Saturday, December 6, 2008

Dead Men Don't Crochet

Tuesday was the official release date of Dead Men Don’t Crochet. It turns out that bookstores don’t like to do author events in December - that is unless you’re a superstar which I’m not.

But drop ins to sign stock or okay, so that is what I plan to do while I’m in icy Chicago.

57th Street Books was my first stop and they were expecting me. I’ve mentioned this bookstore before. It’s located in the basement of an apartment building and I set some of the action in my YA mystery Blue Schwartz and Nefertiti’s Necklace there. I also wrote an article about it for the Another Great American Bookstore feature in Byline Magazine.

These days 57th Street Books has a whole new identity going. Not only is it my favorite bookstore, but the Obama family’s as well. Actually my whole neighborhood is going through a flurry of excitement. There have been lots of Nobel Prize winners around here and well known writers like Saul Bellows, Sara Paretsky and the woman who wrote the Mrs. Pickerall Goes to Mars series. I can’t remember her name, but she lived in our old building. And my high school French teacher wrote the children’s classic Mr. Popper’s Penguins. But having a President- Elect seems to have turned a special spotlight on Hyde Park.

Laura Prail brought out a stacks of Hooked on Murder, Dead Men Don’t Crochet and Blue Schwartz and Nefertiti’s Necklace for me to sign. While I signed I asked her about the Obama effect on the bookstore. Of course, business was up and she said some people just came in wanting to buy a book from the store the President-Elect shops in. I thought it was kind of cool that without even knowing he was doing it, Obama was helping authors.

When all the books were signed, Laura showed me the poster of my bookcover hanging on the wall. She said she was going to make a display of my books below it. All I could think was wow. And as an afterthought I wondered if Michelle likes cozy mysteries.

4 comments:

Linda O. Johnston said...

Congratulations on your new release, Betty! And you're clearly in good company in your Chicago neighborhood. I'd imagine our President Elect and First Lady Elect won't be passing through the bookstore while you happen to be there--security issues and having a little bit to do to get ready for their move to D.C. and all--but wouldn't it be a kick if you got to ask them their opinions of cozy mysteries? If you see them, be sure to mention my Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter mysteries. The stories might contain interesting ideas for their dog selection!
--Linda

Terri Thayer said...

Congratulations, Betty. Three books out in such a short time. You'll be famous as the Obamas in no time. Then they'll be saying that they used to go to the same book store as you.

Betty Hechtman said...

Linda, I'm sure you are right. If the Obama's plan to do any book shopping, I'm sure they'll have the store to themselves.

Terri, you got your three books out even faster which still amazes me.

Lori's Reading Corner said...

I just finished it and loved it just as much as the first one. I can't wait to find out what kind of murder Molly finds herself in the middle of next time! Thanks for another great book!