I met Nichole Bernier!! Another Book-Signing Event to Remember
Real life and Twitter have collided yet again and I’ve had the privilege of meeting debut author Nichole Bernier at a book signing here in Kansas City. I don’t exactly remember when I “met” Nichole but I think it was back in October when I congratulated her on her upcoming debut, blah, blah, blah, drool and she was kind enough to send a nice tweet back about family and friends living in Kansas City.
She indicated she might be coming for a signing back then, and I may have piddled in my pants (three kids, bladder is shot) when I eventually got the email inviting me to a private signing. Can I tell you how lucky I am? And then can I tell you how fabulous Twitter is? All it takes is 140 authentic and heartfelt characters to start a friendship.
That first moment of meeting someone that you have only spoken to is always a bit intimidating. Will they be like they are online? Am I what they expected? Better? Or *gulp* worse?
Nichole was off the charts fantastic and greeted me like we were old pals. We chatted with some of the hosts book club pals for a moment 
before I clodded away demurely stepped aside to take some photos. I am more conscious these days about having some good photos to document big moments in our lives. This was one for me. Plus, I wanted to provide Nichole with some great memories since many of the people there were family and friends whom she hadn’t seen in a long time
Her friend, Ann Hall, along with Ann’s mother hosted the book reading and it was so fun to hear how Ann and Nichole met. They worked together back in their early careers in journalism and it was very sweet to see them together.
Ann introduced Nichole to the audience (I joked with Ann later telling her I felt it was like watching a bridesmaid speak at a wedding–a few tears were shed. Hell, I teared up and these were two people I had just met!) and Nichole read from a couple of sections from her book, The Unfinished Work of Elizabeth D.
The paragraphs she read were like looking into deep pools of water on a sunny day; you couldn’t help but see your own reflection. I could tell this was going to be a novel that would force you to be honest with yourself.
Nichole handled questions afterward, the one asked right away that we all wanted to know, “How did you write this novel with FIVE children?!” She explained that she started when she only had two (seems easy compared to five, right?) and she had to give up a lot of hobbies. She no longer gardened nor cooked gourmet meals. She had given a lot up to write this novel that was inside of her.
She also explained how writing fiction was 180 degrees from what she had done in all of her years writing. She was a journalist, nothing but the facts Ma’am. This was her first novel and it took her six and a half years to find her way through fiction. Nichole is an inspiration to all writing moms as well as a testament to hard work and determination.
Rainy Day Books was there to provide books (I bought three!) as well as take a few photos for Nichole’s guests. Roger and Vivien were so accommodating yet completely on top of things. I’m not sure if they remembered me but the last Rainy Day Book signing was when Alex George came to town to promote A Good American. I was the last person there at his signing because we had plans to have a glass of wine afterward. I’m not a regular in-store customer (I usually order online b/c store isn’t close to my house) so they don’t know me at all. After seeing me at Nichole’s private signing, I’m sure Rog and Viv have alerted the FBI by now. I’m probably in some Stalker Watch program and it’s only a matter of time before Rainy Day starts frisking me at the door.
I would endure pretty much anything to get the chance to meet my Twitter pals in real life. Being at Nichole’s reading and signing was truly an honor and one I will never forget.
You can learn more about Nichole at her website: www.nicholebernier.com, Twitter @NicholeBernier, and Facebook
Because I was thinking of you, I’m giving away a signed copy of her novel–all you have to do is leave a comment.
Tell us anything:
- What your plans are for the weekend.
- About your own experience of meeting a Twitter friend in real life.
- Why you want to read Nichole’s book.
- Or maybe you could give me the run down of what it’s like to get frisked since that will probably be happening to me in the near future.
I will announce the winner on Friday of next week, therefore, that gives you until Thursday, August 2nd at midnight CST to enter.
Best of luck and have a great weekend!
Love,
Hal
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I'm a midwest gal living vicariously through books, writing, her crazy family, and a few great friends. My blog covers all of the above as I attempt to figure out what the hell I'm doing at any given moment. Follow me:
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What a great post!!!! I’m so bummed I missed Nichole’s visit in the Twin Cities. I agree she’s so responsive and full of personality on Twitter. I was really looking forward to meeting her in person. Thanks for giving some good details of your night!
I will tweet tomorrow or Monday. Saturday is usually my day off from Twitter.
I’m just plain jealous that Kansas City gets all these fab authors! Indeed, this sounds like a very special night for you, Hallie – and for Nichole.
No need to include me in the running. I won a copy of Nichole’s book from another online book giveaway (Not yet delivered. I’ve been salivating next to my mailbox for a month!). Can’t wait to read. Yay!
I’ve met some wonderful Twitter pals in the flesh: Sarah McCoy, Jenna Blum, Jillian Cantor, Randy Susan Meyers, Kristina McMorris, Suzie Ivy, Lora Rivera … It is so special to meet folks in person. Randy said to me, “Oh- you ARE more than a head and shoulders!” Ha.
I think we got lucky because Nichole has family/friends here. Otherwise, we might have been another blip on the map. However she got here I am eternally grateful. Your list is quite impressive, Miss Thing! I think the Tucson Book Festival may be in my future. Could you imagine the damage we could inflict on our book budgets?
So glad you have a copy and I can’t wait to discuss it when we are done!
XX and a big fat O,
H
I’m so envious! I’ve really been looking forward to reading Nichole’s book. It sounds amazing! I’m also a huge fan of the in real life Twitter meet-ups, as evidenced by the guest post I have right now (author Mia March who lives in my neck of the woods)! And I’m happy to say that last month I met Erika Marks (LITTLE GALE GUMBO) for coffee when she was in Maine. What a blast!
Yeah for Twitter meet-ups! I loved reading about Mia’s Maine awakening on your blog. That’s so great that you connected with her (and the fabulous Erika Marks) and share a love for what surrounds you. If money were no object, I would fly to your neck of the woods, rent a car, and drive for days, camera and pen in tow.
And good luck wrapping up your WIP this week! Go Julia go!
How fun, Hallie–that you met Nichole in person and fabulously bought a book to have a giveaway here. Very inspiring! I’d like to follow in your footsteps and do that someday– well, when I live back in the US. Not many authors come to Prague for signings.
I loved getting to meet Nichole and many other awesome writers at the Backspace conference in May in NYC. She signed a bookplate for me since her book hadn’t published yet, and I now have it mounted inside my own UNFINISHED WORK OF ELIZABETH D. It’s next on my read pile. Can’t wait!
Thanks for being such a great cheerleader for writers, Hallie. I can’t wait to meet you in real life. xo
As I told Julia, if money was no object, I would hop on a plane tomorrow and see you. I don’t want to wish your time in Europe away but I can’t wait until you are back in the U.S. and more accessible! FYI, Jenna Blum and Sarah McCoy are visiting Europe-soon, I think!- and Alex George is there now.
I’m so glad you had the chance to meet Nichole at Backspace. Isn’t she awesome?! Unfortunately, I didn’t have a ton of time to speak with her but hanging out with her in an informal setting was so fun.
My enthusiasm for other writers might be displaced motivation for my own writing. Summer has killed me and I hate saying this but I can’t wait until the kids are back in school. Mama needs to write! xo
Hallie–
You are a wonderful mix of funny and sweet. I can’t wait to read your novel, so Godspeed to you with it!
Yes, I’ve been talking with Jenna about their upcoming trip… but, unless a miracle happens and I’m suddenly in Amsterdam, not Prague, then I won’t get to see them. There in spirit, though! And my Dutch friends here love Jenna’s book.
And, yes, though I love Europe and its history and travels, I long for returning home to the USA. Soon, very soon!
Happy writing, Mama — soon! xo
I absolutely love this post for so many reasons – the mama-writer factor, the pull to document big moments, and of course the twitter-to real life meetings!
{They feel magical, don’t they?}
Nichole’s book sounds fabulous – you hooked me with the clear pool analogy!
Thanks for stopping by, Galit! My life is richer because of the other writers I have met online (even though I spend obscene amounts of time with my Twitter friends vs. real life) and can’t imagine NOT being on Twitter.
We purchased a “nice” camera a couple of years ago and one of the best purchased I’ve ever made. Documenting big (and small) moments is a lot more fun!
Glad I hooked ya and you entered the giveaway. Take care!
Sounds like you had a blast, Hallie, and I’m now going to have to see when/if Nichole is going to hit Nashville. It is always encouraging to hear about other mothers who are able to do it all (or at least appear that they can!). And you are so funny: your bladder shot after three kiddos. You are a standup.
How fun! In person Tweet-ups are the best! Earlier this year, I went to Sere Prince Halverson’s book signing for THE UNDERSIDE OF JOY (I’d also featured her on my blog prior, so she’s the first Fresh Ink author I got to meet in real life). It was amazing, and Sere was so sweet and fun to talk to; we ended up having dinner after her signing, and I was in awe of the support group she has in family and friends.
The best part is that I got to meet 3 authors in one day! Julie Kibler, whose CALLING ME HOME launches next year, had driven down to the store to meet Sere, and so had Lynda Rutledge, author of FAITH BASS DARLING’S LAST GARAGE SALE. I’d “met” Julie on Twitter but discovered a new author in Lynda (who I later also featured on the blog, and saw again at the same book store, months later, when her book debuted).
There’s something very beautiful about planting seeds of friendship online and having them bloom, splendidly, once you meet in person!
“There’s something very beautiful about planting seeds of friendship online and having them bloom, splendidly, once you meet in person!”–LOVE that!
And how cool that you met three Twitterites in ONE day! Something to say about fate, eh?