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Let’s see, we had lunch, interviews, stock signings, and finally it was time for the signing. Our driver, David, dropped us off at the library, The Civic Center Library, and in we went. The staff greeted us, and after handshakes all around, led us to the event space. I say space, because it’s set up like some of the medium size lecture halls at a college, with the teacher down below of rows of chairs. We started, as we always do, with the questions and answers. Some of you actually asked questions I hadn’t had before, or not in quite that much detail.

One of the questions was about how I had researched the bondage and submission for the books. I talked about starting with the book, A Different Loving, and ending with finding a guide to take me to BDSM events. If I hadn’t done the research, I’d have sooo gotten it wrong, like most movies and books. I was asked if I still went to events, and I had to say, no. I didn’t do public events anymore, because every time I did someone outted me on the internet, or to other people. There are two rules for BDSM that are meant never, ever, be broken. Rule one: safe, sane and consensual. You play safe, don’t get crazy, and no really does mean no. Rule two: you do not out anyone. In fact, I was taught that if someone bears tales out of school from one of these events they can get black listed. Not just from that event, but any and all events. If you can’t keep your mouth shut, then no one wants to play with you. But I can’t go, even if all I do is try to visit with friends, someone is on the internet telling that I was there, what I was wearing, etc . . . Why do I explain this here? Because three different women came up and asked about this later. Two of them misunderstood and thought I’d been black listed, nope, I’ve done nothing wrong. One, just didn’t seem to understand what I meant. So, here, in print, I hope that clears up, the misunderstanding on this topic. I did meet a woman at the Ann Arbor signing that had also had trouble in the St. Louis BDSM community with people tattling. I’m sort of a celebrity, so it makes a little sense, but apparently St. Louis has some people that just can’t keep their mouth shut. Sad.

I did my best not to pace as much as I did at the first signing. You’ve got the video to prove that I was pacing like a caged leopard in St. Louis. Sometimes the nervous energy is just too much, and I have to do something to physical it out. Petting someone works, or petting a pet, but most dogs get weirded out when someone is that tense, and petting a person, even my own husband, weirds you guys out. So, I pace. But once I saw the camera set up in Phoenix, I did try and hold more still. But, part of the problem is that my background early on was theatre. Which means that if you have a stage, you use the whole stage, and you try to make sure that the audience sees you. You play to every inch of the room, if you can, so that everyone who came to the show, gets a good view, if only for a few minutes. So, I use the stage. Which means I drive the videographer crazy. Sorry.

I’ve never been to Phoenix before, so a lot of you thanked me for not making you travel so far to see me. You’re welcome, by the way. You guys were as friendly and welcoming as the Ann Arbor crowd. It has been a great tour so far. There were some of the cutest babies at the event. Jon, even agreed, and he’s not usually a baby person. Some of you were wearing make-up to look like bite marks. The make-up was so good that the first few people, I wasn’t sure if it was fake, or real, so I said nothing. I mean, if it was an injury, you don’t comment. By the time I realized it was just good make-up I said something, but to all of you who were wearing it, good job, guys. I did see it, and it was good enough that short of touching it, or getting way too close, I just wasn’t sure.

I appreciate everyone asking Charles before they tried to touch me inappropriately. I thought, that was interesting, and good idea to find out if the security person will hurt you if you have wandering hands. He will take care of it, if I haven’t taken care of it first. After all, it’s my body and I’m closer. So, thanks for not touching me in a way that would have upset us all. No, really, thanks, I mean that. I’ve had people forget this rule over the years, mostly before I had security with me, and it’s always . . . disturbing. So, big thanks for not being disturbing.

It was another wonderful event. Thanks to all of you that came out. The three of us really enjoyed Phoenix. I think, part of it, was that we got to see more of the town than normal. Usually, we see the airport, the hotel, the book signing, the hotel, and then the airport, again. You just can’t get to know a town like that. Phoenix we had an extra day to soak up some sun, and the wonderful weather. We’d left St. Louis to storms and torrential rain. Ann Arbor we had pouring rain, too. Apparently, it followed us from home. But Phoenix was low nineties, no humidity, a cool breeze; in a word, perfect. Now, the locals tell us that it’s usually well over a hundred degrees in June there, as in 115 degrees. But we caught them in a cold snap, 92. It was a lovely cold snap.

Next stop Canada. See you guys there.