Los Angeles, Day #1

The “Here and Now” NPR interview is up!! Have a listen and tell me what you think!

After a couple of radio interviews first thing in the morning, I set out on the great adventure. Had three wonderful school presentations, thanks to the coordination by Children’s Book World.

Because this is LA, we were able to grab a fast lunch at an all-organic salad bar type place. There were a few things on the menu I hadn’t seen before.

Like lychees and organic yogurt with chopped candied ginger.

Not to mention this.

In between exotic food and school visits, we dropped in on a couple of bookstores to sign stock, including the newest branch of Diesel in Brentwood.

Many thanks to all the people who came out to my afternoon event at the Santa Monica library, including buddy Sonya Sones. Before the event, I had a blast with the reporters from area high school newspapers at the press conference before my presentation.

Aren’t they awesome?

There was one last event in the evening and then much sleeping.

TODAY’S EVENTS

12:00 PM Vroman’s
695 E. Colorado Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91101
Contact: Jen Ramos
626-449-5320

4:00 PM Mrs. Nelson’s
1030 Bonita Ave.
La Verne, CA 91750
Contact: Andrea Vuleta
Phone:
909-599-4558

Tomorrow’s Events:

3 PM Not Your Mother’s Book Club event hosted by Books Inc.
Bistro 9
1224 9th Ave
San Francisco, CA 94122
This is a ticketed event, ticket price includes book, gift bag, food & drinks. I’m not sure if there are still tickets available – contact Books Inc. Laurel Village or Books Inc. Burlingame
(415) 221-3666 or (650) 685-4911 for more info.

6:00 PM Kepler’s
1010 El Camino Real
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Contact: Lauren O’Niell
(650) 324-4321

Monday…. Rakestraw in Danville, CA, and Copperfield’s in Walnut Creek, CA!!

8 Replies to “Los Angeles, Day #1”

  1. I just listened to the NPR interview. I’m very impressed! I struggled with some very hefty issues as a teen that had deep roots in my earlier childhood. I’m now in my early 30’s, but those old ghosts still haunt me, and probably always will. I took up writing more than 20 years ago as a form of escapism. Most of my work tends to be pointless fantasy stories as a result. I want to write about my experiences, but I’m afraid to touch them in the privacy of my own mind, let alone publish them for the world to read. Where did you find the courage? Even while letting a fictional character speak through you, so much of the writing still comes from the soul and requires reliving painful events. How did you find the strength? Finally, I find that I have grown far more adept at speaking through my fingers than with my tongue, but you seem to have mastered both media. Does that come naturally (I mean, do you just show up/call in and speak), or do you have to prepare for each interview?

  2. Congratulations.

    I just bought my copy today. I called Barnes and Noble (two) last night but they didn’t have it yet. Shame on them.

    So far, I’m enjoying Wintergirls tremendously. I think the teen voice is authentic and true. I teach adolescents (Younger ones, but adolescents nonetheless.) and I’m also writing a YA novel. (My first.) I really enjoy some of your writing techniques–listing calories, writing the class schedule in abbreviated language, using strikethrough. Unconventional (maybe) but effective. I think it strengthens your story.

    Mostly, though, I am impressed that you put this on page 14:

    “There is no point in asking why, even though everybody will. I know why. The harder question is ‘why not?'” Beautiful. True.

    As painful as this story might be, it is also essential. I am glad to have a copy in my hands.

    -a reader

  3. Laurie, I don’t know if you will get this before your next presentation, but I wanted to let you know that you have a small typo on the slide with the cat and dog: “come” instead of “comes”. I would have mentioned it today when we spoke, but I was so excited to be talking to you, once again doing the inner *squee* while appearing on the outside to be calm and collected, that I completely spaced.

    I can’t wait to read Wintergirls, but unfortunately will have to wait until our distributor ships it, hopefully sometime early next month *crosses fingers*.

    See you at the next SoCal ALA, or maybe sooner if the economy picks up *crosses toes*.

    -J

  4. You ROCKED the house!

    Laurie dahlink,

    It was AWESOME seeing you – very cool when your tour brings you right to my home town. You were amazing!

    I love the photo of you with all the cub reporters!

    xx,
    Sonya
    http://www.sonyasones.com

  5. Great questions there. One thing that’s helped me is to read interviews with authors who’ve faced those same fears. Whether they write about depression or anorexia or abuse (as with Meg Tilly), you see how they felt the same need to address it and how the very subject they were most afraid of became the most rewarding and helped them move on as both a person and writer.

    The Courage to Write, by Ralph Keyes, is also well worth checking out.

  6. That’s really good advice. I’ll follow up on that. Also, THANK YOU for the book recommendation. I’m ordering a copy for myself. 🙂

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