Book Tour: SoCal to Seattle
After a great book debut at Dilworth Billiards in North Carolina 12/8, I jumped on a flight the next morning for the West Coast to promote “Live Full Throttle” in cities where the International Motorcycle Show is touring.
Long Beach
Southern California was my first stop, and the show in Long Beach is one of the largest on the tour because so many companies have a presence in SoCal.
In addition to signing books and finding distributors for it, I met social media friends for the first time in real life (including moto-journalist Adam Mercado, aka @LeanAngles) shown here.
I saw several marvelous bikes in the “Dream Pavilion”including the Moto Guzzi v7 Racer, which made me swoon a little. I love the looks of a classic bike and of course the Italians are wonderful designers. My friend Neale Bayly, a moto-journalist, tells me it’s a sweet ride too.
Friday night I signed books at Yellow Devil Gear Exchange just a mile from the show. Yellow Devil has a terrific concept–a motorcycle swap and consignment shop with some brand new merchandise sprinkled in for good measure. You can find everything from helmets to racing suits and vintage “motorabelia” like posters and key chains.
San Francisco
After a quick flight up the coast Sunday night, I spent Monday with photographer Christina Shook, who collaborated with me on Live Full Throttle. We brainstormed book marketing while getting pedicures in Orinda (eat your heart out corporate marketing drones in your gopher cubes!). Later that night, over bowls of chili with friends, I rehearsed my book tour presentation. Thanks to their feedback and suggestions, the reception it got in Portland and Seattle at the end of the week was unanimously positive.
Motorcycle Gear Shopping
In an effort to improve my “big city” commuter skills I took BART (the train) from Christina’s to San Francisco’s Mission District, where I ate breakfast at the terribly-named but deliciously-stocked Pork Store with my friend Joanne Donn (aka @GearChic). Fortunately I didn’t have to make any transfers in my commutes. A lesson for another day.
Joanne then helped me find new Rev’It motorcycle pants at Scuderia West, also in the Mission District. What a treat, having a personal shopper! She knew which brands offer the functionality I need in cuts for my “American” proportions and emphasized the importance of proper fit. It hadn’t really occurred to me how dangerous my now-baggy gear had become (I’ve lost weight since I bought the gear in 2010), but skid pads slide away from the areas you want to protect when baggy gear meets the pavement. Ouch.
Marin County Cancer Institute
The next day was spent with friends across the bay in Novato, who took me to the Marin County Cancer Insitute, where one of them is being treated for breast cancer. I learned that Marin County is a breast cancer “hot spot,” which means the incidence of breast cancer per capita is extremely high.
After touring the Institute, I met Cancer Resource Specialist Diane Brandon (pictured right), who enthusiastically placed a copy of “Live Full Throttle” in the resource center and introduced me to the gift shop team, recommending the book for sale there. I fully expect to see the book in the gift shop soon!
Portland
Another quick flight brought me to Portland, where I signed books at Latus Motors, a Harley-Davidson dealership. 
My dear friend Nadine, who put me up at her farm and arranged the signing with Latus, ordered cupcakes with pink frosting ribbons from Safeway and we were both surprised when she picked up this cupcake cake instead. I’ve never seen so much frosting in my life!
Latus has a strong community of riders and in spite of rain and cold the week before Christmas, about 20 of them turned out to hear me talk about the Conga rides I’ve taken over the last two summers and the story behind “Live Full Throttle.” As with Long Beach, many of them were social media friends that I was happy to hug in the flesh.
New Friends Facing Cancer
In the middle of my talk, one woman dashed in with fresh news that a neighbor had just that day been diagnosed with cancer and asked me to quickly sign a book so that she could take it to him.
As often happens, one woman bought two books, one for herself and another for her sister. She had breast cancer a few years ago and her sister has a recent diagnosis.
An oncology nurse, whose father has cancer, surprised herself by crying during my talk. She thanked me for putting her in touch with feelings that her profession has caused her to sometimes repress.
On an upbeat note, I also met a wish grantor for “Make A Wish” and learned about the training and screening processes she went through to make wishes come true for children with life-threatening illnesses.
I’m grateful for the people and stories that keep coming into and blessing my life. As I’ve said before, motorcycling brought me to the cancer community quite unexpectedly. I’m here for a reason that is not clear to me just yet, and trust that I can be a channel for good as I continue walking this path.
Seattle
I love traveling by train, so I was delighted to learn that for $51 I could travel from Portland to Seattle on Amtrak’s Cascades line. Here’s a picture from the dining car.
Continuing my big-city commuter education, I jumped on a city bus instead of renting a car or hiring a cab to get to the apartment I had rented in the Lakeside area of Seattle. I find mass transportation to be sooooo convenient (and cheap). I wish my city, Charlotte, had a more complete system. We have a meager bus service and a tiny line of light rail. That’s it. I digress.
Speaking at the International Motorcycle Show
Saturday morning I opened the show with a talk on recommendations for newbie riders. After all, three months after I passed my licensing course last year I set off on a coast-to-coast journey, and repeated it this year, returning unschathed both times.
Since these trips involved fundraising with my Conga friends, I talked about traveling with a pink bra strapped across my bike’s windshield and gave some of the back story of “Live Full Throttle.” One of the women in the audience burst into tears when I told this story, then returned several minutes later to finish hearing what I had to say. Since she didn’t approach me, I am unsure what provoked her tears, but I bet was related to cancer.
Later that day I signed books at Ride West, a top-drawer BMW Dealership in Seattle. My Conga sis, Karen, joined me there and we horsed around on the bikes and talked to riders about don’t-miss routes in the NorthWest. Honestly, if you can’t be ON your motorcycle, the next best thing is to be at a motorcycle shop mixing it up with fellow riders!
Touring Seattle
Karen stayed with me through Monday, and as a Seattle native, took me to all the great spots in the city, including Pike Street Market. Note the two passing ferries in Elliott Bay, which I shot from Queen Anne’s Hill.
Seattle is a vibrant city and I have a little list of things to do next time I return, but I couldn’t live anywhere with so little direct sunlight. I had formed the idea that it rains a lot there, but was mistaken. However, the topography snags clouds, which both blocks sunlight and traps moisture. Karen tells me that the locals call it a “sunbreak” when the sun breaks through the clouds. No wonder they like strong coffee.
Seattle Cancer Care Alliance
Monday we toured the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA), where Karen is a patient (and whose doctor LOVES “Live Full Throttle”).
The SCCA’s patient areas are situated with lovely views of Elliott Bay through floor-to-ceiling windows. Eclectic art adorns the walls and corridors. I particularly enjoyed stepping into the little sanctuary, where visitors can sit on meditation cushions or chairs as they contemplate books and mementos from the world’s religions. Here’s a snapshot of the focal point. Note the kid-sized table and chairs below the adult-sized versions. After all, cancer affects people of all ages.
SCCA is a beautiful place and serves the only hospital food that I’ve ever truly enjoyed. Why do hospitals serve gray, greasy, over-processed and otherwise unhealth food, anyway? Another digression.
After speaking with the managers of the book and gift stores at SCCA, it looks like I’ll be back in Seattle in March for a book signing event. I may try to combine it with a visit to the EuroMoto show in nearby Lynnwood.
So this is how I combine motorcycling, writing, and humanitarianism. I am a truly fortunate woman.
Please tell me if you would like to host a speaking and signing event or if you know someone else who would. The rest of the IMS tour cities are listed here but I’m not limited to signing only in those cities.
West Coast Book Tour Schedule, December 2011
Thanks to everyone who came out to Live Full Throttle’s debut at Dilworth Billiards. Great pictures here by my friend Terry Pittman.
The next morning I jumped on a plane for my West Coast tour. Please find me and introduce yourself!
Friday, December 9, Yellow Devil Gear Exchange signing books from 6-8
Saturday and Sunday, December 10-11 International Motorcycle Show (IMS), Long Beach with the WRAPTER booth
Thursday, December 15, Latus Motors 4:00-6:00 pm (870 E. Berkeley St., Gladson, OR) (Portland area)
Saturday, December 17, IMS Seattle 10:30 am (Convention Center)
Saturday, December 17 at Ride West BMW 2:00-4:00pm (8100 Lake City Way NE, Seattle, WA)
Live Full Throttle Book Debut!
Please join me as I launch Live Full Throttle: Life Lessons From Friends Who Faced Cancer.
- When: Wednesday, December 7, 2011 from 5-7pm
- Where: 300 East Tremont Ave Charlotte, NC 28203 Dilworth Billiards
After riding my motorcycle through 25+ states with a pink bra strapped across the windshield for breast cancer causes, I’ve collected a lot of wit and wisdom about life from friends who faced cancer.
Drop by Dilworth Billiards any time from 5-7 to hear some of my friends’ stories. I’ll run slides from this year’s roadtrip on the wall and bring plenty of copies of the book.
Napoliltano’s will be there with Italian fare like paninis, pasta fagioli, minestrone and tuscan white bean soups, and chocolate ravioli for dessert.
If the weather permits, hang out around the koi pond in the courtyard or stay indoors and pick up a cue stick. Dilworth Billiards has been a great supporter, having hosted Think-Drink-Eat-Pink before I left for this year’s roadtrip.
I’d love to see you, whether you buy a book or just come to wish me well. Nothing formal; leave your tiara at home but bring a friend or co-worker.
