Friday, February 22, 2013

AUTHOR/BLOGGER SIGHTING IN THE CHICAGO BURBS! ....

Happy Friday All,

Yay,  for the forthcoming weekend. I hope you all have something exciting planned. If not, curling up with a book, baking with the kids, or just soaking in a tub could do wonders for the soul.

Yesterday, the Chicago winds blew in Liz Fichera from Arizona. She landed in Glen Ellyn, IL., a suburb of Chi town, just a short forty minute train ride from downtown. Liz's first major publication, debut Y/A novel, HOOKED was featured at The Book Store.There ... I "hooked" up with (No... not THAT way),  blogger pal and author of THREE DAVES, Nicki Elson. She met me at the train station as the winds howled, threatening a snow storm any minute. We had a great chat and dinner at the local Irish pub.

Thankfully Liz's signing was only a short block away.... We entered into the charming bookstore overflowing with clambering fans. Liz was surrounded. We made eye contact, and worked our way through the crowd after warming up a bit. I had never met Liz before, but we have 'chatted' via email ofter throughout our few years friendship. Nicki, too, had a cyber friendship with her, but hadn't connected in a while.

When we finally inched to the front, Liz's expression pulled into a question mark. I could see the brain waves hard at work.... "Hey, Liz ... it's me... Michael." Then I glanced toward Nicki. "And Nicki."

Her face lit up. With arms open wide and a smile that could warm any Chicago winter, she welcomed us into a hug. The conversation buzzed for a few glorious moments .... She signed our copies and we certainly could have chatted all night, but other fans wanted to meet her and get their books signed too.
Nicki and I left for the register and Liz was surrounded again.

Nicki an I strolled around the bookstore and viewed other choice books. After an hour or so, the lines still hadn't let up. I wanted to chat a bit more with Liz before I caught the train back to the city. I waited for a lull and moved my way in. After a few more hugs and Liz's endless thanks, Nicki and I face the arctic winds....



I know I have said this before, BUT, I can not begin to tell you how WONDERFUL and EXCITING it is to meet a blogger pal. It feels like you've known each other for years! It was the highlight of my winter to see Nicki again and meet Liz. If you ever get the chance to meet a blogger pal... DO IT! I have been fortunate to meet several, but my list keeps growing!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone, AND if you haven't picked up Liz's book yet, make sure you do! I'll certainly be reading this weekend .....

Here's the blurb and reviews from HOOKED....


When Native American Fredricka ‘Fred’ Oday is invited to become the only girl on the school’s golf team, she can’t say no. This is an opportunity to shine, win a scholarship and go to university, something no one in her family has done.

But Fred’s presence on the team isn’t exactly welcome — especially not to rich golden boy Ryan Berenger, whose best friend was kicked off the team to make a spot for Fred.

But there’s no denying that things are happening between the girl with the killer swing and the boy with the killer smile...

GET HOOKED ON A GIRL NAMED FRED.

Kirkus Reviews says, "Not just a Romeo and Juliet story, the book examines the conflicts of white versus Indian and rich versus poor, giving it far more heft than the average romance. Bravo." (Starred Review)

Publishers Weekly says, "Fichera shows strong storytelling chops as she weaves together plot lines involving class struggles, violence, bullying, and--of course--romance."

Available in bookstores everywhere!




29 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

So awesome you two got to meet Liz! Bet she was surprised.

Morgan said...

Ohhhh... Michael, I LOVE this!!!! I wish I had been there! (Not jealous of the freezing winds though) :D

I've told you in the past you need to make an "around the blogosphere in 80 days" type thing. You'd be able to check off a dozen or more of us here in Utah alone! You could document it, put it on youtube, it'd go viral and you'd get a huge book deal out of it ;-)

And love the pic! And I hope your projects are going well! You have anxiously waiting beta readers...

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Sweet the three of you hooked up. (No pun intended.) I'd have the same blank look on my face if a blogging friend walked up to me at a book signing.

Rebecca Green Gasper said...

Oh Yay! What fun:) I love to meet fellow authors, bloggers, and twitter pals. So much fun! It was so nice of you and Niki to take the train out and support her!

Anonymous said...

Michael, meeting you and Nicki was certainly one of the highlights of my trip. You are as sweet and genuine in person as you are online! Hope we get to meet again soon!! xoxo

Michelle Wallace said...

A real "Kodak moment".
Plus you have the picture to prove it!
How awesome is that?

Mark Means said...

Sounds like you guys had a great time...despite the cold. Nice! :)

Nicki Elson said...

:) It was so fun. Liz really is so warm & wonderful - just as I suspected. And I was in very pleasant company while she greeted her adoring fans.

(hey, next time could you remind me to do a hair check before we take a picture? hehe)

Yolanda Renée said...

Wow,what fun!

Good for all three of you and love the title!

Deniz Bevan said...

That is so exciting!! Sending virtual hugs to all three of you!

shelly said...

My first book signing brought, fellow blogger, Isis Rushdan to my table. It was awesome.

Hugs and chocolate,
Shelly

Tyrean Martinson said...

That's so awesome that you went to her signing! Awesome and sweet!

Susan Flett Swiderski said...

How cool that y'all were able to hook up. And I'm really glad to hear that Liz had so many people show up for her signing. (Couldn't happen to a nicer gal.)

Unknown said...

What fun!

Laura Eno said...

How fun! I'd love to meet up with all of my cyber friends one day.

mshatch said...

I concur that is fabulous to meet a bloggy friend in person :) I just wish I could do it more often!

Summer Ross said...

It is so cool you get to meet blog/ online buddies. Yay to Liz for her great signing and the cover of her book is awesome!

dolorah said...

So cool that the line of fans stretched so long for Liz. I was afraid book signings were becoming a thing of the past with all the e-book craze. Loved the picture of the three of you; what a fun day, except for the cold.

You're getting quite a collection of blogger pictures Michael. When you come to see me, please bring your photo album :) And of course bring Mike O with you. There are a lot of us bloggers in CA. You'd think I could travel around more than I do to meet them. Hmm, that's a thought for my next vacation :)

Have a good weekend with your new book.

.......dhole

Carol Riggs said...

I saw that photo of you and the gals on Facebook! Great photo of you, Michael. :) I've hung out with Donna Hole a coupla times, now that I'm living down here in her neck of the woods!

Roland D. Yeomans said...

How fun all that sounded! Like Morgan, I envy you the experience. One day may it be you signing your book! :-)

mooderino said...

Sounds like an awesome time was had by all. Nice to know real books are still flying off shelves.

mood

Elizabeth Seckman said...

How cool...and I don't mean the arctic winds! I'd love to meet all of you guys. One day.

DL Hammons said...

That was so awesome of you and Nicki! That's one reason why I love writers conferences so much...is I get to meet my fellow bloggers there. :)

Samantha May said...

That's awesome that you've met so many bloggers. I haven't met anyone yet, but I'm working on it :D

Denise Covey said...

Michael, what wonderful supportive bloggers you and Nikki are! Liz must be honoured that you made such an effort to support her book signing. Wonderful that there are still bookstores over there doing such roaring business.

Received Amber. Started reading.

Denise

Ciara said...

That is so awesome that the three of you got together.

DEZMOND said...

congrats to Liz, and you're looking adorable in that hoodie, Mikey!

PK HREZO said...

Great pic! And Liz is awesome. SO cool you got to meet! :D

Anonymous said...

Awesome!! I got to meet a blogger buddy last year at a conference, and then another one just last month b/c she was visiting a friend in my town . . . it was great fun:-)