THE BOOKWORM
I’ve managed book signings for probably a thousand different authors over the past 35 years. This includes managing several for Rick Riordan, as well as signings for James Patterson, Tom Clancy, Condoleezza Rice, Madeleine Albright and many more celebrities/authors.
The signings I enjoyed most were ones where I could spend time getting to know the author.
During the holiday season in 2003, I was working at a Barnes & Noble in San Antonio. Steve Griffis, the sales manager of Texas A&M University Press, reached out to me to set up a book signing with Elmer Kelton, for his recently published book “Christmas at the Ranch.” We settled on a date for the signing and I passed along an invitation to take Elmer and his wife, Ann, to dinner, prior to the signing. They said yes.
The dinner was lovely, and it was so nice learning about the author and his wife. A true West Texas gentleman, Kelton was constantly writing and telling stories of people and places from a long-ago time. The couple talked to me about how they met, while Kelton was serving in the Army, during World War II. Ann was from Austria.
At the book signing for “Christmas at the Ranch,” Kelton was gracious to everyone attending the event. He chatted for a long time with attendees about the good old days in San Angelo, ranching, and his books.
This book is a delight and a short read. It covers the author’s memories of Christmases when he was young, on two different ranches; the one where his dad was foreman, and the ranch his grandfather ran.
The book also includes Christmas traditions from Austria. If you would like to read “Christmas at the Ranch,” it’s cataloged at the library.
Elmer Kelton never forgot a face, and I would run into him periodically at the Texas Book Festival. He always remembered who I was.
I’m grateful I had the opportunity to sit down with the author and visit with him, a giant in Texas literature.
Upcoming Programs at the Library
— Monday, Dec. 23, noon: The Reality Readers Book Discussion Group meets in the conference room.
— Thursday, Dec. 26, 10 a.m.: Mary’s Potpourri Book Discussion Group meets to discuss “Candide” by Voltaire.
— Thursday, Dec. 26, 1:30 p.m. The Drawing Club meets in the conference room.
— Friday, Dec. 27, 10 a.m.; Active Movement (Qi gong) in the community room.
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