The Femme Tour

Here are the photos. The most memorable part of this tour was the OKC bombing site and hearing stories of people who'd almost gone to the building that day to do business. Thanks to all the store managers, staff and drivers (especially Terra who was so nice to us) and David at the Hair Cafe, his mom, sister and fiance, for such a nice event. I'll blog more later. I've got a book to write.
Thanks again.

JBM--Carmen

72 hours til launch

The time is almost upon us, and I'm not ready. I'm speaking about the Femme Fantastik Tour. I've got clothes all over my bed, the unlucky discards on the chair. Shoes cover the floor divided into various piles for comfort, style, and the ah factor. MAC make-up lines my dresser for final selection, but the clothes have to come first, so they wait, lids up ready to be chosen and dropped into the traveling bag. I keep looking at the essentials in a bag in the sink, knowing I have to verify everything against my travel checklist one last time, but can't just yet.

Too much is in my mind. I still have Galley's to read, a manuscript due, two annotations to write, and a book to read, revisions to complete, and. . .I keep thinking of the young people I'm going to meet on the road. I keep seeing their faces, hearing their voice. Their quick smiles. The light in their eyes when they find out I'm a writer. I have 25 books. But it's not that. I don't want them to know me that way. I want to know them. Why they're in the military. Why at 19, 20, 21 they carry guns. Why they signed their names on papers that said I will fight. Why. . . Why???

I have a son. He's 20. He came home yesterday and I took one look at him and said "Son, you need to get acquainted with an iron." From the tipped up collar of his shirt to the jagged hem of his pants, he wasn't straight. Not a bit of him. He said, "I'm gone slap an apron over this and go to work." He kissed my cheek, gave me that winning smile that's made women swoon since he was in my lap, walked to the car and drove to work. I thought don't give him a gun, he might accidentally shoot me and say 'my bad.'

I've got to get my head together before I see these kids. I don't want to ask why. They might say, for you.


JBM--Carmen

Trial Run

Today I had a dress rehearsal of sorts. Today was my first booksigning in a long time. I was on a panel and I'd agreed to do this months ago. I had misgivings because I had to talk to people. Does anyone hear me? I had to speak aloooouuuud. Not to the window or the trees or the cat that's always in my yard but isn't my cat, or my computer. By its very nature, writing is a solitary business. It's done alone in the quiet and solemness of your home or office, and it's been this way for me for months. I had to leave the house. Today. I had even invited people. So I had to go. Needless to say, I had some maintenance to do. People always 'look at authors and say you look so great, pretty, nice'. But I'm here to tell you, we all resemble hairy wildabeast that need to be tamed and pruned before we can step off our sunny porches into the sun. Yes, we're scared of the sun too. We don't know what it feels like until we're zipping into the store for precooked chicken and cole slaw. So after I shaved and culled the hair back to its proper length, I had to go stand in my closet and demand only the clothes that fit to leap off the hangers and fit me. Nothing happened. I had to try stuff on. Now, I'm no diva. I'm partial to men's boxers and a sports bra. I know, scary. But today I had to dress and put on shoes. Ten changes later I walked from my closet in a decent pair of jeans, top and shoes. I left 2.5 hours early, okay, so I get lost a lot, and I set out on my journey. By the time I got to the signing, a 37 minutes trip, that took me 2.1 hours, well, I wasn't so spring fresh and I was wondering if I was nuts to have left my house.

Well. . .it was all worth it. I met readers, saw a lot of friends, and had a good time. I'm glad I went to the panel/signing. Thanks to Anna, Karen and Wendy. I'm glad I left my house today.
Thanks to everyone who came out and supported GRW and the Decatur Book Festival, and when I go out again in two weeks, I'll be in tip top shape.
JBM--Just Being Me--Carmen