Pics of Me Reading: Diner Signing Post-script
Went pretty well, I must say. I was a bit nervous about reading in public for the first time, and when I got there, the sun was shining, it was warm....and the chairs were empty. Seemed liked a recipe for disaster.
Believe it or not, though - by the night, all the seats were filled, and it was SRO. Unloaded a bunch of Diners and Shadows, and Life Savors sold out. All in all, a good night.
People really seemed to like the "Killing Time" story, (although all were received very positively), especially it's very terse, noir-like sound. I was very happy to hear that, because the novel manuscript I've fearlessly dove into is written in the same tone.
In some ways, it was surreal - people I'd never met who read my column showed up, folks from myspace, and a high school friend who I hadn't seen in years, who apparently has been "keeping tabs on me". That, and a good assortment of family, friends, students, and fellow teachers, too.
Next up? So many projects, so little time. We've got the graphic novel puttering along, with trembling fingers, I'.m playing with a novel manuscript, and there are few strategic rewrites of old stories in the works. The BIGGEST thing - I'm awaiting word on a story in a HUGE anthology in which I made it to the final round of cuts - Abominations, published by Shroud Magazine. This one would be the biggest one yet - bigger than the Diner and Shadows - because this magazine and its anthologies have featured stories from PUBLISHED novelists. Could be the turning point along the path....