![\"2016-book-events\"](\"http:\/\/sanaeishida.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/2016-book-events.jpg\")
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One of my new goals is to do more book events. Not only do the events help promote the books to which I dedicated mega effort, they’re\u00a0great fun, and I’m challenging myself to get better at\u00a0public speaking. I’m not a shy person, but my college speech class permanently scarred\u00a0me, and I’ve avoided piping up in front of groups larger than two people whenever possible. I may have mentioned this before, but confronted with an audience, my physiology betrays me: sweaty palms and forehead, shaky voice, two glow-in-the-dark red spots on each cheek (on the face, I should clarify).<\/p>\n
My first official “reading” was at Eagle Harbor Book Co.<\/a> on Bainbridge Island last week, and I had a blast (thank you, Victoria!). The women who gathered were sweet and enthusiastic about crafts — a few women even sewed projects from the book prior to the event and brought them to the event. They were all wonderful, but I was blown away by Joan, who created an origami pillow out of a repurposed men’s button down shirt, using the front placket as the pillow closure. I wish I’d gotten a photo, but alas, my phone ran out of juice that evening. Although I wasn’t able to document it, it was the best possible way to start off the mini, very local Sewing Happiness<\/a><\/em> tour! Oh, and here’s that adorable book trailer that Sasquatch Books made:<\/p>\n