Reading at the Library

I read to folks at the Bay County Public Library this afternoon, and members of the Friends of the Library were kind enough to supply cookies and punch and candy. We talked about small towns, and teenagers who dream of leaving them. We talked about changing times. I discussed Zen and the art of writing -- going where the story leads you, being brave enough (or dumb enough) to let go and listen to the small voice nagging in the back of your head. That's how I learned that Wally was a man who knew his Bible -- A Clean Sweep was written before Love and Loss at the Sign of the Pig -- and my difficulty in writing it came from trying to ignore the Bible verse that kept presenting itself. When I gave in, typed "there were giants in the earth in those days" at the top of the page, I suddenly had a handle on who Wally was ... and why he was such a damaged person; that is, he knew better than to act the way he did, and maybe he could figure out how to be better than that.

Follow your instincts. Trust your gut.

And if I don't talk to between now and then, have a safe and happy Christmas and New Year.

Peace.

So the photo experimenting continues

Still trying to figure out this photo thingy, and they don't lie down where I want them to. Here are some more pictures from the day, though:
LEFT: Folks browse the "gift" table, picking out freebies for the taking.

RIGHT: The writers in a line-up -- Lynn (500) Wallace, Michael (big money) Lister, Terry (???) Lewis, Jack (romance) Saunders, and me (local color). After the party, we took leftovers to the Improv night at Bay High.

Tomorrow (actually, by now, it's today) Sunday, Dec. 18, 2 to 4 p.m., I'll be reading from Welcome to the Dawning as a guest of Friends of the Library at the downtown library in PC. (Is that more teeth I hear gnashing?)

Peace, and good night.

Some pictures from the day's events

LEFT: Today Michael Lister (left), Lynn Wallace (center), and I (the other guy) had a book signing at the Books-a-Million in Panama City. There was much wailing and gnashing of teeth. And that was just from the people who wanted our chairs and the three tables we had commandeered. RIGHT: After, we proceeded to Gulf Coast Community College for the Mystery Writers of America (north Florida Chapter) Christmas Party. Michael shoots a picture of Judge (and mystery author) Terry Lewis, who drove in from Tallahassee for the party.
MORE TO FOLLOW...

Signings this weekend

If you're in the Panama City, Florida, area this weekend, and you have Christmas presents yet to buy, there's always room for books:

Authors Michael Lister, Tony Simmons and Lynn Wallace will sign and sell copies of the their novels at Books-a-Million on 23rd Street from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17. Details: www.pottersvillepress.com

Then, Tony Simmons, assistant managing editor-news for The News Herald, will read from his novel, Welcome to the Dawning of a New Century, and discuss the creative process at the Bay County Public Library Sunday, Dec. 18 from 2 to 4 p.m. Copies of the book will be available for purchase, as well as Simmons' first book, Dazed and Raving in the Undercurrents, a collection of his columns for The News Herald. Refreshments will be served by the Friends of the Library.

In addition, and I'll be signing at the Mystery Writers of America (private) Christmas Party at the Gulf Coast Community College dining room Saturday afternoon. (Sorry, but you're not invited. So come see me at the other ones.)

Peace.