Getting My Sharpies Ready

by Julie Particka 

A few weeks ago, I got to do my first book signing. Granted, it was for a bunch of family members at my grandfather’s birthday party—which, believe me, made me feel really weird—but it was a legit signing nonetheless. And it was great practice for me since RT is right around the corner and I’ll be signing copies of Pretty Souls at the Saturday book fair. (So, you know, if you’ll be there, stop by my table and say hi. You can even buy a copy if you want. My friend Allison Pang will be sitting next to me signing her fabulous urban fantasy, A Brush of Darkness as well.)

 But, I digress. The practice book signing taught me a few things:

-          Book signing scares the crap out of me. I don’t have the best handwriting, and with more names than any sane person should have, I’m terrified of signing the wrong one. Plus, it’s not like panels or regular socializing—I can’t rely on turning up the snark if I get nervous. Well I could but then it would be a snark-filled personalization, and I kind of feel like those are the domain of the League of Reluctant Adults.

-          Personalizations are hard. It’s one thing to have a few general phrases to use, but if you actually know the person they want you to say something really meaningful, funny, etc. O.O There’s a reason novels take me a while to write; I’m not always that witty LOL.

-          Signing on the back of the front cover doesn’t work well. LOL It seems such a little thing, but for whatever reason that’s where they wanted me to sign, so I got a lot of practice. It’ll be title page signing from now on unless someone makes a special request.

-          As scary as signings are I loved every minute of it. Pretty Souls is my first published novel. My baby. It was the first thing I ever wrote that I really and truly believed in. I know those characters like they’re my own kids, and I love them all (even the evil ones). It’s crazy-exciting to have other people get excited over them too.

What that all means is while I might get nervous and might sit there for a long time trying to figure out what to write, I can’t wait to get to sign books for readers new and old.  (And if this picture from last year’s book signing doesn’t show you how big it is, you’ll just have to trust me)

I know not everyone can make it to RT or even to LA for just the booksigning. So I’m excited to let you know that I’ve also gotten some special Paranormal Response Team bookplates! I ordered them for a remote signing in…August with Calico Books, but in the meantime, if you have a print copy of Pretty Souls and want a bookplate, send me a copy of your receipt and your snail mail address (to Julie@julieparticka.com) , and I’ll happily sign and send you one. Oh, be sure to include the name you want me to use for the personalization!

About Pretty Souls:

My life followed a simple pattern.



Run to keep my inner wolf asleep. Make sure my blood-sucking foster sister, Cass, feeds. Hunt for supernatural trouble when we should be sleeping. Keep my grades up and my head down.



It was mostly a game.



Until people started wandering around like living zombies. Until people I care about started getting hurt. Until the menace came knocking on my front door.



Game’s over.



Time for the soul-stealer to realize just because he’s hunting something doesn’t make it prey.



Cass and I bite back.

~The Paranormal Response Team~


Saving the World Before Breakfast

 For more about Julie and the Paranormal Response Team, please visit www.julieparticka.com. To purchase a digital or print copy of Pretty Souls, please visit Decadent Publishing.