Photo by Carmen S. Perez

Betty Auchard is a favorite of ours — she’s so energetic, fun . . . and funny. When I grow up, I want to be Betty! The author of Dancing in My Nightgown: The Rhythms of Widowhood spent last week on a tour across the Vegas Valley, with appearances at multiple Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf shops. The Coffee Bean folks selected Dancing as the Book of the Month. Each signing was a sell out, with fans showing up, R-J ads in hand, to chat with the ever-gracious Betty. She also spoke to the seniors at the Parkdale Senior Center, and had the attendees in fits of laughter as she talked about driving Denny’s cremains home (the first time he didn’t tell her how to drive), surviving and eventually thriving in her new life, sans-Denny, and later her crush on Carpet Man. Books sales were not allowed on the city-owned premises, but not to be deterred, folks followed Betty to the car, where we held an impromptu signing out of the trunk. We also invited the seniors to be a focus group for Betty’s next book, The Home for the Friendless. They provided some valuable input regarding the concept and sub-titles. Betty also worked with translator/editor Gaby Jurica on the next edition of Dancing — Bailando en mi camison and spent her evenings editing the final draft of Friendless. This is one busy lady!