Three weeks! My apologies, everybody.

Since taking over as editor at the Vermont Journal, I've simply been too busy to pay attention to this journal. It is indeed a full-time job, but more on that below.

What's important now is that on Saturday, Dec. 1, I'll be at Mystery on Main Street, the new specialty bookstore opening next week in Brattleboro. As it's also my 51st birthday, we'll be throwing a little birthday party in the hopes that it might attract potential readers interested in free cake.

But the real draw, as always, is Amy Patricia Meade, who has graciously agreed to make this a joint event. If this goes half as well as the event we did in Chester, it should be a good time. Of course, if there are mystery readers on your Christmas list, this would be a good opportunity to load up. (I read one of Amy's books recently, and it's a delightful page-turner. Also, Amy writes funnier dialogue than do I.)

On the newspaper front, I have yet to find either reporters or interns. I did interview one guy today, whose background is remarkably like my own; in fact, he's relocating from D.C. where he's been writing for a local weekly. The problem is, we pay Vermont rates, so if he, or anybody, writes for us, it's only when they can use a little spare change. There's no way anyone could live on what we pay. Luckily, this applicant likes doing news stories, and he's got some interests and skills that don't coincide with mine, which means we can put out a more interesting paper if he comes aboard.

I also got an application from a ski retard. He's a rich kid from New Jersey trying to join the Okemo ski patrol. He cranked a "writing sample" of the sort you'd expect to see out of a bonehead English creative writing course, and he actually thinks he can blend in with the natives by wearing Carhartt's. Just out of college, though, and I can't say I was all that different at that age.

I've been typing most of the day, so I'm signing off now. I will be back soon, though: It's FanCon weekend!

Tags: amy patricia meade, sherlock holmes
Current Location: Home office
Current Mood: tired
Current Music: Thomas Newman, "Road to Perdition"

Tags: amy patricia meade, book signing, sherlock holmes
Current Location: Office
Current Mood: working
Current Music: Morricone, "A Pistol for Ringo"