Well, dear readers, it is the day of the signing. Yes, you heard it here, dear readers, it is the day of the signing, my fourteenth signing at Mystery and Imagination Books in the Dale of Glen. I was the very first author to ever sign there, back in 2002. They have a “Wall of Authors” that is filled to the brim with author inscriptions – I was obviously the first to sign it and stated so just so there would be no pretenders to the throne as usually happens. Until I do my signing there, it doesn’t really feel official that the book is released, so I’m excited to do it. But enough about today – we’ll come back to today, but for now let’s return to those thrilling days of yesteryear, specifically yesterday.
What I thought was going to be a pretty relaxing day, turned into a lot of work, but that was fine. I had a lot of trouble sleeping, but in the end I do think I got my eight hours, arising finally at eleven o’clock. I answered e-mails and then went and had a meatless Cobb salad and a bagel for my meal o’ the day. After that, I picked up a few packages, then went to CVS and got some more allergy medicine (the major cause of my sleeping problems) and a few other items, then came home. Once home, I had to match up cue titles to the actual music tracks – that took a really long time, but I got it done and now two of the three films in this two CD set have their track titles – I’m hoping to have the final set of titles today and those should be easier to match up since there aren’t many of them for that film. I also finessed the liner notes I wrote.
Then Kay Cole came over and we went through the Li’l Abner script, just talking a few things out in terms of approach, and finessing a few things in terms of the way I see the show. That only took about forty-five minutes, but by then the day was pretty much done, or, to be poetic, done was the day pretty much. I then sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I finished watching the Don Siegel version of The Killers, starring Lee Marvin, John Cassavetes, Clu Gulager, Angie Dickenson, and Mr. Ronald Reagan. They’re all quite good in the film, but the best performance was by Claude Akins – really terrific. This film was meant to be the very first TV movie, but it was a little too much for the small screen in those early years of the 1960s. So, it was released to theaters instead. But it really looks like it was shot for television, with that overdone bright lighting, a LOT of really bad rear projection, and everything shot right here in Hollywood, California, USA rather than Florida, where the majority of the film is supposedly taking place. You know you’re not in Florida when in an early scene Marvin and Gulager go to an auto repair shop on Ventura Blvd. near Lankershim and Universal Studios, who made the film. There is also a long sequence shot up on Mulholland Drive. It’s an efficient little film, surprisingly vicious, but it’s a minor chapter in Don Siegel’s career, although, that said, his auteur fans really love it. The transfer looks exactly as it should, with bright colors and excellent contrast. The Blu-ray is a region B – two versions are provided – the TV ratio it was shot for, and a widescreen version (since it was shown that way in theaters). I opted for the full screen version since that’s primarily the ratio it was composed for.
After that, a local dealer stopped by to pick up a few CDs. Then I finally relaxed and played on the computer.
Today, I have a nine o’clock meeting in North Hollywood. After that, I’ll pick up the cake for the signing, do some banking, put some gas in the motor car, then come home and get ready for the signing. I’m really hoping we have a nice turnout. I will read two short sections from the book, but mostly I like to just answer questions and gab. The signing usually lasts about ninety minutes, then I’m sure a few of us will go get something fun to eat. After that, I’ll come home and relax.
Tomorrow I may or may not have a meeting, but I will spend most of the day going through the Li’l Abner script, making notes, and having everything ready for our first rehearsal – our table reading on Monday. On Tuesday we begin learning the music and I probably will start staging on Thursday. Kay comes in on Friday and since we have more hours that day, we’re going to try and do three big numbers – Rag Offen the Bush, Jubilation T. Cornpone, and It’s a Typical Day.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, attend an early morning meeting, put gas in the motor car, pick up CAKE, hopefully pick up some packages, do a signing, eat, and then relax. Today’s topic of discussion: If you’ve ever been to a book signing, which were your favorites and why? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, after which I shall arise and prepare for the day of the signing.