Yee haw, Houston
It’e2’80’99s summertime, and the livin’e2’80’99 is humid.
Greetings from Houston, the country’e2’80’99s fourth largest city (as the board on the way in from the airport cheerily informs a visitor’e2’80’94in lights, so it can be changed instantaneously with any shift in population.) A city with summer weather seeing rough matches in temperature and humidity, both in the upper nineties. A city with no zoning laws’e2’80’94that’e2’80’99s right, nothing whatsoever to stop your over-the-fence neighbor from knocking down his house and converting it into an all-night gas station. Ah, ain’e2’80’99t Western freedom great?
I have a morning in my hotel, so other than taping a radio conversation with a friendly and intelligent gentleman by the name of Kacey Kowars, to be aired next week (I’e2’80’99ll try to let you know when) I’e2’80’99m tucked into the manuscript of the next book. As I scribble, cross out, and note questions, I’e2’80’99m also looking for a title, since my editor wants to present the thing at the rapidly-approaching sales conference and it’e2’80’99s better to have a name than just the feeble, ‘e2’80’9cLaurie King’e2’80’99s next book.’e2’80’9d I had a great one, but of course it’e2’80’99s already taken’e2’80’94and by a book also by Random House, coming out at precisely the same time next year. Oh well, back to the drawing board.
Someone asked about the history of the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco. The Fairmont was new in 1906, a modern steel-framed structure that survived the quake but not the fire. Large portions of it were salvageable, however, and the hotel dog was found in the wine cellar, shaken but alive. They rebuilt along with the rest of the city, and by 1924, it might never have had its history interrupted.
I’e2’80’99m doing a live radio interview this afternoon on the great NPR radio station KUHF, at 3:40’e2’80’94let me know if you hear it out there. I remember a few years ago in Denver I did brief piece on the noon television news, then went out for lunch with my escort. Walking through the restaurant lobby, a woman glanced at me and then did a startled double-take, blurting out, ‘e2’80’9cI just saw you on tv!’e2’80’9d The immediacy of modern life does take one aback.
And tonight I’e2’80’99m at Murder by the Book, no doubt will be great fun.
Tomorrow, Seattle!
Welcome to the “southland” (and Houston really isn’t the west any more) where hunidity equals temperature and it isnt even raining. Thanks to internet radio, many of us outside Texas will be able to hear you today. Thanks for answering the question on the Fairmont. Aren’t you thankful for California weather?
*dramatic sob* You’re going to be in Seattle (where I live) and I have to be here at camp watching little girlies. Though, my night off is tomorrow…..
Perhaps I’ll send my boyfriend to see you.
Kasey did a great job interviewing Sarah Weinman, can’t wait to hear your’s.
Sounded great on the radio (or streaming audio, as its called)–just was not long enough! And sounds like you have a new fan! Keep up the good writing.
Not exactly related, but…Long live public broadcasting! I’m so happy they decided not to cut NPR and PBS. Sadly, we will still be without Big Bird and Cookie Monster.
Glad your tour is going well=)
How do you come up with a good title? I would imagine you don’t want something overly obvious, like using the hook in a song for the song’s title; but you don’t want it too obscure, either. Just curious.
Is there anyway that I can find a copy of the interview on the internet somewhere? Somehow I missed it but I really want to hear it!
Shucks and gee darn, here I am stuck in Yorkshire writing about women in comedy when I could have been at home and gone to Murder By The Book!
I remember very fondly attending the O Jerusalem signing there when I was a senior in high school, with big dreams of being an academic studying in England.
And gosh, here I am!
Have enjoyed your postings of the current tour and looking forward to meeting you July 1 in the Los Angeles area.
Presumably the next book on which you are working is the Kate Martinelli due next year. *smiles*
See you Friday !!