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Halloween Preparations 2020

After we moved from the suburbs to the country many years ago, I lost interest in Halloween. Trick or treaters don’t trudge from house to house when the houses are a mile or more apart. There’s not a good return on investment there – just ask any six-year-old trick or treater who calculates success by the number of pieces of candy per hour.

The year 2020 has broken the “same ole, same ole” rule. But not all is bad because this year, Halloween falls on Saturday! For the first time in 2020, I’m attending a fair to talk to actual people in real life and sell a few books! 

Of course, all good book and artisan fairs begin with planning. 

 

Actual picture of my vendor friends and me planning for the Elevate Artisan Market.

Elevate Artisan Market Tap or Click

The 125!! artisans are all local folks, and every item on display for sale at the outdoor Elevate Artisan Market was hand-crafted by the artisan. Did I tell you the Elevate Artisan Market is hosted on an Alpaca Farm? Did you know that the motto of the farm is Spit Happens?

Because it’s Halloween, Elevate Artisan Market is hosting a Trick or Treat bonanza to satisfy even the most discerning six-year-old candy-counter. 125 artisans, most of whom had not seen a trick or treater in years, are preparing for the Trick or Treat festival that will never be forgotten. Calculate THAT, you number-crunching, candy-munching six-year-olds!

Because children are invited to wear costumes, wouldn’t you guess the crazy creatives who are staffing those booths might be in costume too? I won’t tell you exactly what my costume is, but here’s a peek at my vendor apron.

Do these spiders make me look fat?

Click or tap the apron to fly to my website. 

I might need to find a broom appropriate for someone who is wearing a spider apron.

If you can get to Cairo, Georgia by October 31, bring your mask and your favorite trick or treaters. It will be a fun, sweet, exhausting, beautiful day.

And in case you wondered, Cairo is pronounced KAY-Row in south Georgia. Like the syrup. Which may be pronounced sir-RUP or SEE-rup or …

See you at the sweetest Halloween Artisan Fair in the entire United States. (Go ahead. Name even one other)

 

 

 

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Book Table ~ I HEART Books

The 2019 I HEART Books Sale was at the Gainesville Downtown Public Library.  I met new authors and awesome readers, including the members of a local book club that is considering recommending the books of the DONUT LADY MYSTERY SERIES for their club to read this summer.

Book Club: We had an author who came to speak to us once. Would you be willing to do that?

Me: That would be awesome! I would love to! <Wow! WooHoo!>

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Book Expo at The Villages

Expo The Villages Dec 2018.jpg

My books are ready for the hordes of readers who are expected to bust down the doors at the Book Fair/Expo at The Villages in Florida. The Villages is a huge retirement community in Central Florida lovingly referred to “Land of the Blue Hairs” by people who are old enough to remember ladies with blue hair before it was fashionable to have pasteled and multi-color hair. After yesterday when I was almost run down three times in the parking lot, I call it the “Land of the Zooming Maniac Golf Cart Drivers.”

So how was it? I chatted with new friends, sold books, enjoyed seeing old friends, laughed a lot, and will definitely go back next year.

My favorite:

Man <Flips through book>: How much is Pink Baby Alligator?

Me: Ten dollars.

Man: Will you take eight?

Me: No.

Man: <reads back cover>: How much is it normally?

Me: Ten dollars.

Man: I really want it for my grandson.

Me: ….

Man: What would you say if I told you I have only five dollars?

Me: Go make a friend.

Man <cracks up>: I’ll pay your ten dollars if you’ll sign it to my grandson and let me take a picture of you with the book.

Me: You drive a hard bargain.

Man: <laughs harder. Buys book, asks wife to take a picture of him and me with the book, takes a picture of me with the book, and walks away still laughing.>

 

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Farmers Market Book Signing

TSCFarmersMarket Sept 2018

Last weekend the Tractor Supply Company sponsored Farmers Markets at their stores across the US. Book signing at a Farmers Market? Made sense to me. My books take place in small towns and rural areas. Our store manager moved pallets so his vendors could set up in the air-conditioned store. He said he was worried about the 92° degree Florida heat. Nice people at the Tractor Supply Company.

We go to TSC at least once a week. FarmerMan wandered off and spent tons and tons of I Could Use Wish Money. You know, I could use this; I could use that.

I talked to people, sold books, and readers signed up to subscribe to my newsletter. Can’t beat that!