Well, it’s taken a while but I’ve finally finalized the first four book signings in conjunction with my first month of touring elementary schools.  The signings will be every Thursday evening in September, as follows:

September 3rd: 6:00 – 8:00 pm at the Barnes and Noble in Sandy (10180 S. State St.). 

September 10th: 6:00 - 8:00 pm at the Barnes and Noble at Jordan Landing (7157 Plaza Center Dr in West Jordan).

September 17th: 6:00 – 8:00 pm at the Barnes and Noble at the Gateway (200 S. 400 W. in Salt Lake City).

September 24th: 6:00 -8:00 pm at the Barnes and Noble in Layton (1780 Woodland Park Dr.).

I’m looking to visit somewhere between 6 and 8 schools on the day before and day of the signings.  If anyone out there has children who go to school in these areas and they think their children would like to attend my storytelling assembly, let me know which school they go to.  Or—and especially—if any kids are reading this and would like me to come to your school, tell me your school and I’ll make a special point to try to swing by.  If I can’t manage it in September—or if you live outside these areas—I’ll keep your request on file and look to schedule a tour in your area as soon as I can.

I’ll announce the schools I’ll visit in conjunction with each book signing, as soon as they’re finalized, here on my blog.  I’ll also list all this information on my schedule here on the site.  Not only will this give you all an idea of where I’ll be and when, but it should provide a convenient impetus for me not to back out.  Don’t misunderstand, part of me is greatly anticipating these elementary visits.  (I really do have far more in common with children than adults, which is healthy in my profession, if you ask me—and even if you don’t.  You’ve got to have a lot of little boy or girl in you to tell stories.  I always thought I was brimming to the top with little boy, but as my last two books have been exclusively from the female perspective, I’m starting to wonder just how much little girl I have thrown in.)  However, I’ve never worked with children on writing before.  I teach college students every day, and I’ve done enough workshops at conferences and the like to enjoy them, pretty much regardless of size.  I’ve done all that and been successful.

No matter how childish I am, I can’t say the same about teaching children.  Thus, like any new experience, there’s a bit of uncertainty about the whole thing.  But when I start feeling a bit too squishy inside—as one of my little girl characters says—I tell myself the following: “All you have to do to get on well with kids is be willing to make a fool of yourself.  Not only can you,” meaning me, ” do that, you can do it exceptionally well, and likely are incapable of avoiding such.  So relax.  What else is a fool like you,” meaning me, “better fit?”

And so my logic comforts me.  At least in certain ways.