After combing the internet looking for things to do on a hot evening, I came across an author presentation at a local bookstore. Score! That is always one of my very favorite things to attend. I was very happy that the event was to be held at one of my favorite bookstores- First Draft Bookstore. First Draft Bookstore attracts readers and enthusiasts of all ages. The unique catch is that it also draws a crowd of intellectual readers that want to enjoy a beer or glass of wine. There is something enticing about being able to sip an adult beverage while reading books or listening to the author present their newly published novel. It is a great way to enjoy both sophisticated loves in a relaxed environment. You may even meet someone with similar interests and you don’t have to feel as though you are in a bar trying to be picked up. But, let’s face it and be real! Do you really need to go to a bookstore and get a glass of wine? You could enjoy that luxury at home. At First Draft Bookstore….. well, it is a way to also meet some like-minded people on a similar journey. If you want to meet someone who can enjoy a beer, yet also be able to discuss great literary classics then you are at the right place.

I, on the other hand, use the atmosphere to entice some writing ions and practice writing about an event as it unfolds in front of me; taking in the body language and interactions of the people that are bellied up to the bar. Each intently reading a book or typing on their laptop- men with a beer and women with a chilled glass of white wine carefully placed in front of them in a way that nonchalantly says, “I am smart and cool!”. Each sits alone not wanting to disturb somebody that is entranced in the work before them. This was the case until a very tipsy lady walked up to the bar with one hand cupping the elbow of her gentleman escort and the other hand clutched around a glass of red wine- clearly not her first. She never sat down and didn’t loosen the grip on the man as she began a conversation with some other people at the bar. Her voice and laughter screeched higher with each sentence that she somehow got out without stopping to take a single breath.

Tonight’s attraction was an author presenting his 1st novel; hot off the presses and in bookstores for the very first time today. The presentation room is next to the bar and was painfully empty 30 minutes before the presentation was to begin. The only people present were the author and his woman companion. They were chatting with two guests that were brave enough to enter the empty room and were found face-to-face with the author that they came to hear speak. The room slowly filled as the original couple of guests excused themselves from the awkward small talk with the unknown author. They made their way to the bar and commandeered a glass of beer and two glasses of water each served in flimsy plastic cups. Five minutes before the scheduled start of the presentation there were only a dozen guests sitting silently in the chairs positioned oddly close to the podium- causing a tense ora in the room as guests tried to situate themselves in a seat that wasn’t rudely far away from the podium, yet not inches from the speaker’s nose– the author is unknown after all and the jury is still out as to his likability.

Three minutes before the presentation begin time the store staff quietly asked the author, who was standing in the room directly behind the 3 rows of chairs set up for guests, if he would like a formal introduction. Now, I have to say that the look on the author’s face when asked this question was not blatantly obvious, yet something in his eyes screamed what he was thinking. Although he politely smiled and casually said, “Oh, no…whatever you want.” What he was really thinking was, “WTF, bitch! You stupid lame ass monkey. Are you that stupid? My fucking book- that I researched for years and authored- something you would know NOTHING about- was just released TODAY! My 1st fucking book and you are asking me if I want to be formally introduced?!!!!!”

Minutes later, in an awkward, yet in a formally rehearsed tone, the store staff began her introductions and obligatory run down of coming attractions to the bookstore. “And now, without further ado, I give you Mark Beauregard author of The Whale A Love Story” This was followed by the equally obligatory round of applause from the small audience. Mark began speaking in a very small, quiet voice that was broken by his female companion loudly saying from the back of the room, “Speak up a little and could you repeat what you just said?!” Gotta love the woman heckling you from the back of the room. Mark began by explaining that the novel was inspired by letters in the back of a special edition of Moby Dick that were written between Herman Melville and Nathan Hawthorne and exposed a romantic relationship between the two. Mark was intrigued by this mystery and the fact that it happened in 1851; he quickly became obsessed with the topic. After discussing the findings with several people he decided that the story needed to be written in a novel and he had to bring these people’s story to life. He wrote the novel as historical fiction rather than a biography since he was limited to the information that he could research on his own. I found it amusing that one of the first points he made about his research of Nathan Hawthorne was that he had to move from his hometown because he became so popular after his first novel- he looked straight at the store staff person when he revealed this important fact.

25 guests were in the room by about 10 minutes into the presentation. Slow comers entered the room after the scare of an empty room was drowned out by the author’s words as he spoke quietly about his research. All eyes were on the speaker and their delayed entrance would go unnoticed by most. After his planned spill about his research and several readings from his book, Mark began taking questions from the audience. The questions were based on things that could only be answered with complete speculation and educated guesses based on his research and how he lived in the fictional heads of the characters he tried to bring to life in his openly historical fiction novel. Mark was sandwiched between being the dominate knowledgeable source of information regarding the characters and an audience, suckling their wine and beer- empowering them to feel fearless and insanely smart, as they challenged and questioned the author about mundane ideas and speculative rational for a man’s (his characters’) emotions. A question from a gentleman went into detail asking if Nathan Hawthorne had an incestuous relationship with his sister. Mark’s answer was impeccable! He explained that there wasn’t any legally binding proof that there was ever a relationship between Herman and Nathan- so, therefore, he was sure that there wasn’t any legally binding proof that there was ever an incestuous relationship between Nathan and his sister. One has to wonder what the gentleman hoped for as a response to his inquiry. This question was immediately followed up by another gentleman in the audience that was equally as strange. “Why did Hawthorne live in Salem? Was it because of the witches?” Mark’s response was preceded by a laugh. “He lived there because his family had property there.” There is never a dull moment when you combine beer and wine with intellectual people at a book signing!

First Draft bookstore is an amazing place full of eclectic items as well as an equally comprehensive customer base. It is your favorite coffee shop, bar, bookstore and library all rolled up into one neat little package of happy people.

I was very impressed with Mark Beauregard and his knowledge of the historical references to two literary greats and their quest for love. I can’t wait to finish reading his book and see how he took his research and recreated these men into characters that are so relatable. In Mark’s words- this is a love story about two people that could never be together. Have you ever been in love with someone that was off limits and you knew you could never be with?
Check out Mark’s web page and learn more about this inspiring novel.
http://www.bookmarkbeauregard.com