Everyone in publishing these days is talking about the futility of author tours, but Secret Dead Blog isn't listening to any of that jazz. Starting next Friday, I'll be taking off in the family truckster (along with the family) and driving across the southern half of America, first heading down the coast to Charleston, then Savannah, followed by one insanely long stretch on the I-10 all the way to Los Angeles. Along the way, I'll be doing drop-in signings and honest-to-goodness bookstore appearances, as well as writing postcards to 164 of you until my hand falls off.
If you don't live anywhere near the I-10, don't worry. You'll be able to follow all of the action from this blog. I've been inspired by reading David Dodge's classic travel memoirs from the late 1940s/1950s (as well as repeated viewings of National Lampoon's Vacation over the years), so I might try my hand as a sort-of travelogue thingy on this blog along the way.
Here's the formal schedule through mid-July; check back for updates beyond that.
Monday, June 27
Ocean City Free Public Library
Ocean City, NJ
7:00 p.m.
Friday, July 8
Noir Night 2011, with Megan Abbott and Sara Gran
Murder By the Book
Houston, TX
6:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 9
MysteryPeople Presents Happy Hour With Duane Swierczynski
Book People
Austin, TX
5 p.m.
Sunday, July 10
The Twig Book Shop
San Antonio, TX
Time TBD
Wednesday, July 13
Signing with Harry Dolan, Michael Wiley and Thomas Kaufman
Poisoned Pen
Scottsdale, AZ
7 p.m.
Along the way, there will be stops in Charleston, Savannah, Tallahassee, New Orleans and El Paso, so if you know of any great indie bookshops (or giant balls of twine, stick insect museums, etc.) in these cities, let me know in the comments below.
By July 15th we'll be in L.A. No appearances scheduled there yet (I'm still in a weird denial about the Mystery Bookstore closing), but I'll definitely be stopping by some of my favorite shops, such as Skylight Books in Los Feliz and The Iliad in North Hollywood as a civilian.
I'll also be at San Diego Comic-Con for one day only (Thursday, July 21), signing at the Mulholland Books/Hachette Booth at 2 p.m., and then heckling Charlie Huston at his panel at 3 p.m. More details to follow.
Hope to see some of you on the road...
(Clark Griswold image from DoBlu.com.)
19 comments:
Cool. I hope to perhaps catch you at Skylight Books in Los Feliz on the 15th, Duane. I'm sure there's plenty of L.A. folks who are hoping to do the same. Thanks for the heads-up.
Hey, Michael! I'll be in L.A. for a while, so I'm hoping to arrange some kind of signing. I'll keep you posted. It would good to meet up again.
Hey! Looking forward to catching you out here when you're in town. I owe you a drink. Or you owe me a drink.
Somebody owes somebody a drink. Drinking will be had.
Not too much, of course. We don't need a repeat of the Tijuana Hooker Incident.
Mr. Blackmoore: Either way, there will be drinking, good sir.
In NOLA check out: Octavia Books, Maple Street Book Shop, Garden District Book Shop.
Enjoy!
I will be watching this space for an LA appearance. Some of us may have to just hunt you like paprazzi hoping for an upskirt shot.
You bastard! Still no Minneapolis, but I've been to Philly *twice*. What have you got against me?
-ANS
Easy on the trigger there, Mr. Smith. I'm still planning the trip back, and Minneapolis just might be on the schedule.
I would really like to get a couple books signed by you when you are in El Paso. Cattlemans Steakhouse is just east of El Paso in Fabens exit 42. It was on Travel Channels Top 100 places to chowdown. Forti's is a excellent family style mexican restaurant that is right off I-10. Lucy's is in Kings X bar on Mesa street is the BEST mexican food anywhere! Ask J.F. Gonzalez for confirmation.
~Tod Clark
If you're passing through Atlanta certainly hit me up. Or at least take the family to Stone Mountain...the largest deposit of granite in the world, complete with a bas-relief of Confederate soldiers on one face.
We take the War of Northern Aggression seriously down he-uh.
"You're going the wrong way!" - to make another movie quote. No Boston visit?
Any chance of you doing bringing the tour to Philadelphia as well?
Looking at your schedule, I doubt you will have time but you may want to check out Carlsbad Caverns. It is about 2 hours from El Paso. A fantastic family destination for a day trip.
I should be there in H-Town on the 9th. BTW, I showed my dad my new Nook and Fun and Games was the book used to demonstrate. He ended up reading the entire 35-pp sampler. May have another reader for you.
Looks like I'll be sneaking out of my booth at SDCC long enough to catch you at the Mulholland Booth on Thursday. Looking forward to it!
Happy travels.... remember not to tie the dog to the bumper... Poor little guys can only hang on for a mile or two!
There is a great bookstore in Savannah called E. Shaver, Bookseller. Also recommend lunch at Mrs. Wilkes' Dining Room for amazing fried chicken and southern cooking. Have a great trip and let us know when your back in Philly for some hometown signings.
Very informative and interesting, thanks a lot!
While in L.A., you might like to visit Book 'em Mysteries in South Pasadena. The Iliad is a terrific haunt. Would've loved to catch you for a signing. Burbank Public Library would love to host you some time! Love Fun & Games, already shared with my friend Matt and we await the return of Hardie.
David Peterson
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