Writers & Authors

Setting the Stage

The Cultural Walking and Driving tour we have on the site describes Carmel's Sunset Center, our local Performance Venue. This week Sunset Center was the site of the first annual "Carmel Authors and Ideas Festival" and Homescapes Carmel was asked to provide a library-ish setting as a backdrop on the stage.

It was an interesting assignment. The stage set needed to be a warm and flattering backdrop to the authors who would be speaking in front of it, but not take focus from them. With a good combination of lighting and product, I think we pulled it off and I'm really happy that we were asked to do the event. It was a thrill to see so many respected authors standing there amid something we'd created.

The authors included Doris Kearns Goodwin, Seymour Hersh, Frank McCourt and Elizabeth Edwards. In a story Elizabeth Edwards related in her talk about her book, "Saving Graces," she set up a situation in which she had a mishap with a hairdryer and a brush. In the lead in to the punch-line, she mentioned how every woman in the room would know what happened next, but she imagined the men would have no idea.

I could relate to that statement from an episode that had happened only moments before. Mitsuko Gammon, a former Homescaper, and I were waiting in line before the talk to have our books signed by Elizabeth Edwards. All of a sudden a woman behind us leaned forward and said to Mitsuko, "you're wearing the same jacket as Elizabeth Edwards!" I looked at Mitsuko and said "huh?" The woman pressed on..."See they have the same buttons."

That started the other women commenting, but still I couldn't see it...Mitsuko was in beige and Elizabeth Edwards was in turquoise and the jackets REALLY didn't look the same to me. But when Mitsuko went up to the table to have her book signed Elizabeth Edwards' immediate reaction was "oh my gosh we're wearing the same jacket...we have to get a picture."

Too bad they asked me to take it...I get very nervous and jittery around famous, admirable people so I couldn't really control the camera. I'll blame it on the auto-focus.

(Click here to visit AccessoryMerchandising.com's article on this event)