Book It to Bermuda: the overdue promised part 4

The “Literary Events” Happening

Gather’s literary events took place during the two full days we spent sailing to and from Bermuda. Posters placed prominently in much trafficked areas of the ship invited anyone who wished to attend. The first talk was a 9 am presentation on book clubs sponsored by Simon and Schuster. I missed this event -- not because I slept late (who me?) but because I was gabbing at breakfast with several retired couples. We asked about their lives and children and former jobs and cruising past. And you? they asked. Where are you from? 

My hubby Bill – enthusiastic promoter, husband, and friend – had been waiting for this very moment. His wife was Beryl Singleton Bissell – a featured author for the Gather Literary Events Program. He told them of all the great reviews I’d been getting. I told them a bit about the book. He urged them to attend my presentation on the last day at sea.

“If you like,” I suggested, “you can hear Elinor Lipman talk this morning. She starts in 10 minutes.”

I excused myself and hurried to the Safari Club just as Elinor moved to the podium. She began by saying that she wasn’t going to read from her book. I gulped. I’d included readings in all my talks. Instead, Elinor shared portions of her own journey toward becoming a published author – her marriage, her efforts to learn how to write, even the fact that she was stymied about the direction her next book was to take. When I approached her afterwards for her signature, she beamed at me and said “Beryl. I am so looking forward to reading your book!” I loved her instantly.

Lynnette Khalfani, author of The Money Coaches Guide to our First Million, followed Elinor and gave us a crash course in managing our “wealth,” (debts and assets?).  Edward Abramson, author of Body Intelligence, finished the morning’s lectures with a talk on how mind and health interact. 

We had several free hours between the morning and afternoon presentations. Bill immediately took off for the fantastically equipped exercise deck and I headed to the swimming pool. It was filled with mamas and papas drinking from plastic cups while their kids looped around them in inner tubes and rubber floats. With no room to swim, I  headed for a lounge chair to read. At a table next to me a boy, perhaps 10- years-old, eased the onion off his burger and reached for the catsup. 

“I can’t stand all this computer gibberish,” his mother said, slapping a magazine onto the table. Her husband looked up.

“It’s really simple Mom,” the boy said. “All those abbreviations, ah you know, well they all stand for something. HTML for example …” 

 “Oh shut up!” she hissed back. “Why do you always have to be such a know it all? I’m so sick of you. SICK OF YOU.”
The boy’s head dropped. He poked at the French fries on his plate. I picked up my book and left the swimming deck. I haven't forgotten him. He's an ache in my heart.

I went to find Bill and discovered Beryl and Pat having coffee at the coffee shop. I joined them and we talked until 3 PM it was time to hear Helen Rees (A Literary Agent’s Guide to the Publishing World) share her many years of experience as an agent for famous authors. "Just because you’ve got a great topic and write well doesn’t guarantee anything," she said, telling us about one of her authors, a writer of provocative best sellers on important national issues, who let five years elapse between books and had to begin selling his writing all over again. Oh Lord, I thought! It took me 10 years to write my first book.

Meanwhile, at every meal, and with every new acquaintance, my hubby talked about his amazing wife, her fantastic book, and the great talk she’d be giving on the last full day of the cruise. 9:30 a.m.! Don’t miss it! Busy also pushing me and my book, were my beloved and bubbly cousin Beryl, and Gatherer Julie Rogers who has a hugely popular website called www.mom-mom.com and knows how to hawk a product. 

After her talk I scouted the boat, trying to find a quiet place to write (and rewrite) my talk. I wanted to do as great a job as the other authors. To make Gather proud. I found a spot but then a crew arrived to set up an art auction so I went back to the cabin to write. That night the seas began to heave. By morning we were being tossed like a ball in a wave pool. The waves were so rough and breakfast so poorly attended, that I was certain no one would show up for my talk. But they did – filling the Safari Room into the very back corners thanks to my publicity crew.

As I chatted with some of the early arrivals, Carl Rosendorf, Gather executive (try COO) tried to anchor the wheels on the podium where I was going to speak. No way was it going to stop its dance. The suggestion that I hold onto it while speaking proved impossible. I rolled with it. A heavy arm chairs took its place. I sat and talked. Sitting actually added a nice comfy touch to the whole event -- as if we had gathered in that large room for a friendly visit save that one of us had a microphone. I abandoned mynotes and began to talk about the ongoing miracles – the synchronicity of  happenings that had brought me to this place at this time. And I learned later that after my talk Gather and the boat’s gift shop serendipitously sold out of all my books.

Beryl is the author of The Scent of God and a Minneapolis Star Tribune Best of 2006 Minnesota Authors

On our first full day at sea, Bill and I celebrated our 10th Wedding annivesary aboard The Book It To Bermuda Cruise.