Several weeks ago I had the pleasure of having lunch with my good friend and librarian Rose Brock and her friend Sarah (Ally) Carter. Sarah was in town to sign stock of her books at local stores and to fit in a visit with Rose. Sarah writes the hugely popular Gallagher Girl Series. Her latest is Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover. I'd actually met Sarah before at the ALAN conference in San Antonio at an author's party. And she was so sweet to come over and introduce herself.



Rose Brock, Sary (Ally) Carter, and me

I was very curious to know how it works when an author walks in a bookstore and asks to sign their own books. Sarah said what she always does is she finds her books first in the store, then brings them up to the counter. She tells them she is the author of the book and asks politely if they would like her to sign them. They are usually more than grateful, especially if you are Ally Carter I would think!

So lately I've been following her advice with mixed results. I went into the Books-a-Million in Denison near where we have a vacation condo. I found they had one copy of The Stolen One. Hmmm. Did they order only one copy or did this mean they had sold sereral? I brought the one copy up to the counter where three of the employees were standing. I made my little speech. Silence. Pure silence and three sets of big eyes. "That's okay. I don't have to sign it if you don't want to," I mumbled in embarrassment. More silence. Then finally one of them said, "Do you mean you are really the author?" Apparently they really didn't believe I was the author, or maybe they had never had an author come in and do this. I signed the book and then they were very chatty and happy I had come in. About a week ago, we had a very fun family vacation in San Francisco. We used to live in San Jose for five years and San Francisco is one of our favorite cities. I happened upon a Border's at Union Square and mustered my courage to go in and look for my book. They had three copies! I quickly found a worker and did my speech and she was more than gracious if not thrilled I had come in. Success! The next day while shopping at a nearby mall, I found another Borders. Again three copies. I brought them up to the counter and asked the young man if I could sign them. Deer in t he headlights look again. Silence. "Umm, let me ask my manager," He said, looking at me suspiciously. He walked away, and carefully pulled his earpiece/microphone up and whispered something. I imagined that the phrase "crazy lady" was in there somewhere. But he came back a few moments later with a big relieved smile on his face and said I could sign them.

News Flash:

The Stolen One is an Indie Next List Pick for Fall! Hooray! This was formally called Book Sense and The Very Ordered Existence of Merilee Marvelous was a Book Sense pick so I am two for two!




And there is a wonderful review up at Carrie's YA Bookshelf for The Stolen One:

http://carriesyabookshelf.blogspot.com/2009/08/stolen-one-by-suzanne-crowley.html

Carrie says, "This book is beautifully written and captured me from the first page."

And lastly, I spoke about the publishing process and The Stolen One last Saturday at the Flower Mound Public Library. We had a wonderful turnout of thirty five people and I signed lots of books! There was even a long line and I really enjoyed talking to everyone who came, who all seemed to be aspiring writers. Thank you Jamie Pouster for inviting me! Afterward my sister Karen, and daughter Caitlin and I went out for celebratory Mexican food.