Shawna Lander's book night at Mall of America is 4 days away, and the ticketing page doesn't show it as sold out yet. The viral creator will be in the Huntington Bank Rotunda on Tuesday, October 13, at 6 p.m. to launch her debut memoir, "The Role of Mom Will Be Played By: The Year I Had a Baby and Became Myself." The mall's event listing now says "Official Event Guidelines coming soon," so check back before you go to see the rules on bags, lines and photos.
The mall says the night includes "an exclusive live debut of a brand-new Shawna skit," an onstage conversation with fellow creator Amber Estenson, who posts as @thatmidwesternmom, and a meet-and-greet with Lander afterward.
Tickets are $27.95. According to the ticketing page, that covers admission, a copy of the memoir, the meet-and-greet and 1 photo with Lander. There's one catch. The book comes with attendance, so you can't buy a ticket just to pick one up. "Book pickup will not be available prior to or after the conclusion of the event," the page says. Tickets are sold on the mall's ticketing site.
The ticket is a decent deal. The hardcover lists for $27.95, the same price as the ticket, and it isn't officially released until October 20. People in the Rotunda will have a copy a week before preorders ship, and the skit and the photo come at no extra cost.
If your phone keeps showing you her videos, you already know her. Lander's humor account, @ShawnatheMom, has more than 4 million followers, and her skits cover relationships, motherhood and family dynamics. The book's description calls motherhood "a metamorphosis" rather than just a new chapter. It mixes her comedy with a more personal look at how having a baby changed her sense of who she is.
It's a Tuesday night, so parents will want to line up a sitter or a co-parent. If you want a good view of the skit, get there early.
