Monday, October 15, 2007

A Really Special Day

So yesterday was that book launch/reading/signing thingy for Alex at Indigo at Yorkdale that I was telling you all about and it was pretty darn amazing.

My mom and dad basically organised the whole thing, aside from a few mentions here, a mass email and an invite on Facebook, I did basically nothing. They had made postcards, and invited all their friends and extended family. You know, you invite 50 people in the hopes 10 will actually come, that sort of thing?

But what happens when almost everyone you invite shows up?

But back to the start of the tale.

My mom picked me up from my place and we drove up to Yorkdale Mall for around 1pm. For those not in the know, Yorkdale Mall is one of the biggest in the city, and slightly outside of downtown so there is a massive parking lot surrounding it. And on the weekends, the place is packed. Like unbelievably so. It's sort of hard to describe just how packed. Anyway, this matters to the tale later on.

We went up to the children's book section of the Indigo to meet with Wendy who is in charge of the section as well as doing these book launch things. She's done quite a few in the past (in fact almost exactly a year ago we'd been to the book launch of a friend Rona Arato's book Ice Cream Town, and Wendy had helped organised that one as well), and is extremely enthusiastic. I had actually met her at the Scholastic dinner and had a lovely chat.

So with the help of many other fine Indigo staff, along with my aunt Betty who showed up soon after with veggies and dip, and Denise from Scholastic (who even brought me a pen to sign books with), we set up the food and coffee tables and chairs, and the sound system. People were slowly arriving (my good friend Lisa's mother Sabrina arrived early and helped us set out the cupcakes in a very artistic manner). And they just sort of kept coming. And coming. And suddenly I went from, "Eh this is all old hat by now, I've done many readings already" to complete terror as the numbers grew. Fortunately it was a very loving crowd, consisting mostly entirely of family and friends. But it was still pretty overwhelming.

Just before things got started two of my friends showed up dressed as pirates. Let me tell you, I live a strange life that I can have friends who happen to be in the neighbourhood dressed as pirates call me and ask if they should stop by. Of course I said yes (one of them, Scott, had been with me at Word on the Street, the other, Adrianna, added a nice feminine quality. Well as feminine as a pirate can be really . . .)!

Eventually it got to a point where we just had to get things started or people would start to get restless so I signalled Wendy and she gave me just a lovely introduction. Then my pirates carried me over to the table where I began my reading. Silly thing, started talking at the mic, thanking everyone for coming and got completely overwhelmed and started to cry. I was so not expecting that, but when you are staring out at a crowd of people who are all there because they want to show their support, friends, family (all my grandparents and their siblings and their children and cousins and and . . . ), along with several Scholastic folks, well it's a little hard not to feel a bit overcome.

Nonetheless I recovered I think rather admirably, and did my reading.

Afterwards I signed books for I think an hour, the line was long and I had to chat a bit with everyone, as I knew almost all of them. It was a bit too bad that I couldn't talk and hang with them for longer, but I still think the whole thing worked out really well.

As things were clearing out, one of my friends mentioned that two of my friends had been driving around the parking lot for half an hour (told you it was packed) which was why they were late and so I stuck around to wait for them. They showed up as we were cleaning up and I was so grateful that despite it all they still came. So they gave me a high five, we chatted for a few minutes, and then they left. What a way for them to spend a Sunday afternoon!

And then it was over, an hour and a half after it had begun. That's what people call a whirlwind!

Special thanks to everyone at Indigo, you guys were amazing and so helpful! The Scholastic folks, Denise who helped set up, and all the others who showed up just to show their support! All my friends and family, and of course my mom and dad, but (daddy I'm sorry) especially my mom, who really did organise everything - coordinating everything with Scholastic and meeting with Wendy, not to mention getting all the food and decorations, it really was her party! Thank you so much!

Also, I wanted to add that I got to meet Heidi the hick and her hicklettes and it was AWESOME! I love the blogosphere. And can I tell you that it is very odd she likes to hide her face like that because it is a very pretty face and should be shared with the world. Anyway, Heidi, it was great to meet you!

And last but not least, to the Ironic Gentleman, thank you very much for the flowers and survival kit. It was a complete surprise when Wendy presented me with them! (though I really am dying to know who you actually are, so PLEASE tell me!)



It was a pretty darn good day.

And now. . . pictures!!


My friend Ashley showing you all the food table.


My lovely focus group, Heather, Wendy and Harry.


A section of the crowd all paying rapt attention to my amazing reading.


Me rapt-ing my amazing audience.


Me signing and feeling rather overwhelmed.


Me and Wendy (from Indigo) and my two fab pirates!

11 comments:

Dawn said...

Way to go, Adrienne! Your monster book signing sounds likes so much fun. I can imagine the nerves as more and more people arrived, but I just know that you would have carried it off. Well done, gal.

Heidi the Hick said...

Yay!!!! We just looked at the last photo and my boy said, "Hey, I was there! I was like, right there, we were, like, an inch away!"

What a blast. Just, wow!

That place is insane. Jethro dropped us off and circled the parking lot three times before he came in. And we still missed the reading! But that's okay. You filled us in now!

(and made me blush. Don't worry, I'll unmask one of these days. It'll happen!!)

I've exercised great self control and not sneaked a peek at the book all day while the kids were at school. We start reading TONIGHT!!!

J said...

the kicker for me wasn't finding a parking spot... it was getting IN TO the parking lot in the first place! It was a fantastic turn out adj, and one of these days I'll actually get to hear you read. sigh. luv ya.

Anonymous said...

Hi Adrienne

I've been reading your blog since seeing your name on Darley Anderson's Children's website a few months ago. Your signings sound so much fun - well done you and (belated) congrats for securing publication of 'Alex'. I have a copy on order from Amazon that I'm looking forward to reading with my 8-year-old.

DJ

Travis Erwin said...

That is great. Glad to hear the event was such a success.

Anonymous said...

Nice blog, very informative contents. I also got similar to this, would you mind if I ask you for a link exchange? Regards...

Lynn Sinclair said...

Adrienne, I'm so sorry to have missed this. Sure looks like it was a great success. Congrats!

Anonymous said...

I was in Montreal! I'm sorry I missed this! =(

-Nadine

Adrienne said...

Thanks guys!!

Dawn - it was really nerve wracking, surprisingly so, but it was awesome. What would have made it better, if somehow you could have come my lovely kiwi!

Heidi - that is so sweet that your son said that! And I am glad you had a good time! (but isn't Yorkdale parking evil!) Let me know what you think of the book when you get a chance!

joanna - someday . .. someday. . .

dj - hey nice to meet you and thanks for dropping a note! So cool to meet people here! And thanks also for the congrats, I hope your kid likes it! Let me know!

travis - thanks so much!

filipina - hey! Thank you so much! Let's totally exchange links!

lynn - no worries, it was pretty crazy anyway! Thanks so much!

nadine - oh you are so sweet thank you! No worries my dear!

Heidi the Hick said...

The book is...

AWESOME!

Sandra Cormier said...

I feel like such a poop for not going to the event. I think I'm turning into my agoraphobic mother. I'm glad it was such a fun event.

No Indigo signings for me... my book isn't even on their database *sob*.