Without Further Ado...

Can I do anything without a bit of melodrama? No! So I had 26 pieces of paper with names on them. Names of all the lovely people who commented on my blog this week. I put a slip of paper with your name (and number) for each time you commented. For some reason the latent bean counter in me did this. More weird stuff I wonder about...which one of my entries won? See? I told you it was weird.

So here's the process chiquitas. I used sticky notes, most notably the Susan Mallery sticky notes that I think got accidentally put in my book bag last week at Toni's place. Anyway, I wrote the names and as noted previously...there were 26, there could have been 28 but Wendy opted out, but I digress.

I had to find a container to do drawing from. What? You thought I'd put them in a pile on the table? A-Ha! Former plant holder now magazine/book holder of yoga stuff...











No time to be tidy. Got get on with the drawing. I'll get those books picked up later. Okey dokey, got all the entries loaded.







Babe, please draw for me? What do you mean you don't know what I'm talking about? My book drawing? Right now. No, I'm ready. Because I'm using the can for the yoga books for the drawing...I'll pick them up later.

Do you really need to know what GG was saying? Yeah, I didn't think so. BUT he did draw the winner for me.












AND THE WINNER IS...







CINDY!

That '(1)' just means that's the slip of paper I made from your first comment. The good news is you don't have bad karma due to your nefarious plots against scrunky anti-shed neighbor. How do I know? Because you just won a signed copy of PLEASURES OF THE NIGHT by Sylvia Day along with a book poster and a cute red nylon book bag! So send me your snail mail addy and I'll get your package out to you this week.

As first drawings go I thought it went pretty well, don't you?

Tea in the OC

New and Recycled Romances in Costa Mesa is one of my favorite used books stores ever. While it sells all manner of books it is very romance reader friendly. When my brother worked down in Newport Beach we worked together on a series of short stories for over a year. We had delusions of getting published but the project ended up being a labor of love more than anything else. Someday I'll talk about that and maybe even link to one of the stories.

Anyway, I never visit any place for very long without looking for a good used book store. You just never know what treasures you are going to find. I've had a list of books I'm looking for in my purse for the past 20 years. Unreal.

So I guess it's been about 18 years since I first walked into Toni's store. A friend gave her 700 books to start the store and Toni was off to the races. For many years I'd stop in about once a month or so when I was in the area. In the 90's Toni started having her author teas. So much fun. But then GG had pacemaker surgery, Mom got sick, my brother got sick and my trips to the used book store in Costa Mesa just disappeared.

I was delighted to get my invite to a tea commemorating her 20 years of business. I realized that she's been in business the length of Beanie's life. Wow! I immediately emailed Wendy and asked her if she'd like to meet at the tea. As it happens, in conversation when we first met and were discussing UBS that rock Toni's store came up in conversation for both of us. Freaky fun coincidence, isn't it? Anyway, I was glad when Wendy was up for going too.

The authors present were Meryl Sawyer, Mary Castillo, Brenda Novak, Cheryl Holt, Sylvia Day, Sarah McKerrigan, and Lauren Royal.

Besides Meryl Sawyer and Cheryl Holt I have to admit I haven't read these particular author's books. Meryl Sawyer's MIDNIGHT IN MARRAKESH is on my keeper shelf. I haven't read any of her suspense recently, but I have lots of fond memories of MIM.
If you've read this blog for any length of time you know I've read Cheryl Holt. She's a guilty pleasure (yes, I have lots of those) but I have a sort of love/hate relationship with her books. Some of them I love and some of them I...well you get the drift. There just doesn't seem to be an in-between for me. Cheryl has a new book coming out in September that, knowing myself as I do, will be buying.

I bought Sylvia Day's book PLEASURES OF THE NIGHT to read in anticipation of the tea, but alas I didn't get it read before going. Bummer. BUT, I did buy another copy while I was there and I will be giving away a signed copy of the book. Due to Ms. Day's sweetness and generosity the book giveaway includes a shiny RED Sylvia Day book bag and poster.

Look. See? Yeah, it's kind of blurry, but you get the idea, right?




Here's the lovely Ms. Day...



What do you have to do to win? Nothing. I'll just put everyone who comments on my blog this week into a hat and have one of the child units draw a name on Saturday August 18th and I'll post the winner on Sunday. The more you post the more chances you have to win. Yes, even you dear ones in Canada may enter. What's the cost of postage among blogging buddies?

Here's a few more photos. Our dear Super Librarian has a friend who loves all things Fabio. So we snagged this pillow off of one of Toni's chairs and took a picture for Wendy to send on. That Fabio...he's everywhere, isn't he?


I think everyone had an enjoyable time. Toni and her staff are so enthusiastic and fun and it's contagious. Everyone seemed pretty happy with the results.

More photos.



L to R: Meryl Sawyer, Mary Castillo, Brenda Novak's absolutely gorgeous daughter, Brenda Novak and Cheryl Holt





A look at the ladies under the tent. To the left that gentleman is Toni's husband Don who took photos and helped with the goody give away.




The lovely lady in the hat is Toni. She's standing between Cheryl Holt (L) and Lauren Royal who's blocked *sigh* by the tent poles.

Of course Wendy and I talked our heads off and were giving recs...but only to people who asked us. :) Yes I left with a bag of books. This post has gotten so long I'll post about the lastest stash and show you my newly organized TBR loaded into five rubbermaid tubs.