Book Signing Musings
13 July 2009
Thank you to everyone who came out to the book signing on Saturday! I hear the line was quite long—and I saw a few pictures to prove it—but I was so focused on signing that I didn’t notice. All I noticed was that I’d been signing non-stop for quite some time. Barnes and Noble did an awesome job. Aside from not having enough books, that is, but they apologized for it and said when I’m back in January to sign for book two, they’ll be prepared. (And being me, half of me was like, “Yay!” and the other half was like, “What if they order way too many and they’re disappointed???”)
One of my best friends from middle school showed up, and a group of girls I went to high school with. They were actually some of the first people there, and seeing them reminded me of one of the principle reasons I love writing young adult fiction. They’re still them. Sure they’re older, they’ve evolved and matured, and somehow all of them were even prettier. But Hilary’s still clever and moves with grace (Alice Cullen has nothing on you, girl!). Megan is still lively and funny. Christine is still enthusiastic and encouraging. Alison is still as sweet as they come. And I imagine whatever adjectives they might have used to describe me in middle and high school at least somewhat still apply.
It’s funny because back then, I thought of my adult life as a separate entity. As if who I was in those years wouldn’t come with me. I don’t mean to say I haven’t changed at all—Dear Lord, what a depressing thought that would be!—but they’re subtle, inner changes.
I feel like I should have some kind of closing point to all that, but I don’t really have one. I guess all I’m trying to say is the sooner you embrace who you are, the better off you’ll be. It’d have been less frustrating if I accepted in high school that I’d never be the bold, who-cares-what-they-think, trendsetter type. But of course I’m not suggesting you use your personality as some kind of crutch, like, “I can’t help it, this is just who I am. It’s not my fault it hurts your feelings when I say whatever’s on my mind.”
I think it’s Max Lucado who says (and this is a very loose quote) “God loves you just the way you are, but He loves you too much to leave you that way.” God doesn’t mind that I’m quiet, He designed me, but He wants me to be bold, step out in faith and do the work He’s asked of me.
Okay, I feel like I’ve now opened up a new thing instead of tying up my thoughts about my middle and high school friends. McKenna’s waking up, and I’ll use that as my cue to wind down.
I’ll have pictures of the book signing up in a couple days!
Reminds me of one of the Anne of Green Gable books . . . her favorite teacher had once said that a person’s personality is set by the time they hit 20. Anne so looked forward to getting to 20 to see who’d she be—and then on her twentieth birthday thought, “But I’m the same person I’ve ALWAYS been!” So you’re in good company in those thoughts;-)
Posted by Roseanna on 13 July 2009