The Book That Launched A Hundred Black Glasses
As well the crisp cool weather and cosey sweaters, you know what else I love about Fall? Book launches!
In spite of my nasty head cold, the husband and I headed out last night to this fabulous club called Revival, which apparently used to be a Baptist church and Polish community hall. Last night was the Fall launch for a wide variety of new authors from the much revered Coach House Books, a small but very strong press in Toronto which nutures the literary careers of many talented authors.
We were there mainly to see Howard Akler, the boyfriend of one of my husband's co-workers. Howard has just published his first novel, The City Man, and he did a wonderful reading. In fact, all the authors last night gave very energetic, entertaining readings of their works. It was a great evening, good nibblies to eat, good music, and I even saw the very talented Canadian author of the amazing book Martin Sloane, Mr. Michael Redhill, but I didn't have the nerve to talk to him.
But I have to ask: what the heck is it with book launches and skinny guys with black messy hair and thick black glasses? Like flies to honey, they come out in droves to these events.
Excuse me! What do you mean you didn't have the courage to talk to Michael Redhill? Do you know how much I ordered Martin Sloane? How bitterly I wept at the end of the book for the father and just the sadness of it all? How much I want to see the shadow boxes that inspired this book?
Chicken!!!!
Thank you for the head's up on Coach House Books. I've started a new novel and this time I'm going to finish it and I'm going to really work hard on getting it published.
I love the fall and book release time. Tuesays are the best days of the week as far as I'm concerned.
Posted by: Scully | October 13, 2005 at 10:09 AM
Yes it's true, Scully. I'm a chicken.
So glad you loved 'Martin Sloane'. It really is a beautiful, heart-breaking story. Did you know that Michael Redhill was inspired by the life of the real shadow box artist Joseph Cornell? You really should check out his work and read about his life. Fascinating!
Posted by: patricia | October 13, 2005 at 10:18 AM
Hey, Patricia! What a glamorous life you got, sorrounded by writers and "wish be" ones, skinny men with thick glasses.
Please, tell me: will you grant to me your signature in your future book some day? :)
Posted by: Bob Row | October 13, 2005 at 05:37 PM
Ha ha. Bob, if you met me, you would realize just how very UN-glamorous I am! I'm just fortunate enough to attend somewhat 'glamorous' events from time to time. I'm surprised that these people let me get past the door, really!
And yes, I promise that if I ever publish my own book, you will get a signed copy! But it won't be very glamorous! ;)
Posted by: patricia | October 13, 2005 at 06:43 PM
Do the same amount of girls in black-rimmed glasses come out as well?
Posted by: ragdoll | October 23, 2005 at 10:02 AM
No!! That's what befuddles me.
Posted by: patricia | October 23, 2005 at 10:30 AM