Book Tour Day 7 Report & Sarah Dessen is a Classy Dame

Sleep is magical, don’t you think? By the time I crawled into bed last night my eyes had rolled up into my skull and I had to fumble to turn out the lights. I fell asleep with my hand on the light switch. I probably woke up the entire floor with my snoring. I know I woke myself up.

Before I recount yesterday’s events, I have to point out that my friend and fellow YA author Sarah Dessen is a classy dame. Sarah is a huge North Carolina fan. Huge. And I love my alma mater, Georgetown. Sarah graciously let me bully her into accepting a public bet on the outcome of the UNC/Georgetown basketball game in thr NCAA tournament. And, of course, UNC lost. Which means Georgetown won. ::dances, pumps fist in air::

Sarah is a good sport and lived up to the conditions of the bet. But the truth is, she didn’t really want to make it in the first place. In fact, she might be thinking that she jinxed her team with it. So to honor her, I’m going to send a copy of TWISTED for her public library, too. And I sure hope she is pulling for Georgetown against Ohio State.

After landing in Detroit, we drove north a couple of hours to Lapeer West High School.

“West is best,” they say.

I spoke at West a couple of years ago and simply fell in love with the school and its students. Out of the hundreds of schools I have visited, it remains one of my favorites. And Daryl DeBano, who coordinated my visit, is one of my favorite English teachers. Daryl and bookseller extraordinare Cammie Mannino managed to get copies of TWISTED into the hands of most the students who came to hear me speak. It was such a thrill to talk to kids who had read the book. They told me their favorite scenes (they had favorite scenes! yes!), asked questions and were a fantastic audience. And a couple of the guys told me that the book was a good picture of their lives. On the one hand, this made me ache for them because that means they are dealing with some difficult issues. On the other hand, it was a real honor to know that I wrote something that resonated with them and was helping.

And I got to meet Courtney, who wrote me a letter a couple of months ago. It was really cool to be able to connect a face to one of my correspondents.

Thank you, Ms. DeBano and Lapeer!

This sign was in the room where I spoke. Love it. Thanks to Cammie and Sarah from Halfway Down the Stairs for being excellent booksellers.

After Lapeer, we drove back down to the Detroit area, stopping to sign stock once and grabbing dinner on the way. Then it was to the new and gorgeous Southfield Public Library. In all honesty, I was not expecting much of a crowd because it was gorgeous outside. But The Book Beat did a great job spreading the news and the auditorium was pretty much filled with readers, parents, teachers, and a few people who are working on their own books.

You will have to trust me on this one because I was beginning to get tired and forgot to take pictures. Duh.

(imagine photo of auditorium filled with Michiganers here)

But I do have two other photos to share. My youngest daughter Meredith adastraperasper had long hair.

Very long hair.

And it was time to do something about it, so she cut it and donated it to Locks of Love. Locks of Love provides hairpieces to children who have lost their hair because of medical reasons (chemotherapy, burns, etc.) and whose families are financially disadvantaged. (Daughter Jessica did this a few months ago. Do I have the best girls or what?)

Meredith, newly shorn, and Steven. She had so much hair that it will be given to two kids. If you are thinking of cutting your hair now that the weather is getting warmer, please check out the Locks of Love page and consider donating.

TODAY’S SCHEDULE

Morning & early afternoon – four stock signings

3:30 PM Signing at Borders 180 | Birmingham
34300 Woodward
Birmingham, MI 48009
Phone: 248-203-0005

7:00 PM Signing at Nicola’s Books
Westgate Shopping Center
2513 Jackson Ave.
Ann Arbor, MI 48103
734-662-0600

I am officially half-way through the tour now. I have been overwhelmed by the number of people coming out to the events and the very kind words about TWISTED. I am also beginning to feel a little homesick. My Beloved Husband tells me that the rains of the recent days have made a big dent in the snow piles. Our farmer neighbors have been busy boiling sap from the maple trees. I’m going to have fresh maple syrup on my pancakes when I get home!