~from Ami

I started to blog last night, but was so tired I had to give it up!

Came back from a book signing for Next of Kin at the Rogers, Ark, Barnes and Noble yesterday. It was a real step outside my comfort zone- as I sold books to people I didn't know! Most my activities thus far have been limited to my circle of friends, family, and co-workers. I had two cousins, Downtown Jami Brown and little Jaci Ellen come and help me out for a while. My aunt Beth and stepmom Amy also showed up to lend moral support. But by and large, it was ME- accosting the B&N walk-in traffic with Next of Kin propoganda and a sombrero FULL of Hershey's Kisses. My arm and shoulder are killing me this morning!

I was just amazed at the people who stopped and had me sign a book for them. Some shook my hand and said they felt priveleged to have met me. It was really a very exciting signing for me- especially since I dreaded it because Zack and Brett have been in Dallas all weekend so that meant I was on my own.

This Sunday morning I've got the radio blasting and the fire going, working on my website and trying to finish putting together flyers for an upcoming signing in Chelsea, Oklahoma. The week prior has just been crazy. Allow me to recap:

*Returned from 4-hour driving trip to Fayetteville, Ark, where I read a passage from "Next of Kin" at the country club for a literacy benefit
*Put in my 44 hour week at the Department of Human Services
*Took son Zack for driver's license exam (He passed, but please see next item)
*Survived my son's first car wreck (He's okay, the school bus is okay, the Ford Ranger is another story!)
*Baked two Black Bottom Pies for office Thanksgiving lunch
*Sent our Jack Russell, Spot, to a new home after he attacked the neighbor's Pomeranian and the ensuing vet bill was yet another strike against him
*Drove to Tulsa to attend Tulsa Nightwriters meeting because Radine Trees Nehring was speaking
*Sent Brett and Zack off to Dallas so Zack can audition for the Ohio-based BLUECOATS drum and bugle corps
*Prepared for Rogers, Ark, signing by begging relatives to come sit with me, designing and folding brochures waaaaay into the night
*Returned from another 4-hour driving trip to Rogers, Ark, for signing at Barnes and Noble

I suppose that's enough for one week! A big thank you to everybody who bought a book from me yesterday at Barnes and Noble. That kind of encouragement is what keeps me going!

I am buying stock in Hershey's Kisses now.