A lot of BookCrossers love leaving books in the wild, but for a shy person like me, I usually prefer the comfort, safety and laziness of online swapping or leaving my books at OBCZs. Moreover, I figure, why risk a book going into the garbage when I could give it to someone who’s interested.
Thus, it was with some curiosity, excitement, and nervous anticipation that I did my first big wild releasing, as a reverse scavenger hunt at the BookCrossing UnConvention in Kansas City. It was totally fun reading the map and preparing books to release, a combination of creativity, knowledge, map reading skills, and walking/running exercise. Totally addictive fun that kept me recounting the details to anybody who chanced to ask how my vacation was. ABout 20 of us turned out en masse to the Country Club Plaza at Kansas City, and leaving book here and there, all over the place.
My first release was at the JC Nicholas Fountain for the fountain theme, using the book Hole in the Water. Well, a fountain is technically speaking, a hole of water, sort of… (*all book titles contain BC journal link)
Hole in the Water released at the JC Nicholas Fountain
For the statue theme, I found that the stone horse statue at PF Chang bears remarkably resemblance to the unicorn on the cover of The Camelot Caper, so I left the book at the horse’s foot:
The Camelot Caper
Next I left the book Flower (a great book by the way) in a flower pot. Okay, rather unimaginative, but hey it is themed.
Flower book left with some flowers.
For the numbers theme, I wasn’t quite sure where to release my book until I came across this sign. Funny thing is, originally I had planned to use the book The Four Agreements, which would have been PERFECT at this address. But that book was such an old BC book I couldn’t bear just wild releasing it and end up using Three Junes instead.
Three Junes released at 444
I found a White House/Black Market store, a perfect spot for Blackbeard’s Ghost as a Colors themed release.
Blackbeard's Ghost showing up at Black Market!
Now on to hot and cold. First is The Grilling Season at The Capital Grille. Spot the book? It’s at the paw of the left lion.
The Grilling Season at The Capital Grille
Then, at my favorite ice cream shop, Coldstone Creamery, a copy of Cold Company. If it weren’t so cold (for me) and if I had more time, I’d definitely have gone in for a pumpkin ice cream.
Cold Company at Coldstone Creamery
There are lots of fountains everywhere, so at this Mermaid fountain I released my water book, Beneath the Surface, though the book remained stubbornly afloat. Should have learned from the Mafia and tied it with some stones…
Beneath The Surface stays afloat in the Mermaid Fountain
I had quite a few dog books. This one, Why We Love The Dogs We Do, awaited a dog + book lover at the Three Dog Bakery.
Why We Love The Dogs We Do at the Three Dogs Bakery
I didn’t plan to release this book here, but Benji spotted this fire hydrant and simply refused to leave…
Benji loves this fire hydrant
Morning, Noon & Night was left next to a string of lights for the lights release.
Lights Release: Morning, Noon & Night
Again, a book that I planned to take home but released instead. This one is for KC Connection, as the author of For the Beary Best Mom lives in Kansas City. Left this on the Kansas City Star newspaper box.
Released for KC Connection
I also did a bunch of themed releases.
You’ve got Nickel ad Dimed at the bank!
You've Got Nickel and Dimed at the Bank!
Some Uncommon Grounds (a coffee house mystery) showed up at Latteland (book on front table).
Latteland has some Uncommon Grounds!
Kind of wish I still had Cold Company, as the eagle would work great over here too. Anyway, a chocolate themed book, Like Water For Chocolate, at the Panache Chocolatier.
My Toy Voyager toys bravely left a book in the eagle's nest.
Love and Other Recreational Sports looked right at home at the Diebel’s Sportsman Gallery.
Love is a recreational sport!
This is one of my favorite releases. Why Me? Guess!
Why Me? Guess!
I had looked for a while to find this perfect chair for Three for the Chair. I believe this is at Brio Tuscan Grille.
Chair book on chair
You have to admit that Bead on Trouble looks right at home in the Brighton Collectibles store, though I doubt the shop assistant would agree.
Beads release
It’s Zero Hour at the Clock Tower of Fogo de Chao. This is the only catch I got so far from this Scavenger Hunt. Plus the very photogenic tower makes this one of my favorite releases.
It's Zero Hour at Fogo de Chao
As I am not inclined to hang myself under a cliff, this little book Over Sea, Under Stone has to be contend with under a little stone ledge.
Not quite over the sea, but definitely under the stone.
Sorry, dear shop assistant, I knew photography was not allowed in the store. But hey when I have a book called Shades of Earl Grey and you have some boxes of earl grey, what do you expect me to do??
Earl Grey!!
There is a bonus for finding a pay phone, and I have the perfect book for a themed release. Except that I couldn’t find a darn payphone!! Well, I never did pay attention but just presume them to be everywhere, but never did I imagine that even hotels don’t have payphones anymore!!
Anyway, it wasn’t until we got to the Hallmark City Center that we spotted one. Here you go, Superman Returns. Maybe not. Guess he has to use the men’s room and hopefully not get arrested.
Superman Returns
Also, about twenty steps away from the payphone, we found this book lying on the bench. I was like, no way, that was the book I released two hours ago! It couldn’t be showing up here! Turns out it was another copy from the same BookCrosser… I guess this is my second wild catch of my BC life!!
A weird moment of deja vu indeed!
Azuki's Book Cafe 
Awesome releases azuki!