The Last Legs
The tour, not me. Well, I’m really tired and looking forward to the break but with only a little travel left on the calendar, I’m feeling pretty good.
Burn Z
one is out and I’ve been on the road talking about it. This is not a complaint, I like speaking to groups and meeting readers. But an unexpected Sunday at home last weekend taught me how much I miss my castle. I really didn’t do much and that was the nice part of it. Nothing was expected of me.
Tomorrow night I’m in the Florida Keys for a radio interview then a signing at Hooked on Books in Islamorada then up to Moore’s Books in Key Largo. That’s the easy part. Home for Easter, ham, family, all that crap. Then next week I’m at the Poisoned Pen in Scottsdale on Wednesday March 26, Murder by the Book in Houston on Thursday, March 27 and then the Virginia Book festival for the weekend.
What has all this travel taught me? Not that much. I was already well educated to the hazards of airports and cleanliness challenges of hotels. But it reminded me that writers don’t mean much without readers and I’ve yet to meet a reader who wasn’t pretty smart. The prospect of meeting readers is the best thing about an extended book tour. I particularly like book festivals.
The Southwest Florida reading festival was a great event last week. I was on a panel with Tim Dorsey and B
ob Morris. What a great job where I get to hang out with buddies in the 
afternoon and it is considered work. I met Joe Hill and the lovely Carla Neggers for the first time. Hung out with Michele Martinez and Elizabteh Becka who stopped by to say “hi”. In short, the time at the festival revitalized me for the travel, which is the only thing that gets me down a little. Maybe in the future, when they can beam you from one place to another, I’ll enjoy the trips more.
The tour, not me. Well, I’m really tired and looking forward to the break but with only a little travel left on the calendar, I’m feeling pretty good.
Burn Z
one is out and I’ve been on the road talking about it. This is not a complaint, I like speaking to groups and meeting readers. But an unexpected Sunday at home last weekend taught me how much I miss my castle. I really didn’t do much and that was the nice part of it. Nothing was expected of me.Tomorrow night I’m in the Florida Keys for a radio interview then a signing at Hooked on Books in Islamorada then up to Moore’s Books in Key Largo. That’s the easy part. Home for Easter, ham, family, all that crap. Then next week I’m at the Poisoned Pen in Scottsdale on Wednesday March 26, Murder by the Book in Houston on Thursday, March 27 and then the Virginia Book festival for the weekend.
What has all this travel taught me? Not that much. I was already well educated to the hazards of airports and cleanliness challenges of hotels. But it reminded me that writers don’t mean much without readers and I’ve yet to meet a reader who wasn’t pretty smart. The prospect of meeting readers is the best thing about an extended book tour. I particularly like book festivals.
The Southwest Florida reading festival was a great event last week. I was on a panel with Tim Dorsey and B
ob Morris. What a great job where I get to hang out with buddies in the 
afternoon and it is considered work. I met Joe Hill and the lovely Carla Neggers for the first time. Hung out with Michele Martinez and Elizabteh Becka who stopped by to say “hi”. In short, the time at the festival revitalized me for the travel, which is the only thing that gets me down a little. Maybe in the future, when they can beam you from one place to another, I’ll enjoy the trips more.
From left to right Tim Dorsey, Michele Martinez, James O. Born, Carla Neggars and Bob Morris
I’ll be back in the saddle with regular access to the internet in a couple of weeks. Until then think about me washing up in airport restrooms, handling hotel linen with gloves and eating fried chicken at Popeyes on concourse B of the Atlanta airport.
I know it’s probably the tour but I’m tired. I mean bone-weary. Is life speeding up? Am I getting old? Are you tired too?
Yes, yes, and yes.
ReplyDeleteDitto what JD said.
ReplyDeleteI wrote that yesterday and today, inexplicably, I feel like a new man. Good night's sleep, nice weather and a day with few commitmanrs can change your view of things.
ReplyDeleteDusty, for a tired guy you have a lot of energy.
JIM
Caffeine. Give it a try.
ReplyDeleteJust for you, Jim. Madeline Kahn's great number in "Blazing Saddles:
ReplyDeleteI'm tired,
sick and tired of love,
I've had my fill of love,
from below and above,
tired,
tired of being admired,
tired of love uninspired,
let's face it,
I'm tired!
I've been with 1000's of men,
again and again,
they promise the moon,
they always coming and going,
going and coming,
and always too soon!
Right girls?
I'm tired,
tired of playing the game,
ain't it a crying shame?
I'm so tired,
God dammit I'm tired!
Yes, life is speeding by, and yes I'm tired - bone tired. But I have tomorrow off to hang out with a pal, and Paris is in my future, and, well, Dorothy Parker said it best:
ReplyDeleteRazors pain you; Rivers are damp;
Acids stain you; And drugs cause cramp.
Guns aren't lawful; Nooses give;
Gas smells awful; You might as well live.
:-)
PJ, the perfect song from the perfect movie.
ReplyDeleteRae
That's a great quote.
Jim
Thank God for amphetamines.
ReplyDeleteSo very tired.
ReplyDeleteAnd also sad that I have not crossed paths with you for what seems like a very long time.
Hope you get some sleep and show up at -Thrillerfest, maybe?
Alex
Alex,
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry we haven't attended any of the same events too.
I'm resting for a while and will probably miss T-Fest.
Jim