Well, dear readers, the proofing continues. Yes, you heard it here, dear readers, the proofing continues. I’m about to begin chapter eleven. I ran chapters two through eight by Muse Margaret in terms of little changes and she was happy with all of them, after which I then proofed chapters nine and ten. I must say, I have no real memory of having written the book now – that happens with every book – I just forget that part and really am reading it as a reader and I have to say I am just really happy with it – with the writing, the story, the characters and the dialogue. I can’t promise this book will be pleasing to everyone and that ultimately doesn’t matter to me, although I hope some will find it enjoyable. What’s important to me is the doing of it and pleasing myself (and Muse Margaret).
Yesterday began with proofing. I proofed until it was time for lunch with and old pal of mine from the Bluth Brothers days. We were in several shows there, and I must say she has a rather astonishing memory and told me things I hadn’t thought of in years. We caught up and she’s had a very interesting life. She still performs, and she also choreographs and teaches ballet to kids. We ate at the Daily Grill. We both had lettuce wedges, and I ordered mac-and-cheese for the table and a shrimp cocktail, too. It was all very good and I hope we can remain in contact. In fact, she’s coming to our show next Thursday – I’ll be there, too, that night, because we have a very special someone coming to see it.
After lunch, it was more proofing until neighbor Tony Slide arrived. We then went to the Dena of Pasa to attend the book fair. It was pretty much as I described it in Murder at the School Musical, although there were many less dealers than the last time the big fair was here, which was two years ago. That one was huge and took up two rooms – this took up one. For me, it was pure pleasure to walk from booth to booth, looking at amazing first editions, some of which I most likely will never be able to own unless it’s by doing some trading. And I have to say there were some of the most primo copies of books I’ve ever seen. I saw many dealer pals, had nice chats, and spent about three-and-a-half hours roaming around, until my eyes were just too bleary to do it anymore. Highlights were a literally as new copy of Ross Macdonald’s The Moving Target, priced so high that I literally burst out laughing in front of the dealer. That same dealer also had the best copy of Animal Farm, the true UK first that I’ve ever seen, but again priced so ridiculously that he will never sell it. There was a gorgeous copy of Kafka’s The Trial, the UK first, which was its first appearance in English – I have the book, but in a jacket with some substantial restoration – beautifully done restoration, but it is what it is. This copy had no restoration, and finding this book’s jacket in any kind of condition is difficult to impossible, and in this condition unheard of – however, his price was also unheard of and again he will never sell the book – $22,000. No.
One dealer I know from the UK had an amazing set of all the Harry Potter books – beautiful copies (even the first one, which is very difficult to find in primo shape), all signed, all with original art by the cover artist – and very reasonably priced – not – at $138,000. There was a Great Gatsby first in a reasonable jacket – $125,000. It made the $3,000 books seem like bargains. The cheapest book I saw was fifty dollars. Medium books, value-wise, were going for upwards of $300. But attendance on the preview day was extremely light. It will be interesting to see how today’s attendance is.
Happily, there was not a lick of traffic coming home (there hadn’t been going there either), so I was home by seven or so. I had the conversation with Muse Margaret, then a couple of other telephonic conversations of some length, and then it was just more proofing.
Today, she of the Evil Eye will be here bright and early, and I shall head over to the book fair. I was thinking about doing a jog, but I’m not quite ready to go back yet and it’s just a little too chilly at that time of the morning. I’ll probably stay at the fair until about one, then I’ll hopefully pick up some packages, then proof right up until it’s time to leave for our show. Then after the show I’m taking out Sami for her birthday dinner at Ruth’s Chris steakhouse – I’m not eating one thing until that meal and then I will eat everything in sight.
Tomorrow I’m judging a singing contest that I’m sure will last until three o’clock. We have a New York producer seeing the show at the matinee and I’d have liked to be there, but I’ll talk to him on Monday. He’s intrigued and has a perfect theater for it off-Broadway. Tomorrow night, we’ll prep our new release announcement but won’t actually announce until Wednesday, most likely, thanks to some extreme gluttony on the part of other folks’ releases – five from one company alone and at least three from another. It’s a feeding frenzy and I’ll just sit back and watch, then release Jeepers Creepers, which will appeal to a different audience anyway. Monday, something is happening and I can’t remember what – hopefully someone will remind me at some point. I hope to start hearing some mixes for And the World Goes Round, and I have a few meetings and meals, too. Most importantly, I have to finish casting the Kritzerland show and choose the music.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, attend a book fair, hopefully pick up packages, proof, see our show, and have a birthday dinner. Today’s topic of discussion: What is the best steak dinner you ever ate? Where, when, and why? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, after which I shall spend a few pleasurable hours at the book fair.