"World" Tour Wrap-Up: Austin
October 17, 2009 After our book tour self-imploded (go here if you missed it), I was determined to get back on the road as soon as my health would possibly allow it. First I had to convince Jen, the doctors, and the publisher, though. We eventually reached a compromise: Jen and I would stay in Dallas for a few days more to recuperate, and then we would drive to Austin instead of flying.
From the moment we arrived at Book People, we were treated with such kindness and hospitality that it was almost overwhelming. Our two bakers, Nicole from Wicked Cakes and Paloma from Coco Paloma Desserts, had each made cakes for the previous week's show - which of course was canceled at the last minute - and yet were gracious enough to do it all over again for this one. Jen and I had assumed we just wouldn't have cake for the show, but these ladies insisted. How awesome is that?
Here's Nicole with a few of her sample cakes:
Unfortunately we didn't get a picture of Paloma with her cake - I think it was almost gone by the time we showed up! - but we did get to taste all the different flavors both bakers brought, and they were delicious.
Considering that we rescheduled the event with only about 4 days notice, and on a Saturday afternoon at that, I wondered if anyone would show up. I guess someday I'll learn to stop underestimating the awesomeness of our readers:
I think we had about 200 fans there. The smiling guy in the front row actually came to both the Dallas show and this one - and all the way from Houston! He also left us a big container of sprinkles. You know, in case we wanted some. ;)
Another thing I wondered was whether anyone would still have a cupcake wreckplica to bring. Foolish man. We had plenty of goodies to choose from! Here are our three "winners":
(That's Lara, Laurel, & our grand prize winner-who-didn't-have-her-name-written-on-her-cupcake-plate.)
(This was my favorite. It actually had tiny little flies on it! There's a picture of me somewhere online looking at this cupcake in a very concerned manner.)
Here are a few more of my favorites:
And lastly, we had a few folks e-mail us the entries they'd made for the previous show, since they couldn't make it to this one. Jen and I thought this one was especially spectacular:
It's the scene from the Kill It With Fire post! Isn't it great?
That's the guy with the fire extinguisher, and check out the little "Food Network" badges on their sleeves! Great detail.(To see the rest of the amazing entries for Austin, go to the Cake Wrecks Facebook page.)
We initially hoped to continue the rest of the tour from Austin, but the scheduling didn't work out. That was just as well, though; the evening we got back to Orlando I ended up in the hospital again for a few more days. Bah. But let me tell you, Austin, I wouldn't have missed this show for the world; you guys really showed us the meaning of kindness. Thank you!
TOUR UPDATE: We're still finalizing the dates, but I can tell you that the tour will recommence in about two weeks, AND that it will include two additional cities: Boston and Atlanta! More details to follow very soon.
John's Update to the Tour Update: It's actually the B&N in Framingham, MA which is only 18 minutes away from downtown. Best we could do. I can't wait to see you guys.
Reader Comments (106)
BOSTON? BOSTON?
blink blink
BOSTON! Yippee!
I know of three people who are coming and one of them is ME! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I am really happy that you are back on your feet and open to adding a few extra stops. I am sure we New Englanders will show you we are'nt fridgid in the hospitality department. Can't wait. Weeeeeeeee!
-WM
Glad to hear you guys are feeling better and that the tour will continue....especially in Boston...see you there:)
Well, despite our hate mail, multiple comments that are all the same, oblivious references to obvious things and selfish demands for you to run the blog the way that we want you to, we are united in that WE ALL LOVE CAKEWRECKS!
minneapolis!
I'm loving the last wrecklica. I like to think that "Cupcake-Kerry-Vincent" is laughing hysterically.
Yay! So glad you guys are coming to Boston!
John ( and Jen) good to see you back "en forme" as they say in Quebec. BUT really man... don't over do it. I mean seriously - a day at a time. relax, smell the cupcakes, er flowers , and be gentle with yourself. But we love the roar of the crowds too.
Austin done themselves proud.
Waiting for a Canadian tour date. (-:
Jen, clearly, you can't keep a good man down.
be good to yourselves.
How about Salt Lake City, we love you too. You could come here! ;)
L Gibson
So... where is there a schedule of the dates etc? Are there any plans for Ohio (in the current plans or near future)?
~Amber
1st comment! Wheee!
May I just commend you on continuing with the book tour in the face of such adversity. You really do love us!!!
That being said, I'm still a little disgruntled that you're going to NY, NY,but not LA,CA. Just wrong.
Marisa
I love reading about your tour! So glad you got to go to Austin and that the amazing people there got to see you!
Other people want to see you well and healthy, so make sure you give yourself recovery time before you head out to the other locations. Let me know when you come to China. 'Cause you know there will be an amazing cake waiting for you saying, "Good luck in China!"
yoohoo! love the cupcake "winners"!
*chanting*
Boston, Boston, Boston, Whoppie! (that cross-between-a-Whopper-and-a-Whoopie-cushion thing ;-) )
nova scotia, oh please, oh please?
Atlanta??? REally... REALLY!!!! I live in Atlanta! I can come to that one! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Oh John! Please get well for good!! I start praying for you again...
And BOSTON???? Woo Hoo!! I will SOOO drive the 2 hours to get there : )
WV: fiernf - The sound one makes when trying to alert others to a possible fire, only to discover mid-word that it's just flour from the bag that was accidentally dropped.
OMG, the Kill it with Fire cupcake is AWESOME!!!!!!
I'm a Food Network Challenge junkie (and Cakewrecks...I've lot a bunch of weight...notice the theme here?) and I wanted to reach into the screen and bitch-slap (am I allowed to say bitch-slap here?) Stevie that whole frickin' episode.
Kerry can be abrasive, but no one deserves to have their first birthday cake ever be a giant joke/fiasco.
WV = badrimpa...The flaming birthday cake gave me the most nauseating feeling of badrimpa.
ps You've been DYING to visit Indianapolis, riiiight? It's, uh, beautiful this time of year...sure!
ATLANTA!! Yay! :D
How about some SoCal? say Huntington Beach/Costa Mesa/ Newport Beach? Pretty please!!!
Kate
Book People is possibly the best book store ever! Good choice for a stop. My friend got married there!
Glad to hear everyone is well and ready to hit the road again!
BOSTON!!!! We love you guys!! Take care and rest up!
omg! the kill it with fire cupcake is magnificent! truly outstanding!
Does anyone here know what the writing on Lara H.'s cake says? I'm not even sure which language.
Woo hoo...you WILL get to Boston in the fall! I suspect you'll get a huge turnout up here, so make sure to pick a big place and save a seat for me (wink, wink)!
The scene from "Kill it with fire" has made my day!!!! I love that Kerry Vincent is sitting of the ground with her face in her hands & I love that Stevie is standing there proud lol!!! GREAT DETAIL!!!! Cake Wrecks you truly are amazing!!!
You're coming to Boston?!?!? I'm so there! I'd love it if you came to Maine, but Boston's doable. Yay!
Hey, the "winner" has a name. She's Meredith B.
And for what it's worth, I (Mere) would have voted for the crackpipe.
Thanks for coming to Austin!
BOSTON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That was probably an obnoxious number of exclamation marks, but necessary.
Is that a miniature crying Kerry Vincent? Wow, that cupcake sure is awesome!
We love Cake Wrecks! Come to Canada soon!
Yay! Boston!
It MUST be my birthday since y'all are coming to the Peach State!!!
(My husband is wondering why I'm squealing like a little girl)
Atlanta???!!!??
*squeals with delight*
Try and take care of yourselves - SERIOUSLY. I'm delighted at the well-deserved acclaim you have been receiving all week, but your tried and true fans won't have anything to love if you fall apart on us.
Cheers!
wv: quett As we say in Hotlanta, "y'all be quett down there. I cain't here Jen talking."
The "Kill it with Fire" cake wreckplica is superb.
I'm glad to hear that the tour will continue, and that people have such amazing cake talents.
Any chance you'll stop by Virginia?
ATLANTA?!?!!?!?! I can't wait!!!!!!! :)
ATLANTA!!!!!!!!
I will totally drive four hours then through four hours of Atlanta traffic to see y'all. And besides, I hear they have excellent hospital facilities there.
Seriously, Jon, be well! Get better! You are more important than cake.
Yay, Boston!! Now, please come to *actual* Boston and not some suburb it takes an hour to get to...
I so wish you were coming somewhere in North Carolina! If we could afford to Atlanta, we would so be there! Glad you are feeling better!
You two are amazing. Simply amazing.
It's interesting, though. NO LA??? Do I need to get on my hands and knees and cry and squeal and beg and plead and wish and hope and give you money? 'Cause I'll do it. I will. Except for the money part. We're broke. But I'm good for everything else.
i'm so glad you are both "on the road" to recovery. i used punctuation to make a funny. okay maybe not that funny, but heartfelt.
while you are not headed in my direction, (cleveland), i am still excited for your successful tour. rock on!
So... Charlotte, NC is 4 hours north of Atlanta. Far enough that most folks wouldn't *not* go to one city, just because they were going to the other, ya know? But close enough so that it wouldn't be stressful for you to get here!
I was unable to volunteer to organize anything after the first announcement of the tour, but if you were to come to Charlotte, I can do it now!! Would love to see you here.
I am VERY glad you're feeling better! Take care of yourselves!
Thanks so much for stopping in Austin, we had a total blast!! Hope you are both still in good health!
BOSTON??? I might actually drive up there from Providence! Not that it's a bad ride, I just tend to get very lost and frustrated. But I might have to for this! :) I will be keeping eyes and ears peeled! (And bringing some new wreck addicts, hopefully)
Du'oh! Take care of yourselves on these long book tours, guys.
Oh, but that 'Kill it with Fire' wreckplica was fantastic! I was watching that thinking 'she's not really going to light those sugar bowls filled with alcohol on fire, is she?' An excellent replication of that famous
wreck. :-)
GET WELL GET WELL!!!!!
Seriously, as much as we want to see you in person, we want everyone healthy.
That little Kerry Vincent is the cutest little fondant thing I have ever seen.
W: cupizedi
To make this Italian pasta dish, you mix together 1 cupisauce, 1 cupiricotta cheese, 1 half cupiparmesan cheese, and 1 cupizedi.
Yayyyayayayayayaaaayyyyyy Boston! (or Framingham, whatever. It's an hour away from me but I will BE THERE.)
I'm scheming about what I wrecklicate already.
It was fantastic having you both here in Austin! You're welcome in Texas anytime! :) Glad to hear everyone's on the mend... All the best! ~Nicole, Wicked Cakes
Today I received my copy of the book (as well as the two extra I've ordered as presents!) from Amazon (UK), and let me tell you, it's every bit as good as the blog! Several times I cracked up, and all the way through I was smiling! And yes, I read it all today!
Now, I'm wondering if there's anyone else I can buy this for...
Leesa
-wishing she could 'pop over' to the the US for your 'world' tour!!