Tag: writers for New Orleans

Connie’s Appearances This Fall:

August 30, 2015: Participated in the Indie Authors Book Fair in Chicago held at 1448 57th St. in Chicago, from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, doing a reading from her Christmas Cats children’s book series and a table.

September 3-5, 2015: Writers for New Orleans. Connie appeared on panels at the Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans, Louisiana, in conjunction with Heather Graham’s annual conference that benefits the schools and libraries damaged during Hurricane Katrina. This was her third appearance as a panelist at the event, held over Labor Day this year.

October 3-5, 2015: Participated in the Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature Book Fair (theme: politics), reading on Sunday, October 4th, at the Café on Market Street and tended to a table with 2 other authors on the pedestrian mall from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Robert Reich, former Secretary of Labor, was the featured keynote speaker for the event.

Chatting with a passer-by.

October 13, 2015: Connie was one of three authors with a table at 2723 North Halsted from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. with her books at a joint meeting of Illinois Women’s Press Association and the Independent Writers of Chicago.

October 21, 2015: Connie will be participating in the third event in the Highland Park, Illinois’ “Let’s Get Published” series, titled “The World of Children’s books.” The event will be held at 494 Laurel Avenue in Highland Park at the Highland Park Library and will feature a 5:30 p.m. dinner with hosts and panelists at 1908 Sheridan Road, a 6:30 p.m. event set-up at the Highland Park Library, a 7 p.m. panel discussion, an 8 p.m. Q&A and wrap-up followed by refreshments, concluding with a one-on-one chat and the opportunity for book sales.

October 30, 2015: Book signing in Las Vegas at Barnes & Noble for the anthology “Never Fear Phobias.” Connie’s story (fear of dreaming and dreams) is one of 19 stories from authors such as Heather Graham, F. Paul Wilson and Thomas Monteleone. The e-book has been consistently in the Top Ten Selling e-books in its category since its release on October 1st, 2015.

November 21, 2015: Connie will be selling books from 1 to 3 at Columbia College in Chicago at their author event.

Stay tuned for the details of the line-up for promotional stops for the Christmas Cats series, ramping up in November, including 4 stops in the Quad Cities and, potentially, the People Reads Bookstore in Austin, TX.

New Orleans in December: “Writers for New Orleans” Gather at Hotel Monteleone

By Connie Wilson

On December 13, 2012

In Books, travel

The Blues Brothers (Dan Ackroyd and John Belushi) statues at Midway Airport, upon departure.

I left Chicago’s Midway Airport bound for New Orleans about 3 p.m. today, Wednesday, December 12th.

the Blues Brothers statues, dancing, at Midway Airport.

New Orleans Airport.

I took a seat in the third row from the front. My seatmate, who had nailed down the aisle seat, was an elderly lady with a cane, who did not seem happy about having a seatmate, even though we had an empty seat between us. (I was merely looking for space in the overhead bins). We also had a dog onboard (!) yapping in his or her cage.
Arrived at the New Orleans Airport near Rush Hour. All I can say is that the New Orleans airport has a lot in common with LaGuardia, if you’ve ever flown from it.

Hotel Monteleone Lobby.

Now, I’m at the Hotel Monteleone in the French Quarter, and spent some time in the bar making friends with the locals.

John Smith on the eve of his birthday.

The gentlemen in the top hat, John Smith, is a card trick and Elvis impersonator who is having his birthday tomorrow. A native of Colorado, he was a dealer in Vegas for many years downtown and also began his Elvis impersonating there. He moved to New Orleans and is scheduled to sing at the Hard Rock Cafe (as Elvis) in January. John has also had bit parts in several films, including the recent “Looper” and the most distant film with Kevin Costner dressed as an Elvis impersonator involved in robbing a casino.

Bernie & friends.

I spoke with a couple from Chicago introduced to me by “Bernie” who is pictured here with her girlfriends. Bernie also introduced me to ANOTHER couple, also from Chicago, and when he said his last name was Stompanato, I had to ask. Yes, Johnny Stomapanato (Lana Turner’s ill-fated boyfriend) WAS a relative.

Mike Dapolo and Anita Shah in New Orleans.

The young couple pictured here, Anita Shah and Mike Dapolo, were on vacation..maybe even their honeymoon, although that may well be a different couple. People kept sitting down and then drifting off and they were from Idaho and elsewhere.