August 2006

Well, it’s been a locomotive couple of months. In no particular order…

** I went on a book tour for The Pale Blue Eye. A fine time was had by—me. A special shout-out to my friends at Olsson’s Books, Chester County Book Company, Newtonville Books and Brookline Booksmith for organizing such great events. Authors generally should be kept in solitary confinement as much as possible, but it’s nice to let them out every so often, even if it forces them to shower.

** I fulfilled a lifelong dream and appeared as a contestant on Jeopardy! I’m still shaking. (You would be, too, if you had to say “antidisestablishmentarianism” on national TV.) Be sure to check out my maiden effort: Friday, September 15.

** I wrote the first chapter of Opus to Be Described at Later Date.

** I came to the conclusion that potato vine is the most convincing proof of Satan’s existence.

** I was informed by my 6-year-old son that he wanted to be a bank robber.

** I lost a dear friend to depression.

And as if that weren’t enough life passages, I’m due next month for my high-school reunion. (I’ll be coy as to which reunion this is.) As a great woman once said: Oy.