Tales from the Up North Book Tour

My book tour took me to Traverse City 

and Gaylord, Michigan this week.

Touring Traverse City's Opera House with my sister, Leslie

 I always love to return to Traverse City, and Brilliant Books had a lovely display of my three books in the window.

Window at Brilliant Books!

Peter Makin (owner of Brilliant Books) introduces me

I gave a reading and Q&A at Brilliant Books, then signed books.

Signing books at Brilliant Books

 The next day I was off to Gaylord, Michigan to sign books at Saturn Booksellers.

Set up for the "meet-and-greet" at Saturn Booksellers

The girl scouts were also at Saturn selling their addictive cookies!

[Yes, I bought many boxes of thin mints!]

Tales from the Book Tour!

I caught up with store owner Laurie Russell 

 at the Nature Connection

I do love a good ART HOP, and Kalamazoo had a wonderful hop this past Friday.

I signed many copies of my new book at Kalamazoo's Nature Connection. 

Do you seek out stores that carry items made in the U.S.? Concerned about buying local? The Nature Connection carries an inventory of unique items that are overwhelmingly manufactured in the U.S. (~80%). And 4 out of 10 items in the store are made in Michigan! They have some of the most unique gift items and toys for kids there along with a section of Michigan-themed gifts and books.

Saturn Booksellers, Gaylord, MI

The next day I drove north to Gaylord, Michigan, for a book-signing at Saturn Booksellers.

Smiling at Saturn!

This wonderful indie bookstore had me set up in the front of the store to welcome readers and talk about our Great Lakes!

My book is available ONLY at select indie bookstores through the end of May. Look HERE for full list of stores.

It will be available everywhere books are sold on June 1, but please support your local indie bookstore!

Tales from the BOOK TOUR...part 5

I have been going to a variety of venues on my book tour. Bookstores are the obvious first stop for an author with a new book, and I've been to many great indie bookstores so far (and have many more scheduled through the next few months).

A 1000-Mile Walk on the Beach has taken me to less traditional book tour stops.

I've been to senior centers, retirement communities, the Inland Seas Education Association, Kingman Museum, Cottage and Lakefront Living Show, several libraries, and a fundraiser for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Whew!

Coming up, the book will take me to REI Stores in several states to
lecture about my adventure and my favorite gear from my hike. I'll also share my secrets for keeping my feet happy for 1,000 miles.

(Okay, my feet were pretty UNhappy for the first 400 miles or so until I learned these tricks.)

Here's a bit of video from the tour this month. A big thanks to Sunset Retirement's Waterford Campus for hosting a reading/signing and for choosing me to be their featured speaker at a dinner that evening. Also in this clip, The Nature Connection Store of Kalamazoo had me sign books during the city's monthly Art Hop. Then I did a reading and signing at Saturn Booksellers in Gaylord, Michigan. I had a fantastic time!







Breaking news:

A 1000-Mile Walk on the Beach was just named a finalist in the
Science/Nature/Environment category of the
2011 Next Generation Indie Book Awards!

I LOVE the Indies!!

I had a fantastic weekend Up North celebrating my sister's birthday with a bunch of her wild friends.

Happy Birthday, Leslie!

While on the road, I stopped in at several bookstores to tell them about the March 2011 release date for my book

A 1,000-Mile Walk on the Beach.

During the Lake Trek, I stopped in at many bookstores along the lakeshore. Driving around the state has given me the freedom to visit stores farther inland.

I stopped in at Great Lakes Books & Supply in Big Rapids, Local Flavor Books in Boyne City, Round Lake Book Store in Charlevoix, and Saturn Booksellers in Gaylord.


Check out the links in the sidebar to get to each stores' website!

I also visited some stores I'd hiked to last year including Horizon Books in Traverse City, McLean & Eakin in Petoskey, The Book Nook & Java Shop in Montague.

Books + coffee = PERFECTION

I tried to visit the stores in Grand Haven, but Washington Street is all torn up for the brand new snow melt system they are installing under the sidewalks. Looks like the place to do some holiday shopping (once the construction is complete!).

So, I found my way to the beach to enjoy the waves and mild weather.










The official March launch of my book will be at Brilliant Books in Suttons Bay, Friday, March 11, 2011.