Readers Matter

I will print out and frame a note from a special reader whose opinion matters to me. He read “Tears, Fears and Arrowheads..” and liked it well enough to lend it to an associate. There is nothing like having a discerning readership. I am the humble servant. Thanks so much.

Author! Author!

Author! Author! contact “Juli” reports as many as 15 author/writers gathered in Downers Grove IL last night for the monthly meeting of this support and marketing group. I had planned to go but was derailed by the swelter and private needs. Next month, for sure even though the meeting night conflicts with Writer’s Anonymous, a free write session at the local Borders for Fox Valley devotees. Yes, I am cheating on my regular group. In other news I ran into Len of the St. Charles Writer’s Group and he was proud to tell me he had come in third in a Sci fi novel competition. I invited him to send me a news release and I would post it here. This is a big deal in my circle, congrats Len.

The Left Coast Speaks

Watching the Cubs play in San Francisco I now believe my Left Coast correspondent, Elaine, who claimed she was wearing a leather jacket and that it is cold in the Bay area. Here is Chicago we sweat and swat, sweat and swat. By the end of our conversation I learned that Elaine has written a book and we pledged to swap books. In a fit of “if I do this I can stop and buy ice cream” I packaged up “Tears, Fears and Arrowheads” and ‘A Girl named Zippy” one of the best and funniest memoirs ever, and paid a lot to mail it to Elaine. I remembered that her book is about a girl growing up heavy. I still went for the ice cream, but bought the smallest box of an overly sweet Pralines and Cream flavor.

Writers on Left and Right Coasts

I am as balanced as a kid on a big bike with training wheels now that I have made the acquaintance of Rachelle, a writer relocating to Boston after an impressive job in Washington D.C. as a writer and editor. Welcome Rachelle and know that you have a counter weight in California in the other Bay area. Sooner or later, you two should get to know each other. Oh, and there are a couple of writers in fly-over country that I will finally get to meet next week in either a waterfall or an Indian cave in Arkansas. We will be basking in poetry as well with a mini course with Famous Poet Norma Gay Prewett of Madison WI. It is going to be a hot time I’m sure. Watch this space for a full report after August 22.

Back to Basics

It is my privilege to be able to talk to many interesting people every day all across the country. That is how I came to know MAZ JOBRANI, one of the funniest Los Angeles stand up comics I have ever seen. He was kind enough to send me two signed DVDs, AXIS OF EVIL and BROWN BUT FRIENDLY. Thanks Maz. You and lovely Pretha did a lot to cheer me after my loss of two friends in the same week. I have your signed copy of Tears, Fears and Arrowheads ready to go in the mail tomorrow. Everyone, watch for MAZ to go, go, go bigger.

SURGE!

After a long period of lassitude and many potholes I am back on the road. I attended a class reunion in Rochelle Illinois and was honored by requests for the book. I gae a few away as drawing prizes and was thrilled. My longest distance reader hails from Sturgis and of course he rode in on his Harley. Of course he did. Later he ordered Tears, Fears and Arrowheads using Paypal from the Website. Go Tom! Thanks so much.