Tour Cities?

Hey, everyone - thanks so much for all your input about places I should tour this summer!  Since I just closed comments to all those entries (CANNOT LOG ANYMORE) you're probably all waiting for a drum-roll and a big announcement of where I'm going.

But it's not quite that easy. 

It will likely take a few months for the publicity department at Penguin to determine where they should send me and these decisions are based on a number of factors such as logistics, costs, local media interest, and bookstore participation.  However, getting an idea of where you guys are was was really, really helpful - like, who knew how enthusiastic Atlanta was?  Or Seattle?  Or Raleigh?  Or Phoenix?  The responses I got will absolutely influence where I'm sent, but again, these decisions aren't up to me.  (And damn it, why don't more of you live in Hawaii?)

Since there's such enthusiasm (thank you, thank you, thank you!) I'll see if we can add places within driving distance, such as Indianapolis, Madison, and Milwaukee.  Also, if you have an event you want me to attend, talk to my publicist Mary Ann.  (Her info is listed on my Contact page.)  Penguin wants me to get out and meet people as much as I do - it's just got to make sense from a business perspective.  For example, Mary Ann says if you and your Nana and your cousin want me to visit your book club in, say, Denver, they really can't send me.  However, if you and your Nana and your cousin and all four hundred members of the Junior League book club in Denver want me to visit, that's a different story.

Cool?

Comments

[Sara]

Come to Minneapolis! They don't have rats there!! Be rat-free in Minneapolis in 2008!!

[nancy]

please come to west palm beach...pleaseeeee..

[Amy]

OK- 1. you can stay with me. We will drink so much wine we will crawl home. that covers COST

2. If I have a date, I can schedule an event around it since I am the Grand Pooba of my alumnae group. that covers INTEREST

SO HELLO LOS ANGELES! lol

[April]

Um, Downers Grove??? I don't actually have a book club...just a Trader Joe's down the street and LOTS of cheap wine and cashews. You can come hang out at my house any time!!!

[Ginny]

Yay! You said "Raleigh"! Yay-yay-yay!!! We LOVE you down here in Jennsylvania South!!!! Now I need to start lobbying the media to request a personal appearance. Fellow Raleigh-ites -- don't you just KNOW Randi West on G-105 would want to host a "Little Black Dress" party for Jenn at Oliver Twist?!?! And that they would SO love to host a book signing for her at Quail Ridge??? Let's make it happen!!!!

[Katie]

Just wanted to let you know I saw snow porn this weekend and thought of you.

[Diva Divine]

Please, please, please come to Indianapolis! We are the Circle City and home to the World Champion Indianapolis Colts.

[Nicole]

So here is the plan fellow Columbusians: 1.) We start a book club titled " Bitter is the New Bookclub" 2.) We read all of the great books by our leader ( maybe meet at Easton for book discussions?) 3.) We achieve a bazillion members thus making us the winners of the greatist city ever.period. Sound good?

[The Muse]

Yay for Atlanta! Though I hate to contradict fellow-Atlantan, Kaye (I'm going to anyway), while the Sundial is GREAT for drinks and city-viewing (particularly on a clear evening), it is not so much great on food (it was back in the 80s though, or so I'm told).

If you do come to Atlanta, I will be more than happy to provide you a list of kick-ass, great-drink-serving places - and I'll be even more happy to accompany you there! (And buy you some drinks!)

And if you want to do something really crazy that would knock Fletch's socks off, I teach at a pole dancing studio, and we would love you to come & check it out! :)

[Jenny]

MADISON!!!!! Please, please, please! Reasons to visit Madison:
1. Rated in top ten cites where dogs rule by Dog Fancy magazine. (Maisy and Loki friendly.)
2. Rated 4th brainiest mid-sized city by bizjournal. (This means that we like to read.)
3. Named most romantic U.S. city by USAweekend.com. (In case you bring Fletch.)
4. Madison is the home of The Onion, and I know how you like your satire.
5. Gosh darn it, people like us.
6. Jen Lancaster drinks for free in Madison bars! Well, you will if you let me, and all your other fans here buy your drinks.

[Joellen]

I've already chirped in twice but I'm back to pimp Phoenix. I'll even introduce to Brenda.

[Katherine]

My husband is dying, well, according to him, of a cold. Why is it men get sicker than women and are almost always dying from that cold? Or if they hurt their leg, it's broken.....
I'm looking forward to your tour and will travel anywhere in Texas. I may or may not bring the sickly man. I'm sure by the time your schedule gets going, it will be summer. I love all the big cities in Texas!!!!!!

[Bunny Bunster]

PLEASE, PLEASE, OH PLEASE!! Come to Indy!!

I'll buy you a drink or ten!!

Please??

[Jenna]

Phoenix is very enthusiastic.
Logistically, we are the hub of two airlines (I think). Cost wise, we are cheap in summer. Local media has nothing local to talk about except illegal immigration and the weather; you would be a fun change from the norm. Plus we have bookstores out the wazzu. I know because I frequent them all.
And really, is there any better way to enjoy a summer day than lounging poolside with a cool glass of chardonnay while your body is cooking itself from the inside out?

[Stefanie]

Just wanted to say Happy Holidays! Also let you know I LOVE the new book cover, cute cute cute. I found you when I saw Bitter on a book shelf, had to buy it just because of the cover and name. I had a boutique named 'Little Black Dress' you can see the attraction to your book. Then I had to buy the next one now I'm waiting anxiously for the May release!! I've also given it to friends as a gift and forced my husband to read both books - he loved them both! Happy Holidays and thanks for the laughs!

[April]

(With apologies to Kiss)

I feel uptight on a Saturday night
Nine o' clock, the radio's the only light
I hear my song and it pulls me through
Comes on strong, tells me what I got to do
I got to

Get up
Everybody's gonna move their feet
Get down
Everybody's gonna leave their seat
You gotta lose your mind in DETROIT ROCK CITY!!!!

[Beth]

Yes! I love the idea of you driving to Madison!

[Karen in Dallas]

Dallas, baby! Please, please, please come to Dallas! It's the coolest city ever, and will become much more cool with your visit. The best bookstore in the city is the Border's in Uptown.

[indycitygirl]

DAMMIT,I moved from Indianapolis to Savannah Georgia a few years back so I am guessing I have to hop in the car and drive the 5-6 hours to Atlanta(unless you want to make a side dash to Savannah).Let us know where what and when....

[Denise]

MADISON! YES! MADISON!

[Cyndi]

Yay, living within driving distance of Chicago! I will absolutely come see you and bring 50 of my closest friends wherever you may land near Indy.

I do still think you would be a big hit at Purdue, but I don't know who May Ann should contact there. My grad student friends probably don't hold a whole lot of clout. :)

[Mimi]

So, you're saying I shouldn't call and invite you (and Mary Ann, of course) out for a cocktail?? Or to go peruse the IKEA in nearby New Haven?? Or perhaps to visit my classroom....my students are cute...they can't read your book quite yet, but what they lack in literacy skills they make up for with big, big personality...think about it.

[Dawn]

PLEASE come to DC or Baltimore!

[Kari]

I'm still keeping my fingers crossed for Tulsa because I'm an optimist... sometimes. Where ever you end up, I hope it's somewhere I can get to :)

[Kaye]

Atlanta is a good for me too!!! It is a great city, I live 90 miles north. There are so many great things in Atlanta - in fact- Atlanta just got a Trader Joe's and I can hardly wait to go see it. One of my dear friend's husband bought her 96 cases, yes you read that right, cases of the 2 buck chuck!!!! They wanted to stock up and are giving lots of friends a case of this wine for the holidays!!!! Jen Lancaster turned us on to this!!! Thanks Jen!!!! If you do come to Atlanta there are several places you need to make sure you eat, including "The Sundial", the rotating restaurant on the top floor of the Westin. The view is wonderful and the food is too!!!! Doesn't all of this make you feel so loved!!! Everyone wanting you to come to their city!!!!

[Leslie]

Yay for Atlanta!!! :) Do come, it's quite fabulous here!

[tia]

SAN DIEGO!!

sorry, i'm just rallying up for a big finish.