Last Saturday was my book signing at the iconic book store, E. Shaver’s Book Sellers. (shaversbooks.com) What a special day! The staff at Shaver’s made me feel so welcome. They had a nice spot all set up where the first thing the customer saw when they walked in was my table displaying my books.
The store is a collection of cozy little rooms filled to the rafters with BOOKS! Old, original hardwood floors that creak when stepped upon. And outside the occasional clip-clop of horses’ hooves as carriages drove by the front door. I wouldn’t have been half surprised if Charles Dickens and his good friend, Edgar Allan Poe had walked in.
Both my illustrators stopped by to show support. Lori Smaltz, the photographer, was there with her gorgeous coffee table book of celebrated cemeteries of Savannah (Bone Garden Enchantment). She has done most of my photo-collage covers for my books. Jefferson O’Neal, a wonderful artist and the illustrator for all of my children’s books, stayed and signed kiddie books with me.
During the three hour event we enjoyed meeting new people; tourists dropping in, regular customers that shop at Shavers all the time, and a few of my personal friends. I met a lady from Sri Lanka, in remission with stage four cancer. What a beautiful spirit she had…her outlook was so loving and positive. Then there was Celia (a realtor with Sotheby’s) who marched in, came straight to my table and ‘browsed’ my books. She quickly picked out two; one for her granddaughter, Mimi, and my novel for herself. The staff told me later that she supports whatever is going on at Shaver’s and is very generous. What a nice lady! My hair stylist came by with her son, Cameron, (a sweetie) and they bought all of my children’s books. Thanks! Andrea!
And then there were the four-legged shoppers! E. Shaver’s is pet friendly and in they paraded, knowing they would be welcomed. A beautiful springer spaniel with the sweetest face. An Airedale with a harness that said, ‘service dog’. But you could hardly take him seriously with his one cocked up ear; making him look like he was always asking you a question. It was a hoot! And then little ‘Evie’, a mutt with chihuahua, wire-haired terrier and probably six other ingredients; Evie is a bounding, jumping, bundle of pure joy!
The funny, human observation that I made was that some customers would NOT look at me. As if they thought, “Oh no. If I look at her, I’ll have to buy something!” Very funny, but that’s just me and my weird sense of humor. I was just so grateful to the owner and staff at Shaver’s Booksellers. They have taken me in, supported my work and are willing to share their limited shelf space with my books! I am blowing them kisses!
