By the time you’re reading this, I’ll either be packing up or boarding a plane to head off on The A List tour. If you look at the posted schedule, you might be scratching your head and saying, “Wait a minute. Two states only? You call that a book tour?” Well, yes, it is. For one thing, hitting the snowbird enclaves in Arizona is every bit as effective jumping from one midwest event to another—with a whole lot less wear and tear on the author. Careening back and forth over time zones with wild abandon can be done, but it’s not necessarily recommended—especially for people of a certain age, of which I am undeniably one.
For the first time in years, I’m going on tour on my own. Bill, my preferred escort and driver, is currently sidelined with health issues and will be home here in Seattle, looking after the house, finishing supervising a complex construction project, and taking care of the dogs. My son and daughter-in-law who served as pinch hit drivers for several book tours are now sidelined, too, due to the fact that they both have demanding full time jobs. Believe me, nobody’s complaining about that! And so, for good or ill, I’m on the road solo this time around.
If none of the scheduled stops happen to be convenient and you still want to have personally signed copies, please contact one of the booksellers listed on the schedule prior to my appearance there so I can sign and personalize them along the way.
The A List, Ali Reynolds # 14, goes on sale April 2. There is currently a preorder contest being conducted by my publisher. If you have already preordered your copy or if you do so between now and April 2 please e-mail a copy of your pre-order confirmation/receipt to JancePreorder@gmail.com. That will make you eligible to win a complete signed set of the Ali books. Believe me, the books will all be signed by me in my customary red ink.
Now’s also the time to think about ordering those bookmarks. SASEs for those can be sent to me at P.O. Box 766, Bellevue, WA 98009. Once they start rolling in, and they do, they will accumulate in one spot and be signed ALL AT ONCE when I get back home from the tour. So if you send for a book mark right away, do not plan on having it back by return mail. It’s not gonna happen.
So yes, I’m going on tour solo, but please don’t think I’m complaining about that. I really love being out on the road and having the opportunity to meet and interact with the people who read my books. I never fail to come home from a tour without bringing along some cherished memory from the people I’ve met along the way. Hearing the stories my fans tell me never fails to put a smile on my face. Many of those end up in my Tales from the Trail blog entries, written as I go along.
I always like to add just a smidgeon of humor to these notes—a reward for those of you who bother to read all the way to the bottom. This week someone sent me a joke that really tickled my funny bone. If you think irony is dead, take a look at this: Hyphenated and Un-hyphenated.
Or maybe that’s only funny if you’re an English major.
See you on the shortened road.
JAJ
Good luck on the tour. Pamper yourself to make up for being solo. Hopefully, the snowbirds haven’t gone home yet and you will see old friends. Looking forward to the A list!
Have a good tour. Since you will be driving yourself, I checked the schedule in Arizona and there are only a couple of days that the schedule is tight going from one place to another. Have a pasty for me when in Scottsdale!
I’m only finishing up Ali number 5 so not ready to skip ahead. Loved your other series and loving this one too. Enjoy your book tour. Thank you for your talent. Loved your English major joke above. Might need to share it.
The snowbirds are still here in Scottsdale witnessed by the traffic up Scottsdale rd. everyday! I’m so excited you’re here at Desert Foothills Library as my 2 sisters (from WA) are with me in my home while one designs the changes in the kitchen removing a 23 yr. old GE fridge replacing with new Aga Fridge and freezer,
We’ll see you Apr 5th at Desert Foothills Library and are looking forward to it,
Kathy Salazar
Scottsdale (formerly Bellevue, WA)
I’m all in favor of taking it easy on the author !! Staying home to oversee construction sounds taxing too, of course.
Best wishes for the whole tour – your publisher is lucky to have your combination of hard work and talent on their roles!
ceci
Hit 80 this year. Still love reading your writing. May you have many great days ahead.
I’m a technical editor (or used to be) and I actually laughed out loud! (If you were once a technical editor, are you thereafter always a technical editor?)
Travel safe.
Couldn’t pull up the joke. Have a wonderful and safe trip!!!
Hyphenated/Un-hyphenated IS the joke!
I hope all goes well on your journey and that you have an enjoyable time. I hope Bill does well also.
I would happily volunteer to be your driver but — being of a certain age myself and rather clutzy — I am not allowed on the road without a driver.
😮
Sad that you will not make it to Cass Grande this year, but I completely understand! Congratulations on finishing your new book!
I’ve seen you on your book tours twice in Casa Grande. We moved to Sierra Vista a year ago and I’m delighted you will be coming here on your tour. See you soon. 🙂
For the last 6 years, I have had the wonderful opportunity to talk to you and have my book signed at the Tucson Festival of Books. But I am especially thrilled to see you will be in Anacortes (my hometown) April 13th! We snowbird in Tucson but will be home by then. Brandy from Watermark has done a wonderful job getting us on your schedule. I’ll see you there!
My favorite: Why is abbreviation such a long word?
Happy book tour!
I so enjoyed your book signing at Sierra Vista AZ library yesterday.
I started reading your books while camp hosting at Cyote Howlls
camp ground in Why AZ. I was hooked after the first book. Some
of the places in your books I have been there so it’s been injoyable
reading about the places I have seen. I know about Seattle as I
grew up in Oregon.
Thank you for all the wonderful reading.
Carolyn Abbott
Sierra Vista, AZ