Sipping and Signing in Sonoma!

What better place to have a book signing than Sonoma, in the heart of the Wine Country?  First, though, we needed to get there, stopping for lunch along the way with friends in Tiburon.  We expected blue skies and were surprised and unprepared for the downpour on the day of our trip.  We assumed buying an umbrella would be a snap.  Shops sell umbrellas, right?  Wrong!  Not in Tiburon in May!  Thanks to the kindness of strangers, shop owners who took pity on us, we were able to borrow one and arrive at the restaurant only semi-soaked.  We were pleased to hear that the shop owner knew about our book and had already ordered a copy.  The reunion with our friends was wonderful.  Both of us had had working relationships with them, Barbara as a film editor and Fran as a writer.  When it comes to friendship, time seems to disappear and we pick up just where we left off.

And off we went to Sonoma, with Gladys, our GPS, giving us flawless directions to Reader's Books.  Located just a few doors from the historic Sonoma Plaza, where the Bear Flag Revolt took place in 1846, Reader's Books is a book lovers' paradise, superbly organized and boasting thousands of hard-to-find titles.  Owners Andy and Lilla Weinberger have been nurturing the literary appetites of the community for almost twenty years and clearly pride themselves on their personalized and knowledgeable service.

We arrived the day before our reading and had arranged to stay with friends on a lovely, idyllic farm boasting several charming cottages.  Our friends, sensational cooks, had planned a wonderful dinner complete with magnificent wines.  We slept well that night.

The lure of the grape was irresistible, and the next day we visited several wineries and tasted some glorious wines.  Sonoma is home to some of the best restaurants anywhere, one of which is just steps away from Reader's Books.  How could we resist?  After an incredible dinner, it was time for our reading.  The discussion that followed was the liveliest to date with penetrating questions and revealing insights into a whole range of issues -- everything from aging to the meaning of fiction, to the influence of spiritual practice on creativity and much, much more.

Fran went back to Los Angeles the next day, but Barbara decided to stay a few days longer and enjoy this incomparable setting.  After all, as Golde Moskowitz might say, "What's not to like?"

Next stop, SAN FRANCISCO!

San Jose -- What could go wrong?

What could go wrong?  Up at the crack of dawn for our 7:30am flight to San Jose.  The car, reserved, and plenty of time for a leisurely drive to Barnes and Noble.  We boarded on time, the jet engines revved -- and then stopped.   It's a good thing they noticed the oil leak before we went in the air!  A half hour later it was decided a replacement plane was needed.  Would we be on time for our signing?  We didn't know.  Thankfully, an hour later we were in the air.

Our rental car was not as advertised, and we hoped they would take pity on us and provide a car that we would feel safe in driving in unfamiliar territory.  Ultimately that happened -- though at a price.  Our advice to you -- when renting cars online, don't believe the photos represent the car you'll actually be offered.  Take a cue from online dating -- the photo may not represent the date who shows up at the door.

"Gladys," our faithful GPS, got us to the store on time.  There we found several simultaneous events, including a children's signing and guitar fest.  We hoped some of the parents would be drawn to our presentation.  We really enjoyed Barbara's family who showed up in force and took the pictures that accompany this blog.  Off to a celebratory lunch before hitting the road again. 

We spent the night with family in San Rafael, discovered a terrific restaurant -- Citrus and Spice -- and explored Bolinas, a tiny, hippy town accessible only by a mountainous road with hairpin turns and astonishing vistas.

Next stop, Sonoma!

Fran & Barbara