Tribute

Back in 2008, I walked into a Barnes and Noble for a book signing never knowing my life was about to change.

I'd agreed to share the spotlight with a fantasy author, and from the moment we met, something just 'clicked'. And not just because we discovered we were from the same town.  No, our personalities were similar, though BB Walter (as she was known then) was much more outgoing than I.  And thanks to her gift of gab, we spent out two hour block of time talking to numerous readers and twisting their arms I mean, coercing encouraging them to buy our books and take a chance on two unknown authors.

Her family showed up; none of my friends did.  But still, I managed to sell six copies of my book, while she sold out of her entire inventory.  Three months later, I invited her to join me at a local festival where two things happened:  1)  We sent so many people to a particular wine vendor, he traded each of us a bottle of wine in return for a copy of each of our books and 2) she introduced me to one of her dearest friends, who in turn told me about the local writer's group he had formed.  I joined, and am still a member to this day.

Two years later, due to a life changing event, BC Brown was back in town, having changed her pen name, and was writing a paranormal mystery series.  She and her friend, author J. Travis Grundon, opened a bookstore in town and other unknown local authors appeared out of the woodwork, lol!  We captured the attention of the Christmas Parade committee, and were asked to be the Grand Marshals in 2010.  I was thrilled:)

BC begged me to go to karaoke with her one night and begged coerced convinced me to join her in singing 'Does He Love You' by Reba McEntire and Linda Davis.  Three months later, we went back on a slow night and a karaoke fiend was born, simply because someone liked my rendition of Pat Benetar's 'Invincible'.  I was hooked.

And whenever we had a new release, finished edits, or just wanted to blow off steam, we'd hit the local karaoke place.

Last year, BC and her partner began making noises about moving to Phoenix, AZ.  At the time, this didn't phaze me too much, as I was planning to move myself.  But it didn't happen.

BC is involved in this latest antho, along with having another one of her short stories being accepted for yet another to be released next year.  This same publisher is also very interested in reviving her fantasy book, Sister Light, and its two sequels.  She gets her rights back from PA next summer and is counting down the months!  I'm also looking forward to the reboot of SL, since I've heard her talk about the trilogy and bemoan ever getting mixed up with PA.

BC and I went to RT Chicago last year, along with her partner B.  He tired of following us around after a while and found a bar to hang out in until we were finished.

BC was also very involved with the local drama department where her niece and nephew went to school.  Here she is playing the White Rabbit in a Disney Medley production....

And looking like Velma from Scooby-Doo as she practiced her part in Funny Girl.

BC and B left for Phoenix yesterday.  We held a good-bye party at karaoke, where we sang 'fun songs'...I did Drops of Jupiter by Train, changing the lyrics to 'the best chai latte you ever had and me' and 'did Phoenix blow your mind'.  I also got up and sang Jolene by Dolly Parton, only singing 'Phoenix, please don't take our gal'.  She loved it!

Our writer's guild treated her to dinner at Denny's last Tuesday, and yesterday, had one more farewell breakfast before saying a tearful farewell.

I just hope Lola behaves herself and gets them to their destination safely!  They're planing to travel Route 66 and see some sights along the way.

And thanks to cell phones, internet, and FB, we can still keep in touch.  The only difference is, our #1 Karaoke Queen and partner in shenannigans will be at least a three day drive away.