FLASHPOINT Does Dallas!

Note from Suz:  Join me as I celebrate the release of FLASHPOINT with a weekend blast in Texas!  

I love having the opportunity of getting together with my readers, but while I'm on a book signing tour, I usually dash into town for a very brief stay, and then dash right out and onto the next store.  But I'm planning to do something a little different in Dallas!

With several book tours under our belts, my crack team (Ed and Eric) and I have  discovered what works best (finding a place where I can meet readers without time limitations!) and what doesn't (lack of food and sleep!!!).  We came up with the idea to visit an airline hub city (which would make airfares lower for any out of town readers who want to join us) on the first Saturday and Sunday of the tour, with the intention of having a big blast book signing in the early evening on Saturday, followed by a group dinner party (for those who want to get something to eat) at a nearby hotel (where those of us from out-of-town can book a room, and stay up really late if we want and not have to worry about driving home!).  Sunday morning, we can all sleep late (see comment above re: sleep!), and then meet again for brunch.

Sound like fun?  It's going to be!  Read on for the details... (And then be sure to scroll to the bottom of the page where it says "How Can I Participate???" and follow the instructions, including clicking on the off-site link to our registration form, filling it out and emailing it in, so we'll be sure to include you in our head count for dinner and the other festivities!)  

Here's the scoop:

Here's what we've got planned (so far!):

Readers from Out of Town:

We've reserved a block of rooms at the brand new Hampton Inn and Suites DFW West in Hurst, Texas, at the low, low price of $78.00 a room (plus tax).  (The rate is available for three days before and three days after the main event on April 3rd!) This is cool because:

There's a limited number of rooms available, and the block will only be held until March 3th (or until the rooms run out!) so make your reservation soon by calling 817-503-7777.  Make sure you tell them that you're with the FLASHPOINT GROUP to get our (very! <g>) slightly reduced price!  (New note:  We just found out that you can't call the 800 number to make a reservation at the group rate with the group price!  You must call the hotel directly at 817-503-7777.)

(Readers who are working with a tighter budget:  There's also an AmeriSuites right near by!  You can stay there and will still be welcome to join us at any group events at the Hampton Inn!)

Readers from the Dallas/Ft. Worth area:

Even if you live nearby, you can still be part of the fun!  You're welcome to join us for all or part of the festivities!  Come to the book signing, join us for dinner (or a snack or dessert or a drink), stay up late talking with Suz and other readers, come back in the morning for brunch!  (See notes "About the Dinner" and "About the Brunch" below!) 

About the Book Signing:

Start the party early!  Join Suz at her Saturday evening book signing, at the Waldenbooks in Hurst, Texas!  Here's the where and when:

Saturday, April 3rd
5:30 p.m. -- 7:30 p.m.
5:30 Q&A with Suz, followed by signing
7:15 Raffle drawing!
Waldenbooks
Northeast Mall
1101 Melbourne Road
Hurst, Texas  76053
Store phone:  817-589-1021

Never been to a book signing?  Have some questions about how it all shakes down?  Click here!

Click here for info about the FREE raffle!

Check back for directions to the Northeast Mall from the Hurst Hampton Inn.  For directions to the book store from the general Dallas area, see Suz's appearances page!

About the dinner party:

Official start time is 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 3rd.  

Official end time is...??? <g>

Food and drinks will be provided by Italianni's, an excellent Italian restaurant, which is right next door to the Hampton Inn.  (You can visit their website at www.italiannis.us )  

Note from Suz:  Instead of having a fixed price and set menu for this event, we decided that a) because of the late-ish start time and b) because everyone has different budgets as well as food preferences, we'd simply provide a limited menu from the restaurant, and let everyone order exactly what they want -- and all pay with separate checks.  

If you want a full dinner, that will be available for you.  (A la carte entrees start at around $15.)

If you want lighter fare, that will be available, too!  (Appetizers, including pizza, are around $8.)

If you only want dessert and coffee, those will be on the menu, too.  As will bar drinks, beer, wine and soda -- so you're welcome to come and just have a glass of ginger ale.  (Do they have ginger ale in Texas???)

We'll have a whole bunch of tables set up (the room can hold about 100 people), with an empty seat at each table so that Ed and Eric and I can circulate during the sit-down-and-eat part of the event.  (I want to make sure I get a chance to visit with everyone!  So if you're coming to the party and have to leave early, make sure we know so I can spend time with you before you depart!)

After dinner, we'll do another group Q&A session -- and then -- for those who can stay -- we'll go on talking (and laughing!), late into the night, perhaps play a trivia game or two.  (At some point, the restaurant will give us the "last call for food and drinks" signal, after which we'll have to improvise.  But hey, we're a creative bunch...)

Also, after (or during!) dinner, I'll be available to sign books.

You must register to attend this event, but only because we want to get a head count!  (Note above, where it says the room can hold about 100 people...)

To register, scroll down, or click on How Can I Participate?

About the brunch:

Okay, so it's a Hampton Inn, so we're not talking haute cuisine.  But really, it's the company, not the food, right?  The Hampton Inn will provide a modest meal with the essentials -- coffee, coffee and coffee. <g>

We'll be meeting at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 4th. (And remember, on that night, we need to move our clocks ahead an hour!  Just what we need -- to lose an hour of sleep on this particular weekend! LOL!)

Out of town readers who are staying at the Hampton Inn:  Brunch is included in the price of your room!  

For readers who aren't staying at the Hampton Inn, brunch will be available for about $8.  (We're still working out the exact details)  

Readers who aren't hungry <g> are absolutely welcome to join us at 11 a.m. on Sunday morning, too.

How Can I Participate???:

There are so many ways to participate!

You can do a "Full Hurst" -- recommended for out-of-town readers:  Come to the signing, join us for the dinner party, stay over at the Hampton Inn, have brunch on Sunday.  Here's what you need to do:

You can do a "Half Hurst" -- recommended for local readers:  Come to the signing, join us for the dinner party, come back and have brunch on Sunday.  Here's what you need to do:

You can do a "Mini Hurst" -- recommended for readers with time constraints:  Join us for just the signing and dinner.  Or just the signing and brunch.  Or just the signing.  Or just the dinner.  Or just the brunch! 

Here's what you need to do:

Truly adventurous readers -- and yes, I know who most of you are! <g> -- interested in flying in early and meeting me in San Antonio for a whirlwind tour of the Alamo (tentatively set for immediately after my San Antonio signing on Friday, April 2nd at 2:30 p.m.!) should email me at SuzanneBrockmann@aol.com, with "Alamo!" in the subject header, so we can keep you updated as to exactly when we'll be visiting the Alamo!