rolanni: (lit'rary moon)
rolanni ([personal profile] rolanni) wrote2012-10-21 12:56 pm

Catching up the weekend

As reported elsewhere, on Friday we made the pilgrimage to Bangor for the Book Festival.  Friday evening we gathered with the other participating authors at the Hammond Street Senior Center for wine and conversation.  We were greeted there by Johnny the Cat, the proprietor, who came out from under a table where he was keeping a Very Close Eye on those gathered, to give Steve a bump and then to flop down and show belly. 

The keynote was given by Richard Russo and Kate Russo.  They described the process of putting together their collaborative project, Interventions.  The project was the publication of four stories, by Richard, and four paintings, by Kate, Richard's daughter.  Their goal was to produce a book that couldn't easily be made into an ebook, that had numerous "moving parts," and which would demonstrate that "book" is a multidimensional experience.  For those interested, the "moving parts" include four individually bound stories in a slipcase.  Each story has the painting relating to it inside, but not bound in; it can be used as  a bookmark, and keeps the art in front of the reader as they move through the story.

The talk was enjoyable and informative, and Richard did me. . .the favor. . .of reminding me of Stevenson's "Windy Nights," which is now stuck in my head. 

Thanks a lot, Richard.

I'll mention that the weatherbeans were calling rain for Friday and Saturday.  We managed to dodge the bullet on Friday, but Saturday more than made up for it.  There were several early downpours, flash flooding, and rivers of muddy water flowing freely down Bangor's hilly streets. 

We sat in the car in the parking lot across from the library for about half-an-hour, waiting for the weather to let up. When it had, a little, we grabbed our bag of goodies and a umbrella, and picked our way across the liquid street.  Even with the umbrella, we were both soaked, so it was good we had some time to dry off before the group signings.

The rain had stopped completely by the time we were due to walk down to the Rock and Art Shop and give our talk, where we had a small, diverse group, including folks who had read our entire oeuvre, and folks who were just getting started.

If you're ever in Bangor, Maine?  Go the Rock and Art Shop.  Really.  And schedule some serious time there.

Steve had started to feel somewhat poorly -- still not done with the cold from hell, apparently -- so we did not stay in Bangor for the last, celebratory event, but opted to get home before it was dark (my night-sight has gone straight to heck).

In all, we had a great time, largely thanks to the help and patience of Gibran Graham, and Barbara McDade.

#

So, after being feted and celebrated, today is about doing the laundry and getting my office straightened up. 

One of the things that's making my office quite so untidy are the piles of galley proofs from books long published.  I think I'm going to have to bite the bullet and throw 'em out.  Then I have to decide what to do with the nice Brother laser printer that I took with me to Temp Headquarters so that I didn't have to deconstruct my entire home office in order to take the ink-jet with me.  The Brother is super, but, really, I don't need another printer in this office; I already have two.

Oh!  I should mention that there is a review of the Liaden Universe® Space Regency audiobooks over here.  (Liaden Universe® audiobooks from Audible US and from Audible UK.  This has been your obligatory author self-promotion.)

So!  What did y'all do this weekend?

[identity profile] kalimeg.livejournal.com 2012-10-21 05:40 pm (UTC)(link)
AsyouknoewGeorge, auctioning old galleys is a lot more sensible than throwing them out.

[identity profile] 6-penny.livejournal.com 2012-10-21 06:14 pm (UTC)(link)
And what would you do with all the slaves, and their oars would really be a storage problem.

[identity profile] jessie-c.livejournal.com 2012-10-21 09:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Caveat emptor. The Purchaser assumes all responsibility for all accessories.

[identity profile] doccolt.livejournal.com 2012-10-21 07:57 pm (UTC)(link)
EBay again sounds good to me.

What did I do this weekend?

[identity profile] margotinez.livejournal.com 2012-10-21 10:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Celebrated my husband's 80th birthday with a Mexican Fiesta party hosted by our daughter and son-in-law. Live Mariachis! Grilled shrimp appetizers! Taco Bar with all the trimmings! Lemon Jello Cake for dessert! Margaritas, sangria, beer, wine, lime water, sodas on offer. Great Northern California weather with the party held outdoors. And a true Hobbit birthday - all the guests each took home one (or sometimes more) home-canned goods from a variety including salsas, strawberry shrub, jams, and dilly beans. Not quite the same as being feted for great writing, but he accepted kudos for a great life so far. It was wonderful to share the occasion with old friends and family.

Re: What did I do this weekend?

[identity profile] rolanni.livejournal.com 2012-10-22 01:31 am (UTC)(link)
Sounds like a grand time was had by all! Please add our wishes for a continued great and happy life.

[identity profile] orlacarey.livejournal.com 2012-10-21 11:08 pm (UTC)(link)
I took a bus up to New York and walked in the Acon Breast Cancer 2 day. I'm on the bus going home now.

[identity profile] rolanni.livejournal.com 2012-10-22 01:32 am (UTC)(link)
Good for you!

Safe journey home.

[identity profile] cailleuch.livejournal.com 2012-10-22 12:01 am (UTC)(link)
Added a new cat to the household. She arrived yesterday afternoon from Cleveland and is quite happy with the digs. My other cat (she has been here for two weeks) was less happy with the arrangement. They will work it out but the first few days are always interesting.

[identity profile] rolanni.livejournal.com 2012-10-22 01:33 am (UTC)(link)
Always fun, adding new cats into the mix. Though I must say that neither Hexapuma nor Socks made much of a ripple here. I don't know if our guys were Just That Mellow, or Hex and Socks had Social Super Powers.

[identity profile] cailleuch.livejournal.com 2012-10-22 05:54 am (UTC)(link)
Ash is a just that mellow a cat and if only Fiona would get with the program things would be less interesting. Fiona had just decided it was her house!!! and I go invite someone else. I'm forgiven but Ash is not. All should be well in a few more days, they are Maine Coons after all.

[identity profile] attilathepbnun.livejournal.com 2012-10-22 12:32 am (UTC)(link)
Mowed the lawn -- for the last time this year, hopefully!

[identity profile] rolanni.livejournal.com 2012-10-22 01:34 am (UTC)(link)
Geez, I hope so! We had a hard freeze out this way last week, so -- no more mowing until April. Or May...

[identity profile] amm-me.livejournal.com 2012-10-22 12:50 am (UTC)(link)
Made preliminary plans with a wonderful group of people to sort, index, digitize, and make accessible the plans and related materials of my parents' 50 years of architectural practice in this town! This is a project that I have notably FAILED to make any progress on in the last ten years, so having interested collaborators (and even fund-raisers!) to push me into helping them do it is super.

[identity profile] rolanni.livejournal.com 2012-10-22 01:35 am (UTC)(link)
Many hands makes the work go quicker. It's great that you've got an enthusiastic group together, to help make this happen.

weekend

[identity profile] nocal-kathyf.livejournal.com 2012-10-22 05:15 am (UTC)(link)
My oldest daughter is house sitting for a month in Kauai, so my youngest daughter decided I should go over for a visit. She made the reservations and everything. SO I just spent the last 4 days swimming with sea turtles and no people (or only a few) on the north side of the island. I feel well rested. Now back to job hunting. Kathy