Crossing Oceans Debut
Tuesday night, my neighbors and Facebook friends, Claudia Condiff and Jan Bemis, journeyed with me to Roanoke Public Library for the book launch of Gina Holmes' debut novel, Crossing Oceans. I'd known of Gina through Facebook and her blog, Novel Journey, but I'd never met her in person.
River Laker, Resource Development Coordinator for Roanoke Public Libraries, had been publicizing this event for weeks, so I decided I really wanted to go. Luckily, we arrived early so we could get a parking space. My little PT, parked on Jefferson Street in front of the library, is half-hidden by one of the trees below.
The library's mezzanine, where the event was held, was packed. As we came in, talented 15-year-old Maddie Grace Garber played guitar and sang songs she'd composed.
Besides music, the presentation featured door prizes, Holmes talking about her book and reading from it, a dramatization of a scene from Chapter 1 by local actors, and a showing of two book trailers—the real one and a spoof of the real one.
Here's the real one:
And here's the spoof:
Hearing how Gina actually got published by Tyndale House was interesting. She told how she'd written several novels that hadn't been published and been unsuccessfully represented by two agents before she met her current agent, how she'd always been an avid reader, and howshe always knew she wanted to write. Her advice to those who seek publication: read books about writing, join a critique group, go to writers conferences because that's where you meet agents and editors. After the presentation, she signed books—lots of books.
Did I buy one? You bet! Here she is signing my copy.
After the event, we drove home under a pretty sunset and then a huge full moon. On Route 40, we encountered a bit of a problem: my headlights caught couple of deer standing in the highway—and the car behind me was tailgating. I couldn't slam on the brakes without getting slammed into. Quickly I turned my headlights off and on a couple of times, and split the deer herd down the middle. The car behind me stayed farther back for the next few miles. I must have scared the dickens out of him. (For a couple of seconds, I scared my passengers, too.)
So, here's my advice: If you encounter deer on the road at night, quickly turn your headlights on and off. They'll be scared away instead of hypnotized. And buy Gina Holmes' book. I'm a couple of cahpters into it and I like what I'm reading.
River Laker, Resource Development Coordinator for Roanoke Public Libraries, had been publicizing this event for weeks, so I decided I really wanted to go. Luckily, we arrived early so we could get a parking space. My little PT, parked on Jefferson Street in front of the library, is half-hidden by one of the trees below.
The library's mezzanine, where the event was held, was packed. As we came in, talented 15-year-old Maddie Grace Garber played guitar and sang songs she'd composed.
Besides music, the presentation featured door prizes, Holmes talking about her book and reading from it, a dramatization of a scene from Chapter 1 by local actors, and a showing of two book trailers—the real one and a spoof of the real one.
Here's the real one:
And here's the spoof:
Hearing how Gina actually got published by Tyndale House was interesting. She told how she'd written several novels that hadn't been published and been unsuccessfully represented by two agents before she met her current agent, how she'd always been an avid reader, and howshe always knew she wanted to write. Her advice to those who seek publication: read books about writing, join a critique group, go to writers conferences because that's where you meet agents and editors. After the presentation, she signed books—lots of books.
Did I buy one? You bet! Here she is signing my copy.
After the event, we drove home under a pretty sunset and then a huge full moon. On Route 40, we encountered a bit of a problem: my headlights caught couple of deer standing in the highway—and the car behind me was tailgating. I couldn't slam on the brakes without getting slammed into. Quickly I turned my headlights off and on a couple of times, and split the deer herd down the middle. The car behind me stayed farther back for the next few miles. I must have scared the dickens out of him. (For a couple of seconds, I scared my passengers, too.)
So, here's my advice: If you encounter deer on the road at night, quickly turn your headlights on and off. They'll be scared away instead of hypnotized. And buy Gina Holmes' book. I'm a couple of cahpters into it and I like what I'm reading.
posted by Becky Mushko | 5:56 PM
2 Comments:
Good post Becky !
Had a great time, and the deer thing was amazing!
Thanks for the headlight tip for scaring away deer in the road. Glad you enjoyed your evening.
Post a Comment
<< Home