Last week my publicist, Karen Steele, and I traveled to Pennsylvania for my very first book tour. It was a short, whirlwind travel event with lots of driving in between locations. The bookstore in Pottstown, PA first contacted my publicist to ask if I could come. I didn’t know what to expect but when Karen came back and said yes, I was soon booked for three events in three different cities throughout the state.
I don’t want to give you a blow by blow account of our travels, but thought you might like some of the highlights, and mostly the pictures!
The day before I was scheduled to leave, I attempted to check in with Delta on my phone app. They said I was too early. No. Clearly I was less than 24 hours ahead and unless they’d changed their policy, I was right on time. Or so I thought.
I tried various ways to check in but it kept telling me to try that night. I called Delta while I got ready for my day. While stuck on hold, I looked again at my ticket, only to realize that I had booked a p.m. flight, not an a.m. flight. (Insert full-blown panic attack here.) I HAD to be in Philadelphia by noon the next day, not midnight! I would have missed Karen and these wonderful people in the picture above—some of those who work at or own Way to Emmaus Christian Bookstore.
Delta does allow you to change planes for a fee—but they graciously waived that fee when I asked. And after some searching, I found that the flight I actually needed had one seat left that wasn’t a super pricey first class. Panic attack ended. (Actually, I wasn’t too upset as I figured God would help me work it out…but there was a moment of, “What did I do?” angst!
After a great time in Emmaus and a wonderful dinner out with the bookstore owner and her husband, we drove a while to our hotel and then crashed from exhaustion of travel. But the next day we were up and off again, first to Lancaster where we toured an Amish house and farm.
Goats on an Amish Farm
Amish School House
After the tour of the Amish village/homestead/farm, we traveled to Richfield, where Guardian Angel Bookstore had put on a dinner for us and invited me to speak to those in attendance. Such wonderful women came and listened and talked with me afterward. I’ve never been to so many small towns, but I think I’m in love with the idea of such community. I didn’t see places to shop or malls or gas stations, which had to be somewhere nearby, but Church Street had at least five churches on that short road. The people in the bookstore were so gracious and kind. Thank you, Richfield!
From there we drove another hour or so to our hotel in Mechanicsburg, slept, ate breakfast, checked out, and grabbed our daily latte from a local coffee shop or Starbucks, whatever we could find. Then off again to Pottstown, the place who invited us in the first place. (The first photo above is of me holding an engraved pen and leather bookmark commemorating the visit. The card was super nice too. Thank you!)
Third Day/Masters Mercantile Bookstore was delightful! The people were great and asked me lots of questions. They had all of my books on display – thank you so much for that! I’m blessed for having met each one of you!
I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know my publicist better – and she is an excellent driver. (I navigated – check that – Siri navigated.) We saw such beauty as we drove. I’ve been through a lot of rural areas in my life but this time of year everything spoke beauty.
I’m so glad I was given this opportunity. Just the fun of meeting people who love the Lord and like my books and wanted to talk to me was pretty amazing. I’m still humbled and honored to be invited to come. So thank you, Pennsylvania, for a warm welcome from three of your small towns, and three very awesome Christian bookstores.
Until next time~
Jill
