Book Signings - Past and Present

Book Signing at Barnes & Noble New Town Williamsburg, VA

When my first novel, Hearts Across Forever, came out in 2001, I was thrilled and excited to set up book signings. My first major signing was scheduled at a Barnes & Noble in Richmond for the night of September 11, 2001.

The whole world changed on that date, so you know what happened with my signing. Although the excitement diminished for me, I continued the scheduled book store events. When my Hotels to Remember coffee table book was released the next year, I had signings for both it and my novel in Barnes & Nobles in cities like Savannah, Georgia, Jacksonville and Brandon, Florida, etc. I even had one in Oahu, Hawaii. I also set up signings in Waldenbooks, Borders, as well as little independent book stores in various cities including Sedona, Arizona. I was getting my name out, as some people mentioned.

I never fully appreciated the importance of those signing opportunities until recently when people made comments about "hitting the big time" with the B & N signing. I know they were merely teasing, but I started to think that sometimes I take too much for granted. I, also, miss the special little bookstores like Twice Told Tales in Gloucester, Virginia that has gone out of business in recent years. I wonder if the little bookstore in Las Vegas, Nevada, where some of the Oak Tree authors, including me, had a book signing event a few years ago, is still around.

With nine novels and many other non-fiction books a part of my experience, I am looking forward to promoting An Artful Animal Alphabet in bookstores. What have been your experiences?

Why Did Blacklist Let Tom Keen Die?

"Life and Death" acrylic ©Mary Montague Sikes

Because there is so much violence in the popular television show, "Blacklist," I wouldn't watch the program for a long time. Then, when I did take a look, I was hooked by the drama and the love story between Tom Keen and Liz. Also, the odd relationship between Liz and Raymond Reddington is compelling.

Everything on "Blacklist" seems to be life or death. That's one thing that keeps viewers returning week after week. But viewers also fall in love with characters and with relationships. Killing off Tom Keen is as wrong as the demise of Joe Dubois in the final episode of "The Medium."

Although Reddington told Liz that Tom is dead, the writers still have the possibility of bringing him back to life. In the season finale, we watched them put Tom into one of those morgue drawers. That could be a ploy to keep the killers off his trail in the future. Perhaps he is not dead after all; perhaps he left the hospital and is in hiding, awaiting an opportunity to return to his family. Perhaps he will try to contact Liz at some point. Perhaps the writers will come to realize that killing Tom Keen is a very bad move.

Guillain-Barre Syndrome Changes Everything

My little date book was full for the month of November. Lots of exciting plans spread out over the pages--book signings, art openings, a radio appearance. I looked forward to so many events to promote my new children's book, An Artful Animal Alphabet.

Then along came Guillain-Barre Syndrome out of nowhere. My husband awakened on October 30, 2017 unable to move out of the reclining chair where he had fallen asleep at 6 a.m. He was paralyzed. A friend came to help and couldn't move him. We called the rescue squad. They all suspected a stroke.

All my plans changed. The month disappeared from my calendar. I slept in a chair in his hospital room; so did one of our daughters. The medical teams did not know what he had, much less what caused it. The MRIs--first, two of them at Riverside Doctors Hospital in Williamsburg, then the big one at Riverside Regional in Newport News--showed nothing, but it was not a stroke. Then Dr. John Livingstone decided it could be Guillain-Barre Syndrome and started him on a five-day IV treatment. That specially formulated drug and the oh so many prayers worked a miracle. I watched him practice raising his arms and legs all through the night of the second day of treatment. It was amazing. He went from not being able to feed himself to getting almost normal movement of his arms and hands over night.

I don't think I had ever heard of Guillain-Barre syndrome before. This rare disorder causes the body's immune system to attack its nerves. Usually the first symptoms are "weakness and tingling in your extremities." The symptoms spread quickly and paralyze the entire body. The cause is unknown, but sometimes it is traced back to a respiratory illness or stomach flu. My husband had neither. I've read that someone got it after a senior flu shot. My husband was told to never get another shot--flu, shingles, pneumonia, etc. I also read about cases they believe can be traced back to under-cooked poultry including rotisserie chicken. I don't plan to buy those chickens again at the grocery store.

My husband is fortunate. He spent only one week in intensive rehab and came home walking without the aid of a cane or a walker. I spent that week on a small bed in his room.

Guillain-Barre changed everything. I am playing catch-up in a big way while my husband works to regain his strength. My next big event is an art show and book signing at Rappahannock Art League in Kilmarnock on December 1. I hope Olen will be strong enough by then to drive at night across the long bridge over the Rappahannock River.

Saving the Alligators at the Jefferson Hotel

Alligator Photo in Jefferson History Museum ©MM Sikes

Over the years, one of the most fascinating stories I have encountered is that of the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, Virginia where alligators once roamed in the lobby. According to hotel history, following a fire, renovations were made to the hotel soon after the turn of the 20th Century. Soon, live alligators were placed in the marble pools that were located next to the statue of Thomas Jefferson in the rotunda.

Over the years, people who had brought alligators home from Florida to keep as pets found that they were taking up too much space in their bathtubs, so they would bring the reptiles to join those already at the hotel. Some were left in containers on counters; others were deposited at doors. 

Stories have it that bellmen would sweep alligators from the furniture upon their arrival in early morning. The exotic creatures became part of the hotel lore. One tale has it that an alligator once wandered into the hotel library and was mistaken for a footstool by a guest.

Old Pompey, the last of the resident alligators, died in 1948. Today, a bronze statue by an entrance

"Old Pompey" at the Jefferson ©Mary Montague Sikes

door pays homage to him.

Anyone who wants more alligators can also visit the Gators Gift Shop on the lower level of the hotel. You won't find live alligators there, but the stuffed toy variety might be more appealing anyway.

In my new book, An Artful Animal Alphabet, Old Pompey is part of the story that I think children will enjoy. My fascination with the Jefferson alligators continues.


 

Enjoying a Kathleen Conover Workshop

Kathleen Conover Demonstration ©Mary Montague Sikes

Every year, I enjoy taking one artist workshop. Somehow, this year I went a little crazy and took three. Last week, we traveled to Boone, North Carolina and Cheap Joe's magnificent workshop facility for Kathleen Conover's outstanding class.

Because I don't usually like working on Arches watercolor paper which headed the supply list, I doubted I would get very much from this workshop. However, because Mary Ann Beckwick often spoke of Kathleen during her classes and because it was at Cheap Joe's, I wanted to take the workshop.

I was not disappointed. "Chaos to Order" was one of the best workshops I have ever taken. Kathleen is thorough and provides a detailed outline for her instruction at the very beginning.

The first day we made 12 starts, creating "chaos" by "playing" with texture, repetition, variety, and much more as we worked with her patented "gesso juice". By 5 p.m., I was exhausted and ready for dinner. We had the beginning of paintings, using plastic wrap, wax paper, stencils, stamps, sponges, and much more.

The week continued at the same fast pace. I didn't create any masterpieces, but I learned a lot about composition and using design. Of course, I already knew a great deal, but sometimes reinforcement is something everyone needs. The small works (1/4 watercolor sheet) can be planning art for larger paintings or they can be finished pieces in themselves.

It was inspiring to be in the midst of a classroom full of dedicated artists. We each had two tables on which to work. We all did value studies and spent time editing our work. I loved being with them and with Kathleen for the week. Now I need to read over and study the class outline once more and use it to make order out of the original "chaos" pieces I didn't complete in class.

In the midst of chaos.