November 1, 2009
why I love The Pioneer Woman
Last week, Rita and I went to The Full Circle Bookstore to meet Pioneer Woman — or, more specifically, to have her sign our copies of The Pioneer Woman Cooks. We had heard how many people showed up for her signing in Tulsa earlier in the week, and so we very cleverly decided that we would outsmart the crowds; rather than showing up early and standing in line forever, we would show up late and breeze right through.
It seemed like a good idea at the time.
The line. Or part of it — we were actually even further back. Really.
Rita picked me up at 7:45; when we got to 50 Penn Place, the line was all the way out the door of the bookstore and down in front of Belle Isle Brewery (which is at the OPPOSITE end of the mall). We were patting ourselves on the back, though, because just an hour earlier the line had stretched all the way up to the second floor, where Harold’s used to be. Surely, we though, we won’t be here for long!
We stood in that line for over four hours. I kid you not.
By hour three, I was wishing for some bacon wrapped club crackers. Desperately.
Rita’s friend Jen was with us, and she had brought her nine-year-old daughter, Emma, who was a total trooper. Emma is home schooled, which meant that being up late wasn’t a problem for her, lke it would be for my kids (who have to get up at the ass crack of dawn to eat and get dressed and get going) but still, late is late when you’re nine. At one point, when we were all sitting on the floor in the mall because we could not stand up any longer, Jen said, “Emma Grace, I think we will have pm school tomorrow.” I’ve never seen a child look so happy.
By the time we got into the actual bookstore, it was nearly midnight. “Wouldn’t it be funny,” Rita said, “if we didn’t get our books signed until TOMORROW?” So funny! Especially when midnight came and went and we were still standing in line.
It was a two day book signing, you all.
Rita and Jen and I were quite literally the last people in the line for most of the evening; at the very end, another couple came and stood behind us. The women in front of us apologized to Ree for taking her whole evening, and she said, “Oh this is fine! I never see people!”
When it was our turn, Rita asked if Ree had been bathing in Purell to ward off the flu. As she signed someone’s book, Ree said peacefully, “I’m protected by prayer.”
And then she looked up and added, “And Airborne.” And we all laughed.
I love that coat, too! Yay!
Ree’s signing started at 6:30; it was past midnight when she signed our books. After she finished with the people in the line, she had nearly 100 more books to sign, for people who had bought them and left them at the bookstore. And yet, despite six hours of signing and visiting, Ree still made a point of chatting with everyone. It was amazing.
She asked Jen about her children (Jen has five) and talked with Emma about cooking (Emma likes to make Pioneer Woman cinnamon rolls; Ree told her about the orange version in the book). Ree could not have been kinder to Emma, which was amazing after six hours of signing books and making small talk with strangers. When she was done signing Jen’s book, Ree said, “Emma, could I have a hug?”
She was genuine and warm and clearly delighted to be there. Of course.
The pink coat.
Rita emailed me the next morning and said, “What were we thinking? I don’t even know that I would stand in line for four hours to meet Barack Obama. Or Jesus!” But it was entirely worth it, for a lot of reasons: It was time spent with people I really like, it was a chance to meet someone I genuinely admire, and it was an opportunity to support a local business that I truly love.
But more than that, it was an affirmation that the Internet, and the content we create here, has value. Publishers will argue that blog-to-book is a losing proposition, because the content is all available, for free, on line. No one will buy the book. The Internet, they say, is replacing traditional media of all types, and the book will die because of the blog.
I don’t buy that for a moment; books and blogs aren’t the same thing, even when they are parts of the same project. I will always prefer the book version to the blog version, because I love the feel and look and presence of a book, and I know that I’m not the only one. Last week, I stood in line for four hours largely to prove that books are not dead, that the Internet is not taking over, and that bloggers can — and do — create incredible writing.
All that, and I got to meet Ree Drummond. It was a good night.
Posted by Susan @ 8:38 pm • good people
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November 1st, 2009 at 9:51 pm, Rhi Says:
I insist you make the tomato soup recipe in the cookbook. I made it today and can’t keep myself out of it. YUM!
November 1st, 2009 at 9:54 pm, Jenn A. Says:
Great post! I love her site, too. Glad to hear she is just as delightful and funny in person.
One more thing-the internet cannot replace that new book smell!
November 1st, 2009 at 9:55 pm, Jamie Says:
I was thinking of going to her December 7 signing in Dallas. (Everyone else stay home! :)) This gives me something to expect. Sounds like a great time, be it a long time.
November 1st, 2009 at 11:23 pm, jenB Says:
We waited in line for four hours to get our H1N1 shots. Your wait ended better.
November 1st, 2009 at 11:27 pm, shannon Says:
Yeah, glad you waited out the line.. I was there to. Basically I sat with my friend at the coffee shop area and watched her sign the books. Ree was so nice, and looked like she was having a great time! I will meet her someday, just did not get to meet her in person that night!
November 2nd, 2009 at 12:23 am, Sonnya Says:
We all love your pink coat!
November 2nd, 2009 at 7:13 am, Heather Says:
I’m so happy to read this post, Susan…I’m in Idaho and would love to go to her signing in Salt Lake City (closest one to me), but alas, it isn’t going to happen. At least I got to attend vicariously through you! Thanks!
November 2nd, 2009 at 7:27 am, Susan Raihala Says:
None of her signings are anywhere near me, and now I’ve been to one vicariously through you. Thank you. Isn’t it great when you meet someone you admire and she’s just as kind and wonderful as you hope?
ITA with your feelings about books versus blogs: two totally different things, both wonderful. I need books, real pages I can touch and smell and carry around with me, real volumes bending bookshelves under their weight. We have A LOT of books, enough that the movers hated us. We haven’t slowed our buying at all. We just keep buying new bookcases.
November 2nd, 2009 at 9:18 am, jer Says:
Stood in line for 4 hours - ugh - wow, you must be a very patient woman!
November 2nd, 2009 at 10:21 am, Kimberlee J. Says:
Get out! This is WHY I was in OKC for the day. My friend and I drove down from Kansas. We met her at 8:30—swoon. Love her too!
November 2nd, 2009 at 10:38 am, meg duerksen Says:
i was there with kimberlee j….it was FUN! we came from kansas and weren’t smart enought ot ge tin line early…even though we were there buying out books at 2:00! we left and came back at 5:30. oh well…we met two wonderful women in line and got to know them for 3 hours.
that line out the door when we left at nine was crazy! i never would’ve guessed that is how the night would go.
i LOVE your pink coat too. i think between you and kimberlee i could stand a chance at looking at looking fashionable if i copied you both or at least stood near you. ha!
that coat is fabulous!
November 2nd, 2009 at 12:48 pm, Amira @ Define "Mature" Says:
I gotta have that pink coat. Nice!
Four hours in one line! Good God!
I think that if you can stand for four hours in line, then you guys can tolerate just about anything.
November 2nd, 2009 at 2:51 pm, Gina Says:
Susan - I am so enjoying reading your blog each week. I really do believe that we’d be great gal friends in-real-life. I loved everything about this story, all the way down to the lovely pink coat.
There’s something really special about words on paper that doesn’t have the same feeling as words on a screen and you proved that. For me, it’s a completely different experience to dreamily flip through my favorite cookbooks, design books or destination guides - it’s just not the same viewing the same information on my computer screen. It feels more intimate, special and comforting to hold a book in my hand and feel the paper with each turn.
But I also prefer a hand-written note to an email, printed recipes to an online database and my children’s photo albums to our online shareable versions.
Thanks for sharing, Susan.
November 2nd, 2009 at 3:20 pm, Shelly in Austin Says:
I plan to go to her signing in Austin and I was thinking I would take my punk because he loves hearing about her dogs and cows and punks. After reading this, I still want to go, but I think I will leave the five year old at home. He won’t be as patient as Emma.
November 2nd, 2009 at 3:26 pm, Rachael J Says:
sooo envious you got to go…I am originally from OK but am in Africa right now. Ree is truly amazing and I am so happy she is getting the recognition she deserves.
November 3rd, 2009 at 6:28 pm, | Don't Try This at Home Says:
[…] expect our book tour and signings to put poor Pioneer Woman to shame. Because, you know, everyone lines up for six hours to have their tech book […]
November 3rd, 2009 at 9:38 pm, Jean M. Says:
I stopped by from Melanie’s place (Don’t This At Home) I too was in that line in OKC and just like you I would have never stood in line for someone like sheesh the president, but I certainly did for Ree, and was glad I did.
November 3rd, 2009 at 9:39 pm, Jean M. Says:
Ugh sorry for the typo!