Stephen Graham Jones's Blog, page 256

Boulder Bookstore

Always dig being there. I mean, I know so many people there, it’s a lot like coming home. And—should have taken a picture—always cool to see my older books faced-out on the shelves, of course: [here] Anyway—remember how, in DC, I had the kind of maximum amount of knife-drama, getting into the building? For this book event, that is, the book event RIGHT DOWN THE ROAD FROM MY HOUSE, well: there was some truck drama: And, actually, that’s from a couple of weeks ago, when this pretty-pretty truck that everywhere I go I get offers for broke down last time. This time? Same exact thing. But I think I know what it is now (an uninsulated spring that runs the choke is heating up on the manifold, without a shield). Not that knowing at all helped Richard Kadrey and me get to the gig. I should have posed us on the tailgate, asked some passing motorist to snap a pic, I suppose. But instead, I just ditched the key under the floormat, we hiked our bags on our shoulders, and we took off walking through the grass, couldn’t wait for the towtruck, as we had books to be talking about. I should say, too: I forget where exactly I mined this pics, but I’d guess Dean Wyant. Whom it was cool seeing at this event as well. Dean: wherever there’s books and talk about books, that’s where he’ll be. Which is kind of automatically how you know someone’s a good person, yeah? Or, someone you  . . . → → →

Tattered Cover with Richard Kadrey

Remember how in Mötley Crüe’s “Home Sweet Home” video, there’s all these slow-motion, black and white scenes from before and after and during the concert, the tour, this life on the road? That’s what Billy Stratton’s snapshot of Richard and Kadrey last night at Tattered Cover reminds me of: What’s especially cool about that? For once I actually even pulled my OWN phone out, and snapped a picture of the audience, for the exact reverse shot: Was a great time: big crowd with a lot of questions. We never even got around to reading, just ended up talking to each other, fielding questions. Topics addressed ranged from David Lynch to advice to a twelve-year-old, and all points between. Here’s us digging deep into the world: And, was completely, and in the most cool way, blindsided by a couple of ex-students showing up—Tom Mavroudis and Natalie Ferrigno: And here’s me and Billy—Billy who took a couple of these shots, and also Billy who’s editor of that Critical Companion, out before too long: And, of course, it ended with Richard and me signing these for a long-long line of people: All in all, another great night, another cool event. And? We’re doing it again tonight, at Boulder Bookstore.

Library of Congress

Who’d have ever though a farmboy Indian from West Texas would get to launch a werewolf novel at the Library of Congress? I know I can smile better than that, too. But what you gonna do. Anyway, don’t let me fool you into thinking it was only me: Was a supercool time. Even got to hang with my editor, who acquired Mongrels: Also? Know how two or three days ago I pasted up that hero-pic (i.e., a pic of me with a hero, George RR Martin)? Get this: Been such a whirlwind few days. Slept a total of like negative five hours of the last fifty, I think. And miles to go before I find a bed: about to bus through Denver back to Boulder, to grab a clean pair of jeans, another werewolf shirt, and then do Tattered Cover with Richard Kadrey. Pics and stories coming, I’m sure. Oh, and I was a few minutes late to the event. Why? Evidently you can’t bring honking-big knives into hallowed halls wherein walk dignitaries. There was a lot of knife drama, there was some screeching around corners in cabs, and there was the backdrop of the capital behind it all. Felt like I was in a Dan Brown novel. Wouldn’t trade it. Thanks, Robert and Anya, of Library of Congress. And thanks, Louise Erdrich. Will close with this hardly-at-all-staged pic, of me sitting at the poet laureate’s special-special desk up in the attic of the Library of Congress long after dark, “working” on a certain book .  . . . → → →

Mongrels interview

Or, This is Horror podcast? Both? I think so. Two-plus hours of it, so there’s enough for both titles, I think. Was a great time, talking to Michael and Bob—Bob who already reviewed Mongrels, here. Werewolf novels, they find the werewolf people, yes? Yes. Or, if the image is somehow not there, then click here.

Werewolves in the ABQ

Do people say that, “IN” the ABQ, the same way people will identify with a certain area code? Really, I kind of doubt I’m the proper age to try it out, even if it is a thing. But the three-digit rhythm feels right, anyway. As did Mongrels at Bookworks: And, what was cool? They broke out ALL the yellow books: What else was cool was seeing an ex-student there (hey, Sarena!). And Lee Francis, to talk comic books long after the books were signed (I’ll be at his indigenouscomiccon.com in November). And—get this—a Blackfeet, all the way down here. And Ryan Singer, to take this pic: I like to stand when I do book events, really, but, as it’s been a limpy night, from some ill-advised early a.m. basketball, the chair was much-needed. Also cool? At the Walgreen’s after the reading, the clerk actually recognized my Princess Mononoke shirt. First time that’s happened. Also? I never come to “the” ABQ without some of this action: So, now it’s up early, off to DC and the Library of Congress tomorrow, for the official Day One of Mongrels.

Mongrels at the Cocteau Theater

Good time last night at the Jean Cocteau theater in Santa Fe: Was my first time to try Mongrels out on people out loud. Always scary, but always fun, too. Also fun—pulling into town seeing this: Also fun, getting to hang out with this cool guy again: And? I may be back down here again before too long, for some more werewolf fun. Writing this from Albuquerque, where there’s a few Whataburgers I’m missing out on tonight. Hoping to connect with Ryan Singer tomorrow, though. Also: get a lot of writing done tonight, tomorrow. Then it’s Bookworks, then a ridiculous-early flight to DC, for Erdrich’s event at Library of Congress. Meaning? Inside three days, I’m getting to hang out with two of my heroes: her, and George RR Martin. And, now? Just room-serviced a green-chile burger. Would be wrong to be in New Mexico and not grab a least one of those.

Mongrels merch

The talented and cool Figbar Lonesome, one of the early readers of Mongrels, has taken the time and effort to make some excellent Mongrels stuff available to us all at RedBubble and Society 6: And if your predilection is more for a cup you can plant in the middle of the table to show off to the whole diner: Also comes in other colors: And there’s also pillows and hoodies and prints and and and: more designs coming! Such cool stuff. I’m just signing all my checks across, pretty much.

WestWord, Young Werewolf

Both the coolest cover and the coolest write-up. Cover photo by Anthony Camera, write-up/interview by Jason Heller: http://www.westword.com/arts/with-mon...

Mongrels Events

Six days out from going on the road a bit with Mongrels. Here’s the where and the whens, in order from first to last, with a couple extras at the end, extending into June. And, all the images, click them to go the place: GRRM’s cool theater down in Santa Fe, this Saturday: [ this one / above was originally May 10th, yes—had to reschedule. apologies for any difficulties or near-misses ] Bookworks, down in Albuquerque Library of Congress, Washington DC Tattered Cover, with Richard Kadrey Boulder Bookstore, here in Boulder land Murder by the Book, Houston, Texas Deeper into Summer: and . . .   which will include: Then, July 16th: [ more event-specific image/flyer coming, I’d guess, as we move through summer ] For now, that’s the what, the where, the when. But things tend to happen all in-between, too. I’ll update this as necessary—could be some SLC, could be more Texas. Have werewolves, will travel, yes? To say it different: would be a crime not to take a werewolf road-novel out on the road itself. Hope to see some of y’all out there. Oh, and I guess not everybody’s seen all of Mongrels yet, yeah? Here’s the author-photo, via the Cocteau’s listing:        

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress

Chapter one of Mongrels, a-live and kicking: Or: paste. http://a.pgtb.me/Pqw0HD/kRClT It’s on Facebook now, but it’s through Scribd, I think? So, there may be some more direct way to link/embed it, not sure. Scribd is new to me.