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April 23, 2012:

A SIGNING SUCCESS

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, I am happy to report that yesterday’s book signing was an unqualified success. We had more people than we’ve ever had, sold more books (and not just the new one) than we’ve ever sold at one of these, and it was just a blast from start to finish. Malcolm and Christine, owners of Mystery and Imagination, were actually feeling giddy afterwards. For the first time ever, we actually ran out of cake, but I think everyone who wanted some got some. They’d actually saved me a slice but a mom had brought her two young boys to the signing and they hadn’t gotten any so I donated mine to them. Those boys were so well behaved and mature (they were both under eight years old) it was amazing – good parenting for sure. They had good manners and it’s just so unusual to find such behavior these days. It was a diverse crowd and while I can name most of the folks that were there, I know I’ll probably zone out and forget people – but amongst our crowd was the Family Hollis, Nick Redman and his ever-lovin’ Julie Kirgo, Doug Haverty and wife Dorothy, my friend M’Lisa MacLaren (she was in my show Stages), who came with her husband and one of her daughters – it was the first event of mine she’s come to, so it was great to have her there – Jason Graae (in fine form, as always), my friend Rich Schraier (former teacher at Hamilton High circa the last decade), Marci and her husband and those two young boys, our very own dear readers Amy and Mark, and occasional dear reader Vincent Jan and his beautiful wife Janet, Outside the Box editor Marshall Harvey, former Varese employee Andrea (she appears in the book), helper Heather, Bonnie MacBird who was the production assistant on the Nudie Musical movie, my pal Joanne Erdos, film score collector Henry Stanny, film score producer Neil Bulk and his girlfriend, Grant Geissman – and I’m sure I’m forgetting a couple of people, plus there were a few people I didn’t know at all, and that’s always fun. I read three little sections of the book, including part of the Carol Channing story, during which I did my Channing impression. I took questions, told a few anecdotes, and signed a lot of books. It was just grand fun. Afterwards, I signed the Wall of Authors – my twelfth time – I was the very first person to ever sign at the store and hence the very first person to ever sign the Wall of Authors, so they can’t take that away from me. I’m in great company now, due to the large numbers of wonderful authors who’ve signed since.

Prior to the signing, I’d done a two-mile jog, put gas in the motor car, and picked up the cake. After the signing, the Family Hollis came back to the house and we ran Melody’s show from start to finish. She hadn’t warmed up, so she was a little off her game, but Melody off her game is better than most who are on their game. I gave her a few notes, but she knew she wasn’t quite there. She wore her new dress, just to make sure there wouldn’t be any clothing mishaps – it’s really cute.

Then we went to Jerry’s Deli (we just wanted to go someplace close). It was all very good – I had a salad and chicken tenders and some caramel apple pie for dessert, although I left almost two-thirds of it and basically ate all the crust, a few apple slices and some of the ice cream a la mode part. Melody had the penne pasta in a creamy tomato sauce that is so good, and she really loved it. Then I came home and Grant came over and helped me hang some new things on the wall, including the original of the Squiggs caricature that adorns my book. After that I was thoroughly zonked and sat on my couch like so much fish.

Last night, I watched the latest episode of Mad Men. It started okay, but then they did screwy things with the timeline that I thought was completely arbitrary and unnecessary, and I HATED the whole LSD section, but then I hate anything to do with drugs. For me at least, this season has not produced one episode that’s within a country mile of their best. But I’ll stick with it.

Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I really must get a good night’s beauty sleep.

Today, I shall try to do a jog, I shall do errands and whatnot, send in packaging for approval (if we get it quickly, I’ll announce the title at some point this week), hopefully pick up some packages, start writing the contextual commentary, and then eat something light and soft, and then relax.

This week seems to be lighter than most, which is a really good thing. The busy part kicks in around Thursday and then doesn’t stop for at least two weeks, so I can use a couple of light and relaxing days. I am going to try to jog at least two miles every day – it really helps me feel better.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do a jog, do errands and whatnot, write, hopefully pick up packages, eat, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: If you could pick any book in the last two hundred years to have signed by its author, and then to have a conversation with the author, which would it be and why? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, so very happy that the signing was a success.

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