Come Meet Jen, Who Often Refers To Herself in the Third Person
July 31, 2009 I've been hinting around about this on both Facebook and Twitter, and now I'm pleased to say I can finally share with you the details of the coming U.S. Cake Wrecks Book Tour!!
Exactly, Jae K.Uh, you DID know there's a book, right? Because you've already pre-ordered your copy like a good Wrecky henchperson, right?
Well, even if you haven't purchased a copy I hope you'll come say hello (and then purchase a copy). It's not that I'd mind eating all the cake myself (did I mention there'll be cake?) and doing the Q&A with just John (and that John's coming?), but frankly, Andrews McMeel might. So please, block out these dates on your calenders now, and then buy any necessary plane tickets to get you there, because with today's plethora of transportation options I am NOT accepting "it was too far away" as an excuse. (Hey, if I have to get on a plane...)
Ok, ok, just to sweeten the deal further: How about a contest? And even better, one in which no talent is required and you get to eat the results?
Yep, in a nutshell: just make a Wreckplica of your choice...but the catch is, it has to be on a cupcake. This is both to keep the entries a manageable size, and (bonus!) just to screw with you. The crowd favorites will win fabulous prizes, which admittedly I haven't decided on yet, but believe me, they're going to be fabulous.
There will also be cake for everyone (bakers, if you'd like to volunteer your services in your city, let me know), so rest assured you will be leaving with a sugar buzz even if you don't bring an entry - but you still should anyway, so that those of us with icing in our hair don't mock you.
Yeah. Like that.Borders (Winter Park)
Tuesday, September 22, 5PM
(NOTE: This will be my first public appearance EVER. So let me apologize in advance for doing the entire Q&A with a barf bag strategically placed on my lap.)
Portland, OR
Powell’s Books
Friday, September 25, 7:30 pm
Seattle, WA
Third Place Books
Saturday, September 26 6:30 pm
San Francisco, CA
Copperfield's Books (Petaluma)
Sunday, September 27 2:00 pm
Denver, CO
Tattered Cover Bookstore (Historic LoDo)
Tuesday, September 29 7:30 pm
Chicago, IL
Barnes & Noble (Old Orchard)
Thursday, October 1, 7:30 pm
Dallas, TX
Legacy Books
Saturday, October 3, 2:00 pm
Austin, TX
BookPeople
Sunday, October 4, 3:00 pm
Kansas City, MO
Barnes & Noble (Oak Park)
Monday, October 5, 6:00 pm
(NOTE: Yes, technically this is not in Missouri; it's in Kansas. I think these are listed by the closest major city, if that helps explain it any.)
Bethesda, MD
Barnes & Noble
Tuesday, October 6, 7:00 pm
New York, NY
Barnes & Noble (Greenwich Village)
Wednesday, October 7, 7:30 pm
I should mention that this tour started out with only 5 stops, and has grown to what it is now partly due to your exuberant responses on Facebook. So if you feel that some crime of omission has been committed here, by all means, tell me in the comments.
I'd also like to apologize to my international readers, since as you can see this tour is limited to the U.S. Given my dislike of flying in general - and long flights in particular - I have a hard time feeling TOO bad about this, but I am sorry I won't be able to meet all you lovelies in Australia, the UK, Japan, etc. We may try to stream one of the Q&A sessions online for you, so stay tuned.
And finally, if you think you might join us at one of the venues above, please RSVP - even if it's with a "maybe" - by clicking on the city name. This will help us figure out how much cake, prizes, chairs, etc. to have on hand.
Thanks, guys! I look forward to meeting many of you soon!
UPDATE: WOW. Thanks for the frenzied amount of feedback - I knew I could count on you Wreckies to speak your mind! Just remember that *I* am not the one booking this tour, so no accusing me of hatin' on the southeast/northeast, Ok? And rest assured, the powers-that-be are reading your comments here, so I for one have faith that - no matter what happens - I can always blame the outcome on them. :D
Reader Comments (830)
ATX I'll be there!
Yea! I am driving in to Kansas City- already wrote it on the calendar. I am so going to be there and bringing a cupcake. Now to choose a wreck......
Somewhere in Alabama please!!! Birmingham is a big city or even Atlanta.
How about a stop in Massachusetts? Worcester, MA is right in the middle and there is a Barnes & Noble or a Border's right in Marlborough or Shrewsbury (both real close to Worcester).
PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE!
No Los Angeles, or even San Diego? Las Vegas? That would at least give people extra reason to travel.
Good luck with the tour!
Well, this seems like the place for requests. And my request goes for Wichita, KS... It would be handier having a 1 hour drive as apposed to a 3 hour drive, considering the gas prices... just a thought.
I just emailed Changing Hands in Tempe, Arizona and told them they should book you!
Philadelphia will miss you :(
Ooooooh. I know I'm just a lurker so you'll have no idea who I am, and I almost never go to signings. But THIS is one I want to go to. I marked it on my calendar and signed me & hubby up as maybes for Bethesda. :D Anyway, I happen to be a book reviewer as well as a fan, so I'll have to review my copy after I pick it up there & get it signed. ;)
Oh please please please come to Salt Lake City, Utah! it's right in between California and Colorado. Soooooo many people would come I can guarantee it! I love Cake Wrecks and start my day with it every day!PLEASE!
I'll be at BookPeople in Austin! Woohoo!
It looks like you have Friday Oct. 2nd open before Dallas and Austin....do you know what's between Dallas and Austin???? Houston!! I guess it's not that big of a deal to drive up to Austin but Houston really is a great place!
Um, ATLANTA?!?! Hellooooo?
Word verification: angst
Why yes, I'm feeling some.
Jen,
I'm very sad that we will miss you here in the Los Angeles area.
You make me laugh EVERY single day. I've lost count as to the number of people who I've gotten "hooked" on your blog.
Have a great tour!!!!
Jax
Sweet! Us Orlando people are thrilled to see you. :)
congrats on the book!
NEW MEXICO! NEW MEXICO! Come to NEW MEXICO! Preferably Albuquerque. That would be awesome!
Minneapolis is such a short hop from Chicago! Can't you come here too? Please, pretty please with poo-colored icing globs on top?
-Sandy
Hey, you don't have to fly to the UK you know! Like you said, there's all sort of options... well, okay, there's two options and one of them is by boat!
So, see you in Derby (or at least, Birmingham 'cos surely you'll want to do the second largest city as well as London?) soon!!! *g*
Jem, you missed MINNEAPOLIS! It's the home of Betty Crocker and the Pillsbury BakeOff.
Boo
All right! Your first stop is the Borders I go to all the time. I am definitely going to be there!
No stops in Georgia OR Tennessee?!? Raspberries!!! :( Atlanta, GA or Chattanooga, TN are both hotbeds of culinary (and wrecktastic) activity and should not be left out!!
WV: abirkin - I would stand out in the cold wearing nothing but abirkin to see you!! ;-)
-Jenniffer
Holey Carp! You're coming to my city on my birthday! I may just have to make a trip out just for that. Plus I do have a perfect cupcake wreck idea, but implementation could be difficult. Good thing I've got time to think!
You must come to Boston! Just a short hop from NYC! Your trip could not be complete without a stop in the Bay State, and who could say no to New England in the fall????
I'm with Josh -- there are no stops in the southeast at all! (Orlando is not in the southeast.)
I'm sure plenty of people would love to see you in Atlanta. I would also be happy to drive to Huntsville or Chattanooga on a weekend, and I know who I'd bring along.
On further self-serving consideration, I also think that Atlanta is a big oversight because you often feature antiwrecks from Highland Bakery.
This is the first time I've ever commented, though I'm a HUGE fan. But... WHY CAN'T YOU COME TO CANADA? Admittedly I'm a hop, skip and a jump away from Seattle, but really.
Just squeeze Vancouver (BC) in ,at least. Or do a whole Canadian tour! Yeah. You're gonna have FREE CAKE, I guarantee you a good turnout here on the tundra.
Come to the LA area! If you're already in San Fran, it's just a 45 minute flight. Vroman's, Diesel Brentwood, or BookSoup would be great venues!
L.A., L.A., L.A.!!
Please?
If you hit the major Cities that have big boards on "chowhound", you'll attract an avalanche of Foodies and sell an absolute flurry of books.
Chowhound people have absolute WARS about cupcakes. And for some reason PAstrami and Hamburgers. And Mission Burritos. I guess we have a lot of free time.
L.A. is a Major Chowhound city.
Holy complaining, people. If Jen travels to EVERY ONE of your neighborhoods how is she going to have the time to make us laugh maniacally until our co-workers glare at us each morning? Sheesh.
Jen! I need you to come to the South! I'm from SC, but I don't expect you to come here...so Charlotte or Atlanta will do =) Please?
You should come to Cleveland or Toledo, OH. My boyfriend and I would LOVE to meet you! And eat cake. Definately eat cake ;)
-Casey
Aww man. Why not Orange County, California. I promise it's way better than San Fran ;)My mom is so not going to drive 8 hours for me to meet Jen. Wish I could go!
Tennessee. Tennessee. Tennessee. Tennessee. Tennessee.
Please don't judge me. I stutter. When I type.
http://www.visitmusiccity.com/visitors/
What is that! Odd. I wouldn't click it. It's probably a virus. Or online survey.
Sweet. You are coming to my city on my birthday. If that's not an excuse to come eat cake I don't know what is.
In the words of my forefathers (apparently using the term 'forefather' is sexist, but since I'm neither a father nor a mother, nor a fore, I think I'm allowed) and every person ever at world junior or olympic hockey game... CAN-A-DA... CAN-A-DA... CAN-A-DA! Plus I want to make a cupcake. Cancel that... I want to make a cupcake and eat the remaining 23!!!!
Congrats on the book, Jen. You deserve every succsex. ;) I'm so proud (tear trickles down cheek...)
Phoenix
uh... ATLANTA!!! Hello!!! (when in doubt, scream it)
Too bad you're not coming to Philly, I would so go!
Los Angeles!! really? You're not stopping in Los Angeles? How can this be a ligitimate "Book Tour" without a stop to Los Angeles? Hello!?!?!?!!? Please please please come here. Please please!!! With icing on top?
So Jen, seriously, please come to Los Angeles. Thank you for your time =)
~Christina
I am so there in Bethesda.
I don't think just a poo swirl cupcake is going to cut it for this contest, so I'm going to have to get creative!
You just happen to be coming to my town on my birthday. w00t!
NOTHING IN UTAH??? nothing even close to utah! i'd settle for salt lake city:) how did you pick the cities that are scheduled? just curious!
Yay! You're coming to KC! (Well, Overland Park, but close enough). I'm totally going to try to be there.
You need to come to Atlanta!
I read all the comments posted by 1300h ET; I want to add my request to the 10 or so that mention Ohio & southern Michigan as potential stops on your Cake-Wrecky tour. Maybe the publisher will fund you for a second trip, now that you can give them this list of suggestion?
Peggy, RN
faithful reader, long-time lurker
Hey! One near me!
Maybe I'll see if I can stop by.
Aww come to Saint Louis, it will rock :D Kansas City is lameeee
Please, please, please schedule the San Francisco visit for Sunday 9/27, not Monday 9/28!
You go "gril"! I can understand that going overseas can be especially long, but you know, Canada is not that far!! Specifically Montreal in my case, it's barely longer than going to New York or Chicago from Texas, if you change your mind. Have a good one!
Raleigh! Charlotte! You should really come experience our Carolina blue skies and southern hospitality!