Nobody came to my tenth birthday party. I spent the afternoon licking frosting from the candles, popping the brightly colored balloons one by one, and staring through tear-filled eyes at a table set up to hold all the gifts I didn’t get.
Maybe it would have turned out differently if I’d handed out party invitations.
I didn’t invite anyone to the party. Instead I left all the invitations wadded up in the bottom of my backpack and never mentioned my birthday to a single person. It made sense at the time. What if I’d invited twenty kids and only ten showed up? I’d then have concrete proof that half the class hated me. If nobody showed up, well, I wouldn’t be surprised, but the dog would be terribly disillusioned. (I’d told her I was the most popular girl in the fourth grade.)
I was a strange and painfully insecure child.
Frankly, I haven’t changed much.
I’ve mentioned this before, but publishing might not be the best profession for me. I wither in the face of rejection, cringe at self-promotion, and hyperventilate at the thought of people reading my work. And yet I have a new book out - a book of essays, the most personal anybody could ever publish! Not only is there the pressure to do my part to sell more than ten or twelve copies of Counting Blessings, but there's the fear that people all around the globe will soon feel free to read it. A few of them will do it, too. I know they will. Maybe even some of you.
Excuse me while I breathe into a paper bag.
Yet despite my natural inclination to roll the rock securely back in front of my cave, crouch in a dark corner, and wait for a few months to pass, I am instead embarking upon a veritable flurry of signings. And I’m even going to invite people to my parties this time. Since this is such an overwhelming prospect, I thought I’d start with you and work my way up to really scary folk.
Ready? Here goes:
THURSDAY, MARCH 20 - Seagull Book, St. George, UT 2 - 4 PM
FRIDAY, MARCH 21 - Orem South Seagull Book, Orem, UT 12 - 1 PM (WITH THE INCREDIBLE BETSY BRANNON GREEN!)
SATURDAY, MARCH 22 - Redwood Seagull Book, SCL, UT 10 - 11 AM
SATURDAY, MARCH 22 - Family Center Seagull Book, Taylorsville, UT 11:30 - 12:30 AM
SATURDAY, MARCH 22 - West Jordan Seagull Book, West Jordan, UT 1:30 - 2:30 PM
SATURDAY, MARCH 22 - South Towne Seagull Book, Sandy, UT 3 - 4 PM
SATURDAY, MARCH 29 - Mesa Seagull Book, Mesa, AZ 12 - 2 PM
SATURDAY APRIL 5 - Deseret Book Ladies' Night, Glendale, AZ 5 - 7 PM
If you live within a sixty-mile radius of ANY of these places, I’ll expect you. This is not unreasonable, after all. I’m driving between twice and six times farther than that to see you!
Please come! Please tell your friends – or even your enemies; I’m not picky about who shows up as long as somebody does. My dog thinks I’m a “famous author” and I can’t bear to disillusion her. Pit bulls are very sensitive, you know. (Don't make me tell her where you live.)
6 comments:
What? No signings in Idaho? Will you at come to the Storymaker's conference to sign my copy?
Incidentally, I already used one of your essays last night as part of FHE (Pres. Faust) and my teenagers liked it. I'm speaking in church in two weeks and plan to quote you again (It's About Time).
You are going to be a busy lady. ;)I predict huge lines of anxious fans that will cause you writer's cramp. Travel safely and we'll see you soon.
You're being in St. George when I'm in Salt Lake and in Salt Lake when I'm in St. George. You really need to work on being in the right place at the right time (o:
Marta: FHE and sacrament meeting? Wow. That first is a tough audience! Thanks! I'd love to meet you. Are you doing boot camp? Attending the Whitneys? I'd really like to try to be in the same place at the same time for at least a few minutes.
Chilly: Boy, did somebody blow that, or what? I blame Brother Whitney. Or Rob. Let's blame him. That's always best. I'll miss you! Can we at least wave as we pass on the highway?
Wow! I see I haven't missed the Orem one - I'll try to come, although meeting famous people turns my tongue into shoe leather and me into a babbling idiot (so, If I do make it, I'll be easily recognizable! Ha!)
Love love love your work - keep it coming!
Pat, if you don't come, I'm going to cry. Can't wait to finally meet my new best friend in Utah County!
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