Whenever I participated in local events, I typically promote them on this blog - and then provide a short recap a few days later.
Well, 2024 has been filled with as many challenges as 2023 and 2022, and I fell of my recapping. But the recaps are important, I think.
Organizers might like to know I'm thankful for the opportunities they provide.
Artists might like to know my definition of a successful event.
Anyone who's enjoyed a BryonySeries book (or two) might like to know I'm still getting out there.
And anyone who's curious might simply just like to know.
So here are the events I will briefly (very briefly) recap:
Sept. 14: Spooky Night Out at HellsGate in Lockport
Sept. 24: The Book Market in Crest Hill
Sept. 27: End-Of-Summer Open Mic at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre in Joliet
Sept. 28: Local Author Fair at the Downers Grove Public Library
Oct. 12: Panic at the Plaza in downtown Joliet.
Oct. 22: The Book Market in Crest Hill
Oct. 30: Spirits with the Spirits at Black Cat Curiosities in Joliet with WriteOn member Cean Magosky as part of the Joliet City Center Partnership's "Spirits with the Spirits" event.
Read on for a couple-line summary of the event, number of books sold, and my overall impressions.
Sept. 14: Spooky Night Out at HellsGate in Lockport
Event: Fundraiser for local charities.Books sold: Three.
One large "Before The Blood" (contains all five installments)
"Cornell Dyer and the Eerie Lake"
"Cornell Dyer and the Old Folks Home"
Impressions: Super fun night, despite the fact I'd sprained my knee BIG TIME the previous night. Talked to lots of people and distributed lots of BryonySeries cards. Sold the large BTB to a history buff who talked to us about why he doesn't like fiction. Rebekah came up with a GREAT promotions idea for next year (if we're invited back, of course).
Event: We try to get into The Book Market once a month and hang out for four hours.Books sold: Five
"Memories in the Kitchen: Bites and Nibbles from 'Bryony"
"Snowbell"
"Bertrand's First Book of Numbers"
"Bertrand's Silly ABC Book"
"Lycanthropic Summer"
Impressions: We always have a good time at The Book Market - and so do Bertrand the Mouse and Uncle Barty, even if they have to watch our table by themselves for awhile.
Sept. 27: End-Of-Summer Open Mic at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre in Joliet
Event: The second open mic of 2024 hosted by Joliet's first poet laureate Uxmar Torres.Books sold: Zero
Impressions: Book sales aren't everything! Six WriteOners attended the event. I read an excerpt from "A Year of Shadows and Moonlight, Of Gathering Blooms in the Woods," which was probably the most unusual and least understood piece read that night (not necessarily a good thing), but it gave me five minutes onstage, which always makes me a little nervous. So it's good practice for me to get back in front of the mic from time to time.
I always had at least one person at my table most of the night chatting (including one person who previously bought four BryonySeries books and wanted to talk about them). So it was a super fun night, and I'd participate again if accepted.
Sept. 28: Local Author Fair at the Downers Grove Public Library
And also a photo of Rebekah:
Event: Library event featuring authors local to the Downer's Grove area.Books sold: One
"Katie and the Big Fear"
Impressions: Wonderful gathering of amazing writers. Grabbed plenty of bookmarks to share at future BryonySeries and WriteOn Joliet events. And I reached out to some of my contacts on behalf of two authors who are really trying to make differences in children's lives.
So in that spirit, please check out annieandfriendsadventures.com and bkstrength.com/walked-on.
Oct. 12: Panic at the Plaza in downtown Joliet.
Event: A scaled-down "crawl" event at local businesses due to construction in the city plaza. I was one of just two vendors.Books sold: Three.
"Bryony"
"Visage"
"Bertrand's Day at the Lake"
Impressions: Well, after getting on my high horse about NEVER leaving an event early...we left early. The businesses near us had closed, the temperatures had dropped, the wind picked up, our product was blowing into the construction one, and Rebekah (who has multiple heath issues) was cold to her bones, despite layers of clothes. The vendor next to us was lovely and had beautiful jewelry. Rebekah bought earrings and this necklace for me.
Event: Again, we try to get into The Book Market once a month.
Books sold: Two
"Year of Shadows and Moonlight, Of Gathering Blooms in the Woods"
I actually don't recall the second one.
Impressions: We always have a good time at The Book Market. If foot traffic is slow that day (and it was on this particular day), the owner Jan Staley and I spend part of the time chatting about all kinds of things.
Oct. 30: Spirits with the Spirits at Black Cat Curiosities in Joliet with WriteOn Joliet member Cean Magosky as part of the Joliet City Center Partnership's "Spirits with the Spirits" event.
Event: A Halloween-themed event in downtown Joliet, where participating businesses host different forms of entertainment. Cean and I came prepared to read original ghost stories. One person was interested in local ghost lore, so Cean shared his story, since that was exactly what that person wanted to hear.
Books sold: One book: "Lycanthropic Summer" And we sold one mystery gift card.
Impressions: Cean and I distributed a great deal of cards: his cards, WriteOn Joliet, cards, BryonySeries cards, and double-sided cards about WriteOn Joliet's anthology release party on Dec. 5 and our 2025 radio style performance.
We also distributed maps of the other locations (we ran out, too), which people really loved.
This was only the third year for this event, so it's still catching on. Even so, people were enthusiastic, and I finally got the chance to browse Black Cat Curiosities (can't wait to go back).
Tomorrow I'll share my last few events for 2024 and a REALLY special gift with purchase, compliments of a very crafty lady.
Happy Monday!
