It goes without saying. A book titled Rocky Road better be published during summertime, and something cold and creamy better get served along with the hardcover at book signings. Lucky for me, some terrific readers (like Becca here), booksellers & ice cream makers have enabled me to do just that.
First there was the Rocky Road book signing at the fabulous Open Door bookstore in Schenectady, which, by the way, makes a cameo appearance in Rocky Road. Civitello’s Pastry Shop sweetened that day by serving their rocky road ice cream. (The two smiling readers with me here just so happen to be my kids Connor and Theresa. Thanks for being awesome guys!)
Then there was The Little Book House in Stuyvesant Plaza where Coldstone Creamery gave out generous samples of their luscious rocky road ice cream along with custom-made coupons to match Rocky Road’s book cover. Onto Barnes & Noble in Colonie Center, Albany, last Thursday where, on a boiler of a night, refreshing smoothie and brownie snacks were distributed by Claire Mesick, B&N employee, cook extraordinaire, and very cool, grownup daughter of my good writer-friend Helen. This was an especially good time because I spoke alongside my good friend and author extraordinaire, Eric Luper , who just released a fabulous YA novel called Seth Baumgartner's Love Manifesto.
Then there was The Little Book House in Stuyvesant Plaza where Coldstone Creamery gave out generous samples of their luscious rocky road ice cream along with custom-made coupons to match Rocky Road’s book cover. Onto Barnes & Noble in Colonie Center, Albany, last Thursday where, on a boiler of a night, refreshing smoothie and brownie snacks were distributed by Claire Mesick, B&N employee, cook extraordinaire, and very cool, grownup daughter of my good writer-friend Helen. This was an especially good time because I spoke alongside my good friend and author extraordinaire, Eric Luper , who just released a fabulous YA novel called Seth Baumgartner's Love Manifesto.
This past weekend, the Rocky Road train made a whistle shop at the Blackwood & Brouwer Book Shop in Kinderhook, NY. Super Owner Rondi (energetic lady in pink at my right) hosted an awesome ice cream sundae party and let’s just say Rondi picks ice cream flavors as well as she does books. I especially loved the homemade blueberry sauce, which was made from my Yankee Doodle Dandy recipe in the back of Rocky Road. I also loved meeting readers, especially my librarian buddy Jill Leuning, and super sweet-and-happening kids Becca and Amara. (Becca is a chocolate ice cream lover and very big on sprinkles. No wonder I like her so much.)
On Saturday, July 26th I’ll be at Barnes and Noble in Niskayuna (my hometown) from 5-7, and we’ll be celebrating with Stewart’s awesome ice cream. And on Saturday August 14th I’ll be at Book Revue in Huntington, Long Island from 3 to 4:30 pm, where we’ll be enjoying ice cream from the legendary Herrelll’s Ice Cream shop. (Homemade ice cream to die for!)
People often ask me what’s the best part about being an author. That’s easy: meeting readers, in person and through letters and emails, and finding how books connect us all to each like invisible thread. So thanks to to the booksellers and ice cream makers who have made such meetings possible for Rocky Road.
Onward with summer fun, books and ice cream!
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