Happy Sweetest Day!
For today’s Bookish Memory, I thought I’d swing back to one of the first book signings I ever attended.
Elizabeth Musser visited FoxTale Book Shoppe to promote her book The Sweetest Thing, and I was excited to attend. I had first discovered her in a big box store some time earlier, and though I sat down with a copy of one of her books and read far enough to be hooked, I put it back for some reason. Maybe Christmas was coming. I can’t say for sure.
Words of Wisdom
When it was my turn to have my book signed, we chatted for several minutes. I mentioned that I’m a writer, and her eyes lit up.
“Go to a conference!” she told me.
“I’m registered for my first one, next month,” I said, and indeed, I attended the Harriette Austin Writers Conference in Athens, Georgia that year, dipping my toes into the professional writing world.
She encouraged me, saying that going to a conference had opened doors in her writing career, and wished me well.
How sweet it is
If you haven’t read The Sweetest Thing, let me recommend it as one of my favorite novels. It’s a wonderful story of friendship set in Depression-era Atlanta with a dash of mystery in the mix. (And a special note to writers: it features one of the best reversals I’ve ever read!)
The friendship flowing between two characters of a novel was certainly reflected in the kindness its author showed me. In a few moments of bookstore chatter meant to celebrate her book, she watered my dream with encouragement and advice.
Then she signed my copy and appended her autograph with verse reference Matthew 6:25-34. Words from the Sermon on the Mount, words of Jesus. How sweet to my taste, for friendship with Him truly is the sweetest thing.
Sweet surrender
Friends, I’m a little surprised to say, that’s the end of my Bookish Memories series! Upon taking a critical look at the remaining ideas on my list, I feel good about letting this post round out the series. I’m going to put some prayer and thought into what comes next, but until then . . .
Thanks for reading! Look for my monthly update in just a couple of weeks!
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