I don’t watch much baseball until the playoffs come around, but this year the season-ending comeback by the Astros has a lot of people around here sitting up and paying attention. Last night they won their first post-season series in their lifetime…and mine. 43 years! And they didn’t just win it, they blew the Braves out of the park. My fantasy World Series is a matchup of the wild cards–Red Sox vs. Astros.
I had my first book signing on Friday night, and it was a rousing success. Here are some pictures.. I was up against a presidential debate and the local Friday night football game, and was very pleased to get thirty or forty people out. The Community Relations Manager told me that it was one of the biggest draws in her experience. I gave a thirty or forty minute impromptu talk about the book, fielded a coupla dozen questions and then signed something like seventy book, fifty of which were sold during the event. All in all, about 90 minutes that went by in a flash. My next signing is on Sunday afternoon at Books, Etc. in Portland, Maine.
I had a burst of creative energy yesterday afternoon. The title without a story I mentioned a few days ago grew legs and I wrote the entire thing, over 6500 words, in a few sessions yesterday. It needs revision, of course, but I was very happy how the story grew out of just a title and a mental snapshot of the opening scene. I plan to submit it to an MWA (Mystery Writers of America) anthology that will be edited by Harlan Coben.
Right now I’m reading Poppy Z. Brite’s novel Liquor. A big change from her previous New Orleans novels. Nary a vampire in sight. It’s about two young men who have earned their stripes in the kitchens of any number of New Orleans restaurants who decide to open their own place where everything on the menu is made with booze. It’s a charming story. Not without suspense–they have an enemy who doesn’t want to see them succeed–but mostly it’s a story of friendship and cooking. I’m looking forward to reading her other stories and novels featuring Ricky and G-Man.
Anyone else watching Desperate Housewives? It’s fun–a guilty pleasure. The second episode had some great moments and I gotta know what’s in that trunk in the lake. I know what we’re supposed to think it is…but is it?
Right now I’m reading Poppy Z. Brite’s novel Liquor. A big change from her previous New Orleans novels. Nary a vampire in sight.
Er, actually, there were no vampires in sight in my previous four novels either … Lost Souls (1992) is the only vamp tale I’ve written. Sorry to nitpick, but I’m touchy about being pegged as a “vampire writer” when I’ve written less vampire fiction than, say, Stephen King or Dan Simmons, who don’t get the label, and it’s not a genre I particularly enjoy. At any rate, good to see you on LJ, glad you are enjoying Liquor, and thanks for the mention!
Hi, Poppy. For some reason I thought that two of your books were vampire tales, but I see now that I was mistaken.
I put in a couple of bids on your eBay Value of X, but I see someone is quite eager to have it!
I’ve been mentioning Liquor all over the place because it was such a pleasant discovery. I’ve been reading a lot of crime fiction lately, and Liquor is a breath of fresh air by comparison. Two main characters that you really want to see succeed and a shady-esque backer who proves to be nicer than anyone expects.
I put in a couple of bids on your eBay Value of X, but I see someone is quite eager to have it!
No need to pay an exorbitant price unless you really want a first edition, as Subterranean will be reprinting it soon.
I’ve been mentioning Liquor all over the place because it was such a pleasant discovery.
Thanks so much! I’ve always found word of mouth the most valuable type of publicity.