CHAPTER 35

Chapter 35

So far so good!
After a year of wearing the big 'S' (for self-published) on my forehead and being rejected by the bookstore biggies, I have experienced a very refreshing and satisfying two months since the release of my third mystery/comedy novel, Lady Justice Gets Lei'd.
As you can imagine from the title, the plot takes place in Hawaii, specifically on the island on Maui.
My wife, Peg, and I just returned from two weeks on that beautiful island where we had four book signing events anchored by the new Barnes & Noble in Lahaina.
It's difficult to describe the thrill of walking into a major bookstore for the first time and seeing your name, a huge poster with the cover of your book and a stack of your novels on display.
While I'm still a galaxy away from being considered a successful author, at least now I feel like I'm on the right track.
The Tate marketing team has performed as promised.
They have set up events in three huge Barnes & Nobles, a Borders and two Hastings bookstores.
Two days after our return from Maui, we had an event at the Barnes & Noble on the beautiful Country Club Plaza.
While the customers weren't exactly lined up out the door and down the sidewalk to meet me like they have with Steven Tyler and Sara Palin, we had a good day and sold some books --- enough books that they have scheduled a second event in June.
Also satisfying is the response of my readers who are coming back to buy the second and third installments of the Lady Justice series.
My goal in writing is to make people laugh and take them away, if just for a few hours, from the sadness and tragedy that fills the newscasts and newspapers.
When I get reviews like the following, it certainly makes it all worthwhile:

"This is the third book in the Lady Justice series. Each one is better than the last, which is saying a lot because the first one was fantastic. Mr. Thornhill has a wonderful sense of humor which he sprinkles liberally throughout his stories. If you have a grandfather, a dad in his retirement years, or you yourself are of the AARP generation you will not be able to hold back your laughter as you read your way through the Lady Justice series. Can't wait for the next installment! "

And speaking of the next installment, Lady Justice And The Avenging Angels is in the editing phase at Tate Publishing.
I'm hoping for a release sometime in the fall.
In the interim, I'm pursuing the marketing of Lady Justice with a vengeance.
For videos, book trailers, radio interviews and reader reviews, check out my website at http://booksbybob.com .