I don’t blog very much anymore, though I have started to Twitter. Business is busy and blogging has just been demoted to the back burner. But I did feel compelled to post this:
Last week I went to BEA in Los Angeles with Author Marketing Experts, Inc. (otherwise known as “Team AME”). As Penny’s virtual assistant (well, maybe not so virtual this past weekend), my job was to keep her on schedule with meetings, as well as provide some general support. It was a greuling couple days (I have 3 blisters on my feet to prove it!) but it was also very exciting. Everyone who is anyone in publishing was there: distributors, publishers, publicists, etc. Many authors also attended. Some celebrity ones I saw were William Shatner, Alec Baldwin, Josie Bisset, and Dr. Ruth. I got tons of books, mostly ARCs (advance review copies), or uncorrected proofs, and my shoulders were sore from lugging so many books in tote bags. I was like a kid in a candy store. I have enough reading material for probably about the next 6 months at least!
Team AME is remarkable, and I enjoyed spending time with Penny, Alex, Paula, and Susan–Paula and Susan I met for the first time this trip. We got to meet lots of people and many VIPS in the book world. It was great! On the fun side, I got to see Hollywood, parts of Los Angeles, Manhattan Beach, had a fabulous dinner at a Mexican restaurant, had some great pizza at California Pizza Kitchen, and got to see lots of palm trees.
But perhaps the highlight of my trip was my return flight. I flew from Los Angeles to Chicago to Harrisburg. In Chicago I had a 3-hour layover. I checked the gate number, got some dinner, and went to the gate. There was a buzz that an actor was waiting in our gate area–”you know, the guy from Office Space.” I said, “I don’t think so, he was on my flight from LA and sitting a few rows in front of me.” Someone confirmed that it was indeed Ron Livingston, and people were getting his autograph, asking for pictures, etc. They said, oddly enough, that he was going to Harrisburg. Now, although Office Space is my favorite movie and I love Ron Livingston in it, I couldn’t bring myself to go pester him when he was trying to read a book. So I didn’t. Fast forward a few hours, and another plane takes off from our gate. Our flight was supposed to leave at 7 PM and at this point it was after 6:30 and there was nothing on the gate marquis about Harrisburg, they weren’t loading etc. I go and check the departures and sure enough, the gate had changed and it wasn’t announced. So I go back to Ron and say, “You’re going to Harrisburg, right?” and told him the gate had changed and we needed to go down a few gates because they were now boarding. So we chatted as we walked to the gate about Los Angeles, Harrisburg, the weather, Harrisburg airport, that Office Space was my favorite movie (my only dorky fan comment). He was very personable, not to mention handsome. He asked me what my name was, thanked me profusely for “looking out for him” and we got on the flight. When we landed I saw him again and told him to have a good week, and he referred to me as his lifesaver, told me to drive safe, etc. And he said “Goodbye Lauren.”
So no, I didn’t get his autograph, or his picture, or even give him a business card. Unlike the people who were mobbing him, I felt inspired to just be helpful. But hey, Ron Livingston, if you ever need an editor, or a virtual assistant, or a book marketing company recommendation, send me an email.
I think I need to watch Office Space Again. Everytime I watch it, I’m even more glad I’m in business for myself!!
Lauren
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