Category: My books

Author event at library in Concord

I held my third author event to publicize The Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina at the public library in Concord, NC on Saturday. Speaking in a large auditorium and using a microphone was more than a little intimidating. The mic wouldn’t pick up my voice when clipped to my lapel, so I had to hold it in my hand. I couldn’t hear myself, so it was difficult to judge if those in the audience could hear me. That was stressful. I felt like I talked too fast and too softly. Seasonal allergies in my throat didn’t help matters.

I was honored that the Concord Friends of the Library hosted the event. They did a super job with publicity. The event was touted on the front page of the Cabarrus News section of the Charlotte Observer twice! Several people in the audience commented on my mountain photos slide show, so I think it definitely adds to my presentation.

My next scheduled event is on November 13 at the public library in Mt. Pleasant, NC. I hope my voice will be stronger for that engagement.

Invitation to Malaprop’s Bookstore

Tonight I received an e-mail from Malaprop’s Bookstore — a wonderful independent bookstore — to drop by the next time I’m in Asheville to autograph some of my books. I hope to do that in December.

Today I had copies of my writing pamphlet printed to send to the president of the North Carolina Society of Historians for inclusion in the packets for the people attending this year’s awards luncheon. I was pleased with what I was able to create using Microsoft Excel for the first time. If I can do it, anyone can do it!

I visited Books-a-Million at Concord Mills Mall today and was disappointed that The Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina was not on the Arcadia Publishing shelf in the “Regional Books” section of the store. That needs to be rectified tomorrow.

Where to purchase my book

The sales and marketing people at Arcadia Publishing have been hard at work getting my book, The Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina on store shelves in the mountains. The following locations already have my book for sale:

Smoky Mountain Host Visitors Center in Franklin
Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville
Books Unlimited in Franklin
The Guilded Lily by Patra in Blowing Rock
Village Pharmacy in Blowing Rock
University Bookstore at Appalachian State University in Boone
Boone Drug locations on King Street and New Market in Boone
Lake Junaluska Assembly at Lake Junaluska
Malaprops Books and Cafe in Asheville
Walgreens on Merrimon Avenue in Asheville
Walgreens on South Tunnel Road in Asheville
Asheville Chamber of Commerce
Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar in Asheville
Christa’s Country Corner in Newland
Mystery Hill in Blowing Rock
Town Hardware and General Store in Black Mountain

I am thrilled to know that my book is being sold at all these locations and will soon also be available at Second Look Books in Harrisburg.

I’m writing lots of thank you letters today.

Learning Microsoft Excel

I took the plunge today and wrote a trifold pamphlet about my books and published short stories using a template on Microsoft Excel. I’d never used a template before and have used Excel very little.

I’m pleased with the final product and plan to have copies made to be distributed at the annual awards banquet of the North Carolina Society of Historians in Mooresville on October 25, 2014.

Since I’m not very savvy when it comes to computers, I was surprised how it worked out and how simple it was.

Book Launch Party!

I had a great time this afternoon at my book launch party for The Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina! There were 55-60 people in attendance and I felt so much love from everyone. I was honored that so many people took time out of the middle of a beautiful late summer Sunday afternoon to come out to support me. It was overwhelming to look up from my table and see that long line of people waiting to purchase MY book! It was thrilling to give away the six door prizes. I hope everyone had as much fun as I did. It was a wonderful afternoon!

Successful first author event

I had my first author event this evening at the public library in Harrisburg for The Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, and I didn’t pass out from fright or plummeting blood pressure. That’s a successful event in my book! There were smiling faces in the audience, which helped put me at ease. I probably talked too fast. Suddenly, it was over. People seemed to enjoy watching the slide show of my mountain pictures and some took time to look at the postcards I had on display. I’m not sure anyone took any of the word find puzzles I designed to go with the book, but that’s okay. I was only interrupted once by a freight train passing through. A thunderstorm came out of nowhere at the end and it poured rain. On the way home in the dark, we almost hit a cow that was walking in the road. (Reminded us of an evening drive on the Isle of Skye in Scotland!) We got stopped just in time to miss the cow and then crept along for the next half mile as the cow’s owner guided it home. Traffic backed up as the cow meandered from one side of the road to the other, but the cow didn’t get hurt and nobody got hurt. It was a tense situation that could have had a much different ending if we had been traveling any faster.

It was an eventful several hours.

An e-Book!

I guess I have truly arrived. Today I discovered that my book, The Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, is available as an e-book for Kindle. I bought it and was delighted at the ease with which I could navigate through the book. Every website reference is clickable, as is every page referenced in the index. The postcards are sharp and crisp. I like it!

Grateful

I am grateful to the sales and marketing staff of Arcadia Publishing for getting my book, The Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, on the shelves of a good number and variety of stores in the mountains last week. As I write thank you letters to the store owners to express my appreciation for their agreeing to sell the book, I am reminded of just how many people it takes to get a book from an author’s hands and into the hands of the reader.

Where you can purchase my book

The sales and marketing people at Arcadia Publishing have been hard at work getting my book, The Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, on store shelves. The book is available at the following locations in the North Carolina mountains:

Smoky Mountain Host Visitors Center in Franklin

Books Unlimited in Franklin

Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville

The Gilded Lily by Patra in Blowing Rock

Village Pharmacy in Blowing Rock

University Bookstore at Appalachian State University in Boone

Boone Drug – King Street and New Market in Boone

Lake Junaluska Assembly at Lake Junaluska

Walgreens on Merrimon Avenue in Asheville

Walgreens on S. Tunnel Road in Asheville

Malaprop’s Books and Cafe in Asheville

Asheville Chamber of Commerce

Battery Park Book Exchange and Champagne Bar in Asheville

Christa’s Country Corner in Newland

Mystery Hill in Blowing Rock

Town Hardware and General Store in Black Mountain

I am thrilled to know my book is being sold at all those locations in the North Carolina mountains! Soon it will be available at Second Look Books in Harrisburg, NC.

Another author event scheduled

I’m scheduled to talk about The Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina to the Presbyterians who are residents of Aldersgate in Charlotte on October 20 and have a book signing. I look forward to seeing some friends and making new ones that day.

Another door prize has arrived for my Book Launch Party! I received two complimentary adult tickets for Chimney Rock State Park, valued at $30. I have six door prizes for the event. Perhaps more will come before September 21.

I placed copies of my book on consignment yesterday at White Owl Antique Mall and Design Center in Concord, North Carolina. When in Concord, drop by and support this local business.

In my “spare time,” I have put Christmas items on my online craft shop on Etsy.com. Look for Hickory Ridge Crafts on that site to see the things that my sister and I have made.

We are also continuing to organize the history room/church library in the new building at Rocky River Presbyterian Church. The official opening is next weekend.

There’s never a dull moment around here!