I don’t want to say I am a traveling karmic disaster, but while on book tour for THUS WITH A KISS I DIE:
- My non-stop flight from Seattle to Houston was cancelled less than 12 hours before takeoff. To get to Houston to autograph at Murder by the Book, I had to switch flights and go through San Francisco, which meant I had to get up at 2am. (All medical personnel are sarcastically saying, “Ah, poor baby.”) When I got to the airport at 3:30am, the place was a seething mass of humanity — and humanity is bad enough when it’s not seething. I got in line to drop my bag and heard a lady say the computers were down. After 30 minutes, I had my ticket and went to the TSA pre-check line — another 30 minutes. When I got through that, I stopped for a moment to film a whiny video for Instagram, then walked on the plane.
- By the time I landed, I knew I was going to be late for dinner with my author friends (I lived in Houston for 21 years.) It took an hour to drive to the hotel (rain in Houston is no joke) and I rushed to my room, got ready, grabbed the hotel transport (with cow horns, of course)
- …and arrived at Murder by the Book a mere 10 minutes early to find the two bonus authors, Katherine Schellman and Ashley Weaver already there. John (really, not all booksellers are named John, just the ones I know 😊) interviewed us. I was so sleep-deprived and starving, I’m not sure I answered the questions he asked, but the readers seemed to enjoy themselves and wow! Did we sell books!
- The flight to Dallas was great! On time! Early even! The hotel, which used to be a distinguished, well-known mecca…was a disaster. Think two doormen who ignored me while I opened the door and dragged my suitcases into the lobby, a hole in the sheet, and long black hairs in the shower. :shudder:
- On the flight to Phoenix, catering never arrived. Our flight attendant (who was a firecracker) scored bottles of water from the back of the plane. Yes, I autographed a book to her.
- It was 118 degrees in Phoenix. You’re right, that’s not technically my fault. As they say, if you have a choice of going to hell or Arizona, go to hell. But it was a mere 100 degrees the weekend before and the week after. So I’m saying it’s my fault.
- The flight to Chicago took off an hour and 25 minutes late because the baggage had to be moved to the forward hold, which involved (after loading it in the first place,) taking it all off, then putting it back on and moving it around in the hold. Texting The Daughter: “There’s a cranky baby on the flight.” The Daughter: “Is it you?” Actually…yes.
- I missed a lot of meals. A lot. If you know anything about me, you know how dearly I love to eat good food. I also ate airplane food, which doesn’t fit that description, but when you’re desperate…For breakfast, I chose egg white bites. Strongly suggest you never do that.
- I went through the entire tour with a white head on the end of my nose, thus proving you’re never too old for a prom night pimple.
The good news:
- The autographings were so wonderful. Thank you to everyone who came, said lovely things, asked questions, and bought THUS WITH A KISS I DIE! Find a list of stores where I signed books here.
- At my first signing in Bellingham WA, my workout group was there with Christina masks. THIS IS TERRIFYING!
- Being back in Houston made me remember how lovely the city and its people are. I stayed at the wonderfully eccentric Hotel ZaZa in the museum district; that’s a definite recommend.
- After listening to Katherine Schellman and Ashley Weaver, I have two new suspense series to read!
- Half Price Books in Dallas is enormous, 53,000 square feet. I got lost in heaven — or, as they like to call it, the cookbook section. Half Price Books discounts new hardcovers. In case you’re interested in your autographed copy of A DAUGHTER OF FAIR VERONA and/or THUS WITH A KISS I DIE.
- One reader brought in 30 books for me to sign, including the infamous three-armed cover (I always get a bang out of seeing it!) Another brought in the historical romance she used as part of her thesis, IN MY WILDEST DREAMS, with all the notes and stickies on it. 😎 (On Facebook, a reader comment: “I want to know what her thesis was!” Me: “Something about strong women who don’t put up with shit from guys?”)
- In Phoenix, I got to visit The Daughter, The Son-in-Law and The Granddogs + I washed out my dress, shirt and bra, put them out on the deck, left for two hours and they were dry.
- Also in Phoenix, I signed with four bonus authors and 45 readers braved the 118 degree heat to come, listen and buy. Wow! The store sold out of A DAUGHTER OF FAIR VERONA in trade paperback. Score for me! I left behind copies of THUS WITH A KISS I DIE, so you don’t have to sweat it. (Get it? You don’t have to sweat it?)
- Also in Phoenix, I wasn’t one of the baggage handlers who had to put the baggage on the plane, take it off, put it on again, move it around in the hold…And it was 95 degrees at 7:30am.
- The flight attendants were, as always, helpful and energetic. As far as I can tell, all flight attendants read because they have such odd down times, so I distributed copies of A DAUGHTER OF FAIR VERONA autographed to them.
- Due to constantly missing meals, I lost three pounds. This happens on every book tour. By diligently consuming too many calories when I get home, I put the weight back on. Damn it. But briefly, I was at my ideal weight.
- I got to have a sleepover at Susan Elizabeth Phillips’s house, which made me one of the Cool Girls + She was a theater major, and at the autographing she did a reading as Rosie. Rosie was honored. So was I, and this longer video caught fire on TikTok and wow… Susan is awesome as Rosie! Here she is on YouTube:
- When I got home, The Husband picked me up at the airport! :smooches!: Was I glad to see him! Then he gave me food and wine and put me in bed to sleep for a solid 9 hours.
- We stayed in Seattle to watch the Independence Day fireworks.
- Flying and autographing: I didn’t contract COVID or any other illness. In fact, I haven’t ever had COVID. Neither has The Husband. We both mask on the plane and in crowds. Who has time to be sick?
- I took lots of photos and videos, and we added a page to my website with a visual of the autographings so you can share the excitement and order your autographed copy of THUS WITH A KISS I DIE and other titles from these fine stores.
- The day after the autographing in Chicago, I got an email from my publicist at Kensington Books:
“It gives me great pleasure to say that THUS WITH A KISS I DIE has hit the USA TODAY bestseller list at #74!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!
I’m doing a little happy dance here for Rosie and Cal!”
I know I already told you about the USA Today list…But I like talking about it. 😁
Quick Reminders:
- Enter the contest for:
- a copy of THUS WITH A KISS I DIE,
- a stylish Kate Spade bag
- a copy of A DAUGHTER OF FAIR VERONA
- A DAUGHTER OF FAIR VERONA sticker sheet
- Order your autographed copy of THUS WITH A KISS I DIE and have it shipped, or order it from your independent bookstore or online. Remember to read an excerpt here.
The last six months have been busy, and yay! for that. Thank you for being supportive through my six books in five and a half months start of 2025. It was a lot, I know, and you’ve been great about telling your friends, sharing the news and reading and writing me lovely letters. I’ve got one more release in 2025 (which you, you eagle-eyed reader, may have spotted) and other than that it’s all relaxation and — OMG, my deadline is Sept. 1!
Enjoy your summer and your vacation and until next time, happy reading!
Warmly,
Christina Dodd
New York Times bestselling author of the Daughter of Montague series
Printable/downloadable booklist sorted by genre, series and in order.
Books by Series with covers and links.
A guest on Groucho Marx’s You Bet Your Life television show was a woman who had given birth to twenty-two children. “I love my husband,” she explained. “I love my cigar, too,” Groucho said, “but I take it out once in a while.”
