What a weekend!

A few months ago, I received a letter from my local library inviting me to participate in their annual Texas Author’s Day (a book signing).  Writers from all over the state were asked to attend.  Still being a relative newcomer in this field (I’ve only been writing for five years), I was deeply honored to be included, especially when I learned best selling authors would be attending as well.

Keep in mind, I said I received the letter months ago.  Procrastinator I am, I waited until the last minute to get my stuff together.  The event was yesterday, and I waited until last Monday to order the books.  What can I say, I always wanted to know what a stomach ulcer felt like.

I spent most of last week sitting on the porch (not much cleaning got done), stalking every UPS truck that came up my drive.  It got to the point every driver had a wary look on their face as the drove past.  They would’ve been okay really, just as long as they tossed me a latte like they toss biscuits to neighborhood pups.

My books arrived on Thursday.  I think I scared the dickens out of the UPS driver.  I raced toward him, arms flung open, yelling, “I love you!  You’re my hero!”

Wall-eyed, he placed the box on my car’s trunk, then jumped back in the van, almost flattening the rosebushes in his haste to escape.  I can’t blame him really.  If  a 5′6″ female, hair sticking up, dried toothpaste at the corner of her lips, leaped out of a rocking chair and ran at me, I’d get the heck outta Dodge too.

Back to Texas Author’s Day…

The event yesterday was a huge success.  I loved signing books,  meeting fellow writers, exchanging stories, and getting great info.  We all bonded, and hated to say farewell at the end of the day.  Many of us parted ways, agreeing we’d meet in the same place next year.

ONE MORE THING

This past Saturday I received an email from Chicken Soup.  They informed me that out of their library of previously published stories, my essay “Some Snowballs Don’t Melt” (appeared in Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul) would be in one of their “101 Best” books.  The book is Chicken Soup for the Soul:  The Wisdom of Dads.

I was speechless.  I had no idea they were considering it.