Amazon.com Blog and Waldenbooks

Some coolness to report from the weekend:

1) Amazon.com Book Blog

I'm on the Amazon Books Blog! How cool is that? Seriously, I think this deserves a Snoopy Dance of Joy.

[pause for dancing]

I was interviewed by Jeff Vandermeer, author of Shriek, who asked lots of fun questions. Click here to read the interview.

2) Waldenbooks Trip Report

On Saturday, I had a book signing at the Waldenbooks in the Smith Haven Mall (near where I live on Long Island). I really, really loved Saturday. It was my first mall signing, and it went GREAT. I ended up staying twice as long as I'd originally planned and selling many more books than I'd expected. Here I am at the book signing:

Me and My Trusty Purple Pen

And here are some of my favorite moments:

***

Me: Hi. How are you? I'm doing a book signing today. Would you like a free bookmark?

Elderly man (looking frightened): I just want road maps.

***

Man: Would you like a book? Here, honey, the author is here to sign it. Would you read this book if I got it for you?

Girl (kindly): Dad, reading's just not my thing.

Man: Why don't you like reading? What do you like?

Girl (consolingly): I like shopping.

Man (to me): Can you sign it to [name deleted] and say "with hopes that you'll read it"?

Woman (to me): She stopped reading when she noticed boys.

Me: It's tough to compete.

***

Girl: I really, really want your book, but my mom said I can't spend any more money.

Me: You can take a bookmark, if you like.

[ten minutes later, the same girl returns]

Girl: Mom said if I want it that badly, then I can have it!

***

Girl: Your book looks great. How much is it?

Me: $15.99.

Girl (to Boy): I don't have enough money. Can I borrow some?

Boy: I'll buy it for you.

Me: Who would you like me to make it out to?

Girl (to Boy): It's your book if you're buying it. She should make it out to you.

Boy (to Girl): But I'm buying it for you. She should make it out to you.

Girl (to Boy): How about she makes it out to both of us?

[moment of adoring smiles]

***

One of the best moments, though, happened after the signing was over. I was walking into the Cheesecake Factory with my family, and we passed a woman and her husband at a table. The woman was pointing at me, and I saw her turn to her husband and say, "There's the author!"

I swear I nearly did the Snoopy Dance of Joy right there in the restaurant.