Val Emmich wanted to spread the word about his first novel, “The Reminders,” in a targeted, creative way. Because of his newbie writer status, he wasn’t sure he could draw crowds to bookstores, so the actor and musician — who has released several albums and has acted in “Vinyl,” “Ugly Betty,” and “30 Rock” — took to the Internet to ask members of his music following if he could host a reading and music session in their homes across the East Coast.
People said yes, and what followed turned into a weeks-long summer book and music tour.
He performed one of his shows — his fourth — in Boston Sunday. The event also raised money for a local young woman who was hit by a car and now suffers from a traumatic brain injury, Emmich said. He met the woman’s parents at the concert and was “crushed” by their story.
“[Each show] just opens up your world and it becomes more than about the book, even,” Emmich said. “You’re kind of just getting into people’s lives.”
In between the events, Emmich has made impromptu visits to bookstores to sign copies of “The Reminders,” released in May, which is about a grieving man who develops an unlikely friendship with a 10-year-old girl with Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory.
On Saturday, Emmich visited Newtonville Books. Owner Mary Cotton said the new author brought her a goodie bag of mango-flavored, golden gummy bears. The inspiration for the treats (and much of the inspiration for the book) comes from Emmich’s 6-year-old daughter, who helped her dad meticulously search for gummy bears that perfectly matched the shade of yellow of the book’s cover.
“I’m just doing everything in my power [to market the book], so I’m not above trying to woo people with sweets,” Emmich joked.
Emmich has 14 more shows over the next four weeks. He’s prepared — and just bought another bulk order of yellow gummy bears.
Kaitlyn Locke can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @ke_locke.