Me at the signing table at The Book Lounge. I am the smiling gray-haired lady with glasses sitting at the table in the center of the image. I am wearing a blue V-necked T-shirt and have a stack of pink post-ts and a black pen in front of me. On the wooden table are the display items for the signing. From left to right: a stack of four copies of my book, Handsome and Hideous, a cardboard display stand with the cover of Handsome and Hideous printed on it, a small black raven plushie, a clear acrylic pencil cup holding bookmarks with a design based on the book cover, a clear acrylic stand announcing my name, Maria Fox, the title of the book, and where to find me online, a clear acrylic business card holder with stickers based on the book cover, a copy of Handsome and Hideous on a black book easel, a clear acrylic stand displaying a brief book blurb and noting some book tropes, two copies of the book arranged vertically as though on a shelf, a clipboard with a sign-up sheet for my newsletter. In front of the book easel and blurb are two stacked copies of the book and a clear acrylic business card case with business cards. To the right and behind my display is a white taper in a glass stand and an arrangement of red roses and baby’s breath. To the left of the display is a pole with a fake vine and small lights twined about it. Behind me is the café and wine bar, consisting of a black marble counter, a display case of pastries, and a cash register. Bottles of wine are stacked in a wooden rack to the left of the counter. Beyond the wine rack one sees deeper into the store. A barista in a red shirt is helping a customer in a gray T-shirt at the café counter.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by and said hello on Saturday at The Book Lounge! It was so much fun to meet and talk to readers.

I confess I was a little worried I’d sit there for three hours while shelf-browsers avoided making eye contact, but fortunately that did not happen. I was surprised by the number of people who asked about the book, signed up for my newsletter, or bought a book. Even if people did not stop to chat, they smiled and nodded as they passed by.

So thank you for a very happy author signing.

This is my view of The Book Lounge from the signing table. At the bottom edge of the image are slices of a few of my display items, books, stands, and roses, and a bit of the wooden table they are on. Then there are elegant two striped armchairs in light wood next to a small dark round table. Behind that grouping is a grouping of three green velvet sofas, arranged in a U, with the back of one sofa to the viewer, the crossbar of the U against the left wall, and the second arm of the U facing the viewer. Two women are seated on the sofa that has its back to the viewer. They appear to be reading. Beyond the sofas is the main cash register, the counter of which is perpendicular to the viewer. Against the left wall behind the cash register is a collection of tote bags for sale. A bookseller is helping a customer at the register. Beyond the bookseller, one sees the front windows and glass door of the store. Red curtains adorn the window on the left, while the window on the right holds a rainbow-colored display of books. On the left side of the image extends the wall, which is black paneling from the floor to about four feet up. The top half of the wall is papered with textured yellow wallpaper and hung with a series of framed pictures and mirrors. The right side of the image is the right wall, which is floor-to-ceiling red bookshelves filled with books. White lettering above each section names the genre of books shelved below. There are two displays of non-book items of interest to readers. Two readers are perusing the shelves. The floor of the store, visible on the right, is tiled in large black and white squares. The ceiling is white, with a square, geometrical relief pattern. Two glass chandeliers light the store.

Here’s my view from the signing table. Such a happy space.

Storefront of The Book Lounge. Red façade with a large sign over the door in white and gold with the name of the store. Two large front windows on either side of a glass door, all with black trim. In the window on the left are four shelves displayed fancily wrapped books, facing out. The bottom shelf holds a display of unwrapped books. The window on the right displays unwrapped books, face out. Both windows have Valentine’s Day decorations. The door has the street number, the business hours, and an “open” sign displayed. Just outside the door, in front of both windows, are large pots with flowers and shrubs. The sun is shining.

Thanks also to The Book Lounge for being a generous sponsor of author events and a supporter of local and indie authors!

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