right towards us, and I said, "Hi, if I
had known he was coming I would have made him
cookies." I told him the cooky name (Hidden
Riches), and he immediately remember them from
TTP (he had me leave a plate full and the recipe
for Nora). So we chatted for a bit, about this huge
indy we're in and I did mention that many of you
are planning to come April 27. So he must consider
himself warned! He is prepared, said tons of books
have been arriving for it. And he introduced
himself to the ladies in front of me. They were
speechless. Doesn't hurt to look cool in front of
your line mates!
My turn comes, and I started with the presents.
It really seems like the least we can do while
she's killing herself. I had 3 things signed, and
we had a short chat. Stock was hauled out, but I
think she was out before 9:30. All I could think of
was her having to get to Buffalo the next morning.
At least west bound traffic is fine that time of
night. Since BW was back with her,I knew she would
have a good next few days, and she wouldn't be
alone for Easter. But I'll feel better when she is
back home and happy.
Linda
From Nora
Gorgeous Easter Sunday in New York. Did a quick
run through Emporia for a jacket and top, then
strolled over to Fifth for the parade. It's just
wonderful. They close off the Avenue and people
just walk. Many amazing hats and outfits. Dogs in
hats, babies in hats. Men in fancy dress, arbors
and bowers of homemade hats. Mimes--it had to
happen--musicians, performers.
Very happy mood highlighted by a lovely, warm,
sunny day.
I slipped into Sophoria--a cathedral to girls.
Cosmetics, bath stuff, perfumes, girl toys
everywhere.
Back to the hotel for a little lie-me-down and a
long hot bath.
We had dinner across the street at Giambelli's
with Isabel and Steven. Such a fun, relaxing
evening. Publicity Liz sent me four copies of The
Villa so I could take them over as I borrowed the
name for my book. It was nice to be able to give
them to Mr. and Mrs. G, who were there last night.
They've run the restaurant in this location for
over 30 years. Such a sweet pair.
Back home and early to bed. I can't seem to
catch up on sleep now, though I got a solid nine
last night.
Going to meet Leslie and my agent, Amy this
morning for a little shopping, and a little lunch
before I head down to a couple of stock signings
and a formal in NJ.
Nora
ADWOFF > NORA'S
TOURS >
THE
VILLA
TOUR > New York
City
Nora's The Villa Tour
2001 