Stories, Strangers, and a Weekend in New York
Last week, I wrote about my idea of leaving a copy of my latest book, Lucky and Unlucky in Love, at various places around New York City as I traveled up there to perform at David Geffen Hall with my church orchestra and choir. (The performance was outstanding, by the way! Truly a once-in-a-lifetime moment.) Now I’m back to talk about the experience. And just wait until you read about Drop #3.
I had two walking-around days: Sunday and Monday. Since each day was anchored by either a dress rehearsal and call time for the performance, my friend and I strategically aligned our days. Sunday was the South Day, meaning everywhere we went was south of Central Park (where our hotel was located).
Bryant Park
After a healthy breakfast in a cozy cafe, we took the subway down to 42nd Street and started at Bryant Park. This was drop number one. The day was bright and crisp, and there were lots of people already milling about at 10:00 am. I scouted the entire park area and zeroed in on a table on the north side.
I wrote a note for the future reader, set up the shot, snapped my photos, and then made this post:
Left a book I wrote in Bryant Park, NYC.
No catch, just stories looking for the right person…
Day 1 of leaving my books around NYC. If you find it, tag me.
A couple of ladies from France (?) were nearby taking their own staged pictures and by the time my friend and I left the park, my book was gone. I’m choosing to think they snatched it up.
Columbus Circle
Late on Sunday afternoon, just before dress rehearsal, I walked down to Columbus Circle. The vibe was chill and relaxed. Guy playing a guitar, a youth skateboarding, the clomps of hooves on pavement. Quite a memorable moment.
Original social media post:
Every city has stories.
Today, I added one at Columbus Circle.
If you find the book, the story continues with you.
Strawberry Fields
This is where the magic happened.
I sat on a bench on the far side of the mural dedicated to John Lennon. As I was staging my shot, a dog walked right up between my legs. Her owner, a wonderful Irish woman, apologized for the intrusion and I waved her off. I was missing my own dogs, I told her, and her reply was wonderful: “Poppie has a way of knowing when a person needs to pet a dog.”
Having uploaded my post, I walked away, but a man on a nearby bench, thinking I had left my book by accident, rushed over to pick it up and return it to me. I thanked him, told him I was the author, what I was doing, and that I intended the book to find a new owner. Turns out, the owner was him. Alberto from Spain was happily surprised and later posted about it on his own social media feed.
Original post:
Stories belong in the wild. And for the world.
So I left one in Central Park—between footsteps, trees, and quiet moments. In the spot where a singer once asked us to imagine.
Find it, keep it, share it.
Central Park
The last bookdrop was as we were making our way across Central Park to the Guggenheim Museum. Turns out there were not many benches on that side, so I left it near E. 90th, at the entrance to the park.
Original post:
In Central Park, near the Guggenheim, a book is waiting for its main character.
It could be you…
Conclusion
I so loved doing this! I loved walking about the city—My FitBit clocked me at nearly 24 miles over two days—and the weather was perfect. The attractions we saw were all fantastic, but the Museum of Modern Art remains my favorite. Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Starry Night is there. I knew that ahead of time, but the surprises are what really got me. Imagine walking around a corner and just seeing Picasso’s Three Musicians on the wall. Or Dali’s Persistence of Memory. It was awesome!
And the book drop were also wonderful. Other than Albert, I may never know who found my books, if they enjoyed them, or if they liked the book enough to share with other readers.
I’m choosing to think they will. Because stories are meant to be shared, and I loved sharing mine in New York City.