Fun In LA

Although I wasn’t a big fan of the four days spent on the train getting to and from LA, I did have a great time once down there.  On Wednesday I did a cable TV show and then Megan Crane picked me up afterwards and we met up with Kristin Harmel, a friend and fellow 5 Spot author.  The three of us hung around Barnes & Noble (what else are writers to do?) for awhile before we grabbed an early dinner at a nearby Greek restaurant.

Jane and Kristin Harmel in Santa Monica

Jane and Megan at dinner

Jane, Kristin and Megan

Thursday was busy with two appearances, the lunch hosted by Friends of Huntington Beach Library.   Kate Jacobs, the NY Times bestselling author of The Friday Night Knitting Club, and I were the featured authors for the library’s September lunch and it was a pleasure to sit next to Kate and talk to her about writing and books, book tour and publicity.  She’s a gifted writer, talented speaker and really nice person.  I was a bit in awe of her success though.  Still am.  She has the kind of career novelists dream of.

All the women attending the lunch were lovely, although many confessed they’d never heard of me.  Fortunately Eileen, Ty’s aunt, was attending the lunch, too, and she had heard of me so that made me feel better.

After lunch, Ty returned to drive me to our Costa Mesa hotel where I took a quick nap, changed, and headed to Laguna Beach for a pre-event appetizer with Ty’s mom, aunt, and Mackie, his mom’s good friend.  We sat outside at Las Brisas overlooking the ocean and it was gorgeous weather, gorgeous day.  I couldn’t eat much (other than the amazing guac!) but it felt so good soaking up all that sunshine.

After an hour we were off to Laguna Beach Books for the evening event which started with a wine and cheese before the reading and signing.  The turn out for the event was wonderful.  Two of my cousins attended, one with her husband and mom, and the other with her little boy.  Ty and his family joined me, as did writer friends Megan and Liza who made the trek from LA.  Another surprise was the arrival of Kerry, a good friend from my UCLA days that I hadn’t seen since graduation in 1986.  Writer and filmmaker, Christine Fugate, who put the event together for me, was there with her girlfriends and then others just wandered into the store and stayed for the event.  It wasn’t my biggest event this year but it was probably my favorite.  Everyone at Laguna Beach Books made me feel so welcome and the atmosphere was relaxed and fun.  I wish all events could be like that!

And now it’s September 30th and the last day of the month.  Tell me how your month was and if you’re glad we’re almost to October and everyone who posts a comment today by midnight will be entered to win the final prize in the Princess Brides contests–the ultimate Princess Brides collection, with goodies that tie into all three books in the trilogy along with a signed copy of the book.   I’ll draw the winner’s name in the morning and post it below.  Good luck!