The countdown has begun. After a good Writer’s Row experience at the 30th annual Miami Book Fair, I’m getting my game face on for an honest-to-gosh book tour.
Not just ANY book tour: We’re talking a one-man, nine-state, 12-day, 3,600-mile hopscotch up into the Rust Belt and back again to meet with old friends and new, stay on some comfy couches and talk up Mother Fracker. I’m bringing the hard cider. (What? Am I crazy? Yep. Motherfrackin’ loony.).
The itinerary (Weather Channel permitting):
Orlando/Winter Park, Fla.: 6-8 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 3 John Washburn’s Imperial Wine Bar and Beer Garden, 1800 N. Orange Blvd., Orlando. Big shout-out to Bob Morris of Story Farm for the assist. Might have to do some prospective Mizzou vs. UCF trash talking if bowl predictions hold true. www.imperialwinebar.com.
Tallahassee, Fla.: 5-7 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 5, LeMoyne Center for Visual Arts, 417 E. Call St. Great holiday show on display. Hope to see a few Leadership Florida folks. Thanks to Bob and Florentina Jones and Ann Kozeliski. www.lemoyne.org.
Little Washington, Va.: 2-5 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 7: The day before the classic Christmas in Little Washington Parade (rumor has it it’s featured in Part III of MF), Ballard’s Art, Rug & Home, 307 Main St. Thank you, Joanie and Robert for being the first retail purveyor of MF. Catering by Tula’s Off Main! Next day: The Parade! Day after that: Men’s Book Club! www.rhballard.com.
Then on to western Pennsylvania, one of fracking’s epicenters. Thank you, Mr. Root.
Pittsburgh:
Noon-2 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 10: Macy’s Downtown(!), Bradley’s Book Outlet. 400 Fifth Ave. South, Fifth Floor. Hey you Pittsburgh Facebook Likers of Larry Bud Meyer! Step on out and get your own copy! Get one for your mother! www.bradleysbookoutlet.com.
Back to Little Washington, then fleeing south Gen’l Lee-style to:
Charlotte, N.C.: 7-8:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 12: A real coup! Park Road Books is one of the last remaining indie booksellers in the Queen City. 4139 Park Rd. Hope to see some fellow foundationistas and ink-stained scribes. Thanks, Dave and Jane Kinney. www.parkroadbooks.com.
It’s not seamless; that’s what I get for deliberately doing this on my own without the luxury of an agent (hint, hint). And it really began Oct. 2 in New Orleans and continued Nov. 8 in wonderful Winchester, Va., at Christine Patrick’s Book Gallery. (And let’s not forget the Morningside Press/Kickstarter Celebration Nov. 21).
But wait! There’s more. After pausing to catch some Zzzzs, Anne, Luna and I commence a trip to hometown Hannibal, Mo., for Christmas with family. While there:
Sunday evening, Dec. 22: Hannibal Arts Council, a great space long supported (and led) by Meyer family members of multiple generations. Thanks, Michael Gaines.
Coming up in the new year:
Early January: Broward County. TBD.
Jan. 16-19: Key West Literary Seminar. “The Dark Side.”
SAVE THE DATE: Feb. 21: Books and Books/Coral Gables. Thank you, Mitchell Kaplan.
Late February: Something’s cooking with Gadino Cellars and the Rappahannock League for Environmental Protection.
March 22: Virginia Festival of the Book, Omni Hotel, Charlottesville.
Friday, May 9: Featured author, RAAC’s Second Friday, Rappahannock County Library, Washington, VA.
Still want to get to Washington, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Brooklyn. Thinking about Denver. Next trip!