Well, dear readers, what a weird day we had yesterday, mostly because I’d slept eleven whopping hours and it wasn’t much of a day at all and by the time evening arrived I just didn’t feel like doing much of anything. And now, I am sitting here like so much fish, pondering the imponderables, listening to Concierto De Aranjuez by Juaquin Rodrigo, a wonderful composition done wonderfully by the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. I’d gotten through all the Mozart CDs, thankfully, and then there was an excellent CD of Respighi music, and now it’s Rodrigo, and I don’t care who knows it. Prior to that, I’d watched the first three-and-a-half episodes of a limited series on the Flix of Net, entitled Lies and Deceit (Mentiras – Lies), a Spanish series from Spain. It’s very good, with terrific actors and each episode is forty-five minutes and thankfully there are only six of ‘em. Usually, it’s the Americans who remake foreign stuff, but in this case this is a remake of a UK limited series entitled Liar, which I know and knew nothing about, not necessarily in that order. Anyway, I’ll finish it up tonight before bed. In other news, I’m seriously thinking of bailing on this Las Vegas event. Everyone is behaving very oddly, and no one is responding to various e-mails and texts so as of morning unless I’ve heard something that makes me feel like going to all this trouble, I’m done. I think there’s some serious game-playing going on, none of which has to do with me, and I’m kind of stuck in the middle of it, which I don’t like or need. I only said yes because it seemed like it would be an easy thing, but now it’s turned into something wholly other, so it’s just easier to back away, I think. But I will publicly let the fans who were coming to it know why, just so no misinformation happens. But in OTHER news, and more positive news, we’ve been getting great reviews for our show and that makes me happy. Also making me happy was receiving the first two of three blurbs for the new book, which I’m happy to share with you.
When retired literary agent-turned private eye Harry Stearns returns for another reluctant investigation, the seventy-year-old curmudgeon, his snarky secretary Bernice and his beloved Los Angeles are about to celebrate Christmas 1975. Readers will be celebrating, too, as he searches for the blackmailer of overbearing producer Gary Quinn. The case morphs into bloody murder, with the surprisingly astute sleuth confronting a gallery of intriguing suspects, but it’s the sharp, quip-filled interplay between Harry and Bernice, along with the wistful memories of a simpler, happier LA that make these mysteries so uniquely enjoyable.
Dick Lochte, prize-winning author of BLUES IN THE NIGHT
And here’s the second:
Kimmel’s latest is a briskly-paced private eye tale propelled by snappy repartee and slightly-off-center characters. Set in mid-70s Hollywood, Tis the Season put me in mind of Hammett’s The Thin Man, but only if Nick drank Dr Pepper instead of martinis.
Bill Fitzhugh, author of Pest Control and A Perfect Harvest
So, just waiting on one more and then we can get this puppy to the publisher and things should go pretty quickly from there.
Yesterday, as already mentioned, wasn’t much of a day. I got eleven count them eleven hours of needed sleep, got up at three, answered a LOT of e-mails, sent a lot of e-mails and texts, then I ordered fried catfish from Uncle Andre’s and it arrived thirty minutes later. The fish was a tiny bit undercooked, which I don’t like, but it was still very good, although my tummy is having some issues right now, so who knows. For my two sides, I got potato salad and mac-and-cheese, both very good. After that, I had some telephonic conversations, then I sat on my couch like so much fish and began watching Lies and Deceit. The rest you know.
Today, I’ll be up when I’m up, we’ll see who I’ve heard from and depending on what that is I’ll either cancel or go ahead with the Las Vegas trip. I’ll do whatever needs doing, I’ll eat, I’ll hopefully pick up some packages, I’ll write, and then at some point I’ll watch, listen, and relax.
Tomorrow and Friday are more of the same and then Friday evening we resume performances. I’m arriving early to work with the people in the wrestling scene because it’s become a bit sloppy and if it’s sloppy then someone’s going to get hurt. It has to be sharp as a tack and it will be. Not sure what’s happening on Saturday and not sure I’ll see the show that evening, but Sunday I’ll be at the matinee and then the talkback that follows. IF I’m going to Las Vegas I’d leave an hour after the talkback, although I may absolutely bow out of the Monday and Tuesday stuff and IF I decide to go at all it would just be Wednesday – speak and hang out for an hour before heading home. We shall see what we shall see, he said, listening to the strains of some fun Rossini overtures.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, be up when I’m up, decide to Vegas or not to Vegas, do whatever needs doing, eat, hopefully pick up some packages, write, and then watch, listen, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Ask BK Day, the day in which you get to ask me or any dear reader any old question you like and we get to give any old answer we like. So, let’s have loads of lovely questions and loads of lovely answers and loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have gotten the first two lovelier than lovely blurbs for the new book.