Wilkes-Barre, PA Is Burning

Or at least that's what it looked like, winding down the side of the mountain, looking down into the Wyoming Valley. I told the Bride: "Ten bucks that's Genetti's."

Thank God, of course, it wasn't, because that really would have put a damper on the first-ever Author Fest 2007, presented by the Luzerne County Library System and the Tudor Bookshop, and held at Genetti's Best Western Hotel in downtown Wilkes-Barre, PA. Which was a lot of fun. I met a bunch of cool new writers, as well as some of my heroes (Stephen Hunter, William Lashner). The highlight was the cameo appearance of Mr. White, Dave White's father. He graciously said that "Marty" will do, but c'mon. Like I can call him anything other than "Mr. White"? Dave, meanwhile, in a shameless bit of self-promotion, wore a white sweater-type thing. I mean, really. Did Stephen Hunter show up with a rifle and orange vest? I think not.

I also had the chance to hang with Keith Gilman, winner of the 2007 St. Martin's/PWA first novel contest. (And his father, Mr. Gilman.) I first met Keith at GoodisCon earlier in the year, and rumor has it he'll be at next spring's NoirCon. Very much looking forward to reading his winning novel.

The only slight bummer was that neither paperback copies of The Blonde nor hardcovers of The Crimes of Dr. Watson were out yet (I always seem to get invited to these cool events just before my new books appear). But some brave souls pre-ordered copies and asked me to sign book plates, somehow trusting that the forthcoming title won't completely suck.

Thanks to everyone who ventured out to the event—which was sold-out, by the way—and who stopped up to say hello.

(Oh, and the fire? Just an abandoned warehouse. Though my second guess was "my mother-in-law's kitchen.")

Update (10/22/07, 8:02 p.m.): Yep. It was an abandoned warehouse nobody liked much.