So Where Are my Adoring Fans??

Anyone who has been on this planet for the past twenty years has to know who this is signing books. For those of you who just emerged from your cave, it’s THE NORA.

“And why, Liz, are you showing us this picture?” you ask. Hold on—you’ll get on the same wave length as me in a minute.

This past weekend I attended my chapter conference, Dreamin’ in Dallas where I was the chair for the Book Signing event Friday night. This is my second year to do this, and I went in thinking it would be as easy as the previous time. (We do this every two years, but I have to admit to not remembering a whole lot about it except that it wasn’t too bad in 2009.)

Well, the minute I walked into the room at the hotel where the event was held, I knew things would not be the same. First of all, there were boxes and boxes of books delivered by our new vendor, Borders of Allen, Texas, piled high in one corner.

Holy crap!! We always have a nice turnout, but seriously, I thought someone had lost their ever-loving mind as we unloaded all the books. We had around 30 authors signing, but still, it seemed a bit excessive.

Enter our breakfast and luncheon keynote speakers and it starts to make sense. NY Times RS Best Seller, Allison Brennan and Richelle Mead, NY Times Urban Fantasy Best Seller were given the head table with two volunteers each to set up the book signing—one to go down the line with sticky notes to find out what name they wanted on the book and another volunteer to hand the author the book opened to the page she would be signing with the sticky note attached. I had it all planned out and was pretty proud of my organizational skills.

Never in my wildest dreams did I anticipate the number of adoring fans who came out in droves to see Richelle Mead.

OMG!! We allowed each person to bring in 5 of their own books for the authors to sign, and I wish you could have seen these people. Granted, most of them were Gen Y’ers and weren't allowed anywhere near a liquor store yet, but it was truly a sight to behold. Some even brought their Kindles for her to sign. (I had no idea you could do that!!) Almost to a man, these kids had read every word this woman had ever written. The line snaked around the room and out the door and didn’t let up for over 60-90 minutes.

And Richelle Mead looks like she’s twelve!! (She’s really not!)

Anyway, since Liver Let Die comes out in October I got to thinking about when I sign books. We’ve all heard the horror stories about no one showing up. (I’ve posted this Utube video before, but it’s funny enough to repeat—and makes my point exactly.


What if I sit at a bookstore and smile for two hours and no one shows up?? Is this a special paranoia that only I have, or do the rest of you worry about it, too? I say we form a special club called “Come to mine and I’ll come to yours!” just so the bookstore people won’t think we’re total losers. Whatcha think? Anyone stepping up to join CTMAICTY????

And as a side note, the rest of the authors on Friday night were very popular, too. Borders made a killing, a small part of which will go to the Shiners’ Children’s Hospital Library. All in all, it was a good night to be an author, and all I can say is I now have to include bringing me adoring fans in my nightly prayer to St. Jude, patron saint of impossible cases.

Hopefully, none of them will be idiots like this one with Jenny Crusie!!