I had a great time this past Saturday at the LA Times Festival of Books. The day started off early at Vroman’s Bookstore where Ashley Ream, author of Losing Clementine, and I supplied the “In-Transit Entertainment” on one of the buses the store had chartered to the festival. Ashley is a delight and looks pretty darn adorable in a beret.
After I arrived (with wife and mom in tow), I signed some books for Vroman’s behind their tent. Sorry about giving you the finger in this photo. It was completely unintentional.
Here I am transporting a stack of Man of Wars from overstock shelving to the table where I’d later sign them. But I wasn’t just moving paper. I was trying to give customers the impression that the book is so good they have to buy ten copies. Also note my massive biceps. Lifting hardcover books is a great way to save on those ridiculous gym membership fees.
Interesting placement for MOW. One friend observed that I was in a “Hitchens sandwich.” Another friend former friend commented that Hitchens’ books look a lot wordier than mine. Likely because I don’t know more than seven polysyllabic words.
Later that day I returned to Pasadena and saw this quote by some guy named Benjamin Franklin. I liked it so much I took a photograph of it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
