What It Feels Like To Have A Book Signing
Days 37, 38, & 39 of The 90-Day Do Something Big Project As I parked my car Saturday outside Wegmans, I wondered for a moment what would happen if I just didn’t go inside. Would I get in trouble? By whom? Would anyone miss me? Would anyone even notice? I hadn’t originally planned on showing up alone to my own book signing and I felt like quite the loser for doing so. Wasn’t I supposed to feign celebrity and have a big posse or an entourage or something? Or at the very least a handler? I’m a terrible faux celebrity. Fauxlebrity. Is that what they call us? After giving myself a rousing pep talk as I sat nervously behind my steering wheel, I finally opened the door and headed inside. As I entered the Market Café area, the first employee I encountered had no idea who I was even though she was standing in front of a giant picture of me and I had just introduced myself. “So should I… ummm… go upstairs?” I asked her. “Ummm…. I guess so? Uhhh hold on… I’m not sure… what are you here for? Let me go get a manager.” I stood there feeling super awkward for a moment and then I decided to just go upstairs. That’s when the warm welcome began. Wegmans had assigned my event a cashier to ring up books, a security girl, two girls to give out samples, and a greeter. They had balloons, displays of books, a table, and the best part was that they made two of my recipes to sample out to attendees! That was impressive.
I’m used to places asking me to make and bring samples for guests not to take their own time and resources to use my recipes and make samples themselves.
Thank you, Wegmans. You may have spoiled me.
I assumed no one would attend this book signing. Ok, maybe one person. And my parents.
So when I walked upstairs and saw not only this welcoming display but also people sitting at tables holding my book and waiting for me, gosh, I was relieved.
People came and went over the course of the two hours. People I knew, people I didn’t know. People I was very surprised and honored to see.
The Wegmans staff was gracious and kind and although I thought there were too many of them around me, it was fun feeling semi-important for two hours.
They ended the event by having me sign their remaining copies of The The Dollop Book of Frosting to sell in the store and they even asked me to sign my picture to hang on their “Wall of Fame”.
And that was that.
As 1pm struck, my carriage turned back into a pumpkin and I went downstairs to do some grocery shopping.
Thank you to everyone who attended! And to those who didn't, maybe I'll see you at the next one on Black Friday! #dollopBIG
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