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From: WMMayes at aol.com <WMMayes>
Date: Sat, 5 Jun 1999 20:18:48 EDT
When I have time in between appearances as Walter the Giant Storyteller, I work in an area bookstore. It helps to keep me on top of what sells and what the customers talk about, plus it gives me that tremendous thrill of connecting people with books. This store, The Storyteller in Lafayette, CA, had an unusual event this past Wednesday morning: A Hogwart's Breakfast. Anyone who had reserved a copy of the new HP book was invited to attend, be the first in town to buy their copy, have a bite of coffee cake and some pumpkin juice (delicious--we passed out the recipe!), have their picture taken with a Nimbus 2000, and guess how many Bertie Bott's Beans were in the jar, the winners to receive a chocolate magic wand provided by the publisher that says "The Wand Chooses the Wizard."
The event ran from 7 to 8:15 AM and was attended by over 200 people. I was dressed as Hagrid and worked the door, helping each child to get their house assignment and nametag from the sorting hat. I kept the Slytherin nametags separate from the rest, in order to prevent the horror of such an assignment, but reserved the right to assign it to troublesome children. The kids ranged in age from four to thirteen, and they were delighted--they had been anticipating the event for weeks!
Sales were terrific, and the store has been selling dozens of copies every day this week, as well as a resurgence of sales for the first book.
I have yet to meet a child who didn't love this book. In fact, the only place I have heard less than stellar comments about it is on the net, here most particularly. Good teachers, booksellers, and librarians have been using all this attention the book is getting (and I agree, it is mostly word of mouth that is driving this phenomenon) to keep children reading and to stir up some excitement about some other books that can satiate those readers who devour the book and need more.
It's a golden opportunity....
Walter the Giant Storyteller WMMayes at aol.com co-author of VALERIE & WALTER'S BEST BOOKS FOR CHILDREN: A LIVELY, OPINIONATED GUIDE, published by Avon Books.
"Love, Food, Shelter, Clothing...Books!"
Received on Sat 05 Jun 1999 07:18:48 PM CDT
Date: Sat, 5 Jun 1999 20:18:48 EDT
When I have time in between appearances as Walter the Giant Storyteller, I work in an area bookstore. It helps to keep me on top of what sells and what the customers talk about, plus it gives me that tremendous thrill of connecting people with books. This store, The Storyteller in Lafayette, CA, had an unusual event this past Wednesday morning: A Hogwart's Breakfast. Anyone who had reserved a copy of the new HP book was invited to attend, be the first in town to buy their copy, have a bite of coffee cake and some pumpkin juice (delicious--we passed out the recipe!), have their picture taken with a Nimbus 2000, and guess how many Bertie Bott's Beans were in the jar, the winners to receive a chocolate magic wand provided by the publisher that says "The Wand Chooses the Wizard."
The event ran from 7 to 8:15 AM and was attended by over 200 people. I was dressed as Hagrid and worked the door, helping each child to get their house assignment and nametag from the sorting hat. I kept the Slytherin nametags separate from the rest, in order to prevent the horror of such an assignment, but reserved the right to assign it to troublesome children. The kids ranged in age from four to thirteen, and they were delighted--they had been anticipating the event for weeks!
Sales were terrific, and the store has been selling dozens of copies every day this week, as well as a resurgence of sales for the first book.
I have yet to meet a child who didn't love this book. In fact, the only place I have heard less than stellar comments about it is on the net, here most particularly. Good teachers, booksellers, and librarians have been using all this attention the book is getting (and I agree, it is mostly word of mouth that is driving this phenomenon) to keep children reading and to stir up some excitement about some other books that can satiate those readers who devour the book and need more.
It's a golden opportunity....
Walter the Giant Storyteller WMMayes at aol.com co-author of VALERIE & WALTER'S BEST BOOKS FOR CHILDREN: A LIVELY, OPINIONATED GUIDE, published by Avon Books.
"Love, Food, Shelter, Clothing...Books!"
Received on Sat 05 Jun 1999 07:18:48 PM CDT
