My ‘Meet The Author’ Moment

So there I was, all set up with my signing table in the local shopping centre when the most magical thing happened. Well, a couple of magical moments really.

I signed a few copies for locals who had read about my book (it happened to be in the local paper today with an article on last week’s launch). I also bought $10 worth of scratchy tickets and then had naughty meat pies for lunch. Not sure that will look good on the balance sheet or the bathroom scales so maybe I’m best to not do too many shopping centre signings!

BUT… and this is great…

I’m sitting there when a mother, father and a young girl (probably about seven or eight years old) walks by. They slow enough to read my ‘Meet the Author’ sign, smile and move on. The little girl hesitates, but is promptly tugged away with the shopping trolley. The family then stops outside the entrance to the centre, speak, and the girl looks back at me. She winces over, props in front of me, her little body twisting back and forth in a coy way, and asks, ” Are you a real author?’

‘Yes I am,’ I reply.

Her eyes widen and she looks to her parents, then back at me. ‘I’ve never met a real author,’ she says.

What a delight. We talked about lots of things – everything from writing to Selby The Wonder Dog. I didn’t sell a book, but I think I made a writer!

After she walked away, she stopped and ran back, gave me a big hug, and left again. So sweet.

Oh, and the other lovely thing was a woman walked up to me and explained that she’d already read and reviewed House for all Seasons online. (She was one of forty readers chosen to receive a copy from Simon & Schuster.) Then she went on to say she wanted to tell me in person how much she loved it and how much she’s looking forward to the second book. We talked at length about how neither of us wanted the story to end, but agreed that all good stories must come to an end sometime. It’s up to the author to do it in such a way that is both satisfies, but at the same time keeps readers wanting more. Thank you, Amanda Laird, for topping off a great first book-signing event. And thank you Toormina Book Warehouse for the fantastic support.

Addendum…

I was told by a friend observing this little girl’s family, that when they walked away from the shops, the mother commented: “That poor woman. We’re probably the only people to talk to her all day”  (LOL – love it!)