Josh Hanagarne's Blog, page 19

Road Warrior! – Updates From Atlanta and St. Louis

Janette and I just got down from the St. Louis Arch.  We rode up in a tiny pod with three other people. The pods are about the size and depth of a large tube television from about 10 years ago. We were all very sweaty and sick of each other by the time we got to the top.

Let’s back up.

So yesterday we got up and stalked into the Atlanta humidity, looking for adventure. We got really hot and gave up quickly, retreating to the hotel just in time for our media escort to pick us up.

A word on the escorts. I thought I’d feel snooty being driven around everywhere, but now that I see how many details have to be in place for a book tour to work, I can only see how many things I’d get wrong if I was left to my own devices.  If I didn’t have help, I’d no doubt still be stuck in the elevator in New York, trying to figure out how to time my key card in sequence with the correct floor number.

Our guide knew everything about Atlanta. We went to the Margaret Mitchell house and I got to see where Gone With The Wind was written. I also got to type on a really old typewriter in her office. I typed, YOU SHOULD BUY THE WORLD’S STRONGEST LIBRARIAN.

Then we went to a real southern diner, where I realized I had never actually had:

real lemonade
hoppin’ John
Brunswick stew
collard greens
fried chicken
fried green tomatoes
cheese grits
and so on

Then we went to two local bookstores and I signed books.  A secret for you aspiring authors–if you sign books in a store, it makes it harder for the publisher to return them. Such cunning! Oh, and the driver set all this up, it wasn’t even my idea, but it was fun.

And in one of these stores, I bought a copy of the new book of Kurt Vonnegut’s letters. It was so good that I was tempted to cancel my event to read. Almost.

My event was at the Decatur Library, a beautiful place. Actually, all of Decatur looked really cool. Lots of personality. I spoke to a big, eclectic group. There were also some Tourette’s folks there, including Brad Cohen, a true hero of mine, and one of the greatest TS success stories around.

Me and Brad. The guy is legit!

The talk went great and the signing was a lot of fun. The Loopy Librarian made an appearance, and I forced her and her husband to come with us to a nearby cafe before the talk started. She was wonderful, so was he.

No missing family members this time, but I did meet someone who worked for my Grandpa Hanagarne about 55 years ago. I’m just going to start assuming that everyone is related to me or knows my Grandpa.

Then it was back to the W hotel, where our insanely cheerful concierge greeted us as if he’d been struggling to breathe since we left. We watched X Files and fell asleep.

The flight to St. Louis this morning was uneventful, but I had the exit row seat and felt pretty sassy. I read Vonnegut’s letters and did some writing.

On that note–I haven’t talked much about what I’m going to write next, but there will definitely be a children’s series coming, assuming I can sell it. I’m very excited to tell you more when it’s time.

In St. Louis we’re at the Four Seasons. When we arrived, about eight people–most of whom seemed to be stunning blond women of at least 6′ in height–surrounded us, saying hi, opening doors, etc.

I laughed out loud when I saw our room. It is so nice I just keep saying, “What am I doing here?” We’ve got an amazing view of the arch, we’ve got a chaise lounge I have no idea how to lie on, and, prepare yourselves, there is a TV in the bathroom mirror. It just appears like on Minority Report. This might not be news to you, but it is to me.

There’s a safe, too. I don’t have anything valuable to put it in, but I stuck a sock in there for a few minutes just to see how the codes worked. Success!  The sock is safe and sound, and will soon be reunited with its mate, which is currently on my left foot.

Oh, and there’s a bathtub that I can fit it. Me! I am about to take a, I am not kidding, bubble bath, for the first time in about 30 years. Maybe I’ll feel stupid, but I have to try it. Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve seen a bathtub I can actually fit in? Me either, but a long time.

I’m actually off tonight, so we’re just going to go eat and then I’m going to write some more. And then I’m going to master this chaise lounge.

 

 

 

The Too-Short Robe, Bronzini, The Haunted Painting, and More News From The Road

We are in Atlanta, sharing a room with a painting of a woman who has a very pointy nose and a butt that looks like she’s been sitting in a mud puddle.  In the dark last night I had the strange feeling that she had jumped off the painting and was running around the room, but perhaps it was only a dream…

The New York trip is over.  Yesterday I did eight radio interviews over the course of about six hours.  I was in a small, soundproof room in the Penguin Media studios. When I sat down, I knew my tics would be bad.  But, a soundproof room!

I tested it out, yelling my head off, involuntarily at first.  Then, when it seemed like people really couldn’t hear me on the other side of the wall, I started yelling, “Help, I’m dying!” to see if I could get a reaction.  My editor said, “They’re probably just too polite to tell you they can hear you.”

I stuck my head out and asked a man working on a laptop, “Hey, can you hear me?”

He said, “Oh yes.  But it’s fine.”

And so I stopped.

Also: we’re in Atlanta at the W Hotel.  It kinds of looks like it was designed by Dr. Seuss. We’re going to feel very “With it,” as our wonderful driver said.  Indeed!

We’re in the handicapped suite, which is identical in every way except there are hand rails everywhere.

I tried on the complimentary robe this morning.  It doesn’t even reach to my elbows.

Also: the USA Today piece just came out.

I did the interview during a lunch by the NYPL library, Main Branch.  Janette, my wife, hates fish more than anything.  When the waitress gave her the rundown of the specials, she said, “Oh, that sounds great, give me the bronzini!” When the bronzini came, alas, it turned out to be two giant pieces of fish. Crestfallen!  But they whisked it away and brought her a nice salad, which she nibbled at like a rabbit.

Also: I got the bulkhead seat on the plane.  It was better than first class.  I literally could not reach the wall in front of me with my foot, and I tried, to the great annoyance of my cramped plane mates.

Also: This morning I ate some peanut butter french toast.  It had about an inch of peanut butter in the middle of it.  Insanely good, but I felt like a huge hog after nibbling at the New York baby portions for three days (they were great, but tiny!)

And: yesterday the man who drove us to the airport in NYC made me laugh so hard.  He had stories about everyone he had ever driven.  He said, “This was fun, I usually get told don’t talk to the clients.” He took credit for many of Chris Rock’s best jokes. And for all I know, he should.

Tonight is the talk and signing in Decatur.  Brad Cohen, founder of camp Twitch and Shout is going to be there, and I can’t wait to meet him.  He does a lot of fantastic work for the Tourette’s community and I’ve looked up to him for years.  It’s going to be a lively night, I guarantee it.

If you are in the area, come on down.  We’re going to have fun.

St. Louis tomorrow!

News From The Road

Hi everyone, I’m in New York on the second night of the actual tour.  I got a couple of pieces of good news today.

1. The Korean translation of The World’s Strongest Librarian just sold. Any bets on what the title will translate to? My editor is convinced it will be called Sassy Boy.

2. The book has already gone back for a second printing, which is wonderful. Thank you all for the support and the purchases.

I also finally got to meet a lot of the sales team and the marketing brains behind the book.  Very smart, very kind people.  Meeting them all has been the best part by far.

My editor made a present for me out of my book–it’s called book folding, I think, and it won’t make any sense until I can get a better picture of it.  More soon.

I also had a wonderful talk with Ron Hogan from The Handsell, ate some very good bagels, was disappointed that the armor exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art was closed today when we were there, and I got eat at Lupa last night, which is a restaurant so good that I don’t even know how to talk about it.  Obscenely good.

Off to Atlanta tomorrow!  Looking forward to seeing some of you there.

I’m about to start reading a memoir called Nine Lives, about a chef who sounds like quite a character.  More to come soon.

A Few Observations On Publication Day

So yesterday was it.  The book came out, I gave a talk and did two signings, and met a lot of wonderful people.  I was overwhelmed emotionally.  I knew it would be a special day, but it affected me more than I could have anticipated.

Here are a few things I noticed and noted:

Before my talk, I didn’t realize how nervous I was until the server at the luncheon kept saying, “Aren’t you going to eat your salad? You don’t like salad?”  I protested that I would eat it as soon as I was done, but that anything I chewed tasted like ashes for the moment.  Then I ate the cake first and made a liar of myself, because the cake was still really good. 


I bought new dress shirts a couple of months ago, just for the tour.  Then I started doing a bunch of neck work with the Ironmind head strap thing.  Now all of my shirts are too tight in the neck and today my throat is all red.  I suppose that’s my own fault.


I obviously don’t smile enough.  By the end of the second event my face felt like it was breaking.  Trying to get more practice.


There is nothing I love more than speaking, unless it is speaking to a group of librarians


I love librarians–there were a few hundred people in the room at the talk, and I felt like I knew everyone immediately


I can give 45 hugs in an hour, but then I’m all hugged out and I have to hide in my truck


It’s easier to pretend you’re a big deal in another city–in your own town people know you too well


Sharpies are the pen of choice–Sharpie, please sponsor me or I’ll switch to crayola crayons. This offer expires in 24 hours


Standing all day is exhausting–I spend too much time in chairs


When I run out of clever things to inscribe, I start drawing pictures, sometimes with disastrous results


While I was hiding in my truck, I read The Devil In The White City and totally forgot where and who I was

More to come!

PS: If you have read the book, I would appreciate reviews on Amazon and/or Goodreads.  Please be honest in what you write, don’t go fill out a five star review just because we’re pals.  But when you finish the book, if you think that’s what it deserves, well, go nuts.

An Inadequate Thank You On Publication Day

Dear readers,

Today is my publication day.  It’s been a long time coming, but it’s here.  The World’s Strongest Librarian is now available. I couldn’t be prouder or more grateful.

Thank you for helping me.

Thank you for the support.

Thank you for giving me something to look forward to every day.

Thank you for being my friends.

Please share the book today on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and wherever else your travels online take you.

Also: I’m reading the new Joe Hill book, NOS4A2 and it’s fantastic!

And: thank you.

Josh

The World’s Strongest Librarian In The New Yorker Today!

Hi all, I got a terrifying email this morning pointing me to this review of The World’s Strongest Librarian on The New Yorker’s website.

And now, it’s time to get back to the glamorous business of working at the library from 12-9 this afternoon.  If you’re on Level 3, come say hi!

Josh

 

My Audiobook Narrator And His Many Roles

Hi everyone, I finally found out who narrated my audiobook–I could have found it on the Amazon page long ago, apparently, some librarian I’m turning out to be.

It is the very dignified looking and sounding Stephen R. Thorne.

Mr. Thorne has played, among many other roles, three Doctor Who aliens, Aslan from Narnia (BBC radio), and Treebeard from The Lord Of The Rings (also aBBC Radio production)

He sounds much more stately than I am and will probably bring some much needed dignity to the enterprise.

Book Launch Week Events

Hi everyone, just wanted to give you an outline of what I’m doing this week for the book launch, and give the Utah folks a couple of details in case you’re interested in attending an event.

Last night was the interview on Booktalk Nation.  It was a lot of fun, and Karen Holt was a great interviewer.  My mom also called in and I got a chance to hassle her good.

On Thursday, May 2 I’ll be speaking at the Utah Library Association Conference.  That will only be open to conference attendees.  

Also that night, I’ll be at a multi-author event/reception at the Provo City Library.  It runs from 5-6:30. The address is 550 North University Avenue. I’ve been told that you’re all welcome to stop by and hang out. I’ll make it worth your time.

On Friday, May 3 I’ll have an event and signing at the Sugarhouse Barnes and Noble.  Starting at 7, I’ll be interviewed by Richard Paul Evans, then take questions and sign books.

I hope to see some of you who are in the area.  If you’ve got any questions, let me know!

What I’m reading and read recently

Just finished The Executioner’s Song by Norman Mailer.  Very good book, and I’m not a Mailer fan.

Reading The Devil In The White City again.  Fantastic as ever.

What Is Man? by Mark Twain

Lolita by Nabokov.

Reason, Faith, and Revolution: Reflections On The God Debate by Terry Eagleton.

I think that’s it for now.

Booktalk Nation Is Tonight!

Hi all, tonight (Monday) I’ll be on Booktalk Nation at 7 PM Eastern Time.

I’ll be interviewed by Karen Holt from O Magazine, and will be answering your questions live.  You can call in and ask a question, or send in a question on the sign up form.

To reserve a space on the call, click here and enter an email address.  You’ll receive an email with the dial-in number and a couple of additional details.

I hope to have you there!

Josh

The Bookstore That Changed My Life

Good morning all,

Today I’ve got a piece over on The Huffington Post called ‘The Bookstore That Changed My Life.’

If any of you Salt Lake folks ever visited Experienced Books or knew Mr. Clawson, I’d love to hear about it!