we packed 'em in!

This photo from Books Inc. needs cropping and straightening, but I
wanted to let you know that we had a GREAT time last night. Thanks
to Linda and Tom, Bruce and Nancy, old Borders friends and new
museum pals for attending. It was a long day on my feet, but with
a little chemical help I did sleep last night and am raring to go today.
(Well, not really raring.) Oh and thanks to Ken for hosting and I'm
pleased that we sold some books. And thanks again to Loren for all
her hard work making this whole Morbid thing happen.

It rained yesterday, shortly after I pronounced it a glorious day.
But now today will be sunny. Honest.

nerves of steel

Today is the Members' Sale at our museums. 20% off and it will
remind me of those busy retail days at the big box. The day
will fly by, and that's a good thing.

Then tonight at 7:30, Loren and three other Morbid writers
will be at Books, Inc. in the Castro. Oh, I'll be there too. It will
be a long day, but a rewarding one, I'm sure.

For my out-of-town commano friends ~ it's another golden
day here. Too beautiful. This time of year the pink and orange
sunrises compete with the sunsets to make me stop and be
thankful once again that I live here. Truly, the light and
colors and the air calls out to painters, photographers and
to this half-assed writer, too.

one week from tonight!

Books Inc. in the Castro, one of my very favorite bookstores, managed
beautifully by my Ken friend. This is a gay and lesbian reading, but
Loren said I could read if I have some friends in the audience.
I will be there in any event, to support everyone and help sell books.

mark your calendars!

One week from today ~ I'll be reading Halloween Hell and I'd
love to see you in the audience. It should be a lot of fun with
a couple of the other authors from Morbid Curiosity Cures
The Blues. Thanks always to Loren for her hard work getting
this book out, and to Jason for arranging the event.

Saturday, October 17th
Noon
4th Floor Event Space
Borders Union Square
Post and Powell
San Francisco

available now, by special order

I picked up a Morbid copy Tuesday evening at Books, Inc. in
the Castro. When I took it to work yesterday, people oooohed
and awed and said nice things about the piece. I work with
a guy who also used to work for the Halloween CHAIN, so we
had lots of horror stories to tell each other. The very best
part was opening the book to page 152 and seeing my name
in print. I love that feeling.

jen, ken, buffy, stieg, mitchell, more!

That was one fine day off! First to Costco for a little shopping and
marital bickering, then on Muni (deodorant is so passé) to meet
Dancing Jen for lunch. I swear, that one block on Jackson between
Kearny and Grant is like being in China. About 20 little restaurants
and all of them busy. Busier even than Tam's in Pathetica. We
had a lovely lunch and discussed many important things.

I drove over to the Noe Valley Library for my reserved copy of
The Girl Who Played With Fire and since it was HOT, I stopped
for a small serving of luscious Mitchell's coconut ice cream.
Some days a woman has no choice.

Then to Books, Inc. for coffee with Ken. When I mentioned Morbid
Curiosity to the sales associate he said, "we're having an event
here!". I love that knowledge and promotion. So, Nov. 6th, at the
Castro and Market location. The book is actually available, at the
Laurel Heights Books, Inc, but I didn't have time to drive there and
pick it up. Next week. So Ken and I had coffee and mostly talked
about his recent trip to Berlin.

It was one fine day off indeed. Now to the deYoung for some sincere
customer contact.

who has the blues? (not me!)

OK, it's time to tell you about Loren's book entitled Morbid Curiosity
Cures The Blues. What a lot of work she has done, and I only know
the half of it. One of the first pieces I ever wrote (when I started at
the Writing Salon) is in the book ~ it's entitled Halloween Hell and
it tells the sad/funny story of when I managed one of those temporary
Halloween stores in 2000, in the heart of crazy San Francisco. It
was one of the WORST jobs I've ever had, and baby, I've had some.
But at least I knew that this one would be over on October 31st.

The book comes out September 29th, and Loren will be doing a lot
of book signings. Smart woman, that's the only way to get a book
to sell ~ in the first 3 months when there is some buzz. So check
out this very cool link for the dates, I'll be at the noon event at
Borders (the big box!) on Saturday, October 17th.

Oh, and this is as good a time as any to thank Loren sincerely for
including me in this book. Her support for me and my writing
during the past 8 or so years is one of the main reasons that I'm
taking the fiction course. It's all very exciting. Very.