Double meaning (what, me, a pun?). The day before today was quite predictably crazy, in an entirely good way, though with that feeling you get after one or two cups of coffee too many. There was a huge amount going on backstage, too (digression: anyone ever see “Noises Off” – brilliant comedy on the chaos backstage while a play is running out front.).
I am, obviously, really pleased with the response of reviewers so far. (Am I being set up for the humongous hammer of cataclysmic criticism soon?) I’m especially rewarded when people write well, and catch things. One reviewer noted a rivers starting small before becoming a torrent image I use, and linked it (perfectly) to the way the book begins.
A few things to note here, before they slip what remains of my mind.
The other meaning of ‘the day before’: the launch event in Toronto is tomorrow. It was a really good event three years ago, at the lovely Toronto Reference Library space, and I’m looking forward to this one, too. I always think of these as events for readers, not a party for friends, but I know a number of friends are planning to come. Cash bar works wonders.
The library wants tickets ordered (free) to help with figuring out how many chairs to set up. They have a lot of space, but come early if you want to be fairly close. Bar is from 6 PM, they tell me, we’ll start the gig at 7ish. Laurie Grassi, Books Editor of Chatelaine, is chatting on stage with me after a short reading (by me, not her, though she’d be great). Am picking the reading passage today. Laurie and I agreed not to plan or discuss anything. I know nothing (as Manuel says on “Fawlty Towers”).
http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDMEVT128087&R=EVT128087
Next, an early heads-up (will repeat nearer the day). I am doing another AMA on reddit on the evening of April 9th, after a fun evening a year ago with them. I followed, by one evening, Woody Harrelson (or his manager, some think) who managed to mess up prodigiously, and had warnings all day from every friend who knows reddit, but it was great fun, with good questions. I’m happy to go back.
The overall link, for now, is this:
http://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy
and my evening is on the right sidebar (may be some other authors you want to diarize there, too). On the 9th, that sidebar link will be opened in the morning. You can go early and post questions or do it real time in the evening. I get there at 7:00 EDT and start typing as fast as I can.
What else? Martin Springett’s lovely “River of Stars Suite” inspired (obviously?) by the book, is available now as a CD, he tells me. It is at his website at http://martinspringett.com and also under his name on iTunes and CD Baby for download. The CD, with signed artwork, too, is a bonus prize for the #riverofstars photo contest on Twitter.
And, the contest.Under fierce and unrelenting pressure (read: polite requests) we have extended the deadline for that from the 7th to the 10th. People have been worried their ordered copies might not arrive in time, which is a fair concern. Here’s the contest description from downscreen again, for those who missed it:
http://www.brightweavings.com/journal/2013/03/fifty-shades-of-kay-the-contest/
Go ahead, be creative, funny, adorable…