Reflections on the Writing Life
Maybe it's the overcast sky. Maybe it's that I'm tired. Maybe it's the realization that writing--as an occupation, a job--is not all I'd thought. Writing is fun, marketing is hard. Reflections on a rainy day.
Just got back from the LA Times Festival of Books--the biggest book fair of its kind. 127,000 people converged on the UCLA campus for two days of signings and panels. Two of Southern California's finest independent bookstores were kind enough to invite me to sign with them. Mysterious Galaxy in San Diego and Crime Time Books in LA. At the first signing, I watched Mario work the crowd. I do mean work. He didn't sit at the table like the rest of us, but stood in front, greeting (some say accosting) passers-by and not letting them go until they either bought a book or threatened bodily harm. It worked, he sold all his books (20 +) in about 90 minutes. I think I sold six. But could I have done what Mario did? Probably not.
At the festival, I visited with MaryElizabeth Hart and Patrick Heffernan of Mysterious Galaxy, Linda Bivens of Crime Time Books, met some new writers and renewed acquaintances with a few old friends. A writer I know very well and think of as a friend is ill and that saddened me. A new friend writes under the name of Minister Shadowcrewe and we talked of doing a signing together at Paramount Studios, where he works, in the fall. You just never know. A third critique partner, Jeff Shelby, one of the First Offenders, was there, too, and it was a thrill for the three of us to attend as published authors for the first time.
Then back to reality. I found out I have a new editor at Berkley. Both my agent and the new editor are enthusiastic and tell me they foresee great things for my series. I got a very nice review from a website called Sensuous Reads. Jeff Shelby, aforementioned critique partner, is on his way to his new home in Dallas. I'm going to miss him. Adds to the melancholy, as does the rain. So it's taken me a long time to get this written. I want to lose myself in Anna's world. It's much easier managed than my own!