Author Event At "Everybody Reads"

Last Saturday afternoon we participated in an event at "Everybody Reads" bookstore on Michigan Ave. in Lansing. It's a great bookstore--check it out if you live in the area. We were among the featured Michigan authors who read excerpts and discussed our book with patrons in the store.

Thanks to Scott Harris for inviting us to participate, and thanks to everyone who came and bought books.

We have been hearing lots of great comments about Ballroom Dancing Is Not for Sissies. If you missed the bookstore event, you can still buy the book at Everybody Reads, at Our Dance Studio in Grand Ledge, or order it on amazon.com. There is still time before Hannukah and Christmas!

Happy holidays to all, and happy, harmonious dancing!

Betty and Art

Ballroom Dancing Is Not for Sissies Is Available on Amazon!

We had a great time at the Ohio Star Ball, as usual. Sales of the book were brisk. We are happy to report that Donna Hamza, ballroom costume designer, and Showtimes Dance Shoes will both be carrying the book at future competitions. Look for it at their tables in the vendor area.

You can now order the book on amazon.com, as well. It makes a great holiday gift for your partner, your dancing friends, your instructor, or yourself. We'd love to hear your comments about the book.

Betty and Art

"Ballroom Dancing Is Not for Sissies" Will Debut at the Ohio Star Ball!

I am excited to report that "Ballroom Dancing Is Not for Sissies" will be available for purchase at the Ohio Star Ball in advance of its availability on Amazon.com. You will be able to buy books directly from us on site, or at the registration desk, due to the kind generosity of OSB organizer, Sam Sodano. Buy one for yourself, then buy them as great holiday gifts for all your dancing friends--and your instructor!

See you in Columbus!

Betty

Art Dances with Hubbard Street Dance Company!

I can't believe I let a week go by before telling this story. Last Tuesday, Oct. 28, we had tickets to See Hubbard Street Dance at Wharton Center on the MSU campus. We have seen them several times in the past, both here and at their home in Chicago, and have always enjoyed their youthful energy and creativity. It is inspiring to watch them dance.

Near the end of the program the dancers came into the audience and selected audience members to go up on stage with them. Art was chosen by a tiny little woman, and he bounded up on stage with the idea that he would get to lead. Wrong! The dancer had choreography to do, and, as he described it, she became like a tree, just rooted to the stage. She was not about to let him do what he had in mind. She did accept a lead to do an underarm turn or two, then he was supposed to follow.

Some of the audience members who were on stage trying to figure out what they were supposed to do looked like they were about to be shot, but not Art. He had a blast! It was fun to watch.

The latest book news is that the book is "in imposition." Apparently this refers to a process where they are actually setting the files up to print them. Yay!

Enjoy this beautiful fall day, everyone.

Betty

Competition Photo

Here's a photo from a few years back. It was taken by Park West Photography (they do a great job!) at the Wisconsin State Dancesport Competition--one of our favorites.

Betty

Halloween Masquerade Ball

OK, here are the photos of us from last night's Halloween Masquerade Ball at Our Dance Studio. We had to stop by to show my mother our costumes first, then off we went. It was a blast. As always, the food was good--and the costumes were great! We had various pirates and pirate molls, Robin Hood and Maid Marian, Michael Jackson's Thriller, Pegasus and Aphrodite, mimes, Zorro, a Brownie, a bounty hunter, a flapper and zoot suit couple, and Louis and Tracy as the "I Dream of Jeannie" couple.

Here are some pictures of Art and me as Tinkerbell and Peter Pan (isn't he lovely?) and one photo of my two dance partners. Art is such a good sport. You can see why we have so much fun.

Betty

Cover Proof

The cover proof came this week on Thursday morning. It looks great. I tried to upload the image to this blog but wasn't successful. My computer skills are limited...

So I tried uploading an image of us dancing in competition from the website of Our Dance Studio. Well, it didn't work, so here is the link: http://ourdancestudio.com/photoGallery02.html

The photo is by Park West Photography. They do a great job!

With any luck, we will have a final-final copy of the book to proof on Monday. We are trying really hard to have physical copies of the book for the Ohio Star Ball.

Betty

Ballroom Dancing Is Not for Sissies is in the Final Phase!

We got the digital proof of the book interior to proof late Monday, proofed it, made a few minor corrections, and sent it back to the publisher Tuesday. It came to 259 pages! I was surprised it was that long. But the font is pretty big because we wanted it to be easy on the eyes.

We were expecting to get the cover proof today, but it didn't come. Grrrr. We really want to move this process along to have it ready for Ohio.

BTW, have you been following Dancing with the Stars? I love Chloris Leachman! She has the right idea. Just get out there and have fun. At 82 she's a real inspiration to us all. As Dave Barry says, "Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance."

Betty

Ballroom Dancing Is Not for Sissies to Be Published in November!

We are so excited. The book we have been working on for 10+ years, Ballroom Dancing Is Not for Sissies! An R-Rated Guide for Partnership, will be published in November. It will be available on Amazon.com.

We are crossing our fingers that we will have copies available to take to the Ohio Star Ball. Can't wait!

Betty