Monday, August 20, 2007

Countdown to The Femme Fantastik Tour

Hi Friends,
Yesterday I saw Berta Platas at the GRW meeting, and I asked her had she started working out in preparation for the Femme Fantastik Tour. She gave me this quizzical look. No, was her cryptic reply. I told her no offense, but Lori and Nina get sick on tour. They eat the wrong food and the next thing you know, you're carrying Nina's bag of 2000 shoes and dragging Lori on a stretcher to the nearest ER for an allergy scare. ReShonda, well, she can't stop having babies, and Trisha, well, she's just special. I'm the only healthy one, I told her, sucking in one cheek. That usually means I'm lying, but, whatever. I suggested a couple chin ups, some bicep and tricep curls and jogging for endurance would be in order. Berta, for the record, didn't believe me. (Her mistake)

In all seriousness, in less than 30 days our tour will begin. Last year we had allergy scares, bootleg limousine rides, book and author no shows and funny radio interviews, but in the midst of it all we were honored to meet the service men and women who make it possible for us to sleep at night. We loved meeting their families on church Sunday's, their children on cheerleading and haircut Saturday's, and their mother's and father's shopping in the PX on Friday's. It was our pleasure to shake their hands, give a hug of encouragement and share a laugh with these brave young people. Selling our books was a gift to us, not them. I gained so much. Humility. Honor. Pride. I learned from these people about the meaning of bravery.
This year we're bigger and we're bringing a few guest authors with us. So get ready because here we come. We'll see you in a few weeks!
Carmen

Monday, August 13, 2007

Femmes on the Soul Expressions Tour



ReShonda (Deceptakon), Lori (Diva Lite), and Nina (Diva Goddess) standing by the Soul Expressions Bus--our chariot for four days as we traveled across Indiana and Illinois. The nicknames--those given to us by our bus Wrangler.




Lori and Nina working the table in Wal-Mart. We visited 12 stores in three days in two states. We were working it!




ReShonda, Billy Dee, Lori's little head, and Nina at the Wal-Mart in Country Club Hills, IL. The man is aging nicely. A bit slower than days past but still smooth as hell. He joined us at the Wal-Mart and then later in the evening for a public meet and greet with the public. There was a private reception with just the 19 authors and Billy where we got to speak to him and take pictures.

All these pictures are courtesy of Nina Foxx. Visit her blog, The Vixen Chronicles, for more highlights of the tour.