That happens to be the name of the book I began reading on the plane ride home, after I finished Declan Hughes’ The Color of Blood, but it also seems a fitting way to wrap up this tour blog. Because the tour is – sorta kinda, — over as of today. There are some things in May and one in June, but none requires an overnight.
I had a 7:50 a.m. flight out of Los Angeles, but given that I hadn’t changed my watch since landing Friday afternoon, I didn’t see it so much as an early morning, just a late night. A group of Little, Brown folks allowed me to tag along with them to dinner at the Getty Museum and it was a collegial, relaxing dinner, especially after I was assured that the stinging nettles in the risotto wouldn’t actually hurt me. The other writers — this is going to sound obnoxious,but I’ve known two of them a long time — included George Pelecanos, Michael Connelly, Joshua Ferris (who wrote the book I’m reading) and Elizabeth Kostova. When Elizabeth introduced herself I squeaked “Oh,” in a geeky, breathy way. That was not however, my biggest fan girl moment. That would have been when Daniel Woodrell introduced himself to me and I responded as if I had just met a Beatle, or as if I were the crying girl on American Idol. Woodrell had that effect on a lot of writers at the LA Times Book Festival, but the consensus seems to be that I out-geeked, out-freaked everyone, even the Goldberg brothers. Other star sightings: Jane Smiley, Robert Olmstead (actually, guessing wildly about that one), Tim Gunn (!) and, in the airport, that bald-headed figure skater. You know the one. I’m too tired to Google my way to his name. Scott something?
Oh, I also had a lovely shuttle ride with Chris Moore, the nicest of the nice, the kindest of the kind, the funniest of the funny. KBO, Chris!
I was flying Southwest home and, having already embraced my geekiest self, decided I would sit on the floor in the “A” line to get a good seat. As I waited, a woman approached, her book under my arm. It wasn’t quite the coincidence/affirmation it might seem. (Greater coincidence: Lance Reddick of The Wire was on my plane.) The plane was going to Baltimore, after all, and I had met the woman seven weeks ago, I think, at one of the early events. She asked how things had gone and I gave her an answer that I’ve given a lot of people in the past few weeks: “This book has had a very charmed life.” I know the locution sounds a little strange, as if I had nothing to do with it. But then – that is how I feel. For a decade now, I have watched my books head out in the world, feeling as helpless as any mother who ever sent a child to kindergarten. Yes, it’s mine and I tried to do as best as I could by it, but the day came when I had to let it go out there on its own. And, this time, the world was very kind. What does that mean? That I’m lucky.
Uneventful flight home, gorgeous day in Baltimore. As I dragged my bags from the curb, a neighbor told me that the local paper had, against my wishes and without my cooperation, printed a cheeky little item about something in my life that I had tried to hold somewhat private. Certainly, you’ve never read about it here, or on my website. Sigh. In dreams begin responsibilities, in dreams begiin responsibilities, in dreams begin responsibilities . . . that’s my little poetry mantra. The fact is, things are going to change. The tour blog is ending, but the whole blog may end. If you’ve sent me an e-mail and haven’t heard back — well, the volume is up just enough so I can no longer be on top of it. IDBR, to shorten my new mantra. IDBR.
Thanks for keeping me company. I’m home now, drinking a Dogfish Head.
Congratulations, Laura, on getting through the tour.
Now the suspense is killing me, as to What Next.
Dianne
Nothing wrong with being adorkable. Nope, not a thing.
Adorkable. I love it!
I figure when I make an ass of myself, it just gives the receipients something (someone = me) to talk about the rest of the day.
And glad you’re home, Laura. That must be a relief.
I understand the impulse to cancel the blog but please don’t.
Well, this is it for the tour blog, definitely.
Adorkable is a great word. I know I got at least half of it right.
Definitely adorkable. Oh, and I had Dogfish Head IPA on draft just a week or so ago. Good beer. Nice hoppy bite to it.
Yeah, I’m totally hijacking adorkable, by the way. (Seriously, Sam, you should start using that all the time, if you don’t already. Best word EVER.)
book tour winding down:
<i>What The Dead Know</i> has charmed life,
author’s earned its praise;
introspection of
dreams, responsibilities
continues throughout.
Enjoyed meeting you again at FOB. I must have startled you, as it seemed that you didn’t remember me until we talked about our mutual friend who spins beer bottles on his head, Dave….
I found the item. As you didn’t comment, I won’t either(until you do).
Hamilton. Big woop (hey, what can i say? Elvis Stojko, yeah. Scott Hamilton, feh.)
Chris Moore – oh GOD I still remember how much my face hurt after attending a signing/reading he did a couple years ago. Oh god did it hurt.
A dogfish head has to be a brew, yes? Sorry if you’ve mentioned it and I’ve missed it.
Welcome home. Be glad you don’t live in Oakland with a commute to San Francisco. Enjoy a well-deserved rest.
i think “adorkable” is a GREAT new word.
I’d be adorkable over meeting Stephen King. There’d be tears and incoherent sentences.
Great book–and I’m glad that I got to see you on the tour.
I’ll miss the blog if it goes but there are life priorities–but do keep the books coming!
Diane
Edwards, CO
I love how I’m the person who brings folks together… HA! I knew my talent for beer bottle balancing meant something in the world.
<hides face in shame>
Elizabeth Kostova – I would have been in a fangirl induced coma, and adorkable … awesome new word. I shall use it to describe my geek moments to bolster my self-esteem. I would hate to see your blog go. I always don’t comment, but I do always read.
Hoist one for me, Laura. See you in 08!
Thank you for sharing your tour with us.
I don’t think you need to completely end the blog. It has always been irregular, and you have had other breaks. One of the nice things about Journalscape is that we can subscribe, so that when the posts do become infrequent, we can be pleasantly surprised with a notice in our email.
Wishing you all the best as your dreams begin responsibilities.
The only argument for ending the blog is privacy, the lack thereof. For ten years, I’ve walked a fine line between being very accessible online, but not sharing info I didn’t want to share. Over the past month, that changed. I need to think about that. No more, no less.
Aldo,
You looked very different to me. Your hair? Also, bear in mind that it took me 48 hours to remember the word “notarize” this week. (I had reason to tell a story that included the detail of getting something notarized, and every time I got to that part, I’d say: “And then there was the requirement that we get those 17 pieces of paper, you know, not certified, but, um, that other thing, that official thing.”)
In short, I’m tour-dazed.
Hi, Laura. I’m a new fan after reading No Good Deeds. Just bought What the Dead Know and can’t wait to read that one. Your anecdote about George was great and I’d like to repeat the plea from someone else: please don’t end the blog! I live in the ‘hood so hope to meet you some day.
I felt somewhat adorkable seeing you, Laura, at the Thurber House thing, but not as much as when I went to Politics & Prose for the “DC Noir” thing.
Let me know what you think of “Mistress of the Art of Death”.
If you end the blog we will understand and you will be missed. Some of us have lived the writer’s life through you. I hope that you aren’t thinking of leaving because of one or two assholes. The privacy issue is important, but as a living, breathing writer with a wonderful personality, we, your subscribed fans, have enjoyed your adventures as much as you have.
Before you go, though, are you aware of this: http://bookcriticscircle.blogspot.com/search/label/NBCC%20Campaign%20to%20Save%20Book%20Reviews (and no, I don’t know how to do that link thingie). The Atlanta Journal Constitution plans to end its book reviews and writers are protesting. For me, this is big and could be the start of something sinister.
Laura, I agree with Linda, “…I look forward to introductions to new writers and new books to explore. I love the conversations about writing and books with people who care about that as much or more than I do.” This is especially true for those of us who are not writers but who are voracious readers.
As Dr. Suess said, “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter – and those who matter don’t mind.” I know we will all continue to be your avid fans, whatever your decision.
You, Jane Smiley, Michael Connolly (is it adorkable to be half in love with a fictional character?), George Pelecanos…I would have wet myself. Or puked on my shoes, whichever.
I’ve been amazed at how accessible you are, and honored to be part of the tour/whatever else you share.
Selfishly, I hope you don’t end the blog. As one who reads five or six books a week, I look forward to introductions to new writers and new books to explore. I love the conversations about writing and books with people who care about that as much or more than I do. Jeez, if newspapers give up on books, where else are book geeks like us supposed to go????
It was great to catch Laura at the LA Times FoB at end of her tour. I was impressed by the shoes, good choice. Lots of chances to run into great authors at the Festival. Harlan Coban said it was quite a moment for him to sign between Tina Fey and Murial Hemmingway. I didn’t recognize Tina Fey, though.
It’s quite an experience to be around that many readers, too. Keep the blog up, please.
don