Wow.
WOW.
….. we interrupt this LJ post to point out that the author is pretty much speechless at this point because she is so completely blown away by the Books & Books event tonight. Please bear with her….
Freaking – ohmigah – wow.
The world of bookselling changed tonight. Books and Books raised the bar for YA events and proved that if you speak to the condition of teens, they hear you and respond. By combining music and books and an author in a friendly, fun atmosphere, the Event of the Century was pulled off. More than 400 people came. FOUR HUNDRED. Most of them were teenagers. To a bookstore. On a Friday night.
Wow.
This was the first of FIVE bands that completely rocked the house.
These are The Corrupters. (See the guy in the Nirvana shirt? He signed his guitar pick for me.)
The other bands were Raffa & Ranier, The Skamatics, Three Beef Burrito, and a couple whose name I can’t find in my notes. And DJ Brian Brooks spun music (from the TWISTED playlist, thank you very much) in between sets.
Did I mention the 400 people? They came to dance, to chat, to eat free pizza, to win raffle prizes, to hang out with me, and to be a part of a rocking night.
The music was very good and very loud. Many parents sought refuge in the cafe.
This is Mitchell Kaplan, who owns the store.
About 125 people squeezed in to hear my talk, which took place while the bands were trading places.
Approximately one billion books were sold. Maybe not quite that many. But close. And a couple hundred teens saw a bookstore as a great place, and a whole bunch of families affirmed reading as a priority. Countless teachers heard me thank them for using contemporary YA novels in the classroom. I don’t know how much pizza was scarfed. I did not dare brave the starving hoards. Wow.
Thank you Emily, Cliff, and Mitch for simple everything, and thank you Miami for a day I will never forget.
Tomorrow’s events:
Wake up too early. Go to airport. Get on plane. The right plane. Fly to Ohio. Meet the author schlepper du jour.
12:00PM
Signing at Blue Marble Bookstore
1356 S. Ft. Thomas Avenue
Ft. Thomas, KY 41075
859-781-0602
3:00PM
Signing at Joseph-Beth Booksellers
2692 Madison Rd.
Cincinnati, OH 45208
513-731-7770
5:30 PM
Stock Signing at Blue Manatee Children’s Bookstore
3054 Madison Rd
Cincinnati, OH 45209
LATE BULLETIN!!!! It’s going to be Georgetown against UNC on Sunday for the East Championship!!