
![]() So, the book signing was very successful, and I sold a lot of books between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. It only took about 10 minutes for the first people to come looking for me after seeing the announcements I'd posted all over the place online and in e-mails. I think it the local interest helped because the bookstore is right next to the Troy Farmer's Market where Gappy's adventure begins in the fourth book, Gappy and the Thieves. It also features Oakwood Cemetery, just down the road where Uncle Sam is buried and where Gappy's adventure really heats up and becomes quite scary. Below is the news article about my Gappy books, which came out in the Troy Record newspaper on Friday, July 26th, and the poster made up by Market Block Books to announce the book signing.
Yesterday, Wednesday, October 31st, I did a quick author interview with Ripley's Believe it or Not Radio. Part of it was to do with Can Vampires be Good Role Models for Children. My answer was a resounding Yes! If you've read the books, you will know that Gappy is just a normal kid who goes through all of life's experiences as other regular kids. He deals with bullies, he's not very good at math, he's loyal and sticks by his friends through thick and thin, he works hard to solve problems and doesn't give up, he's compassionate and kind, etc. Also, as commented on by the teacher of a fourth grade class that I visited to talk about my books and the joy of writing, Gappy also has to deal with being different. Already shy and somewhat serious which makes him an appealing target for bullying by Billy Tompkins, now he has the huge, secret identity of becoming a vampire, to boot. Imagine how hard that must be? Kids can relate to Gappy and if they model his behavior, they can't go wrong - except for the part about hiding his secret identity, that is and the various evasions that that incurs. However, he has to do that to protect the vampire race from discovery by regular humans - regs, so I think he's allowed. Although the interview was taped yesterday, which is kind of appropriate, seeing as October 31st is Halloween - OOOOoooooh - the segment will air sometime in December. I'll post the podcast when it comes out. I also told Ripley's about the reeeeeally weeeeeird things that happened to me while I was writing Book Six of the Young Vampire Adventures: Gappy and the Witch's Curse. I still can't believe that they happened. They were really spooky. See below blog entries for details.
Hiya, regs. Well, Gappy's vampire adventures are going national on the airwaves! Next week I will be taping an author interview with the "X" Zone Radio/TV show out of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The 'X' Zone Radio Show" is broadcast internationally and syndicated by The 'X' Zone Broadcast Network (http://www.xzbn.net/) and on the TalkStar Radio Network, Monday - Friday from 10 pm - 2 am Eastern / 7 pm - 11 pm Pacific and then repeated in its entirety from 2 am - 6 am Eastern / 11 pm - 3 pm. Podcasts are available on Apple iTunes and at ‘X’ Zone Podcasts - http://www.xzonepodcast.com/. I'll let you know when my podcast's up and running.
Also, for those regs living out Arizona way, I will be doing a live 30-minute call-in program on 1100 KFNX's "Networking Arizona" show from 3:30 - 4:00 pm (Arizona time) on Friday, February 15th. If you're not in their broadcast area, you can listen on the web at www.1100kfnx.com and, of course, I will post the link to the podcast. Signed up for a meet-the-media conference in New York City in October. Great chance to network, meet TV and radio producers, journalists, agents and publishers and receive coaching on pitching Gappy's vampire adventures, finding the right hook, etc. They only have space for 100 people, so I'm waiting with bated breath to find out if I'm deemed worthy to attend. Wish me luck!
Bookstore event went off well yesterday at Good Buy Books. The kids and I had a great time. We read some chapters from book 1, A Surprise for Gappy, and on learning about the secret world of modern-day vampires that co-exist with regular humans - regs - and that children can inherit the vampire gene from their parents, one of the kids turned to his dad and asked him hopefully, "Dad, are you a vampire?" then was disappointed when his dad said no. We also talked about bullies at school, which Gappy faces, and discussed what secret powers we would like to have. My friend, Bob Shenise, came with his video camera and did some filming, interviews, and still shots, which I look forward to posting. Picked up some contacts from the bookstore owner Lynne for the local library and another private bookstore in Stuyvesant Plaza. Very grateful to my choir friend, Doris, for helping bring this author event to fruition. All in all, a good day.
Here's me making pounds of Graveyard Dirt, Gappy's favorite snack, for my bookstore event tomorrow. Good Buy Books, 330 Columbia Turnpike, East Greenbush, NY from 10-11 a.m.
Yours truly will be at Good Buy Books, 330 Columbia Turnpike, East Greenbush, NY on Saturday, March 24th from 10-11 a.m. I'll be reading selections from my first book, A Surprise for Gappy, and chatting about the Young Vampire Adventures. Kids can even try one of Gappy's favorite snacks - graveyard dirt. Yummy!
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AuthorStar Donovan, author of the exciting Young Vampire Adventures, a series of books about a normal boy named Gappy, who gets the shock of his life when he learns that he is turning into a vampire and then proceeds to hurtle from one dangerous adventure to another. Gappy makes it to TV!!
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