Black Friday is a day of mayhem unless, of course, shopping with a zillion people is your “thing.” But, kidding aside, Black Friday has become an annual event where even the “scroggiest” Scrooge may find him or herself strolling down Main Street in small or large town America the day after Thanksgiving looking for that special bargain, people watching, or simply trying to walk off some of yesterday’s pumpkin pie.
In my small town of Brevard, North Carolina, Black Friday is always a fun event. The enormous tree outside the old courthouse is already decorated with large colorful ornaments, awaiting the tree lighting after the Christmas Parade. Twinkling lights adorn shopfront windows where enticing displays urge the shopper to “come inside.” Locals and visitors alike mingle in and out of the shops with nary a harsh word spoken. Downtown is BUSY and no one seems to be in a hurry.
This Black Friday I had the pleasure of participating at a “Sip ‘N Sign” with two other local authors. What is a Sip n’ Sign? Well, it’s just what is sounds like. Hosted by Broad Street Wines, Shoppers were offered a tasting of “Writer’s Block” wine while having their book purchases signed by the book’s author. Tom Hooker, Mike McCarthy and I had a great time visiting with people, talking about our books and our writing lives, and meeting new people.
One never knows how these book events will turn out, whether anyone will show up, much less will anyone buy a book. But today’s event was a great success, and I think I may have discovered the key. Wine and books make for an interesting combination.