Monday, March 16, 2015

 Journey To A Signing

I have so much fun working on my blog. Sharing my likes and thoughts on authors and books makes me happy. 

I'm lucky enough to get to be in contact with many wonderful authors. They're great people. So kind and giving. But until this past Friday I have never had the chance to meet one of these amazing people. (Well, years ago I did. Before I became a blogger and reviewer.)

And then I found out one of my very favorite authors was going to be signing books at Aaron's Bookstore in Lititz, PA. 


What author?, you ask. 
Laura Bradford was going to be at Aaron's signing her newest book in the Amish Mystery series,  
SUSPENDERED SENTENCE!

 

Laura has been one of my favorite authors since I read her first book in this series, HEARSE AND BUGGY. So, when I heard she was going to be in Lancaster County, PA, a place I have been visiting since I was a little girl, my sister Darlene and I planned a road trip!


So, on the morning of Friday March 13 (not an unlucky day at all!), with clear skies and sunshine, we set out from Delaware, in Darlene's car, and headed for Lititz, PA!


We soon traded the flat highways of DE for the hills of PA. 


By the time we reached Gap, PA, we were both ready to get out of the car and stretch our legs. So, we pulled into one of our "must stop at" destinations, The Town Clock Cheese Shoppe. And what luck! They were having an Irish cheese tasting! Perfect for two lasses with the last name Kelley! 

The cheese shoppe is the brick building on the left. Named after the town clock on the right.


Fortified with cheese and crackers, and some to take with us, we were back in the car and on the way to Lititz.

We still had some time before we could check into our hotel, so we stopped off in Intercourse, PA and another of our must stop places, The Kitchen Kettle Village. This is a wonderful place. Everything from buggy rides, to jams, jellies, and pickled items, to smoked meat and cheese, souvenirs, hot food, and soft pretzels. 



My sister Darlene is in the light green jacket, photobombing my pic on the left. 


With our new goodies in hand, it was time to head to our hotel, rest up a bit, and then
 get ready to go meet Laura.

Photo courtesy of Holiday Inn Express, Lititz, PA


As a courtesy to my sister and the fear of getting smacked in the head, I did not post the photo of Darlene all but passed out on her bed. 

Rested and all dressed, we head out for the signing. We had about a 3 minute drive to Main Street Lititz and Aaron's Book. After twenty five minutes, we finally found a parking space on main street. (Lititz has what they call Second Friday, where all the shops stay open a little later and all sorts of fun things go on. So the crowd was big!

Photo courtesy of Google Images. This was not at the book signing, but doesn't it just add to this page? ;-)

Finally we make it to the front door of Aaron's and I am slammed with a case of the nerves! I have been communicating with Laura for almost two years, but only online. We have never spoken out loud to each other. What if I get in the store and my talent for saying anything I want with the written word fails me when I open my mouth to speak to her? 

I swallow down what I can of my nerves and we walk to the back of the store. And there sits Laura Bradford. The same lady I talk to online. I've seen her photos, read her posts, and of course have read all her books. There she is. 


You got it. My nerves slammed back into my stomach. Darlene and I waited while Laura spoke with some other people. I stood there trying to remember to breathe. 

Then suddenly we were next and standing in front of Laura. She stood up, looked at me and said, "Lisa! Give me a hug!" And then I was pulled into a wonderful hug from not Laura Bradford author, but from Laura Bradford friend. And my nerves flew out the window.




Laura Bradford is one of the sweetest, dearest people I have ever met. She made me feel like we have been friends for most of our lives. We talked in between other fans and friends coming up to her. It was wonderful watching her with her readers. The time came where we needed to get moving. With another hug to say goodbye, we were on our way.

What about the signed book you ask? Here it is. :-)


I had the very best time. I would love to have just sat with Laura over coffee/tea and talked for hours. 

I won't bore you with the story of my sister and I keeping each other awake that night in the hotel with our snoring. Or with the story of our packing up the next morning for the rainy trip home. Although we had just as much fun on the way home as we did on the trip up. I will say, even in the rain, the views in Lancaster County, PA are stunning.


If you ever get the chance to attend a signing of Laura's, please do so. And don't be nervous! She is so down to earth and wonderfully kind, you will feel like you have known her forever.  

 Learn more about author 
Laura Bradford.


Visit Laura's Facebook page and give her a Like. 
Tell her Lisa K sent you! ;-)



Follow Laura on Twitter and tell her Lisa K sent you



Laura also writes the Southern Sewing Circle Mystery series under the pen name 
Elizabeth Lynn Casey.


As always, please leave a comment and 
let me know what you think!

Follow my blog by 
clicking on the link in the 
upper right hand corner of this page.




31 comments:

  1. Wonderful pictures! Sounds like you had a great time. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love this post!! I am so glad you made it to Laura's book signing and connected with her. It looks like you had a fabulous time, I hope there are more road trips in your future.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Mary! I did have a fabulous time! I hope there are more road trips too, Hmmm....Maybe I should plan one to meet another of my favorite authors, Mary Kennedy. Hey wait, that's you! ;-)

      Delete
  3. Lisa, you almost made me tear up. Lol. I'm so glad you got to meet Laura, and isn't it funny how we get so nervous meeting someone we admire? I love your pictures and your story. Lancaster Co is one of my favorite places to vist.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aw Dawn! LOL You're sappy like me! It is funny. I was a real ball of nerves! You and I will get to meet up in PA one day!

      Delete
  4. Beautiful post, Lisa! Glad you had so much fun. This w/b a wonderful memory, for you and Darlene!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Pat. Yes, it will be. Darlene and I are still talking about it and how very wonderful Laura is.

      Delete
  5. This was so much fun for me to see from your perspective, Lisa!! Trust me, it was an honor to meet YOU. Thanks for making that drive, for staying in a hotel, and for being as wonderful in real life as you are on Facebook and your blog.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Laura, I'm so happy you liked it! And you don't have to thank us for coming. It was a fun road trip for us. LOL But next time we may need separate rooms. We really did keep waking each other up with our snoring. :-D

      And ditto to you on being as wonderful in real life as you are on Facebook and your blog. You are the real deal!

      Delete
  6. Sounds like a great time. So glad you got to meet.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kiki, it really was. If you ever get the chance, do it!

      Delete
  7. Lisa, what a great post and a memorable trip! And I love the photos. So happy for you to be able to visit with one of your favorite authors. :)

    Susan Bernhardt

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you very much, Susan! I'm going to have to put you down as one of my road trips!

      Delete
  8. Lisa, this is just the best post! Great pictures, too! And it's nice to have a sister that's a pal, isn't it?

    Now I'm off to Like Laura's page ;-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Grandma! Thank you. And yes, I have wonderful sisters and we are pals. We are always there for each other.

      Delete
  9. Love your post! Love the pictures! Love Laura Bradford! Love Lisa Kelley. Thanks so much for taking us along on this fabulous trip.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! Love you too, Terrie! You are for sure one of my favorite authors and a future roar trip.

      Delete
  10. What a great post. Thank you for sharing your road trip with photos with us.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey Dru! Thank you so much. My blog today was a labor of love.

      Delete
  11. How awesome! Thank you for sharing your experience and pictures.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for stopping by and reading it! I had so much fun!

      Delete
  12. I have had the privilege of meeting a couple of favorite authors myself and they are so great! But I too have a bit of trouble getting over my awe and nervousness. Maybe someday I will meet all of my favorite authors. Thanks for the posting!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Elaine, it's a lot of fun, isn't it? LOL My nerves get to me in most situations.

      Delete
  13. Congratulations on meeting one of your fav authors.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Lisa. I can't say enough good things about Laura.

      Delete
  14. So, here's a funny story. I learned about Laura's books from your blog and Facebook page. I grabbed the latest book in the series (Suspendered Sentence) when it first came out this month. I live in Berks County PA but I was in Lancaster County for a birthday dinner with my boyfriend and I said, do you think we can make it to Lititz before the signing was over? And we DID! And then when I got home, I saw that you had been there earlier in the evening! I wish I had had a chance to meet you also!!

    Wasn't Second Friday awesome?

    I bought the first three books in the Amish series and I had them signed!!

    Thanks for the great recommendations!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jacki, I'm so sorry we missed each other. I would love to have met you too! And I am so very happy I helped you discover Laura! She'll sign again in Lititz when the next Amish book comes out next year. I would love for to have a pic of you, Laura, and me together!

      Delete
  15. Jacki and Lisa, yes we most definitely need a picture next year (2nd Friday next March). ;)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Don't forget!! Next book signing road trip to that area I want you to experience a wonderful fabulous dining experience at Shady Maple WARNING: DO NOT try to steal a cookie!! Hahaha. I think we'd have a blast together & your sister & looks like you could show me some places also :) looks like a nice 2 days!

    ReplyDelete
  17. I had such great times in Lancaster in the past and surely wish that I had been able to get to the book signing with Laura. Glad that you and your sister had such a great time; that is so special, and you have that special bonding of laughing at people who fall down too. haha. Loved the photos too, Lisa.
    Cynthia

    ReplyDelete