12-12-09 Signing books for fans at Sam's Club in Gulfport, MS

Friends:

This weekend, I had book signings at Sam’s Clubs in Gulfport, Mississippi; Slidell, Louisiana and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. My first book signing was in Gulfport on Saturday at 10:00am. The store was ready for me and set me up near the books and CDs, which the manager said was the busiest part of the store. She was right! There was a lot of traffic. Right away, I had people lining up to get a signed book. One of the young fans I met, Chaz, is going to do an author study on me for his social studies fair project! I am very flattered. Thank you, Chaz!

12-12-09 Dianne de Las Casas with Chaz, a young fan who will be doing an author study on me for school

I enjoyed sharing the book with people. It was a great book signing.

12-12-09 Showing Madame Poulet & Monsieur Roach to fans

Next, I headed to Slidell, Louisiana for my next book signing at 2:00pm. It was storming and traffic was slow at first. But as the rain let up, people started to trickle in.

12-12-09 Book signing at Sam's Club in Slidell, LA

I signed and sold a good number of books but what really made my day was meeting a first grade teacher from Cypress Cove Elementary. She was so sweet and excited to meet me.

12-12-09 Signing books for a first grade teacher at Cypress Cove Elementary

On Sunday, I traveled to Baton Rouge for my final book signing at Sam’s Club. I signed from 10am to 12pm and met some wonderful people. Janice Fussell, a proud grandmother, bought both books for her grandson and said she couldn’t wait for my forthcoming titles! Janice was so excited about meeting me and just gushed about my books to everyone that passed by. Thanks, Janice!! You totally made my day!

Then a man stopped and bought 2 copies of The Cajun Cornbread Boy for his daughter, a first year school teacher. I always give educators and librarians a signed reading poster so I gave him one for his daughter. Good luck teaching, Erin!

12-13-09 Signing books at Sam's Club in Baton Rouge, LA

Sam’s Clubs book signings are different than other book signings. You have to grab people’s attention and attract them to the book signing table as they walk by. At book stores, people are there for books but at Sam’s Clubs, the shoppers are there for everything else. It was a challenge but I met some wonderful people and I enjoyed myself. This was the last book signing before Christmas and now, I enjoy a welcome break from book signings. I look forward to some “down time” during the holidays to spend with my family.

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

11-21-09 Signing at Barnes & Noble, Harvey, LA

Friends:

This past weekend I had 5 book signings! It’s the holiday season and it’s a busy time! My first signing was on Saturday morning at 10am at Sam’s Club in Harvey, Louisiana. Fortunately, I live in Harvey so I didn’t have far to drive. Yay! I was positioned by the front entrance and they had a nice table set up for me, with a table covering and plants on either side. Sales were good and I moved a lot of books.

11-21-09 Signing at Sam's Club in Harvey, LA

A big thank you to my 9 year old daughter, Eliana, for taking all the photos! Eliana was my helper extraordinaire, especially since I am still recovering from a sprained ankle. After a quick lunch at Sam’s Club, Eliana and a stop at Office Depot for more Sharpies to autograph with, Eliana and I headed to Maple Street Book Shop for a 2pm book signing. Marita Gentry, my illustrator, met me there. Thought we didn’t have the crowd we expected (it was raining and there was an LSU game), we still had fun.

11-21-09 Signing at Maple Street Book Shop in New Orleans, LA

Eliana and I headed home to rest a little bit and freshen up. My next book signing was at 7pm at Barnes & Noble in Harvey. Again, I didn’t have to drive far! Unfortunately, Marita was unable to join me. I had a marvelous crowd. It was packed!! I had fans come too! I performed Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach, telling the story with the help of children on stage and in the audience. We had a blast!

11-21-09 Sharing stories at Barnes & Noble in Harvey, LA

I sold a bunch of books. One parent said to me, “That was the best story time we have ever seen at Barnes & Noble!” Another girl, Brianna, told me that she came to my last book signing of The Cajun Cornbread Boy and she was going to come to the next one too! Brianna said she was a “fan for life.”

11-21-09 Telling story of Madame Poulet & Monsieur Roach at Barnes & Noble in Harvey, LA

On Sunday, I had two book signings scheduled. The first one was at 10am at Sam’s Club in Metairie, Louisiana on Airline Highway. At first, sales were slow. People were rushing through, trying to get their shopping done before the New Orleans Saints game at 12pm. But in the second hour, sales were phenomenal. I even had a woman who loved my books so much she called me later and asked me to come to her son’s school. She’s going to come to my next book signing this upcoming Saturday after Thanksgiving!

11-22-09 Signing at Sam's Club in Metairie, LA (Yes, Wolfgang Puck is behind me. LOL)

Eliana had a big fan too! A little boy named RJ fell in love with her and didn’t want to leave her side! He was the cutest thing! He wouldn’t stop staring at her!

11-22-09 The little boy who fell in love with Eliana

My next signing was in Kenner, a hefty drive from my house so Eliana and I decided to kill time in Metairie (next to Kenner) by shopping at Lakeside Mall. The mall was filled with shopper bees, buzzing around from store to store, spending all their “honey.” The mall was, of course, decorated for Christmas and it was hard not to be in a holiday mood, especially since we saw (on a TV in the Food Court) the Saints beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and become a 10-0 undefeated team! Go Saints!

11-22-09 Eliana at Lakeside Mall in Metairie, LA

My last signing was at Sam’s Club in Kenner from 4pm to 6pm. Shoppers were in a good mood, partly due to the Saint’s nice win. Here, I had the best sales of the weekend. My books went like hotcakes and I had to ask the manager to bring out more books. Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach sold out and I thought some ladies were going to fight over the copies! Fortunately, I had enough for everyone. One lady bought 12 books as Christmas gifts! Thank you to the Hezeau family!

11-22-09 Signing at Sam's Club in Kenner, LA

It was a good weekend and I met some fantastic people. Thank you to my new fans and friends!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne