In case my faithful (snark!) readers haven’t figured it out by now, “Penny” is my new nickname for my Pen Name, previously known as “Alter Ego.” Alter Ego is two words, and Penny is just one, and my fingers are tired because my brain is exhausted because I am still sick (and, apparently, the master – mistress? – of the run-on sentence), so Penny it/I shall be from now on.
Yes, Penny had her first book signing at the Literacy Autographing at RWA National in San Francisco last Wednesday. I, Cindy, have previously signed at the LA, but this year was Penny’s year to shine. Here she is, putting on a brave face while hoards of fans descend upon the much-more-popular author sitting to her left:
Note how I unintentionally color-coordinated my blouse to my blog! Now how I also unintentionally color-coordinated my blouse color to the RWA bags, which, may I go on record as saying I did not like in the least (color aside). Every year I save my RWA bag to re-use for other purposes. Not this year. Because, while I admire RWA’s decision to use recycled material for the bag fabric, the result was not what I would term “nice.” My roommate’s bag ripped before the conference was over, so I gave her mine. Can’t remember if she took it home or was just separating stuff for packing. Really, did anyone like this bag? I don’t see the point in supplying bags constructed of recycled material if the bag itself winds up in the garbage.
However, I totally loved the conference name tag holders, so there you go. I’ll live with the bag, which isn’t too difficult seeing as it’s not in my possession any longer.
Faithful blog readers, note that I did not Photoshop out Penny’s name card. I assure you, I have the tools to do so. Most of my faithful readers already know my pen name, anyway, but, for those who don’t, consider this photo a little Easter Egg of sorts. A surprise just for you! So you can, you know, go to Amazon (or your vendor of choice) and order my book! Can’t see the title, you say? Well, I’m not about to give that out, although I will concede that “Volume 21” and “Secrets,” perhaps even “Primal” and maybe “Heat” figure predominantly…
Why am I trolling for readers to buy Penny’s first book? Because I only had two copies available at the Literacy Autographing. My publisher had sent a full box of books to the hotel for the signing and then had (thank God!) tucked two more copies into a box of another volume. If not for those two copies, I would have been sitting at my station with a “Sold Out!” (snicker) note on Penny’s name card a heckuva lot earlier than I did. Yes, when I sold out of my measly two volumes, I decided to spin it. Technically, I had “sold out.” And, I tell you, I could have sold more than double the amount I did, I was that popular. Maybe even triple. Yes, maybe six sales might have occurred had I all the books in my possession! At least five sales, that I know for sure.
Anyone reading this who is not an author, believe me, selling five books at a signing is respectable. Unless you’re a much bigger name, like the lovely author to my left (if you were me sitting in this photo), Roxanne St. Claire. She sold out, too, but I think she started with 30 times the copies I did.
Those who missed me or couldn’t find me (you know who you are and that I love you anyway), check under S next time. That’s after you check under P or K in the event I’m signing as Cindy. If I’m ever signing as Cindy, I should be with the P’s, but you never know what might happen. The one year I did sign as Cindy, I was put with the Mc’s. Go figure.
If you’re still reading (don’t I test your patience sometimes?), did you attend the LA? And did you like it? If it was your first time at the LA, what did you think? Pretty overwhelming, huh?
ChickLit party pictures tomorrow. Tally-ho!
I thought the bags sucked too. I like a bag with long enough handles to carry it comfortably as a shoulder bag. And I also like when it has some pockets in it — either inside or out. The bags in Atlanta were awesome.
Totally agree, Vanessa. I didn’t attend Atlanta, but I still have the bag from Dallas. I remember a black/red bag from one year that was great, too.
Hmmm, last year in Dallas the lanyards were not to my taste, to put it lightly. The bags were. This year, the bags weren’t to my taste, but the lanyards were.
Very interesting.
Thanks for dropping by!
Aw, Cindy, you look great! Oh and the bubbly blond girl from last year’s bar was Heather!
Thanks, Lexi. I actually felt okay at the signing. Just a sore throat. However, I saw a friend downtown yesterday, and she assured me I look like crap now, LOL. I’m pretty sure I looked exhausted at the conference from Thursday on, but we’re all our own worst critics, aren’t we?
Penny, you are almost as pretty as Cindy Procter-King. Ooops, did I say something wrong?
Janie and I had a wonderful time at the SCBWI conference, but not only did we room with other people, I definitely missed her waking up telling me she’d had a nightmare about someone who looked just like YOU. In fact, I’m smiling again as I write this…
So glad you got to do the Penny signing…with many more to come, I hope!
I thought the bags were cute but definitely not useful for things beyond the conference. I agree with Vanessa–I could hardly get the thing over my shoulder. I use the Dallas bag for overnight trips, but this one will probably go in a box as a souvenir. I also liked the nametags this year.
Didn’t dig the LA this year…there were way too many people I wanted to see who weren’t there. So I left early. But I did see the most important author in attendance, of course… 😉
My favorite lanyard is one I bought at the Moonlight Madness bazaar back in 2004. It has several pockets in it along with a slot for a pen in back. I can carry my room key, a credit card and some cash and it’s all zipped up and Velcroed safe and sound.
My bag from this year will end up as a blog giveaway.
Tina, LOL, you are bad. It’s a good thing you’re marriage-related to You Know Who.
I’m very sorry I am no longer haunting Janie. I am trying my very best, but she must have hung a nightmare-catcher in her bedroom.
In fact, I think I shall haunt her tonight… mwahahaha.
Avery, you forgot to mention specifically WHO the “most important author in attendance” was. Well, let’s not be shy, shall we? It was me! (as Penny). Seriously, thanks for dropping by my station so I didn’t look so pathetic.
Vanessa, that lanyard sounds fantastic. I received a great lanyard from the Passionate Ink chapter cocktail party this year that sounds exactly the same. Pen slots in back, velcro closure, several pockets including one zipped one. I plan on taking it to the next conference. This year, I took along my old lanyard from Reno, as it was nearly as great as the PI one. I found the blue lanyard great, though. For those years when we get a very simple lanyard, my P.I. one will make a fantastic replacement.
I didn’t care for the bags, either. On the one hand, they were very light, which was nice, and even carrying my laptop and/or a ton of books (from the publisher signings) in mine, I had no issues with tearing or anything. But the handles were definitely too short and I missed having pockets. I’ll use mine for a chapter giveaway.
I like the lanyard, too, with the stiff insert. I have one I bought a while back, or got at a regional conference, that has all the space for pens and stuff and even a cell phone, but you know what? It gets HEAVY. I don’t want all that crap hanging around my neck. 🙁
LOL, Natalie, about the lanyards.
Another thing I liked about this year’s lanyards is that they had the clear plastic windows on both sides. I think I was the only person who made use of them, but I’d brought along a Cindy nametag thinking I would wear two lanyards, one for Penny and one for Cindy. Turned out that wasn’t necessary. With the two plastic windows, I was able to have both name cards in one lanyard. I’d just flip it over depending on the situation/event.