A long and happy (but exhausting) day

I was nervous all weekend about what was coming up on Tuesday--a live TV appearance (see above photo), followed by my book launch after work. It actually all went pretty well--I'm pretty good at things once I'm actually doing them, but I hate the fretting beforehand. All weekend I tried to write down some brilliant remarks to say at the book signing, but everything sounded stupid or forced or overly serious. Even as late as 5 p.m. yesterday (the launch was at 7) I was making notes, but once I got up on stage I forgot to look at them and all went just fine.


It was cool to see my name in lights.

And on posters.

After the TV appearance, I actually used my cell phone for the very first time to call Doug and confess that, um, I said "ass" on live TV. Not my finest moment. (Actually, the word was "kickass," which is a quote from the book. But still. The anchor's eyes got big and round when I said it and I realized my screwup.)


I read for about 20 minutes. Maybe a half-hour. They kept the house lights up, so nobody fell asleep.

Here's the Duluth posse---we all worked together at the newspaper in Duluth, way back in the day. We are all pretty much the same size, except for Doug.


My editor was there, too. Here he is chatting up a serious and brilliant local author.

Meanwhile, if you get a chance, click on over to Iota's blog, "The Iota Quota" (former name, "Not Wrong, Just Different")--you know her as the thoughtful and witty British woman who now lives in the American Midwest. She's written a review of my book today, and tomorrow she'll publish an interview with me and offer a giveaway of one free copy of my book. So save some money! Throw your hat in the ring.

As always, if you want to send me the book, I'll sign it. (Just include a stamped return envelope.)

I have almost no voice today, and I am getting quite tired of talking about myself, but we all knew that September was going to be All About Me Month. All about my book, anyway. And then in October we can all get back to normal.