Well, that was quite an exhausting evening, and quite wonderful. Many thanks to all the friends and neighbors who came to Feed The Beast last night to help launch Recut Madness. The food was great, the drink was plentiful, my iPod was cranking Bootsy Collins over the sound system, but the people are what makes a party work. My mother, Aunt Pat and Cousin Ginny came down from Milwaukee to lend their support, and I got to visit with my cousin Celeste’s daughter Erin, who just moved to Chicago. And old work pals and friends from school and neighborhood, and friends of friends and…… I’m a lucky and blessed fella for having such people in my life.
It actually felt more like a wedding reception, seeing people and catching up. I apologize to those folks I didn’t speak with enough, but I hope you understand. Busy busy busy. I appreciate your support of the book, and of the Belle Center, which got a portion of the proceeds.
I hope to put up some pictures on Flickr, as soon as I can find where we put the camera. UPDATE: Found the camera, here’s the pix.
And the biggest thanks of all goes to my ever-lovin’ wife, for indeed being ever-lovin’, as well as a terrific hostess. We had almost 100 people in that little space, and she made sure there were introductions and laughter all around. There’s where I’m most truly blessed.
Question: do you ever get “writer’s block” when signing books for friends, stuck for something witty, yet personally relevant to write, so you end up just scrawling, “To Lavernia, Best Wishes, JFG”?
Hell yes. Friends and family are the worst people for that. It even bugs me to think that this book, with my possibly awful inscription, could be floating around familiar houses for years. With strangers, if they don’t suggest their own type of inscription, I usually have half a dozen inscriptions I use, generally plays off the theme of the book. Then I hope no one in line compares inscriptions, b/c then maybe they think they got a generic greeting.
I’ve given up trying to be very witty with family. They’ve seen me at my worst, anyway, so I’m not fooling anyone that I’m carefree and witty. They’ve seen me BETWEEN books, and know the real story.