Deeanne Gist - www.deeannegist.com - Inspirational Romance Author

Tuesday, October 04, 2005

I Did It!

Well, I did it. I wore the period wedding costume to my hometown's Barnes & Noble book signing. As you know from Thursday's post, I was sooooo nervous. I'd been away from home all day long with other commitments, racing in with just enough time to throw on my costume, tease my hair and swipe on some lipstick.

I walked in and nobody was home. Not one single soul (other than the dogs). Well, this dress is like, impossible to get into by yourself. It has umpteen hooks and eyes and snaps and ribbons--all out of my reach.

Still, I tried, but no go. So, I stuffed it in a garment bag, put on a slip-over dress and made my way to the B&N. The nice person at the information counter paged the Events Coordinator. I greeted her and then asked if she would mind getting to know each other really, really well in the next few minutes?

I was terribly embarrassed, of course, but she was as sweet as could be and took me straightaway to her office. Guess what was inside? A big, ol' Spot the Dog costume. I looked at her.

She smiled. "You think a wedding gown is bad? I'm gonna be Spot the Dog tomorrow. And that doesn't count all the other characters I've been over the last several years."

Was that just the sweetest thing in the world for the Lord to do? Because she was absolutely right, I'd hands-down rather be a bride over Spot the Dog. So as I shucked down to my skivvies and as she fastened me into the gown, she told me about an event where the person dressed up in a normal Bunny suit used to, in fact, be a Playboy Bunny. Was quite the story, that.

Anyhoo, her office was upstairs in the far corner of the B&N and we couldn't go down the elevator because of the rolling blackout situation. It was parade down the escalator or jump over the rail. I smiled, faked it and rode down the escalator with as much dignity as one can while making a spectacle of oneself. The walk to the front door where my table was all set up topped off my little display with just the right touch.

It was a two-hour signing. And I have to say, the costume intimidated some people, intrigued others. But all-in-all was a smashing success when the most precious little red-headed two year old walked in the door, stopped in her tracks and said, "Ooooh! A pwenn-cess!!"

Since I am the daughter of a King, I squatted down, skirts billowing all around and told her yes, indeed, I was a princess. We had a lovely chat and I have posted a picture of her on the scrapbook section of my website along with a few others from the signing.

I saw people I knew--some well, some not so well--and people I didn't. When anyone asked where I was from, I said, "Right here! This is the Barnes & Noble I shop in--but not in this dress, of course."

We'd have a laugh and a good visit and before it was over, they'd buy the book. Will I do it again? Yes, I believe I will. But only in large stores like those. The small, independent stores are very intimate by their nature and so I would not need the dress in order to lure the unsuspecting over.

Will I be nervous again? Yes, probably so. But not as much. In the meanwhile, peruse my pics and thanks for all those votes of confidence.

posted by Deeanne at 11:02 AM

6 Comments:

Susan said...: Dee.. Dee.. Dee.. YOU look absolutely stunning!! Phil & I were so hoping that you would wear the dress. How awesome is that! You took a giant leap and it was so worth it!

A dear friend shared this with me and I would love to share it with you.

GOD has made EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL for its own time. HE has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end.

Life is about changes and learning to enjoy the adventure of journeying in life with HIM. I can't see what's ahead and have no way of controlling how things will go. I can only trust HIM, that HE makes all things beautiful in its time.

You did GREAT!

Susan
Barb said...: So your friend just kinda whipped that dress up, huh? Does she make chub sizes too?! Did you keep it on for the family to be impressed by afterward? Or at least the husband?
Meg said...: Beautiful author, beautiful gown, beautiful Princess Sydney! What fun. I'm so glad you had the guts to do it.
Deeanne said...: Susan, That was lovely, and so true. Thank you so much.

Barb, Are you kidding? I would have had to walk across the parking lot in costume in order for the home folks to see it. No way. They can just go to my scrapbook page like everybody else! ;-)

Thanks, Meg. And, yeah, Sydney made my day. I can't even remember the last time I've held a two-year-old in my lap. Gave me warm fuzzies fer shore.
Barb said...: Ya know, in these pix you look like the cute and classy Molly from the Scottish "Monarch of the Glen" series. Maybe you should have your friend do up your Sunbonnet Babe outfit now, so you can star in the trailer!
Jeanie said...: Woohoo!!! Way to go! LOVE the readers with the gown!