Nothing Like a Good Guest

Author Aaron Stander at Dog Ears last Saturday

You know you've got a good guest author when he shows up for a two-hour book signing on a day the furnace isn't working and isn't a bit fazed. He's an Up North guy. He's dressed for winter. (See wool pants and pullover sweater in photo. See space heater by his side.)

The hand that wields the pen

The guest author brings his own pen, and it is a fountain pen charged with real ink--brown ink, the color used by his fictional mystery-solving character, Sheriff Ray Elkins of fictional Cedar County, a place that might well remind readers of Leelanau County.

Pen in action!

Aaron's newest book, sixth in his series, The Cruelest Month, is a story set in early spring, but here he is (above) signing the second title for a customer. Earlier novels are Summer People, Color Tour, Deer Season, Medieval Murders (prequel), and Shelf Ice.

Serious tools

You know you have devoted workmen in Northport when they show up on a moment's notice on the Saturday after Thanksgiving and work for a couple hours in a freezing cold furnace room. Alas, the old furnace does not come back to life! The crew will come back on Monday to install a new furnace, but meanwhile the obliging guest author stays an extra hour. Talk about going the extra mile!

A lot of people were with family over the long holiday weekend, and I'm sorry some had to miss Aaron Stander's visit, because everyone who came had a chance not only to have a book signed but to pump the writer with questions about his creative process and hear wonderful stories that have not yet worked their way into his novels. It was great! Once again I was left to reflect on the generosity of working writers, giving of their time to readers, fans, and booksellers. 

P.S. to story: The furnace crew did return on Monday, and the new furnace is installed and putting out heat, so everything is toasty and cozy again at Dog Ears Books. 

Timely reminder: The Leelanau Children's Choir and Youth Ensemble Madrigal Christmas concert is coming up on Friday, December 7. It is the 20th anniversary of the group directed by Margaret Bell and featuring schoolchildren from all over Leelanau County. The concert will once again take place at the Northport Community Arts Center, and tickets ($15 adult; $5 student) are available at Dog Ears Books, as well as from Leelanau Books in Leland and The Painted Bird in Suttons Bay. 'Tis the season!

Tree is leaning slightly but cheery