mary e. pearson

A couple quick updates:

The So Cal Independent Bookseller Award finalists have been announced!

An LJ friend sent me this: I've been haikued.

Love it. I think this is my all time shortest review.

Here is a challenge for you all:
Haiku one of your favorite books but don't tell me the title. Let's see if we can figure it out.

Here's mine:

Disreputable
girl turns tables on guys
by being clever

Now here is something you never see in a California school . . .



Yep. That definitely caught my eye. Of course, you might see an earthquake drill sign in a CA school, or if you were a kid in the 60's like me, an air-raid drill sign, but a tornado sign is a new one for me.

In Kettering, Ohio, I met with juniors and seniors at Archbishop Alter High School in their library (very close to the middle stairwell, thank you : )


Again, lots of great questions, and considering we were on the eve of prom weekend and the end of the school year, I felt honored that their minds were there at all. Wonderful group of students.

Next I was off to the most ENORMOUS . . . ( Read more )

Next stop was Downer's Grove and Herrick Middle School in Illinois where I met with 7th and 8th graders and was even able to show them the book trailer for The Adoration of Jenna Fox. Here I am with Brooke, my media escort, Teri, of the awesome Anderson's Bookshop, moi, and Judy the middle school librarian who was our wonderful host. It was the first time I had used my power point presentation and after a few glitches and some team effort, we got the ball rolling. (they had a mac and I had only used it on a pc!) I was able to share pictures and reasearch that went into writing JENNA.


Afterwards Teri and Brooke took me out for lunch where I ordered a "garbage salad" that was absolutely delicious. Really. From there (after making sure all the garbage was out from between my teeth) we were off to Gregory Middle School in Naperville, Illinois. I was greeted with this fantastic sign, complete with skeleton arm.


And also this wonderful display complete with brains, flasks, and molecules created by Librarian Nancy Danforth. WAY cool.


A student did an awesome intro for me (I kept thinking, is she talking about me?) Students had already read several chapters of the book so they had a lot of great questions.



I even got to sign a book for a girl named Kayla. I told her there was a surprise for her in the book if she read all the way to the end.

And finally, I can't end this post without saying . . .

YAY, David Cook!!!

In Chicago I had a short break one afternoon so I took a walk to Millenium Park. Loved the big shiny bean in the middle of it. Actually its official title is Cloud Gate. Especially cool how this big modern sculpture reflects all the old skyline of Chicago.



Next I was off to Mequon, Wisconsin and the fabulous Harry Schwartz Bookshop.This young lady had already read the book and had a lot of great questions.


Harry Schwartz is a beautiful independent bookstore with a very creative staff (The mystery area is designated by a taped outlined body on the floor!) One of the staff had butterfly and hand earrings which I seriously coveted.

Sharry and Barb were my awesome hosts and as soon as I arrived Barb greeted me with a Horn Book review. I hadn't seen it yet so it was a really nice surprise (whew--it was good). I loved browsing the shelves when I was done with my signing. There were personal recommendation tags all over the place. It is clear that the staff loves to read! When I left they even sent me on my way with a book so I wouldn't be caught without something to read in the airport.

Now I am on the lookout for those very cool hand and butterfly earrings . . .

The SCIBA (Southern California Independent Booksellers Association) Dinner at the Pasdena Hilton was fun, and Robin Preiss Glasser made it fancy schmancy. Oh how I coveted her sparkly tiara and glittery dress. Robin, of Fancy Nancy fame, was the master of ceremonies for the evening. She was a riot. And this wasn't the only fancy get up she wore. With each introduction her clothes got wackier and wackier fancier and more colorful. Wish I had taken more pictures, but after this first one I was too entranced and later too busy with signing and chatting with booksellers.

Oh, and the booksellers! Wow. Talk about energizing. It is truly amazing to have so many indies in one room. I had some really nice chats with the booksellers at Vromans, Mysterious Galaxy, Mrs. Nelson's Bookshop, Yellow Book Road, A Whale of a Tale, Once Upon a Time, and more. It really is a pleasure to talk to people who are passionate about books--and so knowledgeable about them too.

It was my very first time signing JENNA, and the very first book I signed was to another Mary, and even though it sounds like a common name, I really come across very few. Another first of the evening: For the first time ever, I screwed up as I was signing and had to get a fresh book. My perfect record is broken. sigh.

Oh! And there were very cool desserts in the signing area that I didn't get a chance to eat because I was so busy signing. Ack! Not even a picture! But they were these pretty little artsy things that looked almost too good to eat. More fancy schmancy stuff. I guess that was the theme of the evening.

Don't you love that quote from Alice Hoffman on the banner behind Robin? "Books may well be the only true magic."

So true. But between the booksellers and Robin and her wild gorgeous outfits, the evening had a bit of magic too.

I really am going to get one of those tiaras someday.
I think cynthialord knows where to get them . . .