Wanda's Book World

It was early.  4:15 am and some two hours before daylight on September 26, and I was up and moving, cab on the way, packed and ready.  One of my sons had been very sad the night before about the fact that I was going, and he woke up so he could hug me and see me off.  He’s eleven.  My heart was breaking. 

But I was going to Mobile, Alabama for the very first time, ready to talk about my novel Sweetsmoke at SIBA, and I was excited.  I was not disappointed. 

Forgive me for glowing, but I’m used to people in the movie industry.  In Hollywood, everyone hates the writer.  Despite providing the entire basis upon which a motion picture is made, writers are considered interchangeable, writers are mad because they’re treated like dirt.  So this was an unusual situation for me.  It seems that booksellers actually like writers.  Is this heaven?  No, it’s Alabama. 

 

I met so many warm, decent, friendly, welcoming booksellers at the Hyperion cocktail party on Friday evening, and on Saturday, I ventured out into the field and signed books at Page and Palette Bookstore in Fairhope.  Now, I just have to say that we have some terrific independent bookstores in Los Angeles, Book Soup, Vroman’s, Skylight (we all miss Dutton’s), but maybe we can sneak Page and Palette in, too.  How great would that be?  A knowledgeable and friendly staff, great selection, and it’s connected to a sweet coffee shop, what more could you want?  It is a welcoming, graceful home to books and writers.  I sat outside for a time, talking to locals, then moved inside until it was time to head back to the airport to travel home. 

SIBA was such an enjoyable experience.  I made excellent new friends and connected with some old friends.  My heart is full.