Yesterday I went to a big city. I define a big city by a city that actually has an Unnamed Huge Labyrinthine Book Conglomerate. In other words, a book store that sells new (not used) books. I was finally able to buy:
1. Bowling for Soup’s latest CD “Hangover You Don’t Deserve.”
2. Lani Diane Rich’s Time Off for Good Behavior
3. Shirley Jump’s The Bride wore Chocolate
4. Photography magazines.
I haven’t read Shirley’s book yet, so I can’t tell you what I think. But I’ve read Lani’s and I must say that my experience with this book was very similar to what Lani relates in her blog at LiteraryChicks.com. For example, we both went to a Unnamed Huge Labyrinthine Book Conglomerate. It was my first Official in Store Sighting of her new book. Her first book. My friend’s book. I became a big spaz (although it was a quiet spaz attack.)
How come there’s a character named Shelley? Geez. Just call me Bones from now on.
OK, back to my story about buying this book. I had to look for it and found it on the shelf under “R” because Lani Schwalbe is going by her maiden name with this one, right? Right. And I must admit I didn’t witness the UHLBCs doing the evil-corporation-sucking-the-will-to-live-out-of-their-employees thing.
This particular UHLBC had three copies. Three copies. And I was a big spaz. I went to Information Desk Guy and I asked if he minded if I sign his stock. No problem. Just like Lani’s experience IDG didn’t ask for proof that I was Lani Diane Rich, er, Lani Schwalbe, er, um, Leah Something….
Anyway, I didn’t have any problems until I actually went to sign the book. So if you happen to be in Grand Rapids Michigan and you buy a copy of Time Off for Good Behavior with an autograph that says Lani Schwwww that’s crossed off and then it says Lidna and that’s scribbled out so you can barely read it and finally says Lani Diane Rich, well, that’s the book I signed.
I even got the IDG guy to put the “autographed copy” somewhere other than over Lani’s name. Although I prefered the little pink square to the little green square that Lani favors.
As for the book itself, I must say that it is fantastic. Definitely top-quality print job. You can open the book all the way flat AND not only does it not crease or break the spine (hate that) it will stay open (pretty much anyway). Very high quality stuff there. The pages are very smooth and clean. All corners are cut crisply. And after being held open for hours as I devour the book, the cover shuts cleanly. Again, no creases on the outer spine (really hate when that happens).
But I still don’t see why Bone’s daughter wasn’t named Lidna or Linda or heck even Lydia. She is so NOT a Shelley! Geez.
I think the IDG souless-guy began to get suspicious though when I tried to sign Shirley’s books too. Thanks for playing.
*DISCLAIMER: This post contains some fictional parts. People purchasing Lani’s book in a Grand Rapids bookstore don’t have to worry about a fraudulent autograph. I swear, I really did sign her name right the first time. And if Lani doesn’t believe me, she can just come on over here and see for herself. 
