AtoZ Challenge: N - Norman Rockwell

Greetings from Hannibal, MO, Mark Twain's boyhood hometown, my theme for this year's AtoZ Challenge.

The Mark Twain Museum is home to fifteen Norman Rockwell paintings. The master painter meets the master storyteller.

The Mark Twain Museum

Norman Rockwell adored Hannibal. His commissioned paintings depict scenes from Twain's novels: Tom Sawyer and the dead cat, Tom Sawyer and the schoolmaster flogging, Tom Sawyer whitewashing the fence, Tom Sawyer sneaking out of a window. I feel like I've met Tom Sawyer before. Oh, that's right, I have two teenage boys. It really is worth the price of admission to view Rockwell's paintings.

Mark Twain available for photos

My oldest son stopping by.

Twain planter all dressed up for Christmas.

Here is my claim to fame.
 This past summer I had the privilege of being the first author invited to do a book signing at The Mark Twain Museum.

  Have you ever done a book signing? How do you prepare for one? Were you nervous? Are you excited about doing one in the future?

AtoZ Challenge: I - Introducing Hannibal's Wax Museum!

Haunted House on Hill Street

In keeping with yesterday's AtoZ Challenge "H" post, Haunted Hannibal, I thought I would introduce the latest spooky attraction to hit the town. Actually, the Haunted House on Hill Street has been around a long time, but it's been closed and for sale for the past seven years. Someone finally bought the rundown house last year, cleaned it up and installed twenty-seven life-size wax sculptures, featuring everyone from Mark Twain to Aunt Polly to Injun Joe. 

So, be sure to stop by the Haunted House on Hill Street described in Twain's novels. It's located right next door to the Becky Thatcher house. Did you notice the skeleton in the upstairs window? I'm going to stop by later today and see if I can peek in the windows. If any of those wax figures move, blink or wink...