Blast Off!

​You know how it is when the day you’ve dreamed of for a long, long time finally arrives? Sometimes it’s every bit as magical as you imagined it would be. Other times, compared to that glorious fantasy, it’s a dud.

Celebrating with friends at Artsplace. (Photo: Chris Martin at www.chasinglightphotos.net)

​I recently experienced the dream-come-true of celebrating publication of my book, Mango Rash: Coming of Age in the Land of Frangipani and Fanta, with friends and loved ones. Fortunately, the reality was anything but a dud.

​It was pure magic.

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With yoga friends Linda and Sandy (Photo: Emily Everett)

​​Looking back on the occasion, I realize it was more than a book launch. It was equal parts reunion, time capsule, and celebration of friendship.

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It was a fabulous book party (Photo: Chris Martin at www.chasinglightphotos.net)

​It was, of course, also a fabulous book party. Newaygo County Council for the Arts/Artsplace generously hosted the October 25 event, three days after the official publication date, and Artsplace knows how to throw a party. Everything was set up beautifully (who knew stacks of books could be so artful?), and the mood was festive. 

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Fun with Fanta (Photo: Chris Martin at www.chasinglightphotos.net)

Taking time out from the festivities to, oh yeah, sign books (Photo: Chris Martin at www.chasinglightphotos.net)

Valerie D and Eileen were among the guests who dressed the part (Photo: Chris Martin at www.chasinglightphotos.net)

​​Many guests dressed in tropical attire, adding to the merriment, and my publisher Behler Publications even provided an enormous, lavishly-decorated cake.

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Everyone raved about the banana cream-filled cake (Photo: Chris Martin at

Samoa-Valerie with daughter Ashley, who wins the prize for traveling the farthest -- from Australia (Photo: Emily Everett)

​As for the reunion part, three friends from Samoa days—Valerie, Barry, and Beverly, all of whom are in the book—traveled from afar for Mangorama weekend. Though I had spent time with all three of them in recent years, Val and Bev hadn’t seen each other since Samoa days, more than 50 years ago, and it had been almost that long since Val and Barry last crossed paths. 

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With Barry and Beverly, who drove up from Texas for this shindig (Photo: Chris Martin at www.chasinglightphotos.net)

Val and Ashley share a moment over old photos (Photo: Emily Everett)

​As we continued the celebration over the weekend, we reminisced and laughed over pictures (did we really ever look like that?) and reinforced bonds that formed in that remarkable time and place: Samoa in the Sixties.

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Looking at pictures with Bev and John, a longtime friend from Detroit days (Photo: Emily Everett)

​Other friends from my Detroit and Ann Arbor days also made the scene. That’s where the time capsule comes in. My whole writing life flashed before me, remembering time spent with these friends back in our Detroit Free Press, University of Michigan News Service, and Ann Arbor writers’ group days.

Sally P and Laura, both friends from University of Michigan News Service days, catch up. Laura and I were also in a writers' group together in Ann Arbor. (Photo: Chris Martin at www.chasinglightphotos.net)

A contingent from the Flanigan clan surprised me by showing up unannounced. Flanigans rock! (Photo: Ray Pokerwinski)

John ably assisted at the book table (Photo: Emily Everett)

Emily, from Detroit days and ever after, picks out a tiki mug, a party favor at the morning-after brunch for out-of-town visitors (Photo: NanSP)

With Laura and Chris from Ann Arbor days (Photo: Emily Everett)

Striking a pose with Emily, Val, and Ashley at Artsplace (Photo: Ray Pokerwinski)

​Those flashbacks continued into the following week when I had a second book signing at Artworks in Big Rapids. For several years, I belonged to a writers’ group at Artworks, and during that time I revised the manuscript that became Mango Rash. It was such fun to see friends from the Artworks writer’s group at the reading and for all of us to reflect on the long journey from manuscript to book.

Signing a book for Millie, from the Artworks writers' group (Photo: Ray Pokerwinski)

With Kendra at Croton Township Library (Photo: Ray Pokerwinski)

​​Still more memories came flooding back at the Croton Township Library book signing a few days later, where I connected with another writing friend. Kendra Lachniet and I were in the Fremont Area District Library’s writers’ group together, and Kendra has been supportive of my work all along.

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​So have all my friends, writers and non-writers alike. Celebrating with them over the past couple of weeks has reminded me over and over how blessed I am to have a circle of such kind, caring, generous, and FUN pals. 

With Kathy at Artsplace (Photo: Chris Martin at www.chasinglightphotos.net)

With Sally K at Artsplace (Photo: Chris Martin at www.chasinglightphotos.net)

With Tonya at Croton Township Library (Photo: Ray Pokerwinski)

With Sue at Croton Township Library (Photo: Ray Pokerwinski)

With Ray, Supporter Supreme (Photo: Emily Everett)

​Whether or not I published a book, whether or not I ever publish another, I couldn’t ask for more.

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Photos by:
Emily Everett
Chris Martin at www.chasinglightphotos.net
Nan Pokerwinski
Ray Pokerwinski