WHERE STORIES TAKE FLIGHT: The Guardian Herd: First Impressions of a Book Tour

Howdy folks, Jennifer here ruminating after the first week of The Guardian Herd Tour! I'm such a mix of greenhorn and old ranch hand when it comes to writing and publishing. I know a lot, but a lot is new. I've leaped from aspiring writer, to self-published writer, to traditionally published writer, and
each stage has a learning curve.

So here are my first impressions after week one of The Guardian Herd: STARFIRE Tour.

Eating: Good luck. The first three mornings I choked down plain bread and granola like a contestant on fear factor. Just made myself do it despite the fact my tummy rebelled. After the school presentations were over--I couldn't eat enough!

Sleeping: Again, good luck. The first night I was just excited to wake up the next morning on release day. Then it's release day and it hits me that my book is born--it is now my heart outside of my body, and I can't protect it from everything. The second night I had nightmares about kids' eyes turning bizarre colors and then a dream that a ghost yanked me out of bed. The third night, I turned the AC at the hotel way up, and I woke at 1AM curled into a ball and shivering violently. I turned it down, but still woke up each hour thinking it must be morning. So far, I'm getting most of my sleep in cars and airplanes.

Dressing: Fellow HarperCollins author, Soman Chainani (The School for Good and Evil), once tweeted that he wouldn't wear the same thing twice when on tour, and once he tweeted that his bag weighed 72 pounds (granted, he tours the WORLD), and I remember wondering why it mattered if he wore the same thing twice or not. He was visiting different people in different states--surely it would be simpler to repeat some items.

Well, now I get it! Once you are photographed and put up on websites/blogs/Twitter/Facebook in an outfit at one event, you don't necessarily want to be seen in the exact same outfit a few days later in another state at a different event. I'm sure plenty of authors don't care, and some have a signature "look" that doesn't change much, but in this aspect of touring--I'm with Soman.

Signing at Copperfield's Bookstore in Santa Rosa, CA

Emotions: Volatile the first week. Excitement, fear, pressure, more excitement, gratitude, worry, not knowing what to expect, and concern over travel details--these feelings hit me like a sleeper wave hitting the coast of California, tumbling me off of my feet. I have spoken before--but it was all booked by me and under my complete control. Now I go where I'm directed and meet people who I haven't spoken to in advance. My publicist is amazing with the details and she thinks on her feet, so I trust her completely. Each day I've been met by great people who love books.

Speaking: I try to start the day with tea and honey to protect my voice. On the third day, I gave four school assembles almost back to back, and at one school, the microphone didn't work right. Luckily, I have a voice that carries for miles--like the resounding bray of a Guardian Herd over-stallion--so I had no problem projecting my voice. But in case this happens again, I'm prepared.

Circle View Elementary, Huntington Beach, CA

Sharing: So after tumbling a bit under all the newness, unknowns, excitements, and pressures--I told myself to get over it! What is the purpose of this tour? The answer is simple. The purpose is to share The Guardian Herd: STARFIRE with kids. This I can do! And no one can do it better. I know the story, the characters, and the world inside and out. It's a magical and foreign place, full of danger and war, but also place where the inhabitants harbor a burning desire for peace.

I can share the heart of the story because I am the heart of the story--and by day three--I hit my stride and I shared the heck out of The Guardian Herd. The rep from Barnes & Noble told me that as the middle schoolers were leaving the auditorium they were all abuzz about which herd they wanted to live in, even the 8th graders! (If you know 8th graders, and I do because I live with one and I've spoken to them before, they aren't always the easiest crowd).

Once I embraced my purpose--all the nerves and fears vanished! I'm thankful to HarperCollins for allowing me this fantastic opportunity to meet my future readers.

Best Moments So Far:

Selling out my first book signing at Copperfield's in 15 minutes.
The little girl who came in to get her ARC signed and her dad told me she's in love with the book. I asked her if she plays "guardian herd" at home and pretends she's a pegasus. Her eyes popped with that look that asks, "How did you know?" (I know because I'm her, just grown-up). She gave me a huge grin and said she did.
The moment when I shared with the kids that each time I was rejected, I looked at myself and evaluated what I had done wrong. Then I made adjustments and tried again, got rejected again, then made more adjustments. I told them I kept tweaking and improving my approach with each rejection, and that I never quit until I got a yes--and the kids broke in spontaneous applause and cheering, overtaking the room. I was impressed with them for admiring hard work and personal responsibility.
When a fourth-grade girl who raised her hand and said, "You inspired me to read." And I asked her what she meant. "You mean read my book, or read books in general?" She said. "Just to read any book." Wow! It's great if kids want to read my book, but for a non-reader to decide to give any book a try--well, that's even better!
And I was impressed by all the boys who wanted copies of The Guardian Herd: STARFIRE. As a mom of two boys who are picky about what they read, this meant a lot to me.

Masuda Middle School

I've had unbelievable ground support with this launch from my publisher, the bookstores, the schools, my friends, and most of all my family. My husband is picking up all the slack at home, and my youngest is going without his bedtime kisses as the tour continues, but they're all excited for me and for The Guardian Herd:STARFIRE.

Check out the ginormous bird above my head! It's kind of pegasus-y looking.