The reading

[pegkerr]

As you know, I was nervous about it, worried that it wouldn't be well attended because of that little mix up with the publicity. Worried that because of the computer problems I'd had less time to prepare than I'd counted on--the scene I read wasn't even finished. My fears turned out to be pretty groundless. In fact, I ended up feeling sort of like a rock star.

Many of my friends were there. By happy coincidence, even kijjohnson was able to make it, up on a quick trip from Kansas. Bob Olsen, ice palace consultant, was there in the audience, too, and many LiveJournal friend, too, including some I've been corresponding with for a while but had not yet met. scott_lynch astonished me, right after I walked in, by presenting me with a lovely white rose and a good luck card from him and Jenny. He had to leave right away for a firefighting class and couldn't stay (and really, I think "I have to leave right now to learn how to rescue people from burning buildings" ranks right up there as an ironclad no-guilt-necessary reason for skipping a reading, don't you?) I was so touched that he had driven out all that way to give it to me. I met cloudscudding for the first time, I think, and porphyrin. minnehaha B and K were there, and sraun, and kaustin and laurel and huladavid and was that careswen? And I'm sure I'm missing others. Speak up if you were there! [Edited to add: also dlandon, davidschroth, magentamn, dsgood. . . ] The seats were full to overflowing--the bookstore actually ran out of chairs. I read the opening of the book, and the incomplete ice fishing scene on Lake Nokomis, and bits of other fragments throughout the book. The audience made appreciative noises and asked lovely questions. When it was all over, minnehaha K. surprised me with a bouquet of flowers (pink, in honor of my pink garden, to tide me over until spring really arrives) along with a nice surprise in a card, from some people who had put their heads together for me on LiveJournal. Really, people, you spoil me.

I didn't join the large gathering at Dulono's afterwards, although I regretted missing it. I needed to speak privately with Kij afterwards. Next time, okay?

You may be amused to know that I found a sure-fire way to keep the vases from tipping over since I couldn't hold them while driving home.

At porphyrin's suggestion, I buckled them into the kids' booster seats.

Comments

[sraun]

It was lots of fun - Irene & I both enjoyed it!

Hi!

[dlandon.livejournal.com]

I was there, too :)

And it was a lovely reading. I'm looking forward to reading the finished product someday. Hint, hint...

- D

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

Nice reading.

B

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Thanks to you both for being there, and to K. for arranging the surprise. I really was surprised!

[blackholly.livejournal.com]

Congrats!

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

Sorry I missed it, but I'm glad it went well!

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

I will be doing another reading at Minicon, if you're going to be there. porphyrin did tender your regrets to me.

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

She is a good porphyrin, and on the whole I think we'll keep her.

[jbru.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry I missed it. Does, "I was in India," count as a good excuse. ;)

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Well, yeah, being on the other side of the world is a pretty good excuse, too.

[magentamn.livejournal.com]

From what you read last night, I'm convinced this book will be worth the wait. But I'd like to read it in, oh, the next five years, if possible.

The only trouble is, now you've got *me* thinking about what that fish would say to Solvig. Besides, "hey, my jaw hurts from that fishhook." And thinking, if there is a salmon of wisdom, is there a walleyed pike of common sense? Or what would a pike be a fish of? I don't know much about pike.

[pameladean]

I'm so glad it went well; sorry I couldn't make it.

We are in the same autographing session at Minicon, I believe, and I look forward to a bit of conversation in between your slavering fans. 8-)

P.

[aome.livejournal.com]

I think "I have to leave right now to learn how to rescue people from burning buildings" ranks right up there as an ironclad no-guilt-necessary reason for skipping a reading, don't you?

Reminds me of an excuse our flutist once had for missing church choir rehearsal: "I can't come - I'm radioactive." Turns out she'd had to undergo some sort of medical test that involved her ingesting something that did, indeed, make her radioactive for a couple of days. Definitely beats "The dog ate my homework flute".

I'm glad it went so well! Pity we can't teletransport yet, to make MN a bit easier to get to....

I was there

[davidschroth.livejournal.com]

and I enjoyed it immensely.

I'm definitely looking forward to reading the book when it's finished.

[scott-lynch.livejournal.com]

It was fun for what little speck of time I could be there! And last night wasn't a "pulling people out of burning buildings" class, it was the "stay hydrated and don't let yourselves get exhausted, you macho idiots" class. I do wish I could have stayed to hear you read, and maybe connect some names to some faces from the massive roster of LJers in attendance...

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you had a good turnout!

[dsgood.livejournal.com]

I'm really looking forward to reading this. Note: I would class your two previous novels as "Good, but not what I'm interested in."

You forgot to mention that there were more people than Dreamhaven had chairs for. I don't know if it was the best-attended reading Dreamhaven has had, but it's the best-attended one I've seen.

[cloudscudding.livejournal.com]

Yes, cloudscudding. Yes, first time.

Unfortunately, I was frazzled and didn't really get a chance to introduce myself as...hmm...smoothly as I would have liked. I did really enjoy the reading, though, particularly being able to hear scenes that I'd read about your struggles with.