Book Scoop: Totally Crashing Stages on Pages!
Thursday and Sunday I got to do one of the things I LOVE, which is hang out with other authors. The amazing Stasia Kehoe was kind enough to invite me along on the Stages on Pages L.A. tour, and I did my first two stops last week. Thursday I was with Stasia and the hysterically brilliant Gretchen McNeil at Mrs. Nelson's Book Shop in LaVerne. The store is fantastic, and we had the added bonus of hanging out with blogger/writer Janelle Alexander.
The concept behind the Stages on Pages tour is simple. All the authors are in some way involved — or have previously been involved — in the performing arts, and we discuss how that informs our writing and our books. Sometimes the tie is clear, as in Stasia's book Audition. Other times it's more oblique, as in Gretchen's Possess or in Populazzi. No matter what, our tie to the arts has informed the way we write, which is something we always discuss.
(My performing art was acting — I was a hard-core theater geek in high school, theater major in college, took a semester of conservatory training at the National Theater Institute, and came out here originally to act. I believe I've shared with you all my one line in the show California Dreams. It wasn't pretty.)
So Thursday at Mrs. Nelson's was the three of us, then Sunday at Vroman's Bookstore (don't get me started on how much I love that bookstore — everyone should shop there!) we were joined by Allen Zadoff, whom I've adored from the minute we met at a LAYA (Los Angeles Young Adult Author) event. I've read two of his books, Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can't Have and Hungry, and was impressed by both of them. His latest is My Life, The Theater, and Other Tragedies, and I can't wait to read it.
Also at Vroman's, we got to meet writer/blogger Nutschell Anne Windsor. It was terrific chatting with her, and I'm eager to see the pictures she took!
The Stages on Pages tour is a blast, and in an amazing stroke of luck, they're going to be in New York when I'm back east for the marathon… so I'm joining them! If you're in or around New York, come join us! Here are the places I'll be hopping on the tour wagon:
Thursday 10 NOVEMBER – Books of Wonder, NYC from 6-8 pm
with Gretchen McNeil, Sheela Chari, Rosanne Parry, Stasia Kehoe, Jessica Martinez
*
Friday 11 NOVEMBER – The Voracious Reader, Larchmont, NY at 6 pm
with Gretchen McNeil, Sheela Chari, Rosanne Parry, Stasia Kehoe, Jessica Martinez
*
Saturday 12 NOVEMBER – Dolphin Bookshop, Port Washington, NY at 4 pm
with Gretchen McNeil, Sheela Chari, Stasia Kehoe, Jessica Martinez
I'm really looking forward to it!
Thanks Mrs. Nelson's and Vroman's, thanks Stasia, Gretchen, and Allen, and thanks to everyone who came out to join us at the appearances! It was a lot of fun, and I can't wait to do it again!
Also, don't forget my 1,000 Tweep giveaway! All this week, comment on this page and Tweet about the giveaway to be entered to win signed copies of Devoted, Populazzi, and a bonus book!
