Sending a big thank you with smoochies to Store Manager Tracy McPeck, her colleagues Stephen and Susan, and all the staff of the Landmark Mall Waldenbooks in Alexandria, VA.  The Landmark Waldens’ is my neighborhood bookstore.  Literally.  It’s only a mile walk from the house, and I usually make the trek at least once or twice a week.  I suspect this was why Tracy kindly extended the invitation to hold my first signing for With Nine You Get Vanyr at the store March 31.  Either that or my famous puppy eyes routine finally got to her.  🙂
Fortunately, it turned out better than anyone could have imagined.  Friends and family attended in force, prompted by my nagging–er, informative emails and the items I sent to local newspaper events calendars.  One friend read about the signing in The Alexandria Gazette.  She said the item featured a picture of the book too.  (I so need to see a copy of that paper!)
In short, we sold out.  And the store promised to order more.  Well, they have to.  Mother wants three to send to the former chief engineer in her apartment building, her friend the cop and her priest.  And what Reyah wants–er, what Mother wants, Mother gets or there will be consequences.

Stephen, Jean Marie & Tracy at the Landmark Waldenbooks

Stephen (left), Tracy (right) and me at the Landmark Waldenbooks following the March 31 signing.

The post-signing party.  (You knew we'd have one.)

The after-signing party.  You knew we’d throw one.  One of the two main models fo the goddess Reyah is the seemingly frail lady in red to the right of the picture.  Trust me, she’s much scarier than she looks.

And the best part–when it was all over, Tracy told me I was her favorite author.  Ever!  It simply doesn’t get any better than that.
Hugs and grins,
Jean Marie