L.A. Times Festival of Books (seriously)

Okay, now that some snazzy tunes have put you in the mood, let me say that I'm delighted to be signing books at the L.A. Mystery Bookstore tent this Saturday from 5-6 p.m. I'll be there with this guy and also that guy.

Also the fine folks at Book 'Em have invited me to sign at their tent from 10-11 Sunday morning.

This is going to be groovy fun, and I'm looking forward to it. Check the festival program to find out about all the other nifty authors who'll be there.

Bring money.

Gearing up for L.A. Times Festival of Books ... with cheese

Sean Doolittle and Duane Swierczynski and I will be conducting ourselves in EXACTLY this manner in L.A.

With apologies to The Mamas and The Papas.

Gearing up for the L.A. Times Festival of Books

Here's Randy Newman to put you in the mood!

I'm getting itchy for a cold Czech beer

Do you have a favorite place you long to visit again and again? I spent a wonderful month with my wife in Prague a few years ago. I went back a few years later with THIS GUY. We both got sick as dogs ... yet ... I find that I love visiting, and I'm hoping to get back soon. I think I secretly long to be an expatriate. No ... it's probably the beer.

What favorite places call to you?

Discipline and the TBR stack

I want to thank everyone who posted or e-mailed suggestion for my reading pleasure. They have been filed for a rainy day.

But I felt I needed to get tough with myself. I went back to my TBR stack, determined to make something work. Damn it, I paid good money for these books.

After much soul-searching, looking at chicken bones and tea leaves, and just generally telling myself to "dive in already," I settled on Old Man's War by John Scalzi. I'm about 50 pages in and feel totally justified by my choice. Holding my attention nicely. I'll report back when I finish.

Help Entertain a Fellow

I'm in one of those moods.

None of the books in my TBR stack looks good. Well, that's not true. "Good" has nothing to do with it. Rather, let's say I'm not in the right mood. I can't seem to get interested in anything. Same story at the video store. No films catch my interest. I find myself wandering through the house with a cup of coffee in my hands, trying to decide how to spend my very limited free time. Generally, I like to read in bed before drifting off to sleep. But I can't seem to make myself get past those first 8-10 pages of a novel.

Okay ... let's hear it. I'm open to suggestions.

Kurt Vonnegut

A sad day for literature. Kurt Vonnegut was my "primary figure" during my doctoral studies at the University of Southern Mississippi. I considered him an influence in my own writing. Certainly his special brand of satire had a big impact.

My favorite: Breakfast of Champions

Is that a buzz or a tingle?

Thanks very much to Mr. Einarson at Spinetingler Magazine for these nice words.

Cool.