CityLit Festival III
A cold, driving rain couldn’t keep record numbers of dedicated book lovers away from the Main Branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library, site of the third annual CityLit Festival. And what a great way to debut Seeing Through Clouds!
According to Gregg Wilhelm, the dynamic and omnipresent director of the CityLit Project, today’s turnout was the highest yet — hundreds of readers, writers, appreciators, fans, and the just plain curious attended poetry readings, listened to talks by writers, and browsed dozens of tables staffed by publishers, distributors, and of course writers (like yours truly).
Mary Jo and I took turns manning the Seeing Through Clouds table, in a row that we shared with two other really nice authors, Fred Glueckstein, author of The ’27 Yankees, and Ernest Imhoff, author of Good Shipmates: The Restoration of the Liberty Ship John W. Brown — which is berthed not far from where we live, by the way! In between, we took turns wandering the aisles, meeting other writers and making new friends.
Ron Blalock’s beautiful cover art and Bill Gordon’s arresting cover design drew a steady stream of compliments, and caused many people to pause long enough to sample the contents and ask questions. We gave away lots of cards and bookmarks and sold more than a book an hour, which was a pretty good start!
Many friends from the CityLit/Creative Alliance writing class were there and stopped by to say hi and even pick up a copy of the book for themselves, and it was nice to see so many familiar faces. They say Baltimore is “the biggest small town in America,” and today it sure felt like I was part of that town!
Before the show, my wonderful family sent me a bouquet of tulips and lilies to celebrate the book’s launch. The card that accompanied the flowers (which you can almost read in this picture) reads:
Captain to Ground Crew:
“UP SHIP”
We’re so excited about your book!
Congratulations!
With Love and Cheers,
Mom, David, Norman, Michael,
Gloria, Gary, Brandon, and Bryan
Thanks, everyone! What a great way to start Part Two of the Seeing Through Clouds adventure!
April 8th, 2006 at 11:34 pm
CONGRATULATIONS on the debut of Seeing Through Clouds! We are all so happy for you – and want to order books, so let’s make a plan!
April 10th, 2006 at 12:58 pm
Hi, Gloria! Thanks for your note. We’ll figure out how to get a bunch of signed books to you.
Several eagle-eyed readers have noticed the little wind-up Zeppelin on the table in the first photo. It’s not an antique, but rather a reproduction of a popular toy from the 1930s. It says “GRAF ZEPPELIN” on the side, and it has a little propeller in front that spins when the wheels turn. It was an eye-catcher for the young and the young at heart! I’m also wearing a silver Zeppelin pin on my shirt pocket.
Anyone ever see the movie “A Christmas Story?” Remember the BIG wind-up Zeppelin that Ralphie’s little brother Randy gets for Christmas? I want one of those someday!
Chin up,
Paul
April 11th, 2006 at 9:34 am
Wow – a real live published author in our family! I’m blown away by your ability to get this done. To have read the manuscript before it was officially published is an honor I greatly appreciate. I look forward to many more. I talked to our librarian here at school and it seems schools can buy their own collections. I’d love to be able to put a couple copies in my school. Once again, congratulations!