Author: Jonathon

First we have internet access, so we can blog from the road, yea!. We did Jack London Square’s Barnes and Noble in San Francisco last night. It was as always a wonderful event. Jerry the manager had another of his original poems that he read as introduction. The title of this poem was, “Who’s your Daddy.” Yeah, you read what you thought you read. Always fun. We saw a lot of familiar faces, that we hadn’t seen since the Cerulean Sins tour, which was the last time we’d been back there. Truthfully, Jon and I couldn’t remember, but the fans did. We also saw a lot of new faces. We had about 150 to 175 people in line last night. The trend of summer crowds being a little smaller than the spring and autumn crowds across the country continues. But we did this number of people in about three hours. Not four, not five, but three. One, there were fewer pictures, but also my arm is holding up well. The exercise has really made a difference. Let’s hear it for weight lifting. It means I can actually sign faster. We’re still visiting with everyone in line, but I’m not having to slow my pace on the signing part like I did last tour. Very cool.
Thanks to everyone that gave us gifts last night, and if we missed a night, or a gift, thanks to everyone at all the other signings this time out, too.
We got to sleep in this morning, which helped a lot. We also got out of the store last night between 9:30 and 10:00 which meant bed time wasn’t so late either. Sleep is a good thing on tour. We’ve never been to San Francisco in the summer. We’d never seen the famous summer fogs curl over the city, around the bay like some soft, white coat. The air was positively cool when we landed. Very nice. I have actually had time to enter some of my notebook scribblings into the computer. I said I was three hundred pages into the next book, but technically the page number is 287. I have enough notes to take it over 290, but unsure if I’ll actually make the magic 300. I’m throwing out some of the notes. Anita and the gang are just sitting down to breakfast in the book. It’s too early for fetish wear, so something more causal for the boys, even if it is going to turn into a business meeting with the wererats.
We’ll be signing tonight at the Borders in Union Square here. We’ll see everyone at 7:00 tonight. Be well, and hope you guys get a relaxing day, too. This is the most relaxing day we’ve had on tour. We’re going to try and enjoy it.

Just got home. We’re here about long enough to do laundry and have a night in our own bed, then back out. We did Richmond, Virginia last night. The crowd was wonderful. The quote for the night has to be the woman who said, “That we were the hottest thing to hit Richmond since the civil war.” We took it as the compliment it was. We got so many presents in Richmond that we had to have our media escort ship stuff home. Thanks guys. We actually got two questions in the Q and A that we’d not had before. One was why doesn’t Anita like women, as in like-like. Honestly, it’s because I forget that women are potential sex objects. I am just terribly heterosexual, so I notice men, but women just don’t hit my radar. As a writer I see it as a deficit. I even went out to the mall with Jon and said, show me how to look at women, but we discovered that our taste in women is too different. Women he thought were cute just didn’t do it for me, and women I was willing to say were cute didn’t do it for him, so it wasn’t very useful. I am trying to add more women to the Anita series in the current book I’m working on, but sadly, the women are probably never going to get the loving description that the men do. My apologies.
The other question we got was how do I come up with all those sex scenes. Truthfully, I’m going to have to think about that one for a while. I mean to me it’s not an effort to come up with the scenes. Once you know your characters you just have to think how they would make love, what they would do during sex. Your sex scenes should be different when you’re with different people. Personality isn’t something that just happens before you get into bed and then afterwards. The person you are is very much there in bed with you, or should be on paper and in real life. I think that’s one of the reasons I’ve never done causal sex, it’s never just the physical that interests me. I have to know someone before the idea of sleeping with them appeals to me. I think this is the same with the characters. I have to know them, know their history, and something about who they really are before they get that chance on stage with Anita.
Gotta go and finish packing. I started this blog when we landed two days ago. Now I’m finishing it as we get to go back on a plane. Sigh. I look forward to seeing everyone on the West Coast and in Vegas, but damn, the travel is hard. But the weight training has really helped the arm. So far I can do about 140 to 170 without icing it. So let’s hear it for exercise. See everybody out west.

We did both Dayton and Cincinnati, again great events. We were at Books and Company in Dayton and a Borders in Cincinnati. Jon just pointed out that some of this blog is about Delaware, Newark Delaware, which was a Borders. So this is a triple threat blog. I got to meet my namesake in Delaware. A fan had written in to ask if I’d mind if she named her baby after me, and I didn’t mind. Well, the baby is about one now, maybe a little under, and she’s adorable. In fact her mom had been showing her my picture prepping her for the signing so she’d know who I was, and apparently the picture had left a good impression, because she went right to me, and made herself very at home. I’m not usually a baby person, but Laurell Keira (not a hundred percent sure of the spelling on the middle name) charmed my socks off. Thanks to all the couples at these signings and in Chicago that asked permission to use quotes from my books in their wedding invitations. Attribute it to me and the book it came from in the invite, and let us know what quote you chose. That I am curious about. At least two people showed me a mock up of the quote, but in the crush of the waiting crowd, and me not wearing my glasses, I either didn’t read it all, or am glomming the two quotes together. I know one of them was a Jean-Claude quote, and I even remember the scene, but I think I’m smooshing it with the other invitation I saw.
In Dayton at Books and Company, we had two odd incidence. A glass door broke during the event, with no one close to the door, and no reason for it to break. We just heard this low, thud-pop sound, and later learned the glass had broken. I thought someone had thrown something, but everyone swears nothing touched it. Oooh. Thought I’d share that. They also did a charity auction of one of the big poster displays of the cover of DANSE MACABRE with me signing it to the winner. We had two very determined people wanting it, so it went for several hundred dollars. The money went to the Literacy Council, so a good cause. Congrats to our winner.
I started this blog yesterday when we were fresh off the plane. We’ll be here for one full day, then off we go again, so I’m a little fried, so a lot of things may be glomming together, my apologies. In fact, I’m probably going to be saying that a lot in these next few blogs, because I’m trying to catch up on all the events we haven’t blogged yet. It always works better if we blog that night, but sometimes it’s not possible.
Another thing I’ll add here is that my agent informs me I’ve been answering the movie question wrong. Sorry, about that. Jon and I were under the very wrong impression that in development meant that we were in process but had nothing definite exactly. Since Jon and I are continuing to work on the script regardless, I thought that was one way of saying something without saying a lot. Nope. I have been informed that ‘in devolpment’ is supposed to mean that the rights have been purchased for movie or television, like a signed deal. The rights have not been purchased, no deal is currently signed and sealed. But my agent is talking to people about those rights. If we get anything definite we’ll let you guys know.

Charles drove up to bodyguard us at this signing. Not only was he his usual charming self, but it was nice to see a familiar face. Of course, we saw a lot of familiar faces. We saw a lot of people we’d seen at Romantic Times convention. It was good to see them. On tour you get a little overwhelmed by all the unfamiliar stuff, so that familiar is good. It’s always nice to put a face to the names on the board. (No, I don’t go out to the board, but people introduce themselves.) I’m writing this now from home several days later. It’s always easier to blog just after the event, but on tour sometimes it just doesn’t work out that way. Everyone says they have internet access in the hotel room, but sometimes it’s a little less accessible than they advertise. I remember that the signing went well. That we saw a lot of people. I had two young men tell me they loved me, both of them under five. Apparently, I’m very big in the pre-kindergarten set.

It’s Friday, so it must be D.C., and today will be the Richmond, VA signing. I’m having my first cup of tea, and eating my hundredth hotel crossaint. In the morning it’s about all I can face after a certain point on tour. Last night wed Bailey’s Crossroads Borders store. It was a great crowd as always. Saw lots of familiar faces, and we all figured out together that the last time we’d done this store was the Ceruelan Sins tour. Saw more service men and women come through line here, in their civvies, but most talked about where they’d been, or where they’d be going next. Or some didn’t, because they couldn’t. Just going back out. We wish them all well. Be safe, and know that good wishes, and prayers go with you. For all of you who’ve come back to civilian life, well, best of luck. That is not an easy transition from soldier to civvie. Be well, and God and Goddess bless you all. I look at all the men and women across the country over these last years that have shaken my hand, and every time I do, I take their hand and pray that I’ll get to shake their hand again, when they are safe and returned home. I pray that the ones who are home for good, are well and happy. I pray that their transition into what we call ‘normal’ life, will be a smooth one. I hope that the people who are making the decisions to send these guys and girls out, shake some hands and look them in the eyes, really see them. Because numbers and names on a page are easier to send off, then someone you’ve touched, and smiled at, and spoken to. I hope whoever is making the decisions understands how real these names and numbers are, and how special each and every one of these people are.
Jon and I will be doing blogs for Chicago, and Dayton, and Cincinatti. But I thought since I had a few minutes I’d put this one up, so we wouldn’t get further behind. I find it hard to post from the road. Bye for now.

I am being made more and more aware of just how some folks don’t seem to get it. That they cannot dictate to an author what to write or how to write. I just became aware another fav of mine was pretty much publicly drawn and quartered on a blog. And when she defended herself and what she wrote, she was pretty much called disgusting names and treated like dirt. So here is the letter I sent her and to her newsgroup. I hope that it resonates with some folks. If you see yourself as one who is doing this kind of thing, then stop it! Consider what you say, what you post. Is that how you really want to portray yourself publicly? Because that is what your doing! I know there will be those who tear this apart. Read between the lines, assigning meaning that is not there. Call me names. Generally doing what was done to one of my favorite authors. But then I think about it, and I am in good company! Because I happen to know she is a kind, witty and wonderful person, in addition to being a terrific author. I have had the pleasure of meeting her and talking to her. So if I am to be relegated to the same group, then cool! I couldn’t ask for better company.
Hi MaryJanice! I saw that they have started picking on you too! I am so sorry. I kept hoping it was limited to Laurell. But more and more I am seeing it is not. Because we do hear it from other authors too. I am not sure what it is about the internet that inspires people to be rude! Other than anonymity. But for some reason, people who wouldn’t dream of saying it to your face, feel free to post it on the web. And god help anyone who disagrees with them. It is like junior high, they have to be right or their world ends apparently.
I finally got to where I started asking to see the original posts of things Laurell or I supposedly said. Too often through cut and paste things get attributed to the wrong party. Sometimes, I think it is accidental. Some of it I know is intentional. Worse, are the folks who read between the lines and attribute things never stated. They cannot take what is said at face value, they have to spin it, like politicians to meet their own needs.
But once a rumor has started it is almost impossible to stop! And you are supposed to rise above it all and be magnanimous and gracious. I love how some folks have higher expectations for everyone else, want special rights for themselves, that they don’t extend to others. As long as you agree with them, then it is okay to say something, but if you disagree or defend yourself, then you are some kind of horrible person out to cause them harm. They never consider that their opinions (and that is all they are, opinions, not facts), might be painful for someone else. That being rude and nasty is neither clever nor cute. And just because a few folks tell you that it is, doesn’t make it so. There is always someone out there ready to tear down anything. They seem to revel in doing so. Why they are so miserable and cannot find some joy in life is I don’t know, and is just sad, in my opinion.
You?re an excellent writer! Funny, witty and craft a heck of a story! Else, I wouldn’t read you. And Laurell would not now be out on tour answering the question about who writes something similar readers might like and giving your name and Charlaine Harris as good choices. So please don’t let the trolls get you down. I applaud you for standing up for yourself. Laurell and I both have had abuse heaped on us for not agreeing with everything someone else says. Or daring to defend ourselves. People are not clones. We do not all like exactly the same thing. Liking or not liking something isn’t wrong or right. It is simply a matter of personal choice. What is to one persons taste, is not to another. And I like that! Personally, I like diversity. I want there to be choices out there. I want to explore new things, and if I don’t like something, well, then I can walk away from it. I don’t demand it change to suit me!
Could you imagine walking in to a museum and demanding that a painting be changed simply because you don’t like it? Paint out that cow and repaint it on the other side of the tree. I don’t like the expression on that statue, have it rechisled to something more pleasant. How about movies? I don’t like that actor in the movie, refilm the whole thing but using this actor and not that one. The costumes are terrible. Let me tell you how to dress them better. How about stores? I don’t like the way this is organized. Move the cereal section to the center of the store, and get rid of the house wares they are not necessary. Worse, how would you like it to be your own home? This living room furniture has to go! Get something modern, glass and chrome. Your bedroom needs to be totally rearranged, it just isn’t efficient. Most folks would throw a fit if any of these things happened!
These are books. They are written just the way the author wants. The reader is free to choose to read or not. Readers do not get to dictate what is written. Writing is not a committee exercise! But some folks don’t seem to get that. They think they can do a better job. If they could, they should be out there writing books. It is easier to criticize than do any day of the week. I have flat out asked how do you make everyone happy? And no one has answered that. If these folks are unhappy with the books, they should stop reading. Again, it gets abuse heaped on you for suggesting they stop reading. That you don’t have the right to tell them to stop. I don’t eat food I don’t like. I don’t watch movies I know I won’t like. No one makes me do it one way or the other than me! So if I didn’t like an author, I stop reading their books! Sounds simple and logical. And I am not suggesting anyone do something, I myself don’t do!
Go MaryJanice go! Keep writing them just the way you do. And don’t ever let them make you apologize for it.
So I am going to end my rant with a lesson my mother taught me years ago.
My mother was a hostess in a restaurant. The manager was no where to be found when my mother realized that one of the customers was being incredibly rude and nasty to a waitress. So my mom went over there to find out what was up. Seems the customer did not like his meal. Though he had eaten all but a few bites of it. He was ranting and raving about how horrible it was and how he felt he shouldn’t have to pay for it. It was that bad. My mother never minces words. She did point out to the man that he had eaten almost the entire thing before complaining. Yet, she would make his meal complimentary. She then suggested the next time he was hungry, he eat elsewhere. She also told him about the four restaurants within one mile of that one. He left in a huff. But the point my mother told me was, you don’t have to take abuse from someone. If he was as truly unhappy as he claimed, then he wouldn’t be back. There are just some folks in the world who are not happy unless they are bitching. The trick is, not to take the misery they are trying to spread around and make it your own.
Darla

Happy Fourth! Frankly, a lot of my energy will be spent getting ready to get on the plane tomorrow. But I did tweleve pages tomorrow, most of it a jumping off point from notes I made on the planes. I tend to try to play with my imaginary friends when I fly. It distracts me. I can’t work-work, but I can make notes and outlines. I was really pleased with the twelve pages, because normally I can’t work for weeks after tour. I loose two weeks to a month before and after tour. Which really cuts into the schedule. I am hopeful that maybe, just maybe, when I have my brief breaks home that I will be able to work. Which would be cool.

Well, here’s the continuation of that blog a day, or so, ago:
This is still the first signing. One woman gave us an original drawing of Richard, and a poem about him. She’d paired them in the same frame, matted and very pretty. The couple that once gave us a miniature diorama of Anita and the other characters in a tiny cemetery, are now doing leather work. They gave us an embossed leather sign that says, “Anita Blake.” They even used pictures of a a real Browning so it’s an acurate gun embossed on the leather. How cool is that?
We had the whole gang there with us in St. Peters at the Barnes and Noble. Darla, Charles, and of course, Jonathon and me. But we also had Richard. He is now in Italy. It was the last event he’d be at. The last event he’d take pictures for us. We wish him well, him and Bea, but we will miss him.
We saw a lot of familiar faces, but also a lot of new ones. More people than ever before said it was their first book signing. Their very first ever, not just the first time they’d come to see me. My arm was really hurting from almost the beginning of the signing. It was very discouraging. I mean all the weight lifting and I was in serious pain. It truly made us worry about the rest of the tour. I mean this was the kick-off event. It did not bode well. I wanted one more event under our belts before I wrote a blog because I wanted to see how my arm was doing. We did Minneapolis last night at Uncle Hugo’s, and it was good. Darla had pointed out the chair at the first store, a Barnes and Noble, had been very low forcing my arm and shoulder up very high. So at Uncle Hugo’s we actually put a big phone book in the chair for me to sit on. Yeah, I felt a little silly sitting on something, very five-years-old, but it worked. I did about a 150 people and didn’t have to take a break, or ice my arm. In fact, I was able to sign stock after the crowd departed and I still didn’t hurt. We got everyone out the door around nine something. It was a record. The crowd was only a smidge smaller than last time I’d done the store and we got everyone done in about two or three hours less time. Several of the fans remarked on how much better I was doing. So hurt last time they felt guilty making me sign anything. The exercise has paid off, I just need to watch the chair height. Anyone who’s ever had a persistent injury will understood when I say, it throws other parts of the body out of wack. So it wasn’t just my arm hurting Tuesday, but my back. So higher chair for the back and arm and viola, it was was almost pain free.
We were also happy to see back, safe and sound, the young man from past signings who had me sign his chest before he went off to boot camp. He had me sign his book, Chest Boy, so we’ll refer to him here, as that. He got my signature across his chest once more, and I was reminded that he is, indeed, ticklish. I look forward to seeing him safe and sound in other signings. Be careful out there Chest Boy.

We’re home. We’re safe and sound. I’d planned on doing more of the blog I did part of a couple of days ago, but I’ve finally crashed. Time to go to bed, in our own bed. Yea! I will finish the rest of the blog about the first two events. We will do blogs on the other events, but not tonight. I will say this, the weight lifting has made a believer of me. Everyone who saw me at the later events know that I was doing sooo much better than last time out. I was so impressed with the results that Jon and I did the small work out today. Fresh off the plane and exercising. Not fun, but the results sure are.

The kick-off was great. Estimates of the crowd vary widely — From 380 to 600 — the I’ll leave it to the people who were there to decide.
We did a Q&A where due tot eh size of the crowd and shelf placement I was invisible. Just a voice hidden from sight. A Helpful fan suggested I stand on a chair so they could see me. What I stood on was one of the little rubber topped stools they used to reach high shelves. Its a small stool. Jon, Darla, Charles and Richard were all afraid I’d fall off of it. Why were they nervous? I pace when I talk I stride. I gesture. You know people like that talk with their hands, well, I use more of me to talk. My husband and friends were concerned that I’d forget and try to gesture too emphatically while perched atop the stool. Jon stayed pretty much glued to my left side. Charles took his post on the other side. At one point after a particularly bouncy gesture on my part, Darla stood in front of me a little way off like she’d cushion the fall. Message taken I stopped moving so much. I said on mic that I’d fallen off one stage, A fan called out “Archon” so I had to amend my statement. I’ve fallen off of 2 stages.
There’s quite a bit more to this blog. I got a little carried away writing long hand in the airport today. But we’re tired, and it’s late, and we’ll put the rest of the blog in tomorrow. ‘night everyone.