12-4-09 Performing at B&N Citiplace Baton Rouge, LA
Friends:
On Friday, I had a 7:00pm book signing scheduled in Baton Rouge at the Barnes & Noble Citiplace. Snow and sleet was in the weather forecast so I left New Orleans early, at 4:30pm. Nevertheless, with the weather and the traffic, I didn’t arrive at the bookstore until 7:05pm and I hate being late! By the time I arrived in Baton Rouge, it began to sleet and when I parked my car, you could see the accumulation of ice on the cars in the lot.
Because of the weather, the store was not very busy. My contact, Irina, greeted me and showed me to my signing table. I signed books for a little while while the staff gathered a group for my story time performance. I performed The Cajun Cornbread Boy and had a great time. I actually sold a nice amount of books for the amount of people in the store. People were in the mood to holiday shop.
12-4-09 Dianne with daughter, Eliana, and my little fan, Jonas
Near the end of my book signing, it began to snow outside. Little flurries fell and began accumulating on the ground and on the cars. My 9 year old daughter, Eliana, dashed outside yelling, “It’s snowing!” Snow just doesn’t happen very often in South Louisiana. We grabbed a snack in the cafe while it was open, thinking restaurants might close because of the weather. We Southerners just don’t know how to handle the snow! After picking up my college daughter, Soleil, we headed to Zachary, Louisiana, to stay with my friend, Holly, and her family. Holly is the illustrator for my next book, Mama’s Bayou.
12-4-09 Dirty the Snowman
The snow fall didn’t last long but Holly lives on a golf course and the snow had accumulated in their yard. The kids, Soleil and Eliana, and Holly’s children, Stephen and Ella, played in the snow and created a surprise for us – Dirty the Snowman! I can’t believe they were able to gather enough snow to create a snowman as tall as my 4 ft. 3 inch daughter! Wow!
12-4-09 Eliana with Dirty the Snowman
It was a team effort and the kids had a blast. We ended the night with hot cocoa topped with marshmallows and cookies. The kids truly made it a magical Winter Wonderland! 
12-4-09 All the kids with Dirty the Snowman
Maybe we’ll get lucky and see more snow in South Louisiana! Here’s hoping…
Until next time…
Warmly, Dianne
