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?

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.


 

Scheduling Events for My New Book - An Artful Animal Alphabet

An Artful Animal Alphabet is my first book directed mostly to children. Because of the artwork,  it is an adult book as well that might even be fun to display on a coffee table.

I have just begun to schedule events for my new hardcover book. The paintings in the book are ones I created for the April Blog Challenge several years ago. At the time, I had no plans for a book. Then I grew fascinated with the results and decided the mostly small paintings deserved to be seen by more people. Now, I realize that means scheduling events in art galleries as well as in book stores and other shops.

My first art gallery signing is scheduled for Petersburg's Friday for the Arts on September 8 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Ward Gallery for Contemporary Art. This is a beautiful site for any event, so I expect it to be very special for a book signing. I plan to exhibit a few of the little paintings in addition to having my books there. My paintings from the first gallery show I had at the Ward Center are also there, so this will be a very special combination for me.

Some of the paintings in An Artful Animal Alphabet are based on photographs taken by my daughter, Amy Sikes, during trips to Australia and Tazmania. Amy is a true animal-lover who finds most fur creatures special. I chose one of her photos as my reference material for the possum which is a bit of a different animal down under than the American opossum.

Later this month, I have a signing scheduled in Valdosta, Georgia. On November 4, I'll participate in the Book Festival at the James City branch of Williamsburg Regional Library. At all the locations, I plan to have some of my original paintings that inspired the book. I also have a little art project to do with children that will relate to my book.

My paintings at The Ward Center ©Mary Montague Sikes

These are fun books. If you have suggestions for book signing locations, I would love to hear about them.

Loving Animals, Books, and Children

 
 






 An Artful Animal Alphabet, my first published children's book, has been released. What a thrill it is to hold this bright hardcover edition in my hands.

Because I've worked for many years teaching children to love art as much as I do, I suspect this book is greatly inspired by their work and their excited enthusiasm. It is also inspired by the love of animals I have witnessed in my own three daughters who grew up rescuing and protecting them.

We once had a baby blue jay sheltered in our garage for a while. We've had multiple stray feral cats. One daughter had a special little dog that she loved dearly for many years. Some of the animals in my book were inspired by photos taken of the unusual creatures two of them saw and photographed on visits to Tasmania and Australia several years ago.

Each animal has a little story to go with it. My hope is that someone will expand my stories or make up their own tales to go with each of the 26 paintings in my book.

Prompting the Writer and Artist - #Blogging A to Z Challenge 2017

Often the writer needs prompts to get started. So does the artist. That's why I appreciate the A to Z Challenge. This year was no different because the Challenge got me to create poems for 26, mostly small, watercolor paintings. The poetry made me think, and for that I am always grateful.

Past Challenges have sparked new projects, especially the one several years ago when I painted animal images with acrylics on canvas each day. Thanks to Mike Orenduff, my new publisher, for making my new book possible. An Artful Animal Alphabet is a children's book, but it's really for people of all ages. Except for one, the animal images were all created in my Challenge project.

Because of prompting and promotion by people I have never met in person, my latest book will soon become a reality. The Challenge has sparked other ideas, so new projects might await in the future.

I appreciate all the wonderful creative people I have met because of the Internet and also because of the A to Z Blogging Challenge. Thanks to all who have made the Challenge and creative connection possible.