Highlights from the tour
A few photos and anecdotes from the first few events following the book’s release.
October 28: Zero hour
At long last, the release date came, with much self-generated fanfare in the form of a party in Chicago at Seven Ten Lounge.
There were native Peruvians (the Indiana Peru).
Former co-workers bowling with Mom.
Current co-workers bowling with Mom.
Current co-workers taking action shots of Mom bowling by herself.
Bowling shirts.
Cuddly moments with the wife.
Surprising inscriptions in books.
And trivia contests with fabulous prizes like the kind of mustaches that you can’t get from a box.
Then came the reading aloud
Following the party I went on a brief tour, bringing my unique brand of nervous energy and vacation slides to book stores across the Midwest. At each, I take the audience on a breakneck-paced tour of all 50 states using photos I took on the trip, interspersed with a few passages from the book. First there was Chicago:
Borders on State Street
And then Oak Brook, IL
My father’s sister and cousins from his side of the family were among the attendees.
Then Cleveland, where I did an interview on the local morning show…
…and where my in-laws hosted a reception followed by a standing room only reading at Joseph Beth Booksellers.
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A quick road trip down I-71 brought me to the world-famous studios of Emmy Award-Winning Reporter Gail Hogan, who appears in the book, and on whose show I appeared to promote that night’s signing.
And that night, another standing room-only reading at Borders in Columbus.
Having an insufficient number of chairs is a good way to ensure SRO at events.
And finally, St. Louis, where I followed Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols on a radio show, and did my best to defend the Cubs…a daunting task when the birds have won a World Series in the past 100 years. Then a reading at a far-flung Barnes & Noble where my sister’s family and friends made the crowd. I spent the afternoon of the event at Saratoga Lanes, where Jim Doody’s company made me remember exactly why I took the trip in the first place.
More importantly, Jim gave me some of the best directions I’ve received in my travels, helping me make it to the reading with time to spare.
