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| Me with Lynne Rae Perkins |
Along with bookseller and
hostess roles, I am generally the photographer of my own bookstore events and
thus, all too frequently, appear in none of the pictures. Determined to avoid that pattern on Friday, here I am (thanks to friend Dan Stewart) with Lynne Rae
Perkins-- writer, artist, friend, fellow Leelanau County resident (Suttons
Bay), and our county’s only Newbery medalist (Criss Cross, 2006). We were launching her new book, Nuts to You, at Dog Ears Books, with chairs
for the reading set up next door in my husband David Grath’s gallery.
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| Lynne's art from her book, NUTS TO YOU |
David’s paintings graced the
walls, but Lynne also brought some of her own art, delightful illustrations
from Nuts to You. Fun!
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| Jed |
She brought a squirrel, too!
This one is named Jed, after one of the characters in the book, and for a
squirrel (I was somewhat nervous when I heard he was coming) he behaved pretty
well at the party. And Lynne’s husband, Bill
Perkins, known more as a maker of artisan rustic furniture rather than jewelry,
contributed little acorn necklaces (Lynne gathered the acorns), and every book
purchaser received one, and we wore them all evening long. Is this adult
behavior or squirrelly behavior?
There were raffle items,
also: a Nuts to You t-shirt; a
Nuts to You iron-on patch (to put on
anything the winner wanted to put it on); and a brown knitted acorn cap,
knitted by the artist-writer herself.
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| Raffle items |
Early arrivals had a chance
to visit with Ms. Perkins before her reading, and I know they were grateful and
happy to have the opportunity.
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| Fans of all ages |
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| Kids meet Newbery author |
It’s a good turnout when the
chairs in the gallery are all filled and the crowd spills through the doorway
and back into the bookstore. It’s fun to have some little kids come, too.
Someday they can tell the story to their kids: “We were on vacation, and our mom took us to meet Lynne Rae
Perkins. I don’t remember much about meeting her, but we read the book over and
over, year after year.” That’s what they’ll say.
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| Punch bowl needs refilling again |
We had punch and cookies and
peach pie. (My latest brainstorm for punch—I share it freely—is Kilcherman's fresh apple
cider and Vernor’s ginger ale.) The honored guest herself made the
sugar cookies in squirrel and acorn shapes, and another guest brought the pie.
More acorns? I assembled a few out of tiny crackers, peanut butter, Hersey’s
chocolate kisses, and butterscotch chips.
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| Author-illustrator baked treats |
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| Bookseller assembled hers |
So what do you think? Are we
all nuts here in Northport, or is it only writers, artists, booksellers and
booklovers? No matter, we all had a wonderful time, and I’m not embarrassed
that Lynne Rae Perkins and I look like a couple of kids playing grownup in the
photo below. Nuts to You is a book
for all ages, I love it madly, and Lynne is one of the funnest (not a typo: I mean that just the way it reads), most talented,
and most generous people it’s possible to imagine! Lynne, thank you again and
again and again!
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| We had fun! We sold out! We are happy! |
6 comments:
I just KNEW it was going to be a wonderful event. I am so sorry to have missed the event but do look forward to reading her book. Pamela, I can only imagine what fun Dad would have had with all the acorn and squirrel ideas.
Looks like a great event! And everyone had fun, the true test of success! Looking forward to reading the book!
Deborah, I thought of Dad's bedtime stories about Bushy, too. You're going to love the book! You, too, Dawn, and I'm shipping your signed copy out today.
This event was a class act and Northport is lucky to have such a fine bookstore as, Dog Ears. All the goodies and raffle made it very fun and kid like. Perfect for a kid's book. I am a retired reading specialist and I know what an incredible honor it is to have received the Newberry Award! No wonder, it was standing room only after the chairs filled up!!
Loved the whole evening!!
When's the next one, Pamela??
What a class act this wonderful event was on Friday evening. Lynne Rae Perkins was comfortable and fun and open to discuss her writing life.
An incredible achievement to have won the Newberry Award! Her new book is darling and funny!
Hats off to Pamela Grath for pulling this "standing room only" evening off in such high fashion!!
When's the next one, Pamela??
Northport is very lucky indeed, to have such a comprehensive bookstore, as Dog Ears!
Thanks for inviting us!!
Melanie, you probably thought your first comment hadn't "stuck," but since the second one is somewhat different I hit "publish" on both of them. Thanks so much! Thanks for coming to the event, buying the book, leaving comments on the blog, and for being a good friend for so many years -- with many more to come! xxxooo
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