Went to speak to the nine members of the New York Fencer’s Academy in Coney Island today during lunch of their summer camp. Taught them some stage fencing, talked about Open Wounds, and read a piece from the book. The kids were great and I had a blast. Special thanks to Coach Misha Mokretsov for inviting me and giving me the time to speak to the kids.
Teaching the duck and hitch!
The Duck!
Engarde!
The whole club!
Engage the blade!
It took me all this time to download them after I got back late last night. Met some great librarians, great writers and had a blast with Allison, Jonathan, and Irv at the New Orleans Fencer’s Club tournament!
Picture with a Fan at ALA WestSide Books Book Signing
SCARS Author cheryl Rainfield Signing at WestSide Booth with Publisher Evelyn Fazio
Allison from the New Orleans Fencing Club with her copy of Open Wounds
Octavia Books in the Garden District - Wonderful Independant Store
Checked out 4-club competition at New Orleans Fencer's Club
Hanging Our With Ed Yamada from WestSide Sales
Book Signing 101 - Colpire Senza Essere Colpito
Here’s my list. In no particular order:
Colpira senza essere colpito.
Hit but don’t get hit.
It’s a 16th or 17th century Italian Fencing Master’s motto. Considering it is for duels and not sport it makes sense. It is also Cid Wymann’s (the protagonist of my book Open Wounds) motto. I wrote this on books that I signed yesterday. Selene Castrovilla (Author of Saved by the Music, The Girl Next Door, and Melt) gave me the idea. And I found out it seems most authors have a tagline like this that they sign on their books.
I like the Italian fencing phrase but I have to say when I was signing, I was so nervous I had to write it down and hide it next to me on an index card. Sometimes I spelled it wrong because my hand shook. That could have been the coffee (drinking too much while in NO) or the forgetting to eat lunch (or both). In any case when I told people what it said and meant they seemed to like it. I like it too.
It seems to fit.
First, I don’t care how slow you walk. you’re still going to sweat. I tried to walk slower but it didn’t help. I still sweat. It’s 90+ and humid as hell in New Orleans. Running along the Mississippi this morning at 6 am, then a little moon salutation to try to cool down (nothing worked) and soaked, soaked, soaked. I’m drinking way too much iced coffee and my feet are killing me (walking slow slow slow the 45 minutes to the gigantic convention center which is cavernous!
You’d think I’m complaining but I’m not. I’m having a blast. I love to walk and the heat just makes me sweat abut then everyone is sweating so I’m in good company.
Early this morning, walking back to the hotel after my morning heat up and cool down I noticed how many bars were still open. Here’s a choice piece of dialog that needs to make it into a story.
“I swear to God it’s the first time I’ve danced on a bar.”
“No it’s not.”
“I swear to God I’ve never done it before.”
“Yes you have.”
The party really never stops.
So back to ALA. I signed books for two hours today and was thrilled to see that all fifty books were gone before I was finished. I had the best time talking to people about the book and doing the author thing. It totally made me smile. I used a sharpie black pen to sign books just like I’d been told to. I came up with a tag line to sign with (I’ll let you know that in another entry!). Only what I thought was the signature page – well… now I’m not sure it’s the signature page. Is it the blank page in the beginning with the title on it or is it the page with the cover image on it? Some I signed on one and some on the other. The perils of authorship. I also met a bunch of Westside Authors and they are the best. A good crew of nice people who also happen to be writers. More about them in other entries because I’ve read a bunch of their books too and want to review them.
Also went to Octavia Bookstore and Garden District Book Store and want to talk about them too. And…. oh this was the best … I stopped by New Orleans Fencers Club tournament and watched fencing matches for two hours and talked a bit about my book. the fencing was awesome. I wish I had brought my gear. Man I miss that stuff.
Lunievicz 