Report from Shakedown book-signing at Chapters Macleod Trail

I confess that I was worried about tonight's book-signing at the Chapters store on Macleod Trail south in Calgary. I don't think it was advertised except with some in-store signage and on my blog. The Chapters event in Ottawa on Rideau Street had the most powerful advertising imaginable: CFRA radio plugged it twice that same morning, so books flew off the shelves, and the store ran out.

I was greatly relieved when I showed up twenty minutes early to find a dozen people already there -- and a gorgeous stage and sound system in place. I snapped this photo on my BlackBerry: 

There were probably 250 copies of the book throughout the store, prominently displayed. And there was some serious staff there too: in addition to the store manager, there were two sound technicians and even a couple of security guards. I'm not sure if they were meant to protect me from the crowd, the crowd from me, or a combination, but it felt pretty great to have such a big team there.

I went to a back room and signed a stack of books that some customers who couldn't attend in person had left for me.

Then I came out and gave a talk for 20 minutes, and everyone in the whole store gathered, standing room only all the way to the front of the store. I took questions for about ten minutes, and then signed books. Half way through the book-signing I just stood up and snapped this picture of the line:

Needless to say, I was thrilled. The store did a brisk business, and we didn't have the Ottawa problem of running out of books.

I felt like the store really went the extra mile -- they really put a lot of effort into making it a wonderful event, and they clearly spent some money on sound and security. It was wonderful hospitality, and it's officially my favourite Chapters store in the country. They made me feel so welcome.

If you're in the Calgary area and want to be sure to get a copy, stop by the Chapters on Macleod Trail and 96th Avenue South -- it's in the Brick Plaza. Not only do they have a good amount of stock, but it's well-displayed, too. Consider me a fan!