As I was going through my photos, I realized I had a lot fewer than I thought. I think I thought I was getting some of the photos with my camera but it was really Libba's or someone else's. So, basically, I'm super smart. But here's an abbreviated scrapbook of the Ohio-Miami legs of the Torso Tour. For more info, check out Libba's fabulous blog and a lovely write up in PW offered by the incomparable Sally Lodge, who was very patient with me as I did our phone interview while I was boarding a plane.
In Cincinatti we did a fun interview on Mark DeWitt's radio show Cover to Cover, and he did a very good job of pretending not to be completely terrified of us. At least, he didn't phone in security. Then off to the fabulous Joseph-Beth Booksellers for a terrific event.
Libba and I decide to make our entrance on a sliding ladder. I looked down and noticed Libba seemed to be gripping that ladder with every inch of strength, a frozen smile stuck on her lips. She was probably, oh, twelve inches above ground. Seriously, she had bruises on the insides of her thighs from griping that thing. She kills me.
Three of Libba's awesome fans looked great sporting shirts that those who have read Rebel Angels will understand. So many fun fans. Again at this event, people were driving in from hours away, often from other states. It was very cool.
Reese told me she'd never won anything in her life. "I've never even won an arm wrestle." So I said, bring it on, girly. And folks, let me just say, I really did try. Really. She whooped me. Congratulations, Reese! You are a winner! (You were before our arm wrestle, of course, but it's always nice to have some physical proof.)
At Books & Company in Dayton, here's Anidori Isilee, who flew in from Philadelphia to come to our event. How hard to my fans rock? Seriously hard. She was darling. Sadly, this is the only photo I have from this terrific event. Lots of great school visits in Ohio too!
Books & Books in Miami did such a rockin' event. This group of teens helped organize it, dressed as Victorian ladies or Asian ladies. Very cool.
Here are the prizes they made for the trivia contests--a crescent and eye necklace (from Libba's books) and a charm bracelet with a pine cone, cat, and book (for b1000). Also, everyone's name tag was an anagram of their name (a detail from Libba's books), plus it assigned them a home from one of the Eight Realms. Very classy. They also gave us each a stuffed cat, and our cats had a photo-adventure, which I will post another time since my family is even now calling to me.
Olivia came from Tampa to the event. Her mother brought her and her two sisters, driving over 6 hours just to come. It was an early birthday present. How awesome is Olivia? How awesome is her mother?
Olivia's sister Hannah had her stack of Spiderwick books and said, "Do you really know Holly Black? Would you sign my books?" So of course Libba and I signed her Spiderwick books. Here are our inscriptions. And congrats to Holly as the Spiderwick movie opens!
Yes, when you've left at 4 am for a flight to Miami, by eleven at night, you might start to get a little punchy. It seemed only natural at the time for us to pose for a torso picture.
While waiting in the back office at the Miami Barnes & Noble for our event, Libba and I discover breakfast sandwich labels. And some tape. Naturally we made crowns. Here I'm trying to get a photo so you can read the fantastic muffin text.
And laughing.
And laughing harder.
It seemed the central theme of our Torso Tour was the laughing. I'll miss that Libba Bray. She's a gem. She's a crackerjack. She's my torso twin. Muffin crowns off to you, my dear. And huge thanks to Deb Shapiro, Bloomsbury, Random House, and everyone we met along the way. I feel positively optimistic about the world lately, having met so many genuine, fantastic, kind people. YOU ROCK!
Bonnie Tyler has has left the building.
SOUNDS FANTASTIC!
Love the pictures.
You both are just... so perfect for each other.
Now if only I could find my copy of "The Sweet Far Thing," it seems to have run away.
Posted by: Enna Isilee | February 10, 2008 at 03:41 PM
You two are so wonderful. Beyond fab. You rock!
Posted by: Miss Erin | February 10, 2008 at 04:02 PM
You two are some adorable liars!
Congrats on making it through the tour!!!
Posted by: Holly Black | February 10, 2008 at 04:26 PM
Oh, how you two make me giggle! I'll be chuckling over your "Holly Black" signatures for days . . .
And, Shannon, has anyone ever told you that you are in possession of some exceptionally white & straight teeth? 'Cause you really are. They're amazing. :o) How I envy you . . .
Posted by: Cara | February 10, 2008 at 04:47 PM
Well, I didn't get a chance to before so I'll now say that I do love your bangs, sorry that was late.
And, you guys look like you had a lot of fun. I love laughing. It just makes you feel better, so I bet you and Libba feel great.
All those lucky people got to see you guys. I wish I could've gone to one of your signings, it looked like so much fun. Now I've got to read the books Libba wrote, to tell the truth, I haven't read them yet.
Posted by: Andrea | February 10, 2008 at 04:53 PM
I read Libba's updates on her site earlier, but it was fun to read yours, too, especially with the pictures. Thanks for posting!
Posted by: Caryn | February 10, 2008 at 05:05 PM
You both are too awesome. I am so jealous. The next time I see you, Shannon, I am shaking your hand, whether you want me to or not. Perhaps some awesome will rub off.
What copy of TSFT, Enna Isilee? ;)
Posted by: Q | February 10, 2008 at 05:34 PM
I was at the Miami B&N, and let me tell you, you should go into comedy, I thought I was in a comedy lounge.
Posted by: duchessaofrandomness | February 10, 2008 at 05:49 PM
Holy crap--Libba and I have the same hair now! She *is* my evil twin!!
You look amazing, my dear. Just amazing. I so wish I'd gotten to be on that ladder w/you...
Posted by: Tiffany Trent | February 10, 2008 at 06:08 PM
I'm not Holly Black either, that I know of... Maybe in my past life?
I'll bet you're uber happy to be home! Gah, I miss you girls. It was so long ago, and my life just doesn't have the same meaning it once did when I was living each day to get closer to meeting you.
"I have been in the revenge business so long, now that it's over, I don't know what to do with the rest of my life."
"Have you ever considered piracy? You'd make a wonderful Dread Pirate Roberts."
That is me at present. ;) Now, get back to writing, so I have reason to keep going! ^_^ I promise to keep writing, too, so maybe I will get published and famous and go on tours!
Posted by: Katie-Wa | February 10, 2008 at 07:16 PM
Oh my gosh, could you two *be* any cuter in those breakfast crowns? I don't think so.
Posted by: Gretchen | February 10, 2008 at 08:17 PM
Dang, some of my photos are still showing up horizontal. Weird preview preferences on my mac still getting worked out.
Holly Black was here! You know what's weird is how Holly Black is my best friend and she doesn't know it. It's weird when that happens.
Posted by: shannon hale | February 10, 2008 at 08:47 PM
Fabulous pictures! I love how you signed the spiderwick books.
It's so cool to see another picture Anilee.
Posted by: Felicity | February 11, 2008 at 04:08 AM
You two are the most awesome author duo I have ever seen. And with thighs of steel to boot! You can't beat that, you just can't.
And I love your Holly Black sigs. Those inscriptions rock.
Posted by: Heather | February 11, 2008 at 07:09 AM
Wow. Reading about it makes me happy. Very happy.
Posted by: hwalk | February 11, 2008 at 07:51 AM
Miss Shannon, I just wanted to thank you a bazillion, trillion, million times for just being your beyond lovely self! Thank you for gracing my multitude of books with your sweet words! And thank you for all the wonderful hugs! Meeting you was the best gift in the world! I must say, you have me breathless with wondering over what Rin's story will be about! But as long as dear Razo is in it, I know it will be utterly grand! I hope I get to meet you again someday! Make sure you love up Magpie and Max now that you're back home! Hannah and Tessa say hi! Thank you, thank you, thank you again!
Olivia
Posted by: Olivia | February 11, 2008 at 09:23 AM
Sounds wonderful, I wish I could have gone to some of those events. You two are so adorable together.
Posted by: Biel | February 11, 2008 at 10:07 AM
Love your inscriptions on the Spiderwick books. You two are too hilarious!
Posted by: Robin Brande | February 11, 2008 at 10:29 AM
I've won a few things actually. Just nothing that doesn't involve your mind. No sports. Or arm wrestles (until now!!!!). But I've won chess tournaments.
*Coolness.*
Posted by: Reese | February 11, 2008 at 02:45 PM
That's my hand! Lol
I'm glad you enjoyed the Books and Books event! We wanted to find ways to make it memorable and I think the jewelry and cats did the trick for both you and Libba.
Say hi to My Lord for me. :)
Oh, and I know how you were trying to think of an anagram... one would be Hannah Leson...
Thanks for everything,
Erika (AKA Karie)
(The poster I made you both sign with your graffiting will be up on my wall. Lol)
Posted by: Erika | February 11, 2008 at 02:57 PM
Ha, I just noticed the title includes "say goodnight", like my screename on Little Red Reading Hood (a shannon Hale fansite) theysaygoodnight13
Posted by: duchessaofrandomness | February 11, 2008 at 03:33 PM
Has anyone ever mentioned how gorgeous your eyes are? (This is particularly evident in the first "breakfast crown" picture.)
I have really enjoyed reading your travel stories!!! Your blog in general has brightened my days for a long time now.
You rock, Shannon! :-)
Posted by: Sycamore | February 11, 2008 at 03:40 PM
*is jealous*
I want some tour love too!!! It's cool though, two awesome authors on one tour. YOU ROCK HARDCORE. I'd say I'd like to meet you, Shannon, but I'd definitely have no idea what to say/make a total moron of myself. Or both, if I'm feeling extra lucky. :)
Posted by: Christen | February 11, 2008 at 04:59 PM
Adorable. Glad you had fun.
Posted by: Calliope1of9 | February 11, 2008 at 05:23 PM
i don't get why you two didn't come to salt lake together...
Posted by: justina | February 11, 2008 at 09:53 PM
That is so cool. I'm totally jealous of everyone that got to see you guys.
Lookie there, it's Anilee! :D
Posted by: maribeth_kayla | February 12, 2008 at 06:43 AM
WHEN ARE YOU COMING TO MICHIGAN????
Posted by: jen w. | February 12, 2008 at 07:21 AM
Shannon, have you ever been told you have the most fabulous green eyes? I hadn't really noticed before until I saw the muffin crown pictures. And your teeth,too. They're like perfect.
*stunned to silence with mouth hanging wiiiide open*
Anyway, you and Libba seemed to have a rocking/kicking time. If I had gone to any of the events, I would have never stoppd laughing for a long enough time to even say "Oh my gosh! It's Shannon Hale!" See, I laugh very easily, so to be at one of those events would mean some serious cracking up.
But still...I wish I had gone.
Posted by: Ellenboro | February 12, 2008 at 08:14 AM
Ah, of course. Shannon's teeth are almost as perfect as *mine*. heehee.
Anyway, now I definitely feel guilty about not reading the Spiderwick Chronicles. But in my defense, I DID try and get them at the library...and they had all of them but the first one. Does that make sense to anybody?
Posted by: Liesolotte | February 12, 2008 at 08:27 AM
Oh! Sorry for the double post, but I hadn't read the other posts until now. Apparently, I'm not the only one that thinks you have great eyes and teeth.
Katie-Wa, I love the "Princess Bride" quote!
Posted by: Ellenboro | February 12, 2008 at 09:47 AM
I had such a good time at the Kendall signing. Ahhh!! It was one of the coolest things I have ever done...ever!
Posted by: Amanda | February 12, 2008 at 01:45 PM
Liesolette--Yes, yes it does make sense! I'm a strictly chronological girl as well.
Posted by: Gretchen | February 12, 2008 at 09:01 PM
Hi!
I'm reading Book of a Thousand Days now, and it's awesome! I was at the B&N signing in Miami, (you honored me by allowing me to wear Libba's breakfast crown for a photo) You both rocked! I haven't laughed that hard in a while! You officially have a new fan, Shannon! =D
Posted by: Andrea Garner | February 12, 2008 at 10:49 PM
So much fun recorded in a single post! *smiles*
Posted by: Bohae | February 13, 2008 at 01:37 AM
I've been trying to get the spiderwick books from the library too, and they only have 3 and 4. I'm going to see the movie sometime this week though.
Love the fantabulous pics. You rock shannon!
Posted by: Chelsea | February 13, 2008 at 08:10 AM
I've been a lurker here for several months. I'm a big fan of you, Shannon, and love reading your sassy blog and seeing your life as a writer. That's why I gave this blog an award (see it at http://storyengineer.wordpress.com/2008/02/13/blogger-award/ ). Thanks for all your work.
Posted by: Andy Lemmon | February 13, 2008 at 12:22 PM
Shannon-You rock my socks. Party on. It's what you do best.
Posted by: Dr. Sallie N. Cheinsteen | February 13, 2008 at 08:04 PM
No fair, Shannon got to meet Anilee before I did, and Anilee met Shannon before I did! Any chance of a book signing in the Philly Area?
I LOVE YOUR BOOKS!!!!!
Sincerely,
Sancho Moss (a male fan)
Posted by: Sancho Moss | February 16, 2008 at 04:41 PM