Sunday 26 September 2010

The US Book Tour

Well this was just wonderful. Or in America-speak, it was AWESOME!

Flying in to Atlanta was an interesting experience. Have you ever done it? Apparently it's the busiest airport in the states - which I'm guessing must mean it's at least one of the busiest in the world. Oh my goodness, the number of planes taking off! As we landed, I could see a queue of seven planes taking off one after another - land, take off, land, take off, land, take off. A LOT of action here. Good job I've recently decided that I'm not scared of flying any more. (Seemed a sensible thing to decide, as I've so far done 16 flights this year and would otherwise have spent a lot of the year being scared!)

We were actually staying in Decatur, a small town just outside Atlanta. The reason for this destination was the fabulous (sorry - awesome!) Decatur Book Festival, which I'd been invited to.

Taking part in the Book Festival was loads of fun. As always, I really enjoyed meeting some of my readers and having a chance to share what I do, and sign some books.

Me on stage at the Decatur Book Festival

As well as the festival, I visited a few schools and bookshops and libraries. I have to say the hight point was the event with the Foxtale Book Shoppe in Woodstock. Oh my! If you live anywhere near this bookshop, you have to pay it a visit. Run by three ladies who have just the right mix of eccentricity, enthusiasm, warmth, creativity and fun, this shop is one of the nicest bookshops I've ever been to, and the event was THE best event of the book tour. (Thanks again, ladies!)

Me with the lovely Foxtale ladies

It was billed as a creative writing workshop, which I thought meant there'd be 8-10 of us sitting round a table. Wrong! A creative writing workshop Fox-style is fifty girls plus parents squeezed into every corner of the shop, and we had lots of laughs and lots of fun. And I discovered that Woodstock has lots of talented young writers!

Lots of great young writers

Just time to squeeze in a visit to the Georgia Aquarium - the biggest aquarium in the world - where I got a bit of Emily Windsnap inspiration and we saw some amazing sea life.

A handsome chap swimming above my head (behind glass, thankfully).

Moving on from Decatur, we headed for Nashville. Well, all I knew about Nashville was that it's the home of country music - but what I didn't know was that I actually really, really like country music!

We had a tour of the town, in this!

The cool way to get around Nashville

We bought cowboy boots from shops like this!

Yeehaa!

We went to bars and listened to fantastic musicians like these!

One of the many brilliant country bands we saw

And we stayed here!!

Best hotel in Tennessee, and the poshest hotel I've ever stayed in!

And I did a few events too! In Nashville, I met up with the wonderful people from Ingrams wholesalers - which was such a treat and an honour. I also met some fantastic librarians for young people and had a great afternoon at Davis Kidd, where they advertised my event with the biggest poster in the world!

This poster is now on my study wall - and only just fits!

I met lots of cool Emily Windsnap and Philippa Fisher fans

Some of the fab Emily and Philippa fans who came to my events

And I met up with a girl who brought along the Emily Windsnap box that she had literally just brought home from school.

One of the fabbest fans, who made this Emily Windsnap box

All too soon, it was time to head home. But it wasn't over yet! Just time for one last book signing - at the airport! That was a fun thing to be asked to do as I'd never done a book signing at an airport before!

My first ever airport bookstore signing!

So then it was just three flights, 23 hours of travel, 6 time zones and three days of jet lag - and it was all over!

Till the next one...


PS If you enjoyed reading this - put a comment, will you? Just so I know that people are out there and reading my ramblings!!! Thank you! : )

44 comments:

Damian Harvey said...

That looks and sounds fantastic Liz. So good to hear that everything's going well and that you are enjoying it all xx

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed reading your blog and hearing about the awesome time you had here in the states. Megan and I would love for you to have a book signing in Michigan. Maybe next year??? Hope the new Emily book is coming along swishy!
Debbie

kathy said...

Sounds like you had a fantastic time!!! Loved reading about your wonderful tour. Take good care xxoo.

tracy m said...

I read it! -- do I count ?
I like this version of the tour, short sweet highlights -- but it makes the months of planning seem sort of crazy!

Liz Kessler said...

Er, Tracy, I think as book tour organiser extraordinaire, you count more than most!! And the months of planning were exactly what made it the wonderful, easy, happy and fab fab fab trip that it was! Thank you sooooooooooo much!!!

Ellen Ward said...

Thank you for the lovely comments about FoxTale Book Shoppe! We are still talking about your visit and how much fun it was. Hope you will come again. ellen

Teresa Kravtin said...

The two Atlanta booksellers are two of my favorite accounts: Little Shop of Stories and FoxTale Book Shoppe! I am very happy you were able to visit Atlanta and I hope you have fond memories of your whirlwind tour. We are all happy to have had you!

Liz Kessler said...

Thank you! I was very very pleased to be there! : )

Kathy said...

Hey, you travel a lot? I love traveling! How's Poppy? My friends and I are in love with Poppy! I'm glad you wrote again. :)

Anonymous said...

Your experience makes me want to visit that book shop too! Sounds like you had fun :D

Lily said...

Cool! You wear silly bands? I LOVE SILLY BANDS!!! I saw a interview on Youtube saying you're going to write a 5th Emily Windsnap. When will that come out? I can't wait for the movie! Do you think there will be a Philippa Fisher movie? How's Poppy? She's been getting cuter everyday! That new Philippa Fisher book sounds so swishy! I cna't wait for it to come out!

Annie said...

Ooh, cool silly bands! What shapes do you have? I have a shoe and a hanger.

Melony said...

You went to Nashville? Swishy! I love Nashville!

Alice said...

A Year Without Autumn sounds so cool! I can't wait for it to come out! Think you can put up more writing advice? I want to be a writer when I grow up.

Daisy said...

Who would you describe one of the characters in the book as you? I think I'm closest to Shona. She's so swishy!

Marisa said...

Wow, you like to travel? I love traveling, I go up to Canada every summer. Have you ever been there? I like there for five months, but it was too cold for my parents. Still, New Mexico is nice.

Maria said...

Hey, Liz! I MISS POPPY!!!! Sorry, a little too extreme. Do you have any other pets? I have two cats who like to eat my socks.

Liana said...

Aw, I didn't see you in Georiga! But I did notice you went to that museum. Did you see thouse sting-rays there? THEY"RE MASSIVE!!!

Mel said...

Nice to hear from you. Hey, when you were in Nashville, did you go to the Penny's Cafe? I LOVE THAT PLACE!!

Bella said...

Wow, Nashville looks awesome! What was your fav? Atlanta, Georgia, or Nashville? To me, they all seem swishy.

Alexis said...

Cool poster

Kalyn said...

hi my name is kalyn. i love the emily windsnap books. have you ever been to colorado. thats where i live you should come i would love to meat you. hope you had fun in the USA

Lindsey Otts said...

I love this blog post, especially the 'young writers' part.
I've started writing a little, so it was good to see some other kids write.

I also realized that I am older than all of the other Emily and Phillipa fans. xD

Anonymous said...

Wait! COME BACK! :O
I missed you! Hahaha. Well, come to Nebraska next time if you can!! I just finished the 3 Philippa Fisher book series and am dying for something else. Going to the bookstore ASAP over a long weekend.
BTW, You're up at my favorite author list.
#1. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle/Liz Kessler
#2. Mary Downing Hahn
#3. etc...
Anyway, I hope "someday" I'll meet you! (Awkward, yes. I can't word it right.) Have an "awesome" autumn!

Anonymous said...

i hope you will have a movie

Anonymous said...

Hi Liz!
I just wanted to say how much I love your books, especially the books with Daisy. This may sound crazy, but I really can relate to them! When I was younger, my friend gave me a little tin box with a fairy covered in flowers. Now, I call it my Fairy Tin because it reminds me of the tin Daisy was in.
Keep writing!!!!

Kacie (12) said...

LIZ!!
Will you PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE write a FIFTH book of Emily Windsnap!?
I JUST finished the fourth and I think she needs a new adventure. What happens next? With Aaron and Emily?!? Make it a love story. What is Neptune's reply after finding everything out?! WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!?
I'm so anxious.
Whenever there is some love connection with Aaron and Emily I squeal... There needs to be another one! pleasee!! It'd be SOO swishy!

Anonymous said...

I think they need to make Emily Windsnap a movie. All four of them. Write a fifth! I love your books. :)

Anonymous said...

Oh my gosh! You are so lucky you got to go to so-o-o-o many places! I've only been to Ohio (where I was born and lived out 8 of my 11 years) to visit relatives and friends, Florida to visit my grandparents, South Carolina where I went on a four day vacation from my boring (but wonderful) town in North Carolina, the Appalachian mountains (vacation again) and when I lived in Ohio I came to North Carolina and camped out in a camp site next to Clayton, where I now live. It must be fun to be an author. I hope to become one too! I love to read and write. You are really so-o-o-o-o lucky. Sincerely, Anna-Laura

Anonymous said...

Are you going to write anymore Emily Windsnap books?

I like to write too. What tips do you have for sticking to the same story?

Sarah, Age 10, New York

parshallsix@gmail.com

sarahparshall.blogspot.com

Paul Kelsey said...

Dear Liz, We have published a review of Emily Windsnap and the Siren's Secret on Launch Pad.

Launch Pad: Where Young Authors and Illustrators Take Off! publishes work by kids. Your book was reviewed by a ten-year-old fan from Pennsylvania:

Read the Review

Anonymous said...

The comment which you write for the shark above your head was so funny!!!I hope you have great time there,but do not NEVER,NEVER,NEVER forget to write MORE books!!
~Galini~

Emma said...

Gah! If the image from the Fox Tail books shop was bigger you would be able to see me! GAH!

Anonymous said...

I really loved reading your blog! It sounded like you had alot of fun.

Anna from Natures Home Spa said...

I enjoyed your account of your American tour, 2010. As an American myself, I was truly happy you enjoyed your stay with us! I have to tell you, I picked up your Emily Windsnap books, for my 13 year old, and read every one of them before she got them. I enjoyed them so much! I'm 49 by the way! I just read Philippa Fisher's "Fairy Godsister" Great stories, positive influence on readers. Thanks so much.

Anonymous said...

I can't wait for your fifth book of Emily Windsnap! What i am dying for is what you were talking about on your website, "About Me", about a possible movie as one of the questions and I was just like yes!!!!!!!!! Did you come up with a title for your fifth book? Keep u updated!
-Courtney :)

Anonymous said...

I <3 Liz Kessler's books especially EW'S books!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

hi liz!! I think it's a better idea to make E.W'S BOOKS into an animation movie!
lane xxxx

Anonymous said...

I agree with Kacie!!! MAKE IT A LOVE STORY!! AARON IS A GREAT CHARACTER!! PLEASE LET THEM TOGETHER!!!!!!! <3

Kaylee said...

When is the fifth emily windsnap book going to come out?
I can't wait!

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