When I learned that Mary Nethery would be coming to the Seattle area for a school visit, I emailed Cheryl, offering up a joint bookstore visit (a rare thing for co-authors who live hundreds and hundreds of miles apart). She said yes.
Mary and I did indeed appear at Third Place, relishing the opportunity to talk together about a book that is so important to each of us, because of the story and because we got to write it together. Our mutual love fest blossomed and when it came time to do a reading (we alternated pages -- I made Mary read the sad page!), people in the audience who had copies of the book shared with those who didn't.
Random Act of Kindness #2: Afterward, I heard from a former student who was in the audience. She said that the lady in the row in front of her shared her book with a young woman. They didn't even know one another. After the reading, the older woman said, "You need this book." And she bought it for the young woman.
This is what story can do. It can turn complete strangers into friends. It can soften hearts. It can help us be our very best selves.
Random Act of Kindness #3: I don't know what my very best self will do tomorrow. But I can only hope it's something as dramatic and powerful as buying a book for a complete stranger.
What an inspiring post. Wish I didn't live thousands of miles from that bookstore. I'd have come over!
ReplyDeleteWonderful post, and great pictures of your event! I wish I could have been there, but now I feel like I was:)
ReplyDeleteI read Two Bobbies this weekend. What a sweet story. Wish I could have heard you reading it!
ReplyDeleteMary and I had such a great time reading together -- maybe we should record a podcast and put it on our Bobbies website! I'll have to look in to this.
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