Monday, February 20, 2012

The Read Cat Bookstore and The Senack Art & Writing Contest

    "What will you be when you grow up?" the woman asked me when I was five.
    The truth remained, this was a touchy subject.  Did she always have to ask TERRIBLY SAD questions?  I was only five!  I loved Doris Day and Ginger Rogers--tough luck I'd been born in the 80's.  I could have tap-danced my way to stardom, but none of the other kindergarteners liked tap--heck, none of those pansies even knew who Gene Kelly was!
    I mumbled then, to that old woman who thought I was so delightful.  "Well, I'll never be a tap dancing star . . . Instead, I guess I'll have to buy a beautiful castle with huge rooms."
    She laughed--she always laughed and it was infuriating.  "And how will you get enough money to buy a castle?"
    "It's just money." I scoffed at her. "I'll get it somehow."
    "And what will you do with all of those rooms?"  
    Sure she wanted to hear about my future.  What was HER past like though--had she been an interrogator for the F.B.I.? I could picture it clearly.  "If I can't be a star," I said, "then I'll devote my life to charity!  Those rooms will be for my cats.  I'll take care of all the cats that used to be sad, mean, old or homeless.  I'll have thousands of cats in my castle and I'll NEVER get married!"
    It was true.  There I stood, reconciled to the life of a giver.  Who needed stardom--or marriage--after having a million cats to feed . . . take that Shirley Temple!
    My mom and I left the old folks home then.  We'd go visit that woman once a week because for some reason she liked me.  I was very sad when she died; after all, she asked the best questions.
    I never knew I would grow up, get married, buy a tiny house, have FIVE babies (only one cat) and become a writer.
    I thought about this last week, because I had a book signing at the best book store ever.
    The owner loves cats.  (The place is called "The Read Cat Bookstore" as in "I loved the book I read last week.")  He would have completely understood the answer I once gave an old woman.  Here are some pictures of the genre labels he designed himself.  He's very talented!



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And my favorite because it's epic!
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Here are some pictures of me at the signing:


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     Anyway, after these pictures were taken, a wonderful man wrote an article about me in the Examiner!  Here's that link:

The Examiner sits down with author EC Stilson to talk about her latest project! 
    I didn't get that castle or become a dancing star, but I think I got something much better.  It's amazing how life works out just perfectly.

    In closing, I have an announcement.  My newest book "The Sword of Senack" is coming out on 3/17/2012! 



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    To celebrate this exciting event, Wayman Publishing is holding an art and writing contest!
    If you'd like more information about that, please go here:

25 comments:

  1. Congratulations!!! A book signing is so exciting :)

    and P.S. I think that lady did used to work for the FBI. lol

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  2. Great story. And I love the cover art for Senack.

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  3. haha maybe she was a CIA spook. Of course the cat loves that book store. Such grand picks indeed, although a million cats would be a bit much, even for me..haha Nice book trailer too!

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  4. I love the sound of that store. Read and loved the article too. Less than a month until release! Awesome! Congrats!

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  5. You look thrilled at the signing. Don't worry about not having a castle, over here in England we all live in castles. They are cold, draughty, usually haunted and take ages to clean.

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  6. You look so beautiful at the book signing and I'm happy for you.

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  7. Loved the genre signs! Loved the Examiner article! LOVE YOU!!

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  8. Well done! I think "Zombie Cat" is gonna be a real winner.

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  9. The Examiner article he wrote about you was great! Look how gorgeous and proud you are at your book signing! Congratulations on such success!! And I wouldn't worry about the castle thing. I hear they're cold and drafty anyway.

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  10. Congrats! Sounds like a great week for you (at least your writing self :) . And the new book looks awesome. I'll definitely check out the contest (the writing part...my art tends to look like I stuck a crayon in my teeth and mashed my face against the paper :).

    Ps: how did things work out with the iPad?

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    1. I'm going in tomorrow. ;) so far it sounds like they'll charge $300 for a replacement. Not too bad . . .

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  11. Congratulations on the book signing! Can't wait to read the article. We loved the picture of the cat getting a clue : )
    We have tagged your blog in a book tag. Stop by Fairday's Blog! to see what it's all about : ) ~ Jess & Stephanie

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  12. Congrats at a book signing at such a unique bookstore! And the interview is marvelous! So thrilled for you. You look great and excited and happy. :)

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  13. What a great book store. I love you so much that I'm not even jealous.

    Love,
    Janie

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  14. Yay! I am so excited for this book. I love the ReAd Cat bookstore! I have been going there like crazy. Wish I could have gone to your signing! QQ

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  15. Beautiful! That sounds like my dream of owning a zoo someday. I still believe I will. I would love the heck out of all those animals big and small. I can't wait until your book comes out!

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  16. The lead up to your exciting TODAY NEWS was perfect! Yes, you really ARE a gifted teller of stories. Well done on all accounts and may things continue to go from strength to strength for you, Elisa!

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  17. Congratulations! (And I love the zombie cat.)

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  18. Why are older people always trying shake little kids down? Hehe. Congrats on the book!

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  19. Love the pictures! You look like you were having a ton of fun!Nice to read about another fan of tap dancing and old musicals...Hee hee, still love them today :) Congrats on all your great projects.

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  20. Dear Elisa,
    What a satisfying posting this was to read and savor and look at--your intro to the story, the photographs of the posters at the Read Cat Bookstore, that trailer with its music and "Ho! Ho! Ho!" pirate song, the fine interview with you in which the columnist led us into your book by sharing his own fears of fatherhood. All of this melded together into a posting I thoroughly enjoyed. Thank you.

    Peace.

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  21. I wish we had bookstores like that here. I'd love to take Becca to places like that.
    The photos were nice of your book signing. Congratulations. Looking forward to your next book and to Bible Girl!

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  22. Hey E.C., this The REaD Cat Bookstore guy - blast from the past. I was just looking over some google results and wanted to share the news with everyone. We have re-opened our store in Kanab like we talked about back at your book signing/our final moving sale day.

    The new store is at 42 E. Center St. in Kanab, UT. and we have way more new releases, audio books, plus some beautiful T shirts. Hope to see you there one day, it's a great place to visit. Here's my website with all the info: www.thereadcatbookstore.com

    Thanks again, our last day in Clearfield was awesome, all because of you! and the new store in Kanab is what we always wanted.

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  23. This is sooooo exciting! I hope we'll be able to visit your store sometime in the future.
    Best Wishes,
    Elisa & Family :)

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