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Friday, October 30, 2009

Getting Ready to Party—and to Sell Books


The old warhorse-bookseller shifts into high gear: punch bowls washed, tablecloths borrowed, she turns her attention to clearing tables and arranging for the event this afternoon. In the image above, picture author Claudia Goudschaal sitting behind the table, signing books. In the one below, picture the punch bowls full, platters of cookies on the table, and Laura Quackenbush, a friend Claudia and I share, presiding over refreshments. Our publicity in the Leelanau Enterprise was excellent, and Claudia has been such an active, involved member of the Leelanau community for so long that I’m expecting a good turnout for her today.




Other books I’ve discussed or reviewed lately are also available at Dog Ears Books, not only today but through the December holidays. These include: Isadore’s Secret, by Mardi Link (who will be signing at the Northport bookstore on Nov. 28, 4-6 p.m.); Season of Water and Ice, by Donald Lystra; Lift: A Memoir, by Rebecca K. O’Connor; Mrs. Mike, by Benedict & Nancy Freedman. There are also new ones I haven’t written about yet, such as Independence Days: A Guide to Sustainable Food Storage & Preservation, by Sharon Astyk. For those of you (one person who calls herself Anonymous) impatient with lengthy explanation but interested in practical matters, this book of Sharon’s will be right up your alley.


And I made green tomato mincemeat last night—how will that taste in a pie, do you think? I think it will call out for a slice of cheddar on the side. I didn’t take the mincemeat’s picture as it was cooking but will take a picture of the finished pie if I remember.

4 comments:

Kathy said...

Please past the green tomato mincemeat and the slice of cheddar. Oh thank you, that is so good! I want to visit your bookstore. Sooner rather than later. But it won't be before winter, most probably.

P. J. Grath said...

Dog Ears Books will be open through the December holidays, Kathy, and a little way into the new year, but then we close for about three months and re-open in spring. I would love to see you in Northport! Maybe when the black flies get thick in the U.P. in the spring you'll want to flee south?

Jessica Winder said...

Good luck with the book signing and party. I hope everything goes well and everyone buys a book or two.

P. J. Grath said...

Thanks, Jessica. We had a nice crowd (I'll post pictures on Sunday, after Halloween) and sold a stack of books and had a very good time. It was raining, but the outdoor temperature was balmy, so weather didn't keep people away, and everyone said the bookstore was cozy as can be.