Fab Times at the British Faire

This weekend took me (along with a box of copies of The Key & the Flame) to the British Faire in Lenexa, KS. It's an annual fundraiser put on by several local chapters of the Daughters of the British Empire, who went all out this year to put on a gala event.

 

 

I wondered about the wisdom of setting up a table for a whole day with just my one lonely book to sell, but it turned out to be a great idea. While literary festivals and book fairs are the logical places to sell your books, sometimes you'll do better at an event whose theme somehow resonates with your story--and where there isn't a lot of competition from other titles. Because The Key & the Flame takes place in modern-day Britain as well as an alternate-reality, medieval-era Britain, it fit right in with the shortbread, Downtown Abbey memorabilia, and Doctor Who stuff up for sale. Here are some highlights:

 

photo: Steve Yates

The Royal Court graced us with their presence several times during the course of the day.

 

photo: Steve Yates

Watercolorist David Norwood, originally from a small town outside London, got a double dose of royal love.

 

photo: Steve Yates

Always nice to see Will and Kate. And Prince George was exceptionally well behaved.

 

photo: Steve Yates

 

 

photo: Steve Yates

The fine folks from The Queen's Pantry in Leavenworth, KS, helped me stock up on Scottish fudge, ginger beer, and Cadbury Flakes.

 

photo: Steve Yates

 

 

 

The DBE chapters setting up for the event

 

My pretty table, all ready to greet the readers. Primo spot: Right next to the gourmet cheese shop!

 

This stack kept shrinking throughout the day. :)

 

photo: Steve Yates

 

It was great fun meeting so many Anglophiles this weekend! Thanks to all the wonderful readers who completely emptied my inventory, my hubs for bringing by an additional box of books, and especially to the Daughters of the British Empire for inviting me. I can't wait till next year!

 

 

images: Where noted, Steve Yates took these photos for the Community Faces feature at kansascity.com. To view Steve's entire slide show of the British Faire, click here. (Unlabeled photos were taken by yours truly except for the top image, taken by my lovely daughter.)

 

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Taken to Task by Stephen Fry

Blogfrogs, there are few more delightful people inhabiting Planet Earth than Mr. Stephen Fry. His writing, comedy, wit, and everything else he puts his hand to make life more enjoyable for all of us. Here, he takes language curmudgeons to task and is, I fear, quite right. The next time I list a pet peeve (it will likely be quite soon), be sure to remind me of this clip, which I submit for your enjoyment while I sheepishly creep off into a corner.

This Is the Truth

It really is. And you can get it on a T-shirt by clicking here.












Have you entered the Countdown to Pub Day Party giveaway? Check out this month's goodies here.

The Weird & Wonderful World of English

Just a quickie post today to alert you to a fun link from Mental Floss about our beloved language and how 11 of our words got to be spelled the way they are. As a sometime copy editor and proofreader, I'm often asked, "But why do we spell it this way? That's dumb." Of course it is, but that's what makes our language such an infuriating, prickly, silly little mistress. But she's just so darned pretty, we forgive her again and again.