BOOK SIGNING AT LEANA'S BOOKS & MORE 12/2/13

The book signing was very exciting. It is always interesting to talk to other authors and hear about their inspirations and experiences of writing a book. It always amazes me how small the world is because everywhere we go there are people we know. One of the authors was a fellow Tom golfed with a few years ago. A special thanks to family and friends who came and supported the "Cartoon Characters."

It's a good thing I always carry copies of my books with me wherever I go because for the past few weeks people have been approaching me for a copy of my book. Jess's, Thelma's, High Street, Home Depot, and various parking lots are just a few of the places I have been approached. A couple friends came to my house for my book and one friend actually left without the book. I guess we got so involved with our conversation we forgot why she came over. Tomorrow I will be at Leana's Books & More at the Shenango Valley Mall for a Book Signing from 11am to 2pm. There will also be four other local authors and I look forward to meeting them and buying a signed copy of their books. Who knows maybe some day one of us will become famous and I will have a signed copy of their book.

Being recognized as an "Author."

The fun part of marketing my book is being recognized as author Liz. When I took my 8 books to the post office to ship to Texas the postal clerk recognized me and said, "Hi Liz, are these more books to ship out?" I said, "Yes." She said, "Your last book was really funny. I can't wait to read this one. I am going on vacation and I will read it then." However when I took my book to ship to Michigan, the clerk said, "What's this a book?" I said, "Yes, don't you recognize me? I'm the famous author Liz Lally." He just looked at me and said, "I don't read books." Oh well I guess everyone doesn't know me in this small town.

The "Ripple Effecr"

I sent 8 books to Texas last week and just got an order for a book from Michigan and New York. I refer to my book selling experience as the "Ripple Effect." I tell my relatives and friends to spread the word and cause a "Ripple" around the "Universe."

Marketing Phase of Publishing

I have been busy with the next phase of publishing a book. I am now marketing my book. I have had a couple of book signings. My next book signing will be at the Shenango Valley Mall in Hermitage on Saturday November 2nd, from 11am to 2pm. There will be four other local authors there. I hope this will create a bigger "Ripple" in my book selling experience. I feel that now my "Ripple is in a Stream my goal is to create a ripple in the OCEAN!

The Premiere Book Signing was very relaxed and enjoyable because we had time to visit with our friends. The best was while talking to Tony and Mary we discovered that when they went to Presque Isle they took a tour on a Segway. Presque is my favorite beach where I like to hang out and write and read. Nearby there is also a great motel with a relaxing pool and lounge. Down the street is a casino where I rid myself of some change in the hopes of becomming a millionare. Next time the Cartoon Characters go to Erie we are looking foreward to touring the Isle on the Segway. I need some more stories for my next book.

Can't put the book down

Usually I get a little perturbed when people ignore me and text, talk on their phone or "read" when I'm talking to them. I think people should live in the moment and talk with the people around them and not get so involved with other technology distractions. However I wasn't perturbed in the least when these people ignored me and read a book while visiting me. I wonder why? Maybe cause it was "My Book" Just look at them. They can't resist reading my stories. That's okay they can ignore me.

My books finally arrived and my mother-in-law was the first one to read "Nooo! I'm not a Cartoon Character." I heard she chuckled through most of the book. She must have approved of my stories because she presented me with a gift at my Premiere Book Signing that I will "treasure forever." The gift was Doves that she gave to her mother many years ago. You have to read my book to understand the story of the "Doves

."

I finished the final editing of my book after a phone conferance with my editor in Texas. I sent the manuscript in to my publisher on Tuesday, July 22, at 10:43A.M. Tom sent his creation of the cover from his head, to the computer, then to the publisher on Wednesday, July 23, at 1:29P.M.      Now we wait to see if they create the cover as Tom visions it .

Envelope just arrived from Texas!

My last pages just arrived from my People in Texas. Now the race begins! Will I be done with my final editing before my cover people are done with the cover. The last I checked the cover was back in his head for more creativity. 

My People are Making Progress. At Least Some of Them.

                                      
                                         Texas: Mike, sports editor of the Dallas Morning News,
                                         finished editing the last 11 pages of my book. Maureen
                                         is rushing to the Post Office to mail the pages to Pennsylvania.

                                         Pennsylvania: The final editing of the pages of my
                                         manuscript is complete except for the 11 pages in Texas.
                                         When the 11 pages arrive from Texas, I will complete                
                                         the final editing. Then send it off to the Publisher.

                                         Pennsylvania: The progress of the cover. From head
                                         to computer to head again for more creativeness.

I Have People!!!

Texas: Mike is Editing the last 11 pages of my Book.  

Pennsylvania: Last Editing. Editing Chapter One again.One more

 editing of each Chapter before I send my Manuscript to be Published.

 

Pennsylvania: From Head to Computer. The Cover is Finally
 out of Tom's Head and in the Computer.

Progress of new book.

I am done with my part of writing my book. I again encouraged Tom to show me something of the cover he has been working on for the last 6 months. He went into his computer room and when I went to check on the progress: Here is Tom!!! I asked him, "What are you doing?" He said, "I am working on your cover." I said, "Where is the cover?" He said, "It's all in my head." I said, "I can't see inside your head. Put something on paper so I can see it."

Enought about black and white colors. I have always been drawn to shades of brown, green, and blues. However, for this cover I have been considering a purple background and yellow letters. I can't come to a final decision so I thought I would go to the book store and see if any colors stand out. Just before I left I told Tom I have come to a decision, the background is going to be yellow and the letters red unless I find some color more appealing at the bookstore.

After going up and down many the aisles a book caught my eye. The colors are yellow and red, Tom's name and my maiden name Wolfe. This has to be a sign. What I don't know. Of course I had to buy the book. I tried to read it to find a clue, however, I don't think it's his best writing. Some others tried to read it and couldn't get past the first few pages. There just has to be a reason I was drawn to yellow and red before I left for the book store and this book was sitting on the shelf with our names on it in bright red letters

. 

A scene from my upcoming book where I sit pondering about which shade of white to paint my kitchen and living room. I am a victim of this multi-color era.

Can't seem to decide on a color for the cover of my book.
There are just too many colors. Here is a story from my book concerning black and white.

One Saturday afternoon, Tom asked, “Will you pick me up a quart of white and a quart of black outdoor paint when you are out shopping today? I want to paint the porch railing and the posts.” I dropped everything and rushed to the store! I didn’t even change my clothes or comb my hair. It was early spring, so I had to get back quickly with that paint before those infamous birds started chirping and put him under their spell.

When I arrived at the hardware store, I looked up and down all the paint aisles and couldn’t find the white or the black paint. I went over to the clerk who was mixing paint. He was very busy. There were many customers waiting with their paint chips. I patiently waited for a chance to ask him to point me in the direction of the paint I needed. While I was waiting, I thought, “I’m so glad I’m not getting paint that needs mixing. I have to get home with the paint before the mood leaves Tom.”

Finally, the clerk came near me and I said, “Excuse me, could you please point me in the direction of the white outdoor paint. He said, “It has to be mixed.” I said, “No, I want white paint.” He said, “It has to be mixed.” I said, “You mix white paint?” He said, “Yes.” I said, “What about black?” He said, “It needs to be mixed also.” So I got in the long line of people waiting to get their paint mixed wondering how in the world they would mix white, and exactly what colors are used to make it. As I watched him mix the colors of purple, turquoise, pink, and chartreuse, I felt a little silly waiting for white and black. I was sure he was mistaken and my paint was over on a shelf somewhere. The whole time I waited in line not one person ordered white or black paint. The longer I waited in line, the more anxious I got because I knew that Tom was doomed to fall under the spell of those chirping birds any minute. I just had to get this paint home before that happened. Finally it was my turn and the clerk said, “May I help you?” I said, “I want a quart of white latex outdoor paint.” He asked, “What shade of white?” I said, “White.” He said, “What shade of white?” I said, “Well, do you know white? I want white!” He again asked, “What shade of white?” I said, “You know ‘off white’ and ‘white’? Well, I want white!” He said, “Then you must want White White.” I said, “Yes, I want white!” He left and got a can from a shelf and put it on a computerized machine and pushed some buttons and waited a while. When the machine stopped he brought me my mixed white paint to inspect—sure enough, it was white. I said, “Okay.” He put the lid on and put it on another machine and asked me if I wanted anything else I said, “I want a quart of black latex outdoor paint.” So he asked, “What shade of black?” I said, “Black!” He said, “What shade of black?” I said, “Black—just black plain black, black!” He said, “Black is hard to mix. It’s difficult to get the right color mixture.” I said, “Just black!” He left and got a can from a shelf again and put it on the computer machine.

Before he pushed the buttons to mix my black paint, he went over to the mixer and handed me my white paint. As I started to put the quart of paint into my cart the lid flew into the air and the White White paint splattered all over my hand, shoe, purse, and the cart. I shouted to the clerk, “Yo! You must have made this White White paint too bright bright because the lid flew off and the paint splattered everywhere! He immediately got some cleaner and started to clean the floor and counter. I said, “Ah, excuse me, but could I have some cleaner for my hand here?” He said, “Oh.” After he cleaned the floor and counter and I cleaned myself, he mixed my black paint and then another quart of White White paint. This experience was definitely a conspiracy! Mixing white and black paint—I never heard of such a thing!

When I finally got home, I was surprised to see that Tom was still ready to paint the railing. He opened the black quart of paint only to find that it was dark brown! He couldn’t use it because it would clash with the black shutters and trim. So, I told Tom, “Start painting the white posts while I take the paint and exchange it.” He said, “I can’t paint the posts white until I paint the railing black.” I didn’t ask why because I was not in the mood for Lally Logic. Then he said, “Besides, you can’t take mixed paint back.” I said, “Watch me!” Now I was angry! I had already spent more time on purchasing this paint than it would have taken Tom to paint the whole porch. I could feel those birds watching Tom’s every move, and I knew that they would start chirping their spell over him at any minute, so I had only a short time to exchange the paint. Off I went. I went directly to the service department. I was firm but polite when I explained the whole situation. The lady simply took the dark brown paint and said, “Go to the paint department and get your black paint and come back here for an even exchange.”

There was a different person in the paint department, and when he asked, “What color do you want?” a part of me expected him to point me in the direction of white and black paint on the shelf when I said, “Black.” But he went to a shelf and took off a can and put it on the computer and pushed some buttons and mixed the black paint. While he was mixing my black paint, I glanced behind me and there was a color sample section with all of the different shades of red, blue, green, yellow, purple, and any color you could think of. I was shocked when I saw a display of the shades of white! There were one hundred and forty-four shades of white. I counted each and every one of them! I could not believe my eyes! No wonder that man kept asking me what shade of white I wanted. The display had been directly behind me and I hadn’t seen it. I never dreamed this many shades of white existed. I hope I never get to the point where I need to ponder over these one hundred and forty-four shades of white when I need more white paint. If this is a conspiracy to confuse, it worked well, because I am definitely confused.

I finally got my black paint and started home. I thought, “Will he still be in the mood to paint when I get home? It has taken me four hours to get this quart of black paint. I pulled into the driveway and there was no sign of Tom. As I got out of the car, I could hear the faint sound of birds chirping, and, when I walked to the patio, there was Tom sleeping in his lounge chair, and the birds were chirping in full melody. I knew he was under their spell for the rest of the season, so I placed the paint on a shelf in the garage for another year.

Book 2 progress.

I made all the corrections from my Editorial Evaluation. I sent in the pictures for the center of the book. Tom is almost ready to send in the cover. I am still deciding on the colors. Mile, my son-in-law, is going over the book for a final editing. I have only four more chapters to edit.

I sent my manuscript to my publisher on Wednesday for evaluation. I hope there aren’t any dangling participles or too many other grammar mistakes. Tom is working on the Book Cover and I am collecting some pictures of the humorous stories.