The Topsail Island Booksigning

 
 
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The booksigning at Quarter Moon Books was fabulous! QMB is in the heart of Topsail Beach, and since an article had appeared about me in Topsail Magazine, lots of vacationers knew I was going to be there and I think every one of them showed up. I loved getting to meet so many new-to-me readers, and I hope they’re enjoying Before the Storm. QMB owner, Lori Fisher (with me at left) did a terrific job.  

 

 

 

Jean Beasley the director of the Sea Turtle Hospital stopped

by, as did Lottie Koenig the realtor who was my guide on my first research trip to Topsail.  

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After the signing, we joined some friends whose office building overlooked the fantastic Surf City fireworks display. It was like being in the middle of the display itself–seriously, I was combing cinders out of my hair the next day! John had a blast taking pictures. Here’s one of my favorites.

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I’m going to see how many pictures of me with my readers I can cram into this post. The woman in the first picture is Susan Manning, a frequent visitor to the blog. It was so nice of her to make the effort to come to the signing! It was a great day. Hope your fourth of July was just as much fun.  

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19 Comments

  1. brenda on July 5, 2008 at 5:48 pm

    Do you realize how many lives you touch?
    What great pictures too-John is also gifted…
    Congrats…I am difinitely planning a trip to the area in the next year and will see the bookstore, etc…

  2. brenda on July 5, 2008 at 5:58 pm

    Diane-Would you (next time) ask the lady who owns the bookstore if she has heard of Trip Purcell? I believe he is an author from NC…He wrote the book, SUNSET BEACH (one of my favorites…) I bought the book in Barnes and Nobles…I used to drive through Charlotte when I lived near Myrtle Beach…would check out N.C. authors…I have yet to find another book by him. I noticed when I went to the magazine (you mentioned above) that they highlight N.C. authors (of course).

  3. Ann on July 5, 2008 at 11:27 pm

    Diane, I love the pictures of you and your new readers. The fireworks picture is one of the best I have ever seen – John is good!!!
    Seeing the Quarter Moon Bookstore in the background of the pictures made me homesick. I love that store.
    I have never been to Topsail in season – was it very crowded? I love it in May. Glad things went well and I hope you got some real relaxation there.

  4. Diane Chamberlain on July 6, 2008 at 12:22 am

    Brenda, I think that may be the only book Purcell has written.
    Ann, glad you like the fireworks pic! My Johnny is something else with a camera. You can see more of his work if you care to on his site: http://www.johnpagliucaproductions.com
    Topsail “felt” uncrowded, amazingly enough. The bookstore was crowded, but that was a good thing. However, the evening of the 3rd, we were in a position to watch the cars pouring into Surf City for the fireworks, and we were afraid the island might sink under the weight! Seriously, i don’t know where they all parked.
    I’ve heard that people are having trouble buying CeeCee and The Bay at Midnight. They seem to be out of stock everywhere which I guess is good in that there’s demand but I want anyone who wants a copy to be able to purchase one. CeeCee’s special Target edition is available there, of course, and I hope my publisher will restock the other distributors very soon.

  5. Denise on July 6, 2008 at 10:10 am

    It looks like you had as good a time at the signing as your many fans did! It must have been a thrill for your fans to actually meet you and get their books signed right on the island where the story took place. That is so cool!
    John is truly a great photographer!
    Diane, you look gorgeous in the photos. I love that top (or dress or whatever it is). πŸ™‚
    It sounds as thought all of your new fans are reading CeeCee or BTS and then backtracking to read the other books, just like I did. I just passed 4 of your books onto my cousin this weekend. I am almost finished with “Her Mother’s Shadow” and dread seeing it end!

  6. Gina on July 7, 2008 at 4:50 pm

    Been on vacation and just got back.
    Diane, so happy for you. Glad the book signing went so well. I really wish I was there. Oh well, maybe some day.
    I’m going to start on Fire and Rain this week.
    Hope everyone had a Happy 4th.

  7. Alexandra Sokoloff on July 7, 2008 at 6:09 pm

    Pix are fabulous – and I second Denise: you look stunning in that very sexy gold mesh thing!!
    – Alex

  8. brenda on July 7, 2008 at 7:37 pm

    I finally let a friend of my read my novel-Margo-remember you helped me find a title a few years ago. I wrote it about 6 years or more…put it aside…I get it out every summer…well, my published author friend…we have known each other for 16 years–he agrees with me-bland…more telling than showing…he had some great ideas with which I agreed…but I think I need to put those people to bed and start again… Oh well…Diane-it is hard work-this profession of yours–so much easier to teach writing…

  9. Diane Chamberlain on July 8, 2008 at 2:18 am

    Hey Alex! Nice to see you here. I think you and I are taking a deep breath, having FINALLY finished a book and now getting ready for the next one.
    Brenda, it sounds like what you have is an outline, where you “tell” what the story is about. That’s a huge accomplishment right there. Are you sure you want to just ditch all that work? Can you think about ways to “show” what you’re now “telling”?
    Denise, I’m glad you’re enjoying Her Mother’s Shadow. That’s one of my faves. I seem to have a thing for mother/daughter relationships.

  10. Margo on July 8, 2008 at 8:44 am

    Diane, you look absolutely beautiful! Gorgeous dress, hair and face…John is so artistic with the camera capturing the real you in his photos. I’ve seen his website and LOVE his work. Those lucky fans at the booksigning…sigh, it will be one of my happiest days when I can make it to one of your booksignings and meet you in person. I’m so intrigued with Topsail Island after reading BEFORE THE STORM and can’t wait to read the sequal and feel more of this terrific island. P.S…Diane, I gave Laura FIRE AND RAIN this a.m. and she was ecstatic to receive it! (-:

  11. brenda on July 8, 2008 at 10:39 am

    Diane-I will think about it…but I really think it is beyond hope…right now I am working on lesson plans and getting ready to start doing the Shakespeare thing next week–then to England…
    Margo-I think we should all plan a weekend in N.C. at Topsail Island sometime (save pennies forever)…I agree with you-here we are such big fans of Diane…I sent my BEFORE THE STORM home with my daughter…

  12. brenda on July 8, 2008 at 10:47 am

    Ladies-I have to complain…I know even my own children said that I do so well in that department…even though privately I whine a lot on my private email. Anyway, just read a book where a character’s aunt had never married…about 5 pages later, that character mentioned that her aunt’s husband left her. Doesn’t that drive you crazy???That is a blatant mistake…I overlook other things but not that…
    By the way, Diane, any hints on the new one?

  13. Denise on July 8, 2008 at 12:22 pm

    Brenda, that drives me nuts! A serious error like that is unforgivable and thereafter renders the entire story unbelievable.
    I finished Her Mother’s Shadow and loved it! Oh, Diane, I wish you could continue that series!

  14. Diane Chamberlain on July 9, 2008 at 1:21 pm

    Denise, I’m glad you loved Her Mother’s Shadow! Since that book and Kiss River took place 12 years after Keeper of the Light, maybe I’ll revisit those folks in another 12 years. . .
    Brenda, that is a pretty bad error, but I think I’ve made worse.
    However, here is an absolutely unforgivable error: I just heard from Lori at QuarterMoon Books. Some people have been returning their signed copies of Before the Storm because the copies are missing THIRTY PAGES! I’m absolutely mortified, and quite angry as well. I’m discussing how to resolve the problem with my publisher, but these are signed books and I feel just terrible for the people who bought them.

  15. Ann on July 9, 2008 at 9:28 pm

    Oh Diane, I know you must be mad about this. How very disappointing to the people who bought the book and had it signed. I hope the publisher will find a way to make this up to you and the Quarter Moon customers.

  16. Denise on July 9, 2008 at 10:40 pm

    Diane, I’m on my knees: please don’t make me wait another 12 years! My eyes will be gone by then!
    Unfortunately, I don’t think it is terribly uncommon for books to be missing a section of pages. I have had that happen several times; it happened with a Jodi Picoult a few years ago. It is definitely maddening. Of course, my copies had not been signed which makes your situation even worse. I am sure the people who purchased them completely understand that it was not your fault. I hope they are allowed to keep their signed-but-defective copies.

  17. brenda on July 10, 2008 at 10:37 am

    Oh Diane, How terrible!!! They spent their time waiting in line…you spent your time signing the books…but let’s look at it this way…perhaps, they might be more valuable ONE DAY when you are so famous that a book of yours that is irregular is worth more than the real one…of course, they will have to buy another copy to see what happens…(How many times do we read about a book by a published author selling for more because of something not quite right in it…???) I know…that just somes up something this is not right…but they DID get to meet you…they do have a signed copy…

  18. Lottie on July 11, 2008 at 9:56 pm

    Hi Diane,
    Just saw all the nice pictures from the book signing on Topsail and wanted to tell you how nice it was to see you again! And to meet John πŸ™‚
    My neighbors are fans of yours now, I had loaned them a few of your books and they are hooked πŸ™‚
    I’m looking forward to reading the sequel!
    I’m glad you had a great time on the island and were able to relax some. We live so close and almost take it for granted sometimes.
    Good luck with your next book πŸ™‚
    Lottie

  19. Diane Chamberlain on July 13, 2008 at 12:50 pm

    Thanks for popping in to the blog, Lottie! It was great to see you at the signing.

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