Even before coffee the following morning, the thrill of all those millions of faces remains with me–glossy black and pasty white and all the colors in between, marching in the sun across this country and having such a blast at it. Men and women from Senegal or Ireland, families from Bangladesh and Iran, waving their multiplicity of flags and speaking their marvelous texture of accents, people who love, simply love being here. I’e2’80’99m still choked up thinking of them all, and honestly, I think that instead of holding up that torch and peering into the night, Liberty ought to be spreading out her arms to welcome them all in. Borders are obsolete, racial prejudice is a slap in God’e2’80’99s face, and today, just for a little while, I’e2’80’99m just overjoyed to be an American.
And now it’e2’80’99s May, so if you have any questions for Laurie, send ‘e2’80’98em in. I can’e2’80’99t promise I’e2’80’99ll do an Ask Laurie next month, since the book will be out and the tour barreling in on me like an express train, so here’e2’80’99s your chance.
And by the way, those of you who have been following the trials of the Italian writer Mario Spezi as publicized by his co-author Doug Preston will be interested to see this from Sarah Weinman’e2’80’99s blog:
In an email statement, Preston explained the situation: “[On Saturday morning], unexpectedly, an independent three-judge panel annulled the imprisonment of the Italian journalist Mario Spezi and ordered his immediate release. He was set free unconditionally, not even under house arrest. The judges clearly did not think very highly of the evidence–or rather the lack thereof–that Judge Mignini and Chief Inspector Giuttari had presented against Spezi. While Spezi’s legal problems are far from over, at least he is finally out of the grim Capanne Prison.
My friends in Italy tell me that the enormous publicity surrounding the case, in Italy and in America, was an important reason why the panel took the unusual step of overruling a fellow judge and annulling Mignini’s order of imprisonment.”
myninki says
May 2, 2006 at 2:40 pmHi! I don’e2’80’99t know why I ask, guess I’e2’80’99m curious. What do you think about books piracy over the Internet?
Anonymous says
May 2, 2006 at 3:48 pmFirst off, thanks for passing on the news of Spezi’s release; it gives me hope.
And here’s a question, in the second Martinelli you refer to the Morningstar murders but don’t give many details, are we going to hear more about this case? It seems Kate did a lot of growing through that case; is there a short story out there somewhere I’ve not seen?
Thanks,
Wimindance
Whitmangirl says
May 2, 2006 at 3:58 pmDo you have any advice about where a confusded American can go to learn about the English university system? I read lots of books set in England and always feel a bit out of my depth when they start talking about the various colleges and being sent down and and all that.
Elisa says
May 2, 2006 at 4:01 pmDid you foresee the plot for Locked Rooms when you created Russel’s history in Beekkeeper? Or did you just have to hammer it into shape?
Erika says
May 2, 2006 at 4:54 pmOh, question time! I’m sure you’ve been asked this multiple times…I recently finished “A Grave Talent” – did you have any artist’s work in mind when you created the character of Vaun Adams? I imagined her work to be as that of a Northwestern Frida Kahlo. Am I off-track?
Ruth says
May 2, 2006 at 7:01 pmAs a criminology and criminal justice student I’m curious as to whether you’ve ever studied any criminological theory? Having studied feminist criminology this year and then re-read Night Work, I found myself looking at it from a slightly different angle, which made for an interesting read.
Anonymous says
May 2, 2006 at 9:34 pmHi, thought I would take the opportunity to ask about Holmes’ lovely lost son. Can you tell us more about that and since you have said you are going to have a new Russell be the next one, can we have a general idea of the place, time or anything you might have in mind in particular for our favorite heroine? thanks again for the chance to ask these questions.
kait b. roe
Anonymous says
May 2, 2006 at 10:57 pmDid the last ARC go out?
Anonymous says
May 3, 2006 at 3:54 amI am delighted to read that you, like me, see an enjoyment in the hundreds of thousands who want to be a part of the ole USA! What a great country we live in where we have demonstrations by those who want to live here, not in their native country. Bless their hearts and let us show the world that we are ONE!
Anonymous says
May 3, 2006 at 8:05 amI’m so confused. People no longer have to immigrate they can just invade. And that is somehow noble. I don’t understand.
Anonymous says
May 3, 2006 at 9:55 pmOh how we forget! Most of us did “invade”, come uninvited, took what we wanted when we got here. These current invaders are doing so very peacefully! Actually, most of them ‘look’ like the native Americans the rest of us killed, poisoned, made ill, and generally pushed them into parts of the country no one wanted! Use some critical thinking skills on this issue.