The Barnes & Noble experience

Even though the sounds of construction on the Cafe filled the air, the Barnes and Noble reading went on as scheduled. Good thing I wore a microphone. This was my first reading at a bookstore and to tell the truth, I didn't know what to expect. We did our email and newspaper publicity. I told friends and family but when Becky Carignan (the BN PR woman) asked me how many I thought I could expect I could only shrug.

But not to worry, the turnout was good. I didn't do a head count, but most of the twenty seats were full. Many came after seeing the article in the News and Record.

As usual I read a couple different passages (I get tired of reading the same ones) and I talked about my writers journey and tried to connect the dots for folks about my many 'selves' (web designer, engineer, writer mom).

I was fun. So fun, I forgot to take pix. Usually my husband hovers and takes pictures. This time he stayed at home with the kids. For which I'm ever so grateful.

Check out the News & Record article. In a day or so I should have my radio interview with Dr. Alvin Jones of WCBQ (Oxford, NC)

Playing Catch-up

No, I didn't fall off the planet or leave the boys behind and run off to Canada. After returning from Raleigh more than a week ago, I've been swamped with getting ready for school, running my shrinking web design business, and gearing up for more writing.

All that said, I did want to share a little from the second trip to Raleigh (July 27/28). Friday, the 27th, I was set to do my first book club. But the elements decided otherwise. Major cats and dogs (and maybe even a little hail) were falling by the time the reading was supposed to start. I was there with the club organizer (my good friend and ace videographer, Dawnn Breynae) ... we waited and waited but no one else showed. So we hatched a plan. We decided that we video tape the reading from the following day.

The next day (the 28th) rolls in bright and sunny. Me and 'the boys' roll into our former church, Providence Baptist, and set up shop. Although the 'crowd' was small the reception and support were great. Our friend (and church librarian) Paula Abbott has this great spread of all manner of tasty treats. It was great to have all my friends (new and 'old') around me. Angela, Reggie, and all the rest ... thanks for your super support.

Here's a picture from the day:


I've got two more book outings. I'll try to do better with posting pix. It's been a wild ride kind of summer and well, my introverted behind is flat out tired.

GREAT NEWS: I'm in the process of writing a sequel to 'The Making.'

With my 'Down Home' Folks

I've had a busy week filled with book-related appearances and vacation time with family in and around my home county (Washington County, NC).

On July 10, LOTS of friends and family surprised me during the reading at Plymouth Library. It was a stormy evening but that didn't keep my 'down home' folks away. My sixth grade teacher (Ms. Sexton) caught me off guard with a poster I drew for her in 1980 and my seventh grade teacher (Rev. McNair) gave a great introduction before I spoke.

On July 14, I attended a smaller version of the famed Somerset Homecomings at Somerset Place (an antebellum plantation near, Creswell, NC, my hometown). There were period craft activities which my children loved and descendants of slaves moved from Somerset to Alabama in the late 1800s. It was great connecting with family. Selling books is good but connecting with people is even better.

You can read more about Somerset Homecomings here.

During the week I spent time with my mom, grandmom, aunts, uncles and cousins. We visited Ocracoke (via ferry!) and splashed in the waves to our hearts content.

All in all, it was loads of fun. Being away from home for such a long time was tough but I didn't miss doing dishes and cleaning house one bit. The In the Making Tour isn't over yet. Not by a long shot. I'm just taking a breather. Check back soon and don't forget to enter the summer contest. See my web site (LLHargrove.com) for details.

Here are the pix from the week (all but the last picture are from the Plymouth, NC reading:

Thanks, Jersey Fans

I don't know if there's something about coffee and reading that goes together but my reading at Broadway Joes Coffee House in Salem, NJ went really well.

Of course, my sister Frances (who worked hard organizing things for me), brother-in-law Jim, and niece Camille were at the reading. But there were a few locals in attendance too. Although two of the 'locals' were recent transplants (one was originally from Oxford, NC ... small world!).

I read for about an hour (while Claude distracted the kids. Thanks, honey) and gave out a few door prizes. Don't you just love them door prizes. I signed a few copies and took a few pictures.

Here they are:

Contest! Contest! Contest!

Contest, anyone? It's July. Time for the In The Making Contest. Anyone can enter but remember, you have to be signed up for the LLHargrove.com newsletter to be eligible to win.

The contest ends July 31. The random drawing will be held August 1. Click the image for detailed contest information.

Note: To sign up for the newsletter, visit LLHargrove.com and click the newsletter button on the top right.

Sign me up

I had my first signing (only) on June 30 at the LifeWay Christian store here in Greensboro, NC. Things went well. We sold 15 books. Not half bad. Thirteen of those sold to folks I knew (mostly from the racial recon group Claude and I were a part of briefly).

Don't get me wrong, I really appreciated the support from my Greensboro friends but nothing made me feel better than the appearance of a woman who saw me on the Fox8 Morning News. She said that after hearing me on Thursday morning, she knew she just had to buy the book. That was so encouraging (esp. since I thought I just fumbled everything up). That was a God moment.

We purchased a new-to-us van Friday evening. Our old Chevy is on it's very last leg. Thursday we set out for the Garden State to do a couple readings there. Hitting the road big time now. No turning back. 8-)

Here are some pix from the event:

Fox8 in the morning

On the morning of Thursday, June 28 I was on TV. It was a local author spotlight on the local Fox affiliate (Fox8 WGHP).

All in all, it was a little surreal seeing the hairy backside to all the TV magic. My kids and husband were really excited about seeing me on TV. I had bought a new suit, blouse, and shoes for the occasion. (I'm not the shopping type so I'm happy that that's over with). I forgot some of the perky and wise things I'd practiced but I think it went well (read my next post about the LifeWay signing and you'll see what I mean).

I don't have the DVD from my 3 minutes of TV fame yet but here's the blurb that appeared on the Morning News page.

Within an hour of arriving back home, a friend called from the Dallas, TX area. She's been awakened verrrrrrry early Thursday morning from a friend in Lexington (just down the road a piece, as they say, from Greensboro). The friend was in the US visiting family but got so excited when she saw me on TV (she's on the same email prayer group) that she lost her good sense and dialed Texas to share the good news.

Strange but true.