Undead and Unworthy - in Kansas City

Kansas City is a beautiful place! I'll admit we've only been around our hotel (in the downtown plaza area), but that much was gorgeous...and the weather! To top it off, the annual Rubber Ducky Festival was going on, where they dump all these rubber ducks into the river and race them! (Don't worry, there's a big net to scoop 'em all up at the end.) Given Charlaine Harris's infatuation with ducks, I couldn't resist a photo with the mascot. Eat MY rubber ducky, Charlaine! Ha!

Nobody brought me any gifts - stingy Missourians! - but I didn't mind. Becky, Angela, and Sally were wonderful to talk with; and I also enjoyed my time with Amanda and Mollie. Also, best wishes to Johanna, a lovely young graduate from law school who's finding time to read my books in between coursework and passing the bar. (Good luck, Johanna!)

Funniest moments of the day came, unsurprisingly, from men. One boyfriend of a fan complained that since she began reading my books, she spends time in bed reading instead of...you know. (Hey, can't you do both at the same time? Try it!) Also, there was a fellow (not pictured) who seemed embarrassed to be a big fan. He had a deep, sonorous voice that would be wonderful for reading my (or any) books on tape. He also had a great sense of humor about the last book's pink cover.

My thanks to all who showed, and to the good people at the Barnes & Noble for their effort (and large book order)!

For more pictures check out MJ's Book Tour Photo Gallery

Undead and Unworthy - in Dallas

This was my first trip to Dallas...and I've GOT to return! (Perhaps when it's a bit cooler.) Tony's been to the town several times and told me I'd like it, but I had no idea. The people have been friendlier here, than anywhere else I've been! And I've met some friendly people on this tour, to be sure.
We had a stellar crowd of 45 people, with questions all over the map. A couple of the best questions came from Olin, a guy who brought up a HUGE backlist for signing, while his wife (who isn't so much of a fan) looked on. Loved it! Other highlights: a lovely CD with songs from fan Brooke; the appearance of Karen, a work colleague of MaryJanice's sister; and the appearance of Catherine Spangler, an author colleague of mine who was kind enough to give me a couple of autographed copies of HER work!
Michelle and Dave from Borders did wonderfully to set up and manage the event, and I've promised them we'll be back...and we will!
Thanks to Janet, our driver (and a belated thank you to Esther, our escort yesterday in Atlanta.)
I'm finishing up today's blog in the Dallas/Fort Worth airport; we're on our way to Kansas City tonight...signing tomorrow, and then on to Omaha, and then our last signing of the tour in Minneapolis!
Thanks all for reading,
MJ

For more pictures visit my Book Tour Photo Gallery

Undead and Unworthy - in Atlanta

This was my first book signing in Atlanta, and it was great to be here! We had a good showing, and Wil (store manager extraordinaire) was wonderful. We saw Yahoo regular Cici and her daughter, which was a good thing since Cici had a camera that worked, and my husband didn't. (If photos aren't up when you read this, check back in a day or so.)
Questions abounded about getting published, what Betsy's up to in UNWORTHY (as well as UNDEAD AND UNWELCOME, next year's release), and how Fred finishes up the mermaid series. Great questions, great fans, great events! We can't wait to come back next year.Tomorrow is Dallas, followed by Kansas City and Omaha. Brace yourselves!

***Our camera went down, so a fan (Cici) did photos and will send them to Ter tonight or tomorrow. She will post some here as well as in the Photo Gallery

Undead and Unworthy - in Louisville

Louisville (really, the Borders in Shelbyville) has been a great stop for us for three years in a row! We had an unusual number of hopeful authors attend this evening, with great discussion about agents, book covers, author rights, dialogue mechanics, and so on.
One of the true bright spots of the tour was our driver, Carol. We've had the pleasure of getting to know Carol each time we come to Louisville, and she really went above and beyond this year. First, she got us a lovely card and present for our fifteenth anniversary (which was today). Second, seeing the horrific weather about a half hour before she was supposed to pick us up at the hotel, and knowing where we were dining (Vincenzo's Italian Restaurant...highly recommend to anyone visiting the city), she went right to the restaurant and waited for us to come out so we wouldn't have to walk two blocks to the hotel in the rain. What a sweetheart!
End of a long day - before Shelbyville, we stopped off the highway and did stock signings all the way from Dayton to Louisville. Doesn't seem like it would be exhausting, riding in a car and signing books...but in this heat, it really does wear you down.
Tomorrow comes Atlanta, then Dallas. Given how warm it's already been, we'll be dressing cool and casual - please do the same, if you join us!

Be sure to check out MJ's Book Tour Photo Gallery

Undead and Unworthy - in Dayton

Dayton was great to us again! It's always a joy to work with Sharon and her staff at Books & Co., and to see and talk with some of my most thoughtful fans. Included among the photos you'll see here is a piece by Stacey Randle, who's taking photography classes at the Ohio Institute of Photography and Technology. She put together actual cover copy from the original UNDEAD & UNWED - including the bar code! - and then put in original photography work. All of this, for a school project! (She got an A...thank goodness!)
Also stopping by to say hello - a couple celebrating their third anniversary with their friend and me (the husband not pictured, but whadda lucky guy!); an aspiring author named Angela who was in town with her boyfriend; and an aspiring author named Greg (not pictured...some guys just seem to be camera-shy!) who just happened to be in the store and seemed to like what I was blabbing over the P.A. system.

I felt queasy earlier in the day (bad steak and eggs, I think), but after doing this event, I felt so much better! Once again, thanks to everyone involved, including our driver Vicki, for helping us out!

Check out more pictures at her Book Tour Photo Gallery

MJ on Tour - LaGrange

Whew! Just got back in from Borders (in LaGrange, just outside Chicago). A great start to the tour, and so nice to see both new and familiar faces! Some of my most insane - er, I mean, devoted fans were there, including Becca, Debi, Luna, and Michelle. See the photos for some wonderful gifts they brought. For those of you reading this in cities I have not yet visited: yes, I accept gifts! I have professional tasters for all the food stuff, no nothing's off limits. (Staying one step ahead of the stalkers!)

Great questions on Betsy, the new book (UNDEAD AND UNWORTHY, if you've been under a rock), where the series might go in books eight and nine, etc. Also great to see the enthusaism about the recent option of movie rights to Disney, re: the mermaid series!

Thanks to the great staff at the LaGrange Borders, to our driver Larry, and of course to all the fans who showed (as well as those who'll stop by in the future to buy the book...BUY, dammit, BUY! I have a list to hit!).

Check out her Book Tour Photo Gallery

I Hit the Road to Sing for my Supper

Yep, final tour dates are here at last, and are as below:

Tuesday, June 24
CHICAGO,IL
7:30 PM to 9:00 PM
BORDERS
1 N. LaGrange Road
LaGrange, IL 60525708.579.9660

Wednesday, June 25
DAYTON, OH
7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
BOOKS & COMPANY
4453 Walnut St.
The Greene
Beavercreek, OH 45440
www.booksandco.com

Thursday, June 26
LOUISVILLE, KY
7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
BORDERS BOOKS & MUSIC
4600 Shelbyville Rd.
Louisville, KY 40207
502-893-0133

Friday, June 27
ATLANTA, GA
7:30 PM to 9:00 PM
BARNES & NOBLE
#1907Buckhead
2900 Peachtree R NE
Atlanta, GA 30305
404-261-7747

Saturday, June 28
DALLAS -FORT WORTH, TX
2:00 PM to 3:30 PM
BORDERS
#78Greenville Avenue
5500 Greenville Ave.
Dallas, TX 75206
214.739.1166

Sunday, June 29
KANSASCITY, MO
3:00 PM to 4:30 PM
BARNES & NOBLE
#2574Country Club Plaza
420 W 47th Street
Kansas City, MO 64112
816-753-1313

Monday, June 30
OMAHA, NE
7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
BARNES & NOBLE
Oakview Mall
3333 Oakview Drive
Omaha, NE 68144
402-691-4557

Tuesday, July 1
MINNEAPOLIS - ST. PAUL, MN
6:00 PM to 7:00 PM bookstore.
UNCLE HUGO'S SCIENCE FICTION BOOKSTORE
2864 Chicago Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55407
612-824-6347

I wanted to take a minute to thank everyone who e-mailed me with suggested cities. I did pass those suggestions on to the marketing department at Berkley but must say, in Berkley's defense, that if they booked me on all of those cities, it'd be an 11 month tour and there would be no Betsy book next year. Probably no book of any kind next year, at least, one written by yours truly.

But, as with last year, they added new cities this year, so some day I hope to be on 3 week tours and hit as many cities as I can. I really love meeting the readers...not to mention all the free iced tea. :-)