Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Joseph-Beth to Host Neil Gaiman on July 11


This is not a drill. I repeat. This is not a drill. Joseph-Beth Lexington announced yesterday that they would be part of author and geek icon Neil Gaiman's last signing tour. I couldn't contain my excitement when learned of this glorious news and I immediately had to purchase tickets. Okay, I didn't purchase my ticket immediately, but I did very soon after the announcement was made. I even joined the Facebook event to make it official.



I first learned of Neil Gaiman when I was in high school. I borrowed a copy of Good Omens from my friend Jared and was absolutely enthralled. Come to think of it, I never did give that book back... sorry Jared! I loved Good Omens so much. It's definitely a book that I would re-read. It was within the last few years that I also learned of Sandman, which is a wonderful series. I'm still new to the comic, but I must read more.

I'd just started watching Doctor Who when I found out that Gaiman had written an episode. Season 6, Episode 4 "The Doctor's Wife" was nominated for a Hugo Award, which it won in 2012. It's a fantastic episode and is definitely one of my favorites from Season 6. His next episode "The Last Cyberman" will be broadcast later this Spring. Neil Gaiman's influence had permeated all of geek culture... and that is awesome.

On July 11, Neil Gaiman will appear at The Grand Reserve events center in Lexington for his tour supporting The Ocean at the End of the Lane which is his first new novel for adults since his #1 New York Times bestseller Anansi Boys. Other books such as Coraline and The Graveyard Book are both "all-ages." There isn't a very detailed description on his website as of yet, but this is what is listed:

A brilliantly imaginative and poignant fairy tale from the modern master of wonder and terror, The Ocean at the End of the Lane is Neil Gaiman’s first new novel for adults since his #1 New York Times bestseller Anansi Boys. This bewitching and harrowing tale of mystery and survival, and memory and magic, makes the impossible all too real... 

Just that short blurb sounds wondrous. The book is released on June 18 and you can preorder now from Joseph-Beth Booksellers and receive a line ticket for the signing on July 11. There are only 900 tickets available, with 100 going to VIPs through the Gives Back program.

As if he could be anymore adorable, here he is with a panda!

I haven't been this excited for an author to visit Lexington since George R.R. Martin rocked the town back in 2011. I'll be at the signing repping the Geek Girls Book Club, as the second book we read was American Gods. I missed that read, but I want to read it in anticipation of Neil Gaiman's visit to Lexington. Joseph-Beth works very hard to bring amazing authors to Lexington, so be sure to pre-order your book very soon! Let's give Neil a big Bluegrass welcome!

For those not around Lexington, here are the rest of his tour dates:

Symphony Space “Thalia Book Club Series”
7:00 PM
Thursday, June 20/SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY
Northshire Bookstore Saratoga @ Saratoga City Center
6:00 PM
522 Broadway
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
Friday, June 21/WASHINGTON, DC
Politics & Prose Bookstore @ George Washington University Lisner Auditorium
6:00 PM
730 21st Street, NW
Washington, DC 20052
Saturday, June 22/DECATUR, GA
Eagle Eye Book Shop @ Agnes Scott College Presser Hall
7:00 PM
141 East College Avenue
Decatur, GA 30030
Sunday, June 23/CORAL GABLES, FL
Books & Books @ Temple Judea
2:00 PM
5500 Granada Boulevard
Coral Gables, FL 33146
Monday, June 24/DALLAS, TX
Dallas Museum of Art @ Majestic Theatre
7:00 PM
1925 Elm Street
Dallas, TX 75201
Tuesday, June 25/DENVER, CO
Tattered Cover Book Store (LoDo)
6:00 PM
1628 16th Street
Denver, CO 80202
Wednesday, June 26/PHOENIX, AZ
Changing Hands Bookstore @ South Mountain High School Auditorium
6:00 PM
5401 South 7th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85040
Thursday, June 27/LOS ANGELES, CA
Live Talks Los Angeles w/ Barnes & Noble @ Alex Theatre
8:00 PM
216 North Brand Boulevard
Glendale, CA 91203
Friday, June 28/SAN FRANCISCO, CA
The Booksmith @ American Conservatory Theater (ACT) Geary Theater
7:00 PM
415 Geary Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
Saturday, June 29/PORTLAND, OR
Powell’s Books @ Crystal Ballroom
3:00 PM
1332 West Burnside Street
Portland, OR 97209
Tuesday, July 2/SEATTLE, WA
University Book Store w/ Clarion West Writers Workshop @ Town Hall Seattle
7:00 PM
1119 8th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101
Saturday, July 6/SANTA ROSA, CA
Copperfield’s Books @ Santa Rosa Theater
8:00 PM
1235 Mendocino Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
Sunday, July 7/ANN ARBOR, MI
Nicola’s Books @ Michigan Theater
6:00 PM
603 East Liberty Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Monday, July 8/BLOOMINGTON, MN
Barnes & Noble of Edina @ Jefferson High School Auditorium
6:00 PM
4001 West 102nd Street
Bloomington, MN 55437
Tuesday, July 9/CHICAGO, IL
Unabridged Bookstore @ Music Box Theater
7:00 PM
3733 North Southport Avenue
Chicago, IL 60613
Wednesday, July 10/NASHVILLE, TN
Parnassus Books @ Tennessee Performing Arts Council’s War Memorial Auditorium
6:00 PM
301 6th Avenue North
Nashville, TN 37243

Saturday, July 13/CAMBRIDGE, MA
Porter Square Books @ First Parish Church
6:30 PM
1446 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
Sponsored by Joseph-Beth Booksellers

Thursday, July 11
7PM
G
rand Reserve Events Center
903 Manchester Street
Lexington, KY  405087:00 PM
Tickets: $30 - includes copy of
The Ocean at the End of the Lane and line ticket
call Joseph-Beth Lexington
859 273 2911
(or stop on by, they'd love to see you!)


4 comments:

  1. I first, and last, met Mr. Gaiman at the JoBeth Lexington back in 2001. It will be a privilege to see him again nearly 12 years later....

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    Replies
    1. This will be the first time for me to meet him. I hope that I remember this, unlike my meeting with George R.R. Martin.

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  2. So that's where my copy of Good Omens went! It's okay, I snagged a hardback when it came to Half Price Books, so I'm not suffering the loss too terribly. I'm glad borrowing it indefinitely helped convert you to Neil, and I'll see you at the book signing!

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    Replies
    1. I know, I know. I'm terrible. If you weren't going, I was going to get you a signed copy of Good Omens to make up for it.

      PS I'm finally going to read The Vesuvius Club, that you got me for Christmas ages ago. It's sat on my to-read shelf for so long, but now I have so much more free time. I never realized that it was by THE Mark Gatiss.

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