Laura Florand's Blog, page 38
February 25, 2013
A Few Glimpses of the Signing with Nora Roberts
It was so much fun to see Boonsboro in person this weekend. Stepping into a place from a book, signing with an author I’ve read since I was a teenager myself…all very magical! It was even a day layered with mist, like it could disappear any second into a story.
Boonsboro itself has a beautiful tiny historic downtown, and right in the center of it is Turn the Page Bookstore itself:
It sits directly across the street from a delicious-looking bakery and, of course, the famous Inn Boonsboro, everyone fan’s favorite place to stay:
It made me very happy to have my books sitting out on their table in this special place, among the books by such a special group of authors:
And see how the gift shop, Gifts Inn Boonsboro, so kindly offered a discount on Zoe’s Chocolates for those buying the Chocolate books. Zoe’s Chocolates is a local chocolatier to the area (based in Waynseboro PA, I believe), and they are the Chocolate of the Oscars! Yes, last night, the stars were nibbling those very same chocolates as we were eating.
But then, I had the pleasure of being with a fabulous group of literary stars. Look at this line-up:
The outgoing and hilarious Robin Kaye, the elegant and gracious Mary Burton, La Grande Nora herself, and the lovely and friendly Alyson Richman.
And that would be myself tucked up there in blue. I would like to say, in my defense, that all the other women were wearing three-inch heels.
The problem is, that, FINE, I was, too.
Nora’s heels were studded all over with little gold studs which made me think of those jewel-studded heels ladies wear in books set in the eighteenth-century. I was deeply jealous.
The signing was amazing! How beautiful to see the devotion to Nora and her books, the impact she has had on people’s lives. And fun to meet some new readers myself, and to meet the other lovely authors. I came home with a whole stack of new books to read!
February 19, 2013
Feb 23 Signing at Turn the Page (with Nora Roberts!)
Don’t forget, my last event for THE CHOCOLATE KISS release will be this Saturday, Feb. 23, 12-2 p.m., in Boonsboro MD, at Turn the Page Bookstore. I’ll be signing with Nora Roberts. (I confess, it’s deeply exciting to be at a book signing with an author I’ve read since I was a teenager!) Also, several other authors: Robin Kaye, Mary Burton…check out the details, including possibility to preorder and how to get the line tickets here.
February 16, 2013
Chocolate books French?
I was thinking about doing a little French dictionary as an extra on the website, for the Chocolate books, would it come in handy for you? If so, what words would you like to see an explanation for?
Maybe even audio tracks for the names, not sure…do you care, or do you like to know how they’re “really” pronounced?
Anyway, no promises how fast I would get to this, but if you would be interested, let me know, and what particularly you would like to see. Or do you feel like you can pick it up fine from the context? (That was the intention, but I don’t know if it always works for people.)
February 14, 2013
Talking about writing on Storytelling Rules
For a chance to win THE CHOCOLATE THIEF today, for Valentine’s Day, join us on Storytelling Rules, for a discussion about writing and France and all of that! THE CHOCOLATE THIEF was just awarded the Single Titles Reviewers Choice Award today and it and THE CHOCOLATE KISS were recommended in the Wall Street Journal, so it’s a big day for the Chocolate books.
Single Titles Reviewers Choice Award to THE CHOCOLATE THIEF
Very honored that THE CHOCOLATE THIEF has been awarded the Single Titles Reviewers Choice Award for 2012 single title contemporary.
February 13, 2013
Wall Street Journal Recommends CHOCOLATE books
How fun! THE CHOCOLATE KISS and THE CHOCOLATE THIEF are one of Wall Street Journal’s 14 alternatives to regular old chocolate for Valentine’s Day. Just between you and me, I think it’s FINE to be all clichéd and pair them with a heart-shaped box of chocolate. Especially the good stuff. In fact, I would recommend it. I can even recommend specific good stuff. But what’s a box of chocolate without a book to go with it? 
Link to the article and link to the slideshow.
Books and chocolate
February’s contest (notice how I didn’t get organized to announce it until mid-February) is for a signed copy of a book of mine of your choice plus a chocolate surprise from one of my favorite local chocolatiers in honor of the whole chocolatey theme to this month. You can find the entry form on my website (under Extras/Contests.)
February 5, 2013
Feb 12, 2 events
Just a reminder of 2 upcoming events, next Tuesday, Feb 12:
11 a.m., The Country Bookshop, Southern Pines NC.
7 pm., The Regulator, Durham NC.
In both, I’ll be talking chocolate and French pastry kitchens, sharing some behind-the-scenes research, offering some tastes (!), and, of course, signing THE CHOCOLATE KISS. The last events before Valentine’s Day! Hope to see you there!
February 1, 2013
A glimpse of the heart macarons for the Feb 2 signing!
CHOCOLATE KISS discussion, complete with behind-the-scenes research andchocolate tasting from Miel Bon Bons at Southwest Library in Durham NC at 3 p.m.
Bonnie (of Miel Bon Bons) has outdone herself with the chocolates and macarons for tomorrow’s CHOCOLATE KISS “launch” signing at Southwest Library (Sat Feb 2, 3 p.m.). The macarons are heart-shaped! And quadruple-wrapped in saran wrap, like she just had an INKLING how hard it would be for me to resist eating one when I got home from an evening of wild Mardi Gras dancing. Foiled again! Do spread the word…these are really special…heart macarons, chocolates, little strawberry-champagne cupcakes…I can’t believe how much she has done!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
January 31, 2013
Ready for La Chandeleur? And chocolate?
Two things are happening this Saturday.
ONE is that I’m doing a CHOCOLATE KISS discussion, complete with behind-the-scenes research and chocolate tasting from Miel Bon Bons at Southwest Library in Durham NC at 3 p.m.
TWO is that it’s LA CHANDELEUR, which is when the French flip crêpes for good fortune.
Interestingly, this is also Groundhog’s Day in the U.S., and all I can say is that the fact that Americans go out before dawn to find a furry animal and see if it sees its shadow while the French invite their friends over and enjoy a nice evening of crêpes and cider, is just an interesting commentary on the difference between two cultures.
You know, one of those interesting commentaries where you think: Wait. When two paths diverged in a wood, why did MY culture go down the groundhog path?
Anyway, here is the link to my husband’s favorite crêpe recipe, plus my own Specially Patented Flipping Instructions, which, you will see, are vital to a successful crêpe-good-fortune festival.
Have fun! Let me know how your flipping went.
