bookstore etiquette

Hi Kevin --

I've been working on events, both big and small for over 12 years, for the both the independent bookstore and the large chain bookstore. Your stories ring SO true, and if the regular audience member or bookstore enthusiast knew what we see "behind the curtain", we'll myths of celebrity, fame and grace would be blown out of the water. Conversely, most authors wouldn't be so into touring if they knew just how interesting, at times, that the public can be......

I have hosted the drunk author -- more than once. I have hosted the chauvinistic author -- a Hollywood "legend" -- and very questionable public behavior. I have hosted the prima donna author (sex notwithstanding) too many times to count. I have hosted the anti-social author (why tour??). I have hosted a princess -- in the truest sense of the word. I have hosted the most delightful French Fry stealer. I have hosted all that and so much more.

I have dealt with audience members worried about NSA infiltration into their brains (hence the foil hat), transvestites (on purpose to celebrate the celebrity and by choice of gender orientation), the loud, the inappropriate, the shy, the screamers, the psycho fan, and recently, the fainter.

I can say it is always a different day, a different event, a different book and that's what keeps me interested even after all these years. That and the stories I can tell at a dinner party, over drinks or commiserating with a fellow occupant of this unique trench!

....And Powell's ROCKS!

juliana wood

http://asap.ap.org/stories/907378.s

( Oct 03 2006, 11:29:14 AM EDT ) Permalink