This entry is from NEHW member Rob Watts’ LiveJournal site.

A Day at the ‘Dirt Mall’ in New Haven

by Rob Watts

It was a slow start, but the day improved as it moved forth. I hit the road from Boston at 6:00 a.m. Sunday morning to be in New Haven, CT. by 8:30a.m.

The author signing event was held at the Trolley Square Mall in downtown New Haven. When I pulled up in front of the building, all I could think about was the Dirt Mall from Mallrats. Funny enough, NEHW event coordinator Jason Harris told me he had that same impression as he arrived. As I was expecting to see a booth for topless fortune-telling by a woman with a third nipple, I was pleasantly surprised to enter a cool looking converted old factory, which was slowly taking shape in the form of a shopping mall.

The event started at 10:00 a.m., but things really didn’t start to pick up until noon. In the meantime, there were friends to be made around us, as there were so many nice people selling their handmade crafts from all over New England as well as New York and New Jersey. Shortly after noon, Stacey Longo, myself and Kristi Petersen-Schoonover took center stage to entertain the mall-goers with live readings from our books, Epitaphs, Huldufolk and Skeletons in the Swimming’ Hole. It went very well and attracted more people over to our booth, in which the three of us made some nice book sales after that. The best sale of the day was the woman who asked Kristi about the topic of her book. When she told her it was Disney ghost stories, the woman in a split-second reaction shouted “SOLD!” I myself appreciated the death metal fan girl for purchasing my book so she could check out The Traffic Lights soundtrack that came with it.

Rob Watts signing his book for the death metal fan. Photo by Stacey Longo.

Later in the day, we were joined by authors Nathan Wrann and Kasey Shoemaker.

New England Horror Writers’ Members

The event itself was great, but the fun part is having the chance to just hang out with our friends and fellow writers. Also worth mentioning is the fact that the coordinators of the craft show were really awesome and accommodating towards us throughout the day so many thanks to those fine women who made it happen. And thanks to Jason Harris and Stacey Longo of the NEHW for setting up yet another stella signing event.

See ya’ll in Foxboro.

Check out Rob’s website, http://www.robwattsonline.com.