From a
reader
-- added on Tuesday, April 10, 2000 @ 2 A.M.
From a
reader
-- added on Monday, April 9, 2001 @ 12:30 A.M.
From
Nora +
Nora
-- added on Sunday, April 8, 2001 @ 7:30 P.M.
From Nora -- added on Saturday, April 7, 2001
@ 10:30 P.M. |
Sandra
So ends week three. Turned into a pretty day
here, if a cool one. Publicity Marianne is with me
on this leg, and Jason picks us up at nine-fifteen.
Quick call to my almost dil first, to nail down a
few more wedding deets. Then we head out to the
Cape. Jason gets us there in about 90 minutes, so I
watch part of the first 30 minute interview being
taped. Interesting--small station with a strong rep
and a large viewing audience. There's a woman who
works there who's brought in a few of my books from
her collection. Very sweet. They've allowed a
handful of other readers who know someone on staff
to come in and sit in on my interview.
It's a really nice cable TV station, and this
program is for books. I do my 30, easy and fun with
lots of talk about the book, then my basic process,
life stuff, other work and back to the book again.
Have just enough time to grab a quick lunch at
this nice little restaurant where I can see the
water. Pasta for me. Energy food. I didn't know how
much I was going to need it.
This is another indy store, and just delightful.
Warm and friendly. And packed. I walk in and start
immediately with a little Q&A. What's extra
delightful is the several Irish women I talk to as
they come up. I forgot I was in/around Boston. LOL.
One brings pictures of Ardmore--she's from County
Waterford. And lets me pick one to keep of the
cemetery. I loved that spot so much when we
visited.
There's such lovely hospitality from everyone,
and a great affection and pride from the natives
for the Cape. We had about 400 people today, and I
signed for three full hours. Add the stock at the
end and it ran to four. Tuckered a bit, but it was
worth every minute. Just a great bunch of readers,
so patient. Several guys, too--and a couple even
raised their hands during the Q&A. LOL
The time spend meant I couldn't visit this local
jewelry store that was recommended to me. Must make
up for that in the days I have left.
I have gorgeous flowers from the store sitting
on my desk now, and some cookies from reader
Jill--bless her--I will dive into after dinner.
Already ordered it. Starving here.
Going to eat, get in my jammies and zone out in
front of the TV.
Tomorrow's my day off. Gotta write. I miss it
almost painfully. But if the mood strikes, may slip
out to shop for an hour.
Nora
From Sandra
I just attended today's book signing in South
Dennis, MA. It was fantastic! Nora is my favorite
author and I was thrilled to meet her in person. I
found her to be very witty, well spoken, and quite
intelligent. She certainly proves that you do not
need a college degree to be successful! I drove
almost 3 hours one way to see her and it was worth
every minute. I even was one of the winners of an
autographed shirt! I have read 75 of her books -
including titles by JD Robb. I was a little tongue
tied when I met her but I should have said thank
you for taking me away from the day-to-day hum drum
of life and into the rich, exciting fantasy world
of her imagination.
Sandra Hutchins
Cumberland, RI
From Nora - Sunday, April
8, 7 P.M.
Okay, day off.
Woke up SHOCKED to still be in a hotel. LOL.
Really, it was a shock and amazingly depressing for
awhile. Made calls, did some e-mail/phone wedding
details. Congested, tired, cranky.
Thought about going out to shop. Looked out the
window. Looks cold, raining. Ugh. Thought about
writing awhile. Brain dead. Have a solo pity party.
Watched some HBO special on baseball that perked me
up while continuing to catch up on personal stuff.
Looked out the window. Still raining. Screw
shopping.
Wrote for a couple hours. Not well, by any
means, but it settled me down, smoothed me out.
Decided to let housekeeping in here, so took a
shower, threw on some slopping clothes and went
downstairs.
Hit the gift shop. Bought two gorgeous champagne
flutes. One in amber glass, one inlo olive. A
Limoge box of a wine shop with French guy (or
Italian since it's The Villa) in front of
wine rack, with a bottle of wine in the box, and
another little pretty box with leaves and an insect
of some sort. Nicer than I've made it sound.
Go to the bar for a drink and phone calls. Start
thinking about receipt for gift shop items. Doesn't
seem right. Have another drink and study receipt.
She didn't charge me for the Limoges. Talk to BW,
drink, and Publicity Marianne joins me.
Finish calls, drinks, chat with Marianne, and
tell her I have to go back to the gift shop as
something's wrong. Not enough money charged on my
bill.
We go in, I tell sales girl, who is very
grateful as she'd charged me a buck fifty instead
of a hundred and fifty bucks for the Limoges. I
noticed they have Carolina Moon in their
first paperback slot in the book section, and since
we're all happy with each other, I ask if she'd
like them signed.
There are two other women in the gift shop, and
I hadn't noticed one of them is holding a copy of
the book--in line behind me to buy it. She is
thrilled. I am delighted. The other woman also
happens to be a reader and snatches up a book.
Clerk snatches one up for her grandmother who is
also a reader of my books.
In short order we've stripped the gift shop of
copies, all of which I sign for happy people. We
chat. Clerk is so grateful I came back in to
correct the mistake, and although I didn't get the
church for Palm Sunday, I now feel I've done my
good Catholic deed for the day by paying the
correct amount for the Limoges. I couldn't have
lived with the guilt anyway.
No one minds I'm in sloppy clothes with no
makeup. LOL.
It's really nice for me. I don't get out much,
all in all, and never actually see people with my
books. God rewarded me for doing the right thing.
Going to order dinner, and go to bed early as I
have a long day tomorrow that starts at five a.m.
Plus I'm going to have these lovely pieces I
bought, and the memory of the gift shop here in
Boston.
It's still crappy out--hope it's better
tomorrow.
Nora
From Nora - 4/8 @ 7:30
P.M.
So I want pizza, and I call down for a place to
call. Call there. I don't know what language the
girl was speaking, but I'm terrified at what may be
coming to my room in 30 minutes. LOL. Then I think,
I'll watch a movie with my pizza--before the
X-Files and nighty-night.
I feel compelled to give Crouching Tiger,
Hidden Dragon a try. I'm a sucker for cool FX.
I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS SUB-TITLED. LOL. I figured
dubbed. Since I have the attention span of a cocker
spaniel this is going to be a trial. Glanced out
the window while pretended to pay attention to the
Chinese with English subs. The willows are greening
in the park, which nearly makes up for the cold,
gloomy rain.
I've been to Boston a time or two, and always
love the look of it. All those narrow streets, old
brick, parks, insane traffic. Would rather be here
in, say, June, however, when it's not so damn cold.
And wish now I'd picked a plain old American movie.
Must see this through as I'd be guilty for charging
this movie to the room then ignoring it.
Hope I get pizza and not some strange dish.
Oh, watched Pay It Forward last night.
For those of you who look for a happy or upbeat
ending, avoid this movie at allow costs. I love the
actors in this one, and enjoyed the story line
until the last five minutes. Then was depressed and
miserable for an hour after.
You've been warned.
I have no idea what these people are talking
about on my TV.
Damn.
Nora
From Judy
Yesterday I got to meet Nora for the first time.
It actually didn't happen at the book signing but
began at the restaurant that Nora mentioned in her
post (Clancy's). I happen to be there having lunch
with my mom and aunt when who walks in but Nora and
Marianne. They are seated right across from us.
After my initial shock, I go over and introduce
myself and tell her I'll see her at the signing. My
mom and aunt can't believe that I did this but I do
my best to explain how Nora is so down-to-earth and
very responsive to her fans. They spend the whole
lunch bombarding me with questions about her that
when she leaves, I ask her if she would mind
meeting them because they' were driving me nuts.
She was her usual gracious self and accomplished
the one thing I was trying to do for an hour; she's
left them speechless! (OK, only momentarily!)
We finally managed to get to the signing (a
little late mind you since mom and auntie had to
tell everyone at the restaurant who just ate there.
I'm surprised they didn't try to steal her
silverware?) The place was packed. (The woman who
ran the event estimated between 350-400 people
before the event was over. A great turnout!) We
came in during the Q&A and Nora had the place
in stitches. And one gentleman even admitted he's
read more than 30 of her books even though his wife
tried to tell him he wouldn't like her first book
he went to read; Homeport.
After the brief Q&A, my mom and I waited in
line while my aunt (bad back) took a seat and this
is when I got to finally meet Jill P. (The Elder
Babe). Jill came in from Missouri to visit family
in R.I. and was suppose to meet us for lunch. She
didn't make it. (And now regrets it as well) . She
is such a terrific lady. And a true Nora fan. I had
the best time talking with her as we waited in
line. Not only didn't we mind the wait, but we got
to talk with so many other people who admire Nora
and her works. It made an hour go by so quickly.
Finally we made it up to see Nora. She signed
our books and took pictures. If the picture of my
mom, aunt and Nora comes out, they plan on sending
them out as Christmas cards. No lie. These two
respectable women where just giddy about meeting
Nora.
But the nicest thing Nora did was sign a picture
my mom had of my sister Sara, her son Matty and her
new daughter Annie born just last Thursday. I
brought it to her today when I met my new niece for
the first time. My sister loved it. She's going to
put it next to the book Once Upon a Dream
that both Ruth and Nora signed for her last year.
I can't tell you how much I enjoyed meeting
Nora. She's everything that I've read about and
more. She truly is the "best" at was she does.
Thank you Nora for just being you. Judy
P.S. No Seth question!
From Jill
Judy is going to rub it in FOREVER that I missed
lunch at Clancey's LOL LOL.....The signing at
Booksmith was great. One of the things I enjoy
about booksignings is waiting in line---you meet
the greatest people....and there were lots and lots
of people.
A couple of original questions and no Seth or
Eve questions. I thought Judy got the info about
the clothes & jewelry--Nora was wearing both.We
got pics of us that I will send when I get back to
Missouri on Thursday--we smiled, said cheese and hi
Sue. I plan to meet Judy again tomorrow night in
Worcester.
I did not win a Villa tshirt-the staff wanted to
know where I got the one I was wearing<BG> I
did convert at least one of my nieces to Nora--gave
her a Villa and she said the next morning
that she was hooked. Nora did recognize me--well,
she did when I asked her to sign my pic with her
from TTP last year. LOL She said, "Are you one of
my message boarders?" She also pointed out that the
Irish Thoroughbred I asked her to sign was
an original edition--yep I knew that
<G>......One of the neatest thing about this
signing for me was meeting Judy and her Mom &
aunt.
Jill
ADWOFF > NORA'S
TOURS >
THE
VILLA
TOUR > South
Dennis
Nora's The Villa Tour
2001 