Thursday, October 10, 2013

Tour Time



I'm off! First stop, Seattle. Then San Francisco, then Portland, then Pasadena, then Denver, then Minneapolis, then Chicago, then Nashville, then Rhinebeck, then Portland, Maine, then Toronto, and then I'm going to hide under the bed for A WHOLE YEAR until I'm able to form complete sentences again.

I've blathered about the tour everywhere, and I assume people are sick and tired of hearing about it, and I certainly feel rather dull talking about it all the time. But then someone will email and say, "What? A tour? When?" so I feel compelled to list the dates one more time, just in case. 


On my flight to Seattle, a most amazing thing happened. I was waiting with everyone for our gate-checked luggage when a lovely woman tapped me on the shoulder and asked, "Are you Clara Parkes?" This usually sends me into a panic. What did I do? How am I in trouble? Where will they interrogate me? Will I miss my connection?

I nervously nodded and said yes, and she reached into her purse and pulled out a copy of my book. She'd been reading it on the airplane. Probably at the exact moment I was snoring and drooling in my seat. That, my friends, is a moment I won't soon forget. 

On the next leg of my flight, I sat next to a charming man from Nashville who works for Service Corporation International. He told me all about it, all the places he's lived and worked during his 25-year career there. It's the nation's largest funeral company if you didn't know. (I didn't.) Lovely man, pulled my suitcase from the overhead for me, likes his beer cold, and recommended I go to the bubble gum wall when I'm in Nashville. Apparently it's a wall where famous people stick their bubble gum. Yup.

In the meantime, tomorrow I formally launch myself into orbit at Third Place Books. Butterflies! Excitement! Two weeks of getting to hang out with knitters every day, talk with them, make them laugh, and hear their stories. Could anything be better?

Will I see you along the way?

* Correction! Apparently the wall is here in Seattle. But still...why?

9 comments:

Liz said...

I wish! I just cannot justify a trip to Rhinebeck this year, even to see one of my favorite authors. Bonne chance!

Adrienne Martini said...

I have seen Seattle's bubble gum wall. It is a mighty ... thing. But I wouldn't go out of my way for it. And never did get the reasoning behind it.

Julie said...

I've heard of the bubblegum wall, but I've never seen it, even though I've lived in Seattle a long time.

See you tonight at Third Place Books, my favorite bookstore and home away from home!

Mimi said...

I enjoy reading other folks' travel stories. Have fun on your tour!

andiknit2 said...

What a pleasure to meet you yesterday at Vromans! You are just AS charming and sweet at I thought you would be. Thank you for the yummy Claracarmel (!!) as well as the lovely reading from your book. I look forward to seeing you again soon! Keep up that Knitters Review coming!
Mirna

Julie Ann said...

Any chance you would consider a stop in North Carolina on your book tour?

Randi said...

Hi Clara,

My name is Randi and I work for Cheryl Potter of Cherry Tree Hill. We're working on highlighting a knitter/author once a month and would love to have you involved! If you're interested, please feel free to shoot me an email and we can discuss the opportunity! Congratulations, by the way, on the success of your book!

missy said...

That gum wall is amazing, but back up against the opposite side when trying to get a great photo of it.
It can happen.

missy said...

Hahaha
I meant DON'T back up against that wall.
So, don't.
:)