My husband says I’m superstitious, and maybe he’s right. When I woke up on February 13 it was a cold, dreary day, punctuated by recurring rainstorms. I was convinced that “A Date with an Author”—the launch for The Penniman Menagerie—was going to be a disaster, because no one would come. Why would anyone willingly go out in the cold and drive through the rain to listen to me talk about my new book? Common sense would persuade a possible audience to remain safely at home.
My dire predictions, however, went unfulfilled. The launch was delightful, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Hosted by the La Sierra University Library, the LSU Department of English, and the local chapter of Sigma Tau Delta (the English honor society), every detail was taken care of. The equipment was in place to record the event. A beautiful bouquet of flowers reflected the late Victorian period in which Penniman was set, and the strings of hearts that decorated the tables of delicious food were cut from printed material.
I got to greet old friends and meet new ones. One of my helpful beta readers was able to attend, as well as an individual who wrote a perceptive blurb for the book. I enjoyed talking about authors who had influenced my writing, and how The Penniman Menagerie came to be. I’m always worried that awkward pauses might occur in Q and A, but it went smoothly as people asked intriguing questions. The liveliest moment, though, was when our daughter asked, “Which book is your favorite, Sita and the Prince of Tigers or The Penniman Menagerie?” and our son shot back, “That’s like asking which of us is her favorite child?” The room erupted in laughter—that was clearly a question that wasn’t going to be answered!
Truly, the question is an impossible one to answer. I’m sure you won’t be surprised to hear that I’m strongly attached to both. Sita and the Prince of Tigers was my first novel. I’d always wanted to write a novel, but I didn’t know if I’d be able to do it or not. The book is also highly emotional, and I was deeply invested in those emotional sections. The most common response I hear from readers is how certain scenes brought them to tears; I reply that I cried when I was writing those scenes. The Penniman Menagerie is definitely more fun to read, as some adventures and occasional high jinks occur.
The Penniman Menagerie launch was a rewarding evening that concluded with a presentation of crimson tulips, sent by a former student and longtime friend who was not able to be present. The rainstorm did not turn “A Date with an Author” into the disaster I had feared at all. Those fears had turned out to be silly and totally unwarranted.
