What a great day!

My first book signing was a smashing success! Never in my wildest dreams would I have believed so many people would show up!

Here’s what my little table looked like. I took some winners’ circle photos and a small bobblehead of Dan Patch to decorate the table. I think this was about the only moment in the whole three hours I wasn’t talking to friends, former students, or fans. (As always, click on the thumbnail to blow up the photo.)

Once I sat down and started signing, a line formed all the way to the door. When I took a moment to look up and realized how many people were there to support me, I almost burst into tears.

It was so wonderful to see so many friends! I’ve recently reconnected with some friends from Woodrow Wilson Junior High School where I was a student somewhere around the time man discovered fire. One drove all the way from Terre Haute! You have my eternal thanks, Marla!

Another sent her daughter to get a couple of books. (Thanks, Cindy!) Her daughter looked so much like my memories of her mother at the same age. What a great trip down memory lane.

When I sold my first book, I had a group of students who brought me flowers and chocolates that night to celebrate. They came to the signing, AND they came in painted t-shirts! On the back, they made the shirts look like sports jerseys. The name was a favorite psychologist they studied in my class, and their “numbers” were all 30-12. Oh, how you all made me smile! Thank you, Dylan, Brian, Olivia, and Mica! I love you all so much!

My sister came to spend the day with me and help with getting the books I needed. My only regret for the day is that I didn’t get a picture with her. My friend, Peggy Emard, took oodles of pictures, so I hope there’s a good one of Susan in there. Come to think of it, I hope there’s a picture of me with Peggy too! Peggy not only became the official event photographer, but she also hosted a nice, quiet dinner afterward so I would have a place to unwind and decompress. Love you, Peggy!

My friend and mentor, Judie Aitken, was also there to lend moral support. I hope she realizes how much my success is also her success. I owe her so much for all she’s done for me, both as a writer and as a good friend.

My son, Kevin, and his girlfriend, Shana, were there helping and cheering me on.

My thanks to the teachers from both the high school and middle school who came to see me. Thanks to all my beloved former students who have always made me feel loved and appreciated. Thanks to all my friends who shared this wonderful experience with me. And thanks to my sister for always being my best friend and my number one fan.

What a damn fine day.

My first “real” booksigning is this Saturday!

I went to Lori Foster’s Author/Reader Get-together in June, but it wasn’t exactly what I expected. Yes, I sold a few books. But no one there really knew me. (Not that there was much to know, especially when the books were just coming out in print.) It was a great experience, but this will be the first time it’s just me, myself, and I being featured for an event.

My thanks to Laura Smith at the Greenwood Park Mall Barnes & Noble for all her help! I’ll be signing books from 1 - 4 PM on Saturday, November 28th. Plenty of copies of all four books that are in print will be available.

Hope to see lots of friends there! And Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

I’d like to welcome a friend and fellow member of Classic Romance Revival as my guest blogger today! I’m pleased that LK Hunsaker has included my blog on her whirlwind tour promoting her new book, Off the Moon.

Take it away, LK!

*****

Silence: Sword and Shield
———

Hi Sandy! I’ve been following the incredible success of your books and am glad to be here today to chat with you. They are still on my TBR list. Following this tour, I think December will get to be heavy reading month.

So far, I’ve been focusing largely on Ryan, my mc/hero. I want to turn things around today and start delving into Kaitlyn’s story.

As I mentioned at my last stop with Maryann, Kaitlyn has had a very traumatic life for still being so young. She’s a teen, which is a boundary push for romance, while Ryan is in his mid-twenties. I may have just lost readers, but I should say that I do not write graphic scenes and Ryan does nothing illegal, if that pulls anyone back.

We all deal with different types of trauma by different means. I know one of Sandy’s books deals with the Iraq war and a hero recovering from that experience. Kaitlyn is dealing with the effects of a different kind of war and is very much in the post-traumatic stage when Ryan meets her. She’s had incredible loss in several parts of her life and feels she has nothing left. Ryan’s job throughout the story is to convince her she’s wrong.

The way she deals with trauma is to become nearly silent, pulling into herself as a means of protection. Ryan is a talker. In fact, he rambles just to ramble. This opposite way of dealing with his own issues makes for an interesting comparison and pulls Kaitlyn in immediately. Even though she doesn’t have any POV during the story, we clearly see her study him as he rambles, picking out what he’s actually saying, or not saying, in between the nonsense. Ryan, in turn, has to figure out what Kaitlyn is thinking by what she doesn’t say.

At first appearance, she seems opposite of most romance heroines. Strong, independent, in control women dominate the current romance scene. And why not? Women are indeed taking their places on stage now instead of being controlled and background as they were in the past. However, not all strong, independent women need to be outspoken and aggressive. Strength and control have many faces. One of them is silence.

Refusing to talk is Kaitlyn’s shield. It protects her from anyone seeing too far inside. It is also a very sharp sword. As a fairly silent person myself, I’ve seen how it can frustrate someone talkative who needs that constant communication. It also frustrates Ryan. The more frustrated he becomes, the more silent she is – her only way of controlling him and the situation.

As it turns out, Kaitlyn is actually a very strong heroine who does take control as she needs. In fact, she’s so far my strongest heroine. She knows what she wants and is willing to risk everything to get it. There is a much larger point made in this novel: don’t underestimate the quiet people in your life. Most often, there is a lot more strength behind it than can be imagined.

Take that as a warning.

——–

Buy Link for Off the Moon preorders:
http://www.elucidatepublishing.net/books.html free US shipping through Nov. 27, discounted outside US

Off The Moon website:
http://www.lkhunsaker.com/OffTheMoon/main.html

Also, be sure to check my blog for novel-related features. I have an interview with NYC drummer Gino Scalmato up, as well as an interview with singer/songwriter Vicki Blankenship. More to come! http://lkhunsaker.blogspot.com

Off The Moon
LK Hunsaker

“Riveting” Ryan Reynauld is immersed in a world of music, parties, and temporary companionship. Having risen to the top of the pop charts, his biggest concern is objecting to the way his music is produced. That is, until he finds a young woman standing on a window ledge. Against the advice of family and friends, and through media attacks and fan protests, Ryan determines to care for her himself, making a promise that threatens to destroy his career.

Convincing the skittish girl she can learn to trust again comes with a steep price. Sometimes the path to recovery begins by allowing your world to implode.

Elucidate Publishing
November 2009
Print ISBN 978-0-9825299-0-4
Ebook ISBN 978-0-9825299-1-1

Thanks for letting me chat here today, Sandy!

———
Next up—Family Relationships hosted by Lizzie Starr, Nov. 25
http://starrwords.blogspot.com/

The full tour itinerary is available at Classic Romance Revival.

Don’t forget to leave your comments! One person from each blog will be drawn to receive a signed, mailed copy of the short story LK has written as a bit of a prequel to Off The Moon, called Toward The Sky, plus there will be a signed print book drawing for anyone who comments on at least 8 blogs! Winners will be posted at http://www.classicromancerevival.com/blog/?p=1520

What a weekend! Here’s the scoop on the EPIC finals.

Murphy’s Law is one of seven finalists in the Contemporary Romance category. Some very worthy nominees, including Deirdra Knight’s Butterfly Tattoo. That sure doesn’t bode well…

Free Falling is one of four finalists in Mystery, Suspense, and/or Adventure Romance. I’m not familiar with the other titles, but I’m honored to have received the designation as a finalist.

Late yesterday, I also received an email that told me The Reluctant Amazon is a finalist in the Where the Magic Begins contest!

I’d love to take this weekend, bottle it, and keep it around for the many “down” days that happen to a writer. For now, I’ll just ride this wonderful wave and see where it takes me.

I just found out that both Murphy’s Law and Free Falling are EPIC finalists! Murphy’s Law is in Contemporary Romance and Free Falling in Romantic Mystery/Suspense!

I’m so excited! I’ll post more when I know more and have links!!

I had a beautiful 5 “kisses” review from Tina at Two Lips Reviews today!

Tina reviewed the Damaged Heroes a few weeks back, and this time she took on Turning Thirty-Twelve. My thanks to Tina for a beautifully written review.

Here’s what Tina had to say:

*****

Rating: 5 kisses

Jacqueline Marie Delgado is feeling over the hill and useless. She is turning, as she would put it, “thirty-twelve” today. She is a school teacher who is divorced from the most selfish man in the world. He wanted a woman half his age, so he got his secretary pregnant. Now even her two sons are going off to college and she is alone. Old and alone. When Jacqueline meets one of her student’s father she is surprised to find herself mentally calling him Mr. Yummy and wanting more of him. When he asks her out she cannot say no to Mr. Yummy.

Mark Brennan is a widower, police officer and father. The wife he loved and adored died two years ago due to cancer. He never expected to find anyone to replace her in his heart. He has been alone a very long time but when he meets Jacqueline he finds he doesn’t have to stay alone much longer. She is everything he has ever wanted but can he get past his dead wife to find love again? Can he open his heart again without feeling like he is betraying the woman he loved and adored?

Jacqueline has learned the hard way that marriage is not forever. Men cheat, lie and cannot be trusted. When she meets a man that is true, honest and a one-woman man she doesn’t know quite what to do with him. Can she take a chance with her heart again? Can she survive it being trampled once more?

Turning Thirty-Twelve is a sweet read that kept a smile on my face the entire time. Sandy James does an amazing job of making me feel like I’ve known Jacqueline and Mark for years. When you want a read that makes you smile and believe that true love does really exist you want Turning Thirty-Twelve.