I had the bright idea to purchase a couple copies for my little nieces and have them signed for a Christmas present! Sad as it may sound, I almost chickened out and didn't go. What do you mean chickened out? You may ask, what's there to chicken out about? Sad as it may sound, I have a few phobias, one of them apparently is going to stores and meeting actual-real life authors. I know, I know - I'm still trying to raise enough money to pay for some therapy sessions - but there it is.
A few months back I attended a little conference put on by SCBWI where there were a few authors and an illustrator signing books as well. I bought a book, went to get into the back of the line to get it signed, and ended up skirting out of the building and straight to my car instead. Why? Who knows! Fear is a funny thing.
Any how, last night was not much different. On my way home from work I was coming up with all sorts of reasons why I shouldn't go - the kids may still have homework to do, we still have to eat dinner, I'm tired, we may be late home and the kids have school in the morning - and so on and so on. Well, as I arrived home my wonderful husband had pizza waiting, the kids happily informed me they were done with their homework and were all very excited to go meet the actual - real life author - so, there were no excuses!
The girls and I loaded ourselves into the van, cranked the Christmas music and made our way to Exeter. Our arrival was met with a few surprises, however. I had no idea that last night was Exeter's Holiday Celebration! Mobs of people, and loads of traffic took me a little off guard. I was met with a few detours which almost deterred me, but something pushed me forward. We ended up parking about a mile from the store and I nearly turned the car around to go home, but my girl's beaming faces pressed me to take on this, to me, giant adventure. We locked the car, and headed off down the winding side walks of Exeter, filled with people, shops and twinkling festive lights (Winnie the Pooh even gave my girls an unexpected hug) and made our way to the book shop.
There she was, Toni Buzzeo, sitting behind a table, her books pleasantly displayed for all to see. I panicked. I casually slid a book off the top of a pile and skirted the girls off to a corner where we could look at it. Score! The book was already signed...we could just go pay and head home...but no! No! The girls wanted to look at the other books she had on display, so we went back, right to the table where the actual- real life author sat, her glowing smile aimed right at us.
Emily's eyes were drawn to The Sea Chest, illustrated by Mary GrandPre'. I nervously took the book, skimming the pages while my daughter Abby tried to read (she seemed nervous too...) Then it happened. That actual - real life author spoke - to us. "Would you like me to tell you what it's about?" It was wonderful to listen to her describe her very first published book. Her eyes lid up as she described the light house keeper's duties and the lonely girl whose only friends on the island were the chickens who lived under the porch. And as she described the mysterious bundle that washed on shore after the storm had passed, she eagerly flipped through the pages to show my three little girls the beautiful illustrations. It was wonderful to watch this actual-real life author talk about something she so obviously dearly loved. And I realized - I want to be Toni Buzzeo. I want to describe my stories with beaming eyes to children and I want to flip through the pages of my book and show them the beautiful illustrations!
Clearly we bought both books - and thanks to my three girls who, without care or reservation mentioned to Ms. Buzzeo that their mother too was trying to get her picture books published, I had a nice chat with this actual-real life author who was nothing but encouraging and reassuring. She listened kindly as my girls described Hiccuping Hubert and all the changes I've made to it (she even himmed and hawed) and as we were leaving the table to make way for others to come and chat with the actual-real life author she told me to keep in touch!
It truly was a wonderful night! As soon as we arrived home we read the books - both were enchanting tales, though The Sea Chest is my favorite! Bitter sweet as my girls described (well maybe not in those exact words...)
So thank you Toni Buzzeo, and may you sell oodles and oodles of your books!
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