SEAN GRISWOLD'S HEAD has been out two weeks now and the whirlwind of release is finally ebbing. I did a lot less marketing this time around then I did with PRINCESS FOR HIRE. Mostly, I went through my "marketing plan" (Plan. Ha!) from last time and cut back on the things I felt didn't really work/matter. I've been really fortunate to have Bloomsbury coordinate a blog tour for me as well, and I'll link to a bunch of those interviews and reviews in one massive post next week. Will be enough Lindsey to last you quite a while.
I'm also STILL trying to finish the third P4H book, so much of my time has been spent staring at the last few chapters and crying, sorry, trying to figure out how to untangle all those unruly plot strings. I swear, next time I want to write a series with magic and twenty settings, please stop me. Or encourage me, because deep down I'm in love with these books and am really sad to end them. Maybe that's what's so hard--I'm not just writing The End to this book, but to Desi's adventures. And I want to get that last scene so so right.
Anyway, I had the opportunity to travel to the bay area last week for some events and I HAD SO MUCH FUN. Don't tell anyone--anytime someone asks how my vacation went, I make sure and clarify that it was a business trip even though I enjoy nearly every minute. As luck would have it, Rachel Hawkins (DEMONGLASS) and agent-mate Sarwat Chadda (THE DARK GODDESS) were also in town for book tour and we met up Tuesday night. We were celebrating Rachel hitting the NYT bestseller list, even though she hadn't yet hit the list, and we didn't bring it up until the very end of the night, and by WE I mean ME. I told Rachel it's like when a pitcher is hitting a perfect game--you do not want to jinx the momentum with discussion. And being as she debuted at #5 and was still on the list this week, my speaking of the thing we do not speak of was fine. Hmmm, I should write a post about NYT lists someday.
I also had a great literary escort named Frank, or as he's often called, Uncle Frank. That alone was enough to like him. Also, he's a writer and A RAPPER, and dude could flow like none other. I kind of love literary escorts because they are much more reliable than a GPS and totally take care of you and have the most interesting stories. Plus, there are long car rides with nothing to do but talk to a stranger. How often do you have that opportunity? (plane rides are different. Don't talk to me on the plane. I'm reading)
I had school visits, which I've said before are my very favorite thing about authordom. The librarian was so on the ball and the group I met with asked all the right questions and were totally involved in the discussion. I was also asked to sign a sock. It was purple.
AND I DID A NOT YOUR MOTHER DAUGHTER BOOK CLUB EVENT AT BOOKS INC. When my publicist told me about the event, I tried so hard to keep cool, but by the end of the phone call my voice had gotten all high and squealy. I've followed NYMBC for years through agent Jennifer Laughran's blog, and it was always a publishing dream of mine to sign at this fabulous indie bookstore. The sellers were amazing and fun and knowledgeable and sharp, the turn out was great, and... I didn't get a picture. AGAIN. But! I took a picture of this


The view from my room. I called my husband and said, "Hey, I'm looking at some famous triangle building from my room." And he said, "Okay, Sesame Street. That's called the Transamerica pyramid." Which, duh. Testing him.
My other big event was at the palatial Copperfield's Books in Petaluma, CA. I was so charmed by this town that I've already looked up hotels for an author retreat. They had a wonderful downtown area with funky shops that I would have ravaged if not for the time constraint. As it was, I purchased a pink 1950's cockta