Sara Reyes | Author Tour Report: Jeff Abbott in Dallas

Jeff Abbott at the Q&A
Originally uploaded by freshfiction

Last night we had the opportunity to meet a native Texan in town for a tour of COLLISION, Jeff Abbott. Fresh from a week in London and still jet-lagged, Jeff regaled us with his exploits of researching a book with his mom in Frisco. Now, Frisco is across the road from where I live and my closest shopping area, so finding out that we were the backdrop for an international thriller was a bit, well, 'thrilling.' Although, if he got it wrong, even a bit of the streets or neighborhoods or prairie, it would throw me out of my reading. Sorry, but that happens to me and it's annoying especially if the book was going along so well. And Jeff picked a road under construction. Of course, right now, that could be true since they are busy building TWO toll roads in Frisco. The only city in North Texas where BOTH of the primary arteries costs 25 cents a mile to traverse! It's outrageous! you pay for the bonds and taxes and then they charge you for usage as well! They may not say they raise taxes but they'll enjoy quarter and dollaring you with fees to death! Ah Frisco....

Where was I? Oh, yes, COLLISION, or RUN if you picked the book up in the UK where it sells like hotcakes for those Brits on their way to vacations in the sunny isles of the Mediterranean. Jeff also stated his biggest fan base text him as they are enjoying a bit too much of the sun, sand and alcohol whilst on posh vacations. Well, the new book features two main characters: both incomplete in a way, who must stick together to survive. But both men have dark secrets that throw everything up for grabs. And a chase scene in Frisco, Texas.

Jeff is funny and enjoyed the pokes from the audience at the Lincoln Park Barnes and Noble as well as poking back. It helped that his mom wasn't there, although I understand there will be reports made! I didn't think his hair cut was THAT bad!! Jeff lives in Austin with his wife and children so he's not a stranger to our part of Texas. We can only hope we'll get some more international intrigue set in our back yard!

Till next time... Sara Reyes

DFW Tea Readers


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Janet Evanovich ... the FEARLESS FOURTEEN Signing

Janet Evanovich and Sandi
Originally uploaded by freshfiction

DFW Tea does group activities ... such as dinner together and a signing excursion. Last night we did dinner at Macaroni Grill followed by the Fearless Fourteen signing in Plano at the Barnes and Noble.

Early Friday I commissioned my husband to pick up enough tickets for eight books during his morning run as the Janet Evanovich signing was a ticketed event and gas is expensive -- don't you love the comment (NOT!!!). He wasn't sure what to expect when he told me the bookstore people informed him to be there by 8pm to get in line! Standing in line for a book is not something he's fond of doing and will only perform under duress. I'd say stress as well, but that is what I'll suffer if I make him "do his part." I reassured him it was for the book club and he was welcome to come along, it would be fun. He declined politely.

Having a timed ticket meant we could enjoy a leisurely dinner at the Mac Grill next to the B&N as long as we started at 6pm. Which worked out perfectly. Enjoying dinner with dessert then off to find the correct line at the B&N. And we could park in the middle and get in a little exercise as well!

Greeted by two of our favorite CRMs, Ellen and Cody, we found the right line for our salmon colored tickets and waited...and moved up fairly quickly. Janet was doing a quick chat with each group but no personalizations meant the line moved along. Alex wielded her way up and down the line handing out balloons and stickers. No car fresheners, those go on sale July 1st from the web site and apparently she'll be glad to be rid of them as they are smelling up the neighborhood.

We managed to get our books signed, pictures taken and out the door by 9pm. Pretty good! So it was farewell until next week's signings, including MaryJanice Davidson and our next book club meeting.

FYI, we put up the pictures of our adventures on the Flickr site. Feel free to check them out and comment!

Elaine Viets | The Touring Author: How not to look like Mommy dressed you.

I was in a black mood.

I was planning to pack for the June tour for my seventh Dead-End Job mystery, "Clubbed to Death." I had a wardrobe like a new widow: Black jackets. Black blouses. Black pants.

Black is the traditional color for author appearances.

It’s supposed to make you look serious. Sophisticated. Maybe even slimmer. Plus, black doesn’t show the minor smudges travel adds to the pale colors.

Black should be perfect for a touring author. But not when you’ve been shaken like a martini at 30,000 feet, for three days in a row. Put yourself in my (black) shoes:

You are flying to your fourth tour city in four days. Now it’s 4:30 a.m., and your media escort will be outside your hotel at five o’clock to drive you to “Good Morning, Festus,” a major TV talk show.

You flip on the bathroom light, pry open your eyes, and the bags under your eyes are a perfect match for your black outfit. Someone has stolen your face and replaced it with your Aunt Marie’s – the one who talked about her operations at dinner. There isn’t enough concealer in Texas to help you.

It’s time to abandon the literary funeral and consider a color.

But where do you buy clothes that look successful without bankrupting yourself?

I’m six feet tall. My arms measure 48 inches from finger tip to tip. That means I have a wingspan of four feet – equal to an NBA pro.

A stylish outfit from Target won’t work. Those adorable, affordable knockoffs have sleeves that are too short for me. The skirts look like belts. Add a pair of fishnet stockings, and I could moonlight as a cocktail waitress.

Designer consignment shops are supposed to be crammed with bargains, but too many are overstocked with cocktail dresses.

Fortunately, I live near Sawgrass Mills mall, which has an Escada outlet. Even discounted Escada is expensive, but if I buy it during the holiday sales (Christmas, Memorial Day, etc.) I can get jackets that fit for $250 to $400 – about seventy-five percent off the original price.

Notice I said jackets. I don’t buy the matching skirts. When I wear a designer suit, I look like I’m planning the annual charity ball. Instead, I pair a designer jacket with a black top and black pants or jeans. The look (I hope) is stylish, younger and less formal than a traditional suit with a skirt.

The trick to designer outlets is to buy the classic styles and avoid the season’s weird signature color. Remember that sickly yellow green a few seasons back? About six people could wear that color. The rest looked like unburied corpses.

For the "Clubbed to Death" tour, I’m packing a deeply discounted orange tweed jacket, (pictured with this blog), a lavender jacket and a pink Escada top.

I’m not afraid of a few colors. I read that pink is the new black.

Elaine Viets
www.elaineviets.com/