Thursday, October 13, 2005

Lots of thanks, and lots of pictures

(NOTE: I’ve embedded links to photos throughout this time as an experiment, just because I have WAY too many pictures to share this time around.)

I’ve entered into that part of the process where I’m getting responses from friends and family, who are telling me how they like the book. You hope to hear that, of course, and you expect to hear that to some extent — I mean, even if they didn’t like it, you might anticipate that they’d be polite and lie to you.

But if they’re lying, then please, lie to me some more.

I got some nice phone messages last week just before the Java Café debut — Windy (who sent this picture of me with The Son of Todd at Java Café) called to say she usually can’t read something that’s written by someone she knows without imagining them in the process of writing it; that wasn’t a problem when she read Century, and any time she can get me out of her mind is a good thing.

And Virginia called to say there was nothing missing from the story and anybody who thought so must be — (cue the Texas accent) — from NEW YORK CITY!

Bette sent me an e-mail this week to say that she set aside Love in the Time of Cholera to be "wowed" by Century. Wow indeed, Bette. For Bette I’ve got some pictures of patriotic barbershop poles gathered within two blocks of each other on Palafox Street (the main drag) in Flomaton, Ala. Look here. And here. And here.

And then there was a long letter (via email) from my sister, which came at just the right time to counteract things that were really bringing me down in "the real world" — you know the sort, the things that don’t care that I’m trying to promote a book, write new stories, start up a new novel, keep up a blog — the "real world" that thinks I should work a "job" and pay "bills" and answer to a "boss" and keep up a "household" and take "baths" and "eat."

Here are some excerpts from Lisa’s letter (used without permission) taking out elements that maybe got too personal or gave away parts of the plot for those who haven’t read the story:

"So I read this really good book the other day. Have you heard about it? It's terrific! You might want to check it out. It's called Welcome to the Dawning of a New Century. ... Perhaps you recognize the title? Yes? Your little sister is very proud. I feel as though I was transported back home for awhile there. I absolutely loved the book, Tony. It made me laugh out loud, and it made tears come to my eyes. Let's see--I love the way you interwove Shakespeare throughout the book, the references to the Macbeth witches, the airy sprite. I love the chapter on Mary Anne's String Theory, the chapter on Gil at the river ... I love the Centennial Man! The devil! I almost cried while I read about the heart and soul of the town being Friday night football games--isn't it true? And knowing what I know about the school being gone now--it's just very sad, and I think the heart of Century is gone now that the Blackcats are no longer their unifying force. Anyway, some of my reactions were very personal, having lived your life, basically, knowing the stories (like the reference to what that witch Ms. (CENSORED) put you through), but I tried to read the book as a READER, as a lover of words, as a consumer, as someone who had never been to Century, and I really, really liked the book! I feel as though I can't say enough. I think anyone from a small town, particularly in the south, will feel the same. ... The way you talked about it, I really expected worse things--harsher things--to be said. I think, if anything, the book is realistic, not idealistic, but also not derogatory or belittling to our hometown. ... How does one go about getting on the NY Times Bestseller's List?"

I wish I knew. I don’t even know how to convince local booksellers that they could make an easy buck or two by carrying the thing.

Then there was my Dad (shown here on the right with my Uncle Eddie on the left), who talked up the book at Century, telling people how he liked the stories and even warning one lady about the dirty language — even thought it’s not gratuitous like on TV, he said. Maybe he ought to have warned her about the folks bumpin’ uglies. Or not. But I was relieved a bit to hear him say that, because I have to admit to some trepidation about how he — as Alger-Sullivan historian for one, and as my Dad for another — would take the thing. I’m still waiting to hear the reaction from my brother- and sister-in-law, him being the butcher in the family who was formerly employed at the Piggly Wiggly.

More photos from the Century signing:
Here’s me holding the book at the very sign that inspired it.
The Atmore regulars as they perused the table.
A jazz band playing on the steps of the old Century Post Office Museum.
Model A Fords lined up for the crowds to view and later to take rides.

Anyway, this is a really long-winded way of saying thank you all. Thanks for buying the book, for reading it, for responding to it. Thanks for supporting me emotionally as well as financially (the former even more so, as you can probably understand). This book is never going to take the world by storm or make me a billionaire. But your enjoyment of it enriches me.

Next up: Sunday’s Lifestyle front of The News Herald will feature a story about Lynn Wallace, Me, and a deer in the headlights — er, that is, Lon Prater, a nice fellow also from Panama City who has a story in the recent L.Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future collection. I’ll email the story to members of the group Sunday. Here’s a sneak preview of the photo from the story.

Lynn and Michael and I will sign books at Books-a-Million in PC on Nov. 5 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Come by and say hi and hang out and have coffee.

Finally be sure to check out the Pottersville site. There are pictures from our events going up now and they’ll be updated regularly. Also, the "Dispatch" newsletters that I’ve been handing out at signings are on the Century page in PDF format. Look for these to turn into a regular newsletter in the near future.

Street Team assignment: If you’ve read Welcome to the Dawning of a New Century, please go to Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com, and Books-a-Million.com and write a customer review.
That’s about all for now. Peace.

1 Comments:

At 2:43 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I can think of nothing more in life than having offspring that make a parent proud. I have two such offsrping: my son, Tony, and my daughter, Lisa, both of whom are exemplary parents themselves, much better than I ever was.

Of course, this is my son's blog, so I better keep to subjects that lift him up!

When I read "Welcome" I expected to see references to people I knew, but after a while I tired of that and began reading it like I would any other book. This gave me a chance to settle in and thoroughly enjoy the author's manipulation of my thoughts.

There are veiled references to familiar folks, and one instance where he used an experience of mine to make a point. This in no way kept me from making my way effortlessly through an enjoyable read.

I highly recommend the book for anyone of majority age, who is prepared to be reminded of life's harshness and its rewards.

I highly commend the author, whose life's desire has been to be a writer; who has certainly and positively reached that goal. His next goal, I am sure, is "more of the same."

Kudos to my son and blessings to his family, who've endured a long time of waiting to see the culmination of a dream.

I always tell folks, when I grow up, I want to be just like my son...

 

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