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Hey hey! How was everybody’s World Book Night? On Monday night, I headed straight from work (after changing into my blue jeans!) to my favorite local pub, Liberty Station. Husband met me there, and I guess I gave away four books in about the first two and a half minutes! Wait, I’ll back up.

As I explained repeatedly that night, World Book Night enables regular people like myself to give away books they believe in, thanks to the cooperation of authors, publishers, bookstores, libraries, and impassioned bookies of all sorts. The book that I was able to give away was the amazing The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot. Here is my review (from my early blogging days, as you may note). WBN gave me 20 copies of their special edition to give away, which I picked up at a local Barnes & Noble on Friday after work.

I got to the bar and unpacked my books on a table and got myself a pint, and it was that easy: people approached me while I was still unpacking. “What are you doing?” “What is this?” “Is that your book?” Ha! I got that last one a few times, which was fun. No, I’m not here pushing MY book, although that’s a fun thought. I actually had several people who were in from the get-go, ready to take my word for it, but more frequently they wanted to hear about the book. Luckily I have plenty of nice things to say in description of HeLa; it was an easy sell, especially for two bar patrons who are studying medicine but “never have time to read.” And you know I got the bartender hooked up, and the owner/manager, a friend of ours. Hi Charles!

One guy needed a harder sell: he was concerned that I was selling him a cult religion, or a self-help method, or a pyramid scheme, or that *this* book was free but in a month I’d want $50 for my kid’s school project… In other words, he needed to hear more about what WBN was all about. Luckily, the special WBN edition has that information in the front & back cover, and he was enthused once he understood.

I am kicking myself for not taking pictures! I talked with a bunch of people, almost every one of whom took a book with many thanks; one guy tried to tip me (I declined). I’m just sorry I didn’t save a copy for the guys in the Coreano’s food truck (I had a yummy burrito, thanks! that “el scorcho” sauce is no joke). I took a very casual 45 minutes or so to give away 20 books, while drinking beer (Lost Gold IPA from Real Ale, then Karbach’s Hopadillo IPA, then Karbach’s Weisse Versa – figured you might want to know) and eating my food-truck dinner. What more could a girl ask? Oh, I know, pictures. 😦

Special thanks to our friends at Karbach Brewing for the beers – y’all are doing a great job! Keep it up!

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I got my email today! I’m going to be a book giver on World Book Night, which is April 23, 2012. I am hoping that I will get to give away my first-choice book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. I feel that this is such an important, impressive book, in its subject matter (both medical and social justice), and in its highly engaging and readable narrative treatment (so friendly to nonfiction readers).

I put in my application that I wanted to give books away at Memorial Park, because it’s a space I love and sees high pedestrian traffic. But I’ve been reconsidering. It has occurred to me that the traffic there tends to be pretty affluent, and I’d rather give these books to people less likely to go buy one at the store. I may still be thinking about where to give my books away. I want to pick just the right place.

Did you sign up for World Book Night to be a giver? Did you get your email today? Which book did you choose and where will you be handing them out? Tell me!

And if you haven’t signed up yet – they’ve extended the deadline to do so! You still have until Monday, Feb. 6 (that is THIS Monday) to go here and sign up to give away 20 copies of the book of your choice (well, off their list – and don’t try for Hunger Games, it’s all full up). This is a great event, in my opinion, because it’s all about providing folks with reading material for free – with the idea that the book you put in their hands may change lives. Reading can be such an escape, an educational tool, such fun and comfort and solace, that I want others to be able to join in. Here’s a great way to help them do so.

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Just a quick note, folks: it’s time to sign up to be a book giver on World Book Night! The deal is this. On April 23, 2012 (or thereabouts, I believe they’ll let you fudge the date), which is a Monday, people all over the world will be giving away books for *free* off a list of selected titles. You can sign up here to be one of the givers in a public location of your choice (if you get selected). I have requested to give away (in this order) copies of either The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Ender’s Game, or I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. I actually submitted a number of titles back in the book-choosing phase, and only Henrietta Lacks was chosen from among my picks, but ah well. If you’re so inclined, go sign up to give away free books – how cool! And regardless, keep your eyes open on April 23; I will be interested to see where the books turn up in my hometown of Houston. And I’d love to hear about where they turn up in YOUR town!

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