aspiring author's candy shop

I had a pretty fantastic Sunday afternoon. Baby Blake and I went on a date to the Lowcountry Women Author’s Holiday Book Signing, hosted by the Center for Women. My goal is to sit behind one of those tables one day, selling and signing copies of my own book. In the meantime, I’m quite content being a fan. It’s inspiring to know so many talented women writers hail from Charleston. 

Secret Life of Bees author Sue Monk Kidd was gracious to allow me to snap a photo with her. I’m currently reading her latest book, Traveling with Pomegranates, a memoir she wrote with her daughter Ann Kidd Taylor. I’m only a couple of chapters in, and it’s breathtaking.

 Here I am with Kelly Love Johnson, author of Skirt! Rules for the Workplace: An Irreverant Guide to Advancing Your Career. I have followed Kelly Love’s writing career for years… she’s a master at the personal essay. I’m happy I’ve had the opportunity to get to know her and that I can now call her my friend.

 I recently met Margaret Seidler, author of Power Surge… wait for it… at the gym. Seidler is an author, master trainer and speaker and still manages to find time to teach spinning. She won’t let up and I think I agreed to take her class this Tuesday. 

I walked away with one new purchase: a copy of Beth Webb Hart’s novel, Grace at Low Tide. Hart and I chatted for a bit… lowcountry women are really sweet, ya’ll. Can’t wait to read her work.

And the final highlight of the afternoon, meeting The Sassy Steel Magnolia! It was so fun to see my cyber friend emerge from Twitterverse. She is actually a real, live person. 

It’s not everyday I have the honor of being surrounded by greatness. I think Blake left with a few phone numbers.

New FTC rules require bloggers to disclose if they have received compensation or free items in exchange for product reviews. My flattery is genuine and I have collected the books I mentioned over the past couple of years. I bought each one with my own money and waited my turn to have them signed… I didn’t even cut in line.