A couple of weeks ago I went to Murder By The Book for Louise Penny’s signing of her new novel The Beautiful Mystery. This Canadian author has included MBTB on her book tours for most of her releases, I think, and I first learned about her through one of their newsletters. And oh, what a fortuitous thing that was, because I love all of her Inspector Gamache mysteries. This was my first time to hear and meet her, and I–along with a standing-room only crowd–enjoyed her so much. By turns funny and touching, always respectful toward her writing and her characters, and an engaging oral storyteller as much as with her writing, Louise Penny is a don’t-miss if she comes to your city.
My dilemma as I prepared to go to her signing was this: All eight of the Armand Gamache mysteries are on my Nook. What could I ask her to sign? My only physical book was an import I’d picked up at MBTB once that was already autographed, a GoodReads Canada Literacy copy of The Hangman. I did take this with me so Ms. Penny could inscribe it to me, which she graciously did.
It also occurred to me that I could take my Moleskine, put my “buyer number” in it, and ask her to sign that page. She was more than happy to do so, and went me one better. She said they keep a guest book at home in which visitors draw a “blind pig.” The pig is not blind, but the artist closes his or her eyes to draw the pig. She asked if she could do this in my Moleskine, and of course I was thrilled to say yes.
Louise Penny, you are the best. Thank you for your wonderful novels and for your charm, wit, and grace.
Writers are really such nice people when you meet them in person. I have a Westlake
Dortmunder novel he signed in New York for me.
That’s a good thing to have! I became familiar with him because of Rob Byrnes’s admiration for him–and his Chase and Grant books are an homage to Westlake.
I love how you love your Moley
I love all three of them, each of them used for entirely different purposes. They are a lot of fun and a good place to keep records of one kind or another. Thank you for giving them to me.
I’m so glad you told me about Louise Penny’s series when we visited Murder by the Book a couple of years back. I bought a copy of “Still Life” for my mother on that trip and she loved it; she’s read all of LP’s books since.
News that readers, booksellers, and authors love to hear!