Black Friday was not a dark day for me.  I greeted quite a crowd of shoppers at the Borders Express in Dulles Town Center Mall, along with two of my favorite authors, Candice Poarch and Rique Johnson.  I saw no signs of an economic downturn for mystery fiction that day.

And the Books-A-Million in Alexandria VA WAS able to get copies of Blood and Bone for my signing Saturday.  I was scheduled to sign them until 6 pm but had to leave nearly an hour early when I ran out of books to sign.  New fan Ralph Nordenhold took a few nice photos of me at the signing.  You can see some of them on my web site, if you push the news/events button.

I also got word that the web site for the Echelon Press holiday contest was overwhelmed with orders.  The publisher has now built separate pages for each author, which means a new URL.  However, the button on my web site will take you to the right place so when you order Blood and Bone by December 19 you will still be entered into a drawing for a $25.00 VISA Gift Card.

Hi everyone.  Just wanted you to know that at the last minute the warehouse DID ship copies of Blood and Bone to the Books-A-Million in Alexandria.  So I’ll be signing the book there today starting at 2 pm.  Visit me there at 503 King St, Alexandria, VA., and pick up your autographed copy. 

Can’t get to Alexandria?  Then visit my web site - www.ascamacho.com - to order your copy direct from the publisher and enter my contest.

Today I sign books at the Borders Express in Dulles Town Center Mall,  21100 Dulles Town Circle, Dulles VA, from noon to 4 pm.

 And if the warehouse hasn’t run out of copies of Blood and Bone I’ll visit Books-A-Million in Alexandria tomorrow.  Check in that day to see if it’s not too late to get your copy.  It’s the one at 503 King St, Alexandria, VA.

Now, if I can waddle out of the house tomorrow I’ll head to the Borders Express in Dulles Town Center Mall to celebrate Black Friday with a couple other crime writers.  We’ll do a team book signing from noon to 4 pm, so you can get all your holiday gifts at once. The store is at 21100 Dulles Town Circle, Dulles VA.

When you look at the economy these days you might wonder just what we all have to be thankful for this year.  Let me remind you that others have had it far worse.  Remember, the Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts.  In fact, no Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving.

 I’m particularly fond of this quote from H.U. Westermayer who said that if the only prayer you said in your whole life was, “thank you,” that would suffice.

I often like to share reader comments on my main web site.  In this case I’d like to introduce you to Chuck Hagar.

I met Chuck during my last visit to Borders Express at the Dulles Expo Center.  He picked up a copy of Blood and Bone that day, and later wrote to me about it.  Despite pointing out a factual inaccuracy in the book he flattered me by saying that the story held his attention so well that he missed his bus stop reading it. 

Chuck, I appreciated your comments so much that I made your comments my most recent featured review on my web site.  Thanks for being a fan.

My weekend was a bit more varied than usual. I had mid-afternoon fun at the Borders Express in Springfield Mall. The Friday 3 pm to 7 pm slot was an experiment that paid off well. Saturday was an evening gig at the Books-A-Million in Greenbelt, MD. Again, 4pm to 8 pm isn’t my usual time but it allowed me to meet some new people. Sunday I greeted the after church crowd at Borders in Waldorf MD. From noon to 4 pm was the right time to be there, too, and lots of novels went out the door.

For those of you who haven’t got your copy of Blood and Bone yet, the publisher has news that could be worth money to you – a holiday contest for readers. For every copy of Blood and Bone you purchase from Echelon Press Direct between now and December 19, 2008, you will be entered into a drawing for a $25.00 VISA Gift Card.

If you DO own a copy of Blood and Bone, here’s a chance to get your holiday gift shopping into high gear, with a chance to fill your own stocking!

I told you that today I’m signing books in the Books-A-Million in Greenbelt, MD, at 6118 Greenbelt Rd., from 4 pm to 8 pm.

Sunday you’ll find me at the big Borders at 3304-A Crain Highway in Waldorf MD. I’ll be looking to catch the after-church crowd from noon to 4 pm. When you visit family on Thanksgiving, have their new books with you.  If you miss me, you can still order my novels thru my web site, www.hannibaljonesmysteries.com

I told you that today I’m signing books in the Borders Express in Springfield Mall, Springfield, VA, from 3 pm to 7 pm. 

Tomorrow I’ll sign my novels in the Books-A-Million in Greenbelt, MD. The last time I was there we only had Blood and Bone on display but this time I’ll have all my books with me so if we met there before, come out and complete your collection. That store is at 6118 Greenbelt Rd.  The signing is from 4 pm to 8 pm.

If you can’t find me either place, you’ll have to go to my web site to order - www.hannibaljonesmysteries.com.

I often like to share comments people send me about my novels. In this case I’d like to introduce you to Jerry Sluger.

I met Jerry at a signing at Borders in Silver Spring, MD. After a short conversation he took home both of the Stark and O’Brien adventures. This week he was kind enough to e-mail me to let me know that he read both books and enjoyed them. I appreciated his comments so much that I used them for the featured review on my web site. Thank you, Jerry, for reminding me that many people like my thriller series too.