Diary #300

I have to admit that it still really tickles me to be mentioned in other people’s books.  Last week I received my copy of Brooke Magnanti’s new one, The Turning Tide, and when I started reading I discovered that I’m kindly named in the acknowledgements.  Then this past week my copy of Chester Brown’s latest, Mary Wept Over the Feet of Jesus, arrived, and there was my blurb anchoring the back cover.  Yes, I already knew it was going to be there; besides the fact that I was told it would be, I already had an advance copy.  But there’s just something extra-nice about holding the actual finished thing in one’s hand.  And it reminded me of what I consider to be the best and coolest part of (relative) celebrity: getting to meet, know and become friends with other cool, awesome, creative people.  It opens the door to being able to help others, too; my network of connections has on many occasions allowed me to make a phone call or shot out an email to get specialized help for someone who needs it, or to connect two cool, awesome people who haven’t yet met to each other (thereby magnifying the level of coolness and awesomeness in the world).  The internet being what it is, I’m friends with a number of people I’ve never met in person, but I’m always excited to have the opportunity to meet them later; Brooke and I are already discussing the possibility of meeting on her next trip to the States, and I have a firm date for my first in-person meeting with Chester: he will be speaking and signing books at 7 PM on Saturday, April 16^th, at Hugo House, 1634 11^th Ave in Seattle.  And I’ve been invited to introduce him to the audience!  Besides that, I was able to help his publisher find other people to introduce him in several other cities; see how those connections work?  So if you would like to hear Chester speak and get a signed copy of the book, but you’re not in Seattle, consult this tour schedule; he’s appearing in Berkeley, San Francisco & Los Angeles before the 16^th, and Toronto, New York City, Washington DC, Winnipeg, Montreal and Chicago after it.  And don’t worry; I haven’t forgotten my promise to get working on my own books, and I think I can wedge a few short tours into my schedule once they’re out.