Home again, home again, jiggetty-jog!
(For you younger readers, that’s a play on a VERY old nursery rhyme. :))
At 4:30 Wednesday morning, my favorite driver, Tom, from Ambassador, picked me up at the house. It was still dark out, of course, and unlike last time, the Appaloosa, Skye, had not managed to open her upper stall door and whinny at me to come and feed her!) Tom whisked me to Spokane International Airport (a big title for a delightfully SMALL facility) and I caught a flight to Chicago. Upon arrival at O’Hare, Harlequin rep Erica Mahr picked me up and it was off to my hotel, where I signed a bunch of books, after we had lunch. (She brought me a pound of hand-made chocolates–I managed to eat only two pieces–delectable, though!) The idea of signing books ahead of time was to give me more time to schmooze with the wonderful folks from Levy Home Entertainment–these are the people who put a LOT of my books in stores, for you to find.)
I grabbed a two-hour nap after lunch, then Erica came back for me, and we headed for the event. Was it ever fun!!! David Baldacci was the keynote speaker, and he was GREAT. I’d heard him once before, in Fort Meyers, Florida. He had everyone laughing, with that dead-pan lawyer delivery of his, and I enjoyed every minute. I have great respect for Mr. Baldacci, both as a writer, and as a person. He and his wife are actively involved in adult literacy, and that’s a wonderful way to give back.
I got a big kick when Dorothy Benton Franks, one of my favorite writers, came up and told me she loves my books!!! WOW. That blew me away.
Harlequin writer Gina Showalter was also in attendance; she’s red-hot these days, well on her way to becoming a VERY big star. On top of that, she’s beautiful and sweet. She’s a dog-lover, like me, and as you can tell, I think very highly of her. If you haven’t read her yet, you’re missing something.
As always, the Harlequin folks treated me like royalty. And since this cowgirl has had a bad case of spring fever, that was restorative.
Back to work today. I will probably write through the weekend–no great hardship, in case you’re feeling sorry for me. 🙂 I LOVE what I do, and can’t wait to get back to Dylan and Kristy and their adventure!
On Tuesday, the mass market paperback of “A Wanted Man”, will be in stores. This took me a little by surprise, I must confess. I thought it was NEXT month!
Which just goes to illustrate how spring fever can affect a writer’s mind.
Make it a good weekend.
