Notes from a tour
by Sophia Nash

For three days last week, 27 authors boarded a bus to visit 9 Meijer stores throughout Michigan. The “Read This! Author Tour” coordinated by book distributor Levy Home Entertainment was one heck of a wonderful signing!  I was privileged to be part of it and honored so many readers came by to chat.

My all time favorite tour moment occurred in an unlikely place in one of the Meijer stores--the produce section. You see, during a quiet moment, Victoria Rowell (she of “The Young and the Restless” fame) and I decided to begin hand-selling grocery shopping carts full of, oh, 150 or so signed books from all the authors on the tour.

A woman stopped and stared at my load somewhere between the radishes and rutabaga (do they stock alphabetically?)

Me: "Would you like one? They're all wonderful..."
Her: "You're buying all those books? You must really like to read."
Me: "No, no--I'm one of the authors here today and we're sign--"
Her: "So you're an author and you don't like to read?"
Me: "No! Of course I like to read."

Her: “You must have lots of bookshelves to be able to buy that many books.”
Me: “Actually, my bookshelves are pretty full.”
Her: “Well, then, why are you buying hundreds more? Hoarding is a disease, you know.”

Me: Deep breath. “Perhaps you would like to help me with my obvious problem. Check out this lovely signed romantic suspense by--"
Her: "Are you lost? Why are you trying to sell me a book here in produce? "
Me: "Because I like to do charmingly silly" truly idiotic "things--at times."
Her (excitedly): Is Susan Elizabeth Phillips here? Tell her to meet me by the eggplant."

Within nano seconds, this wonderful woman (who should rule a country since she has more force than Hurricane Ike) had me trying to track down one of SEP's unsigned books on the shelves. She was kind enough to thank me by forking over her recipe for ratatouille.

All in all, it was a fabulously fun tour! And there are still lots of signed books waiting for Michigan-area readers in Meijer stores. Just don't look in produce.

Warmest wishes,
Sophia Nash