I'm a newbie here, this is my first post.
When Turn Coat came out, my designated spousal unit and I went to the book signing in Dayton Ohio. It was DSU's birthday, so we got an autographed copy wishing him Happy Birthday. Also picked up another copy of Dead Beat to be signed to our cat, named Butters, after the character (Butters was a stray who came to our house right as I was reading Dead Beat). Gave Jim pictures of my cat, embarrassed DSU. My first book signing, it was fun, trying not to be too much of a stalker, embarrassing DSU.
Did anyone go to the book signing at Romantic Times in Columbus Ohio? I did, dressed up to go to the Renaissance Fair up the road at the Ohio State University campus immediately afterward. When I got in the author room and walked to the back corner where Jim and Shannon were, I noticed a long line and my heart fell, but luckily for me it turned out to be for someone else. My timing was excellent, I was between crushes of people for Jim and Shannon and no one was there. It was weird to just walk up. It was weird they seemed like just normal people. It was weird I didn't know who Jim was at first. He was clean shaven and with very short hair! I wondered to myself who that was and where was Jim. Was this their handler and Jim was on a potty break? It wasn't until he was signing the book and the signature looked familiar that I was sure it was Jim. I'd just had a birthday a few days ago, so I had him sign Changes Happy Birthday for me (his and hers birthday wishes from Jim, how cool is that?)
With no one else there, I finally got up the nerve to stumble out, Gee, you cut your hair! You don't look anything like you did at the signing for Turn Coat. Shannon was so funny, she said, yea, if I hadn't been talking to him 10 minutes earlier, I wouldn't have known who he was either when he came home clean shaven.
We made idle chit chat for a bit, I asked them how they were liking the convention (they like going to RT), they asked me how I liked it (had to admit I only came to see them). I said I didn't even know who else was there. Shannon started reeling off author names, Charmane Harris was the only one I recognized but I haven't read any of her stuff. Apparently she was the star attraction (how can that be? Jim is there!). It was very strange. I could have been standing around in a line for something with them, just making conversation. (Must get over "Authors as Godlike Entities this mere mortal can only admire through print".)
I didn't mention Butters my cat, although I had considered bringing Jim another picture of the guy.
Jim and Shannon seem like a very nice couple. She reached over and patted his arm a couple times. Maybe she was just trying to protect him from strange woman with confused look on her face dressed in quasi Renaissance Fair outfit. I'm not good with people.
