On Vermont Boulevard, just south of Griffith Park, sits a bulwark of free thought and creativity called Skylight Book Store. It is the pulsing heartbeat of a great L.A. neighborhood; a vital organ of the community - and by gosh, the community knows it.
I met the owner, Kerry Slattery, last fall when I attended a gala opening of the store's spiffy new annex. Screwing up my courage, I pressed a copy of my book into her hands and introduced myself. Recognition lit her eyes and she graciously thanked me for the book, and said I could email her and ask for an event date!
I decided to throw myself a birthday party for my 73rd birthday on March 1st. That was cool with her.
The big event:
A goodly crowd gathered.
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These were, as promised, cakes and ale..
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The manager, Steven Salardino, and lovely sidekick, Kelly were amazing. They completely rearranged the interior of the store; setting up
chairs, table for "cakes and ale" (ok - Victor Bene's Bakery cookies - but they're boss
cookies), arranging a chair and table for book signing, and a chair for my pal Libbie Jo Snyder to entertain us with her fantabuous jazz/classical flute selections --- all within a half hour! My jaw was on the floor.
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Once the crowd gathered, had their cakes and ale in hand, and found places to sit, Kelly said it was time to start and introduced me.
But I didn't want to start the reading until my 85-year-old buddy, Joyce arrived.
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She has been my sounding board and booster from the start of my literary life.
I met her in the 70s when she was "the orchestra" for husband John's, improve group, War Babies.
As soon as she was settled comfortably, I launched into one of my favorite chapters, The Journey of the Dorabelladonna. That's the one that chronicles my trip from Maine to California in a 30-foot-long derelict school bus with a smokestack sticking out the back.
Then I signed books.
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And book marks.
And posters.
And DVDs.
And really old pictures.
Then I just schmoozed with old friends and new.
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Husband John took the pictures seen here.
All you guys who were taking pictures and said you'd email me copies...???
I haven't received any yet! Remember - the email address is georginasworld@gmail.com