If it’s Tuesday…
Well, I have to admit, that when I’e2’80’99m up and throwing clothes into a suitcase at 4:30 in the morning, posting a blog isn’e2’80’99t the first thing on my mind. You will forgive me?
The 7:30 am flight out of Houston arrived in Seattle a little late, thanks to the clever planning of the Houston controllers who decided that eighteen planes needed to leave the ground at the same time. After half an hour in a queue, we finally did so. And getting into Seattle late meant that my signing at Partners West, the very charming local book wholesalers, was what one of them pronounced more of a surgical strike than a drop-in signing’e2’80’94100 books in under five minutes, and every signature as legible as the first. Which admittedly isn’e2’80’99t saying much, but hey, they’e2’80’99re signed.
Then to the great new Seattle Mystery Books, in the same building as previously but now with space and a windowed corner, terribly posh. So great to see an independent actually building in size. Quite a few people dropped by the chat and get books signed, which is the format SMB uses instead of a formal event. Saves a whole lot of shoving moveable stacks around the store, that’e2’80’99s for sure.
When we finished there, I signed stock for Elliott Bay and the University Bookstore, two great local independents, and also the gorgeous Barnes and Noble in upscale University Village. A quick taping for KING-FM (who promise to let me know when it will air, I’e2’80’99ll pass that info on when I get it.) And beginning at 3:30 I’e2’80’99ve had two entire hours in my hotel, during which I washed my hair, gulped down a hanburger (lunch? dinner?), phoned my family, got my email, sent off six emails concerning the upcoming Corte Madera conference and the next book (including a no-doubt unsuitable list of titles sent to my editor, sigh), dried my hair (well, it’e2’80’99s in the process), ironed a shirt for the evening event, thought about lying down, and wrote this instead.
It is now 5:00 and I have to leave in half an hour for my evening event in Bellingham which, despite New York’e2’80’99s sense of geography, is actually more in Canada than in Seattle.
Tomorrow to San Diego, wheeee!
My goodness! I thought the writing part was the actual job, but it seems as though the promotion part is where all the hard work is. How will you ever find the time to work on the current book-in-progress?! And now that I’ve finished Locked Rooms (which I loved by the way!)I’m sadly longing for the next Russle book. Hmm, maybe I should not press my luck here, go re-read the whole Russle series to relieve my depression at having to wait for another one and give you a chance to catch your breath.
Congraltulations on another wonderful installment to an already wonderful series! I’m sure that all of your hard work will make it a roaring success. (And for heavens sake, try to get some rest when this is all over!)
Oh, just got home from your Bellingham event, Laurie. My sister, Mother, and I all agreed we had an absolutely lovely time, and it was such a pleasure and honor to finally meet you in person!!
Jacqui
Hi. I was at the Bellingham event too. Just wanted to say thank you so much for coming this far north. It’s always great to see you speak, and I look forward to reading Locked Rooms.
You had to ‘iron a shirt’???? Oh my gracious. Give up ironing!! It is a tremendous time saver.
:-)s
linda in delaware
Bouncing around the country sounds like it would be rather fun…of course, the getting up at 4:30am and the stress associated with a tight schedule kind of counteracts that, I’m sure.
Do you get to pick the bookstores you visit? Or do they request that you have an event? Or do a bunch of shops request and you (or maybe your publishers) get to pick from the group? The schedule seems way too organized to be random bookstores hodge-podged together.
I’m sorry I missed you at Seattle Mystery Books (I was there last time!) but I’ll be stopping by there tomorrow to pick up the signed copy I requested. I love that store, as well as U Books, and I can’t wait to read Locked Rooms!