Did anybody order cupcakes?: seanan

Did anybody order cupcakes?

Last night I was the featured author at the Clayton Books monthly book club, in Clayton, California. The bookstore is literally two doors down from my dentist, so it's sort of a miracle I agreed to go anywhere near it without an armed guard; perhaps my phobia is getting better. Or maybe I was just really excited to have been asked. Whatever the reason for my attendance, it was agreed upon several months ago. When I was invited, I asked what was expected of me. The bookstore owner said, jokingly, that I should bring cupcakes.

More fool he.

At three, I convinced a co-worker to drive me to the Cups and Cakes Bakery, which I am rapidly coming to believe is the best cupcake bakery (cupcakery?) in the universe. I had placed an order for three dozen cupcakes, which were waiting for me in their pretty pink boxes, ready to go off and be consumed. In total, there were a dozen grasshopper cupcakes (dark chocolate cake with peppermint frosting—think a cakey, delicious version of the Thin Mint), a dozen pretty pretty princess cupcakes (strawberry cake with strawberry buttercream frosting and edible silver pearls), and a variety pack containing two deep dark chocolate, two vanilla (which are possibly the Ur-Vanilla cupcakes, intended to be honored in song and in story), two red velvet, two cloud nine (angel food cake with seven-minute frosting), two root beer float, and two banana with salted caramel frosting. Because when I bring cupcakes to my own party, I don't screw around.

Getting into the BART system, during a major storm, while carrying three dozen cupcakes: not the easiest thing I have ever done. But funny. Especially as people tried to wheedle me into giving them cupcakes (and then inevitably said "No, no, I was just kidding" and looked alarmed when I shrugged and said "Yeah, sure"). My mother picked me up on the Walnut Creek side, where we placed the cupcakes reverently in her backseat and proceeded to the normal Wednesday errands, including the obligate stop at the comic book store. Flying Colors, how I adore you.

After a stop at the house to brush the cat, change my clothes, brush the cat, comb my hair, brush the cat, pack a bag for the evening, and brush the cat, we were off to dinner (at Applebee's) and then the bookstore. We arrived around seven, and walked in, toting cupcakes. They had my picture up in several places. Feeling thus boldly recognizable, I approached the woman at the counter.

"Where should I put these?"

She looked at me blankly. I began to worry that they had some other fluffy blonde urban fantasy author coming, and I was in the wrong place.

"I think I'm tonight's author?"

"Oh!" She beamed. "I didn't expect you to bring snacks!"

People never take me seriously.

Mom and I wandered around the bookstore looking at things while we waited for the event to begin. Eventually, people began to trickle in, including Joel, the owner of the store, and X., my housemate (who belongs to the book club). Only one other member of the actual book club showed up, thanks to the UNENDING RAIN: the rest of the audience consisted of my friend Shawn, his wife, Elsa (who braved the cold with a cold to attend), Andy from the comic book store, and my mother. Still, we sat and talked for two hours, mostly about Toby, and everybody ate cupcakes with great alacrity, so I'm calling it a win. Also, I still have cupcakes.

Yum.

wcg

January 21 2010, 16:23:25 UTC 7 years ago

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If I'm ever in your area, I will have to try those cupcakes. (Alas, I don't imagine they stand up well to shipping cross country.)

angel_vixen

January 21 2010, 16:29:03 UTC 7 years ago

I suggest a field trip! Those grasshopper cupcakes must be mine.

AngelVixen, who also wishes they would ship cross-country :-)

seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

spectralbovine

January 21 2010, 16:25:28 UTC 7 years ago

Hee. Good story. I'm sorry the turnout wasn't greater...

...Blame it on the rain.

January 21 2010, 21:54:59 UTC 7 years ago

I do, with great good cheer.

docpockets

January 21 2010, 16:28:35 UTC 7 years ago

"Cups and Cakes"? As in the Spinal Tap song?

I feel your BART pain. The refurbished floors are better than the old carpet, at least in dry weather. In wet weather I keep slipping on the puddled water by the doors.

January 21 2010, 21:55:09 UTC 7 years ago

Yup!

ladymondegreen

January 21 2010, 16:38:12 UTC 7 years ago

I'm sorry more people didn't turn out, but at least the cupcakes didn't melt. They sound delicious, and like the perfect accompaniment to a rainy evening book reading/chat.

January 21 2010, 21:55:25 UTC 7 years ago

Also, fewer people than cupcakes equated to a win for everybody.

ravenclawed

January 21 2010, 16:38:31 UTC 7 years ago

Glad you and the cupcakes made it safe and sound. Those cupcakes sound delicious enough to make me want to do my own baking (and I rarely touch my oven).

I just finished re-reading Rosemary and Rue and I have a few questions, if you don't mind:

1. Is your Tybalt named for Shakespeare's Tybalt, or is Shakespeare's Tybalt named for your Tybalt? :-)

2. Toby said her title is "Knight of Lost Words." Is she going to elaborate on that later?

3. How much did touching the Hope Chest affect Toby? When she went to see Sylvester, her dress came out different (I'd say better, but my taste in gowns is different than hers) than she intended. I know she said her nightvision's better, but is her magic stronger overall?

4. You describe her magic as smelling like "cut grass and copper" sometimes, and other times just copper. Does the scent change depending on what she does?

Can't wait for the next book.

January 21 2010, 21:56:05 UTC 7 years ago

1) Not telling.

2) Probably eventually.

3) Not telling.

4) Yup. But the copper is stronger, hence it being much more likely to be the dominant scent.

lilrongal

January 21 2010, 16:50:46 UTC 7 years ago

The strawberry ones sound divine!

January 21 2010, 21:56:20 UTC 7 years ago

They are awesome.

tikiera

January 21 2010, 17:32:50 UTC 7 years ago

I am in envy of your cupcakes. And am now trying to figure out to how make a good root beer float one.

January 21 2010, 22:17:27 UTC 7 years ago

You should visit for product testing.

arielstarshadow

January 21 2010, 17:51:43 UTC 7 years ago

I want cupcakes. :(

I tweeted them, asking if they shipped, but no answer yet.

January 21 2010, 22:17:34 UTC 7 years ago

Awww.

markbernstein

January 21 2010, 17:54:08 UTC 7 years ago

. . . the Cups and Cakes Bakery, which I am rapidly coming to believe is the best cupcake bakery (cupcakery?) in the universe.

I feel much the same way about The Cupcake Station, which has a branch in Ann Arbor. Tell you what - if there's any way you can bring an assorted dozen to, say, Duckon or OVFF, I'll do the same, and we'll have a cupcake-off.

Glad you had fun, despite the rain.

January 21 2010, 22:17:50 UTC 7 years ago

I'm not sure that would be possible, but I'll look into it...

kyril

January 21 2010, 18:20:39 UTC 7 years ago

But...did they provide enough Diet Dr. Pepper?

January 21 2010, 22:18:00 UTC 7 years ago

No. I brought my own.

silvertwi

January 21 2010, 18:48:24 UTC 7 years ago

I had to read this while I'm hungry. It's an hour and a half past my intended lunch time because I was busy filling out/reading online paperwork for student loans. The contract? Takes a very long time to read. And I am a fast reader.

*wishes for a cupcake to appear beside her computer*

Hmm. Didn't work. Maybe I need Evangeline to make it come true. But there are no stars visible during early afternoon hours. :(

January 21 2010, 22:48:04 UTC 7 years ago

Ooooooooooooooooops.

la_marquise_de_

January 21 2010, 18:49:16 UTC 7 years ago

Cupcakes are good, but lemon is the best flavour. (Yes, I'm a citrus heretic.)

January 21 2010, 18:55:37 UTC 7 years ago

The cupcakery has lemon drop, pink lemonade, and orange juice-flavor cupcakes.

djbp

wyldirishtric

sheistheweather

January 21 2010, 20:09:21 UTC 7 years ago

Sounds like a pretty sweet time!

Pun fully intended!

January 21 2010, 22:48:24 UTC 7 years ago

Heh.

mskauri

January 21 2010, 20:28:23 UTC 7 years ago

Getting into the BART system, during a major storm, while carrying three dozen cupcakes

And people think my life with the goats and horses is an adventure! Well done, Seanan!

Wish I could have been there...sounds like a great night!

January 21 2010, 22:48:40 UTC 7 years ago

It was good. :)

erinwrites

January 21 2010, 20:41:24 UTC 7 years ago

OMG, I wish I could have been there...for the cupcakes AND the company. ;)

January 21 2010, 22:48:53 UTC 7 years ago

I wish you'd been there, too, sweetie.

January 21 2010, 20:58:53 UTC 7 years ago

When you next make it to London, may I recommend a visit to Hummingbird Bakery.

January 21 2010, 22:49:47 UTC 7 years ago

Noted!

mosephine

January 21 2010, 21:50:15 UTC 7 years ago

I have cupcake envy ;)

January 21 2010, 22:50:03 UTC 7 years ago

You could always meet me after work for a cupcake trip, you know.

eevieivy

January 21 2010, 22:12:28 UTC 7 years ago

Mmm. Cupcakes.

Now I want cupcakes.

ravin_raven

January 21 2010, 22:23:32 UTC 7 years ago

Root-beer float cupcakes? I have a boyfriend who is obsessed with root beer and it sounds like a concept that requires investigation.

Cause and Effect

amberley

January 21 2010, 23:28:35 UTC 7 years ago

People should always take you seriously, otherwise they have only themselves to blame when the ebola-spreading zombie velociraptor army chases them through the streets.

Glad it went well, and the cupcakes sound great!

Re: Cause and Effect

January 22 2010, 23:28:29 UTC 7 years ago

See, exactly! I am a serious blonde. This is a serious threat of cupcakes.

bigherman

January 22 2010, 00:53:52 UTC 7 years ago

I'm fairly surprised I made it home last night. Once I got there I scrabbled in the medicine bin, and took the first thing labeled "cold" and "pm," crawled into bed, and rocked from the pain splitting my skull. Go figure, no headache today, but for some reason my left eyeball bone is veeerry tender, and it hurts to blink that eye. Only that one, though, the right side is fine.

And I vaguely remember talking about Superman-fellatio, unless that was another weird dream like the one I had earlier where my foot had been crushed, taken off, I was given a temporary replacement Kaiser grew for me, until my real one got better, when I had to screw it one and figure out how to properly dispose of a human foot that was no longer useful.

In fact, my last clear memory of last night is thinking how goddamn good the cream cheese frosting was on the cupcake.

January 22 2010, 23:28:59 UTC 7 years ago

No, that really happened. I facepalmed and laughed.

Thank you so much for coming, and I'm really glad you got your red velvet cake. :)

ladyfox7oaks

January 22 2010, 01:16:05 UTC 7 years ago

(giggle!) But did you remember to brush the cat? :D Glad to hear you had such a lovely time, AND have cupcakes left-over! Oh Heavens, but those grasshopper ones sound WONDERFUL! And the Deep Dark Chocolate, too!

January 22 2010, 23:29:13 UTC 7 years ago

I did remember to brush the cat.

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