Thursday, February 7, 2013

SHOCKER

As my very first book-signing for Epic Mom approached, I was convinced things were not going to go well.  Yet with the help of wonderful friends and family, the evening kicked off without incident:

The treat table had been set up:



The author table had been arranged:

 
I even brought along a gift from my co-author to serve as her stand-in:  
 
Julie R. Harrison as "Wheel"
 
And despite all my negative fears to the contrary, real-live people did in fact show up:


 I let out a monumental sigh of relief.

That sigh then turned into a gasp which turned into a squeal when another unexpected real-live person appeared:

That would be co-author Julie R. Harrison
Updated picture:  one with us actually looking at the camera.  Thanks, Mary Walsh.

Julie had flown in from Virginia, hid out at the Chicago Bean all day, and arrived at the Evergreen Park Library just in time to give me the shock of my life.

I could not have been more delighted.

Thank you to everyone who came, including Julie!  It was one of the most memorable evenings of my life.  I feel like the luckiest girl in the whole world.

A lucky girl with left-over chocolate chip cookies, that is (thank you, Missy!).
Plastered by at

51 comments:

  1. AnonymousFebruary 7, 2013 at 1:43 PM

    Awww...you didn't tell me they were serving cookies....glad it went well. When you purchase your Hollywood mansion, I can be both your driver and pool boy ok.

    MBF

    ReplyDelete
  2. Kari February 7, 2013 at 1:54 PM

    I tell ya, you NEED to come to the North Burbs.
    I can get you an audience that looks a loooot happier.
    Ok maybe not.
    It IS winter in Chicago.
    No one is happy.
    But I will be in the front row throwing my bra on stage.
    Maybe you don't want to come up here after all......

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MarianneFebruary 7, 2013 at 6:53 PM

      Ah, Kari - that photo was taken before the awesomeness that is me took the stage. Afterwards? They were holding their sides and wiping away tears of laughter.

      Or at least that's the memory I'm filing away in my deranged little brain.

      I'll be infiltrating the northside soon! But first? I'm conquering NAPERVILLE!

      Delete
  3. AnonymousFebruary 7, 2013 at 2:34 PM

    @kari....lollll

    MBF

    ReplyDelete
  4. Tina@WhatWeKeepFebruary 7, 2013 at 2:46 PM

    Glad it all went well, Marianne! Those cookies sealed the deal.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousFebruary 7, 2013 at 2:52 PM

    I am so excited I finally have a signed copy of a book. Your book was amazing I am going to re-read it this week and pass it on to my mom.

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    Replies
    1. MarianneFebruary 7, 2013 at 6:54 PM

      Oh thank you thank you thank you!

      Nice words make me skinnier. (;

      Delete
  6. Larissa T.February 7, 2013 at 3:43 PM

    *grinning from ear to ear*
    Toldya it'd be awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  7. KellyFebruary 7, 2013 at 4:05 PM

    Oh, wow, I would have loved to have been there! Congratulations you two, you deserve every success!

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  8. TangledLouFebruary 7, 2013 at 4:48 PM

    Congrats! I am so in awe. A real book signing. I'm so glad everything went so well!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MarianneFebruary 7, 2013 at 6:55 PM

      Thank you, TangledLou - I'm thinking the stage is just waiting for you next!

      Delete
  9. Carol Noren JohnsonFebruary 7, 2013 at 4:54 PM

    Hurray for you two! You are launched!

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    Replies
    1. MarianneFebruary 7, 2013 at 6:56 PM

      Launched, lunched & liquored - just the way I like it.

      Thanks, Carol!

      Delete
  10. UnknownFebruary 7, 2013 at 5:36 PM

    You guys look like bone fide authours sitting up there on that stage. Glad that it all went well. And those cookies...Mmmmmm. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MarianneFebruary 7, 2013 at 6:57 PM

      I love my sister-in-law Missy more than my own children. The biotch has mad-skills in the kitchen. Thanks, Lil!

      Delete
  11. AndreaFebruary 7, 2013 at 6:06 PM

    Fantastic! Absolutely fantastic! You know what girlfriend? Anyway you want it, that's the way you need it! Congratulations!
    And I can only assume that no celiacs were harmed in the final hours leading up to the gala.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MarianneFebruary 7, 2013 at 6:59 PM

      Rest assured I did not harm a single celiac yesterday, and we all went to a place that had gluten-free pizza after. Julie was amazed that I actually existed in a 3-D world. She was hilarious.

      Let me know when you're ready to transition to some Survivor tunes. I love them, too. I searched the whole world over, to find a heart so true, such complete infatution....I'm high on yooooouuuu.

      Delete
  12. UnknownFebruary 7, 2013 at 6:37 PM

    That is so sweet! I'm glad the book signing went well, and you even had an audience and everything! Enjoy your chocolate chip cookies. They have been well earned.

    ReplyDelete
  13. bettyFebruary 7, 2013 at 8:20 PM

    See I knew people would come! But I didn't know Julie would be there!! What a great surprise!!! Looks like it was a great book signing! Wishing you many more!!!

    betty

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    Replies
    1. MarianneFebruary 8, 2013 at 8:55 AM

      Thank you, Betty! It as a fantastic suprise! I could never pull such a thing off given my inability to keep a secret. I s'pose everyone has their strengths, no?

      Delete
  14. Linda @ it all started with paintFebruary 7, 2013 at 10:06 PM

    Of course people showed up. I'm pretty sure they camped out the night before -- you know, a la Harry Potter ...

    :) Linda

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  15. hi-dFebruary 7, 2013 at 10:51 PM

    Yay! How cool is that? Congrats

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  16. Mis AnthropyFebruary 8, 2013 at 2:17 AM

    Congratulations. I can't even imagine the pride and thrill. Bask in it!!!

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    Replies
    1. MarianneFebruary 8, 2013 at 8:57 AM

      Thanks, Donna - I think I could've burst (but is also might've been the cookies).

      Delete
  17. AnonymousFebruary 8, 2013 at 2:26 AM

    You found your calling. Delivery awesome. Quick witted remarks brilliant. Smile contagious. The stage is next. Is Joe ready for what comes next? Are your sons ready? Is your family ready? I sure as hell am ready and can hardly wait.
    SF

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    Replies
    1. MarianneFebruary 8, 2013 at 8:57 AM

      Aw, shucks, SF. YOUR check is in the mail, too! (;

      Delete
  18. MOVFebruary 8, 2013 at 5:02 AM

    Hey Marianne!

    Thanks for an awesome book signing event. So glad I was able to finally meet you in person. I told The Husband it was the best day of my life. He said, "I thought our wedding was?"

    Nope.

    xxo
    MOV

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MarianneFebruary 8, 2013 at 8:59 AM

      Ha! I LOVED LOVED LOVED the family-table video! Tell your sons they are very talented and funny like their mom. I am still cracking up at your "You actually exist in 3-D" comment. Promise me you'll use that again. And again. Love to all!

      Delete
  19. Kirby CarespodiFebruary 8, 2013 at 5:25 AM

    JEALOUS! Wish I could have been there.

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  20. AnonymousFebruary 8, 2013 at 7:52 AM

    Congratulations and here's to more of these events in your future! Enjoy it!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Dollops of DianeFebruary 8, 2013 at 6:29 PM

    I am so glad it was a big success! I knew it would be but also knew you would be nervous until the day came and you rocked it! Woo hoo!

    ReplyDelete
  22. StephanieFebruary 9, 2013 at 8:15 AM

    AH!!! That made me bounce up and down over here, so I can only imagine how excited you were!!! Was it your first "real" meeting? Oh, how I wish I could have been at the book-signing. I would have sat in the front row and asked really thought-provoking* questions. Beautiful, beautiful ladies!

    *probably not actually thought-provoking

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    Replies
    1. MarianneFebruary 10, 2013 at 9:24 AM

      Stephanie - It WAS our first real meeting and we fielded a bunch of questions about the talented person who did our cover art! So tell me again how long it would take you to get to Chicago for the next one? You were the only thing missing!

      Delete
  23. AlexandraFebruary 9, 2013 at 8:37 AM

    So very happy for you!!!

    Congratulations, this must be a thrill.
    xo

    ReplyDelete
  24. Julie HutchinsonFebruary 10, 2013 at 1:16 AM

    OMG - I've missed so much - been away sooo long. Congratulations to you! Well done! Go girl! Have I missed anything else major in the last six months Marianne?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MarianneFebruary 10, 2013 at 9:25 AM

      I've also invented calorie-free Nutella. Tastes EXACTLY the same.

      Thank you, Julie!! We've missed you!

      Delete
  25. UnknownFebruary 10, 2013 at 11:04 PM

    You two are adorable and awesome. I wish I had been there to get my book signed!

    ReplyDelete
  26. MarianneFebruary 11, 2013 at 7:00 AM

    Oh, Lillian! Next time? We do a book-signing/art opening. Deal??

    ReplyDelete
  27. UnknownFebruary 11, 2013 at 10:52 PM

    Of course it went well! You're you! :-) So cool that Julie surprised you like that! I'm glad it went well. I have been thinking about you and the big book signing!

    ReplyDelete

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