June 4, 2007
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Staggering Back
Yesterday I flew back into Toronto after three hectic days at Book Expo America in New York. It was three hot, busy and exciting days. Just how hot, busy and exciting it was I can best describe by saying that despite a diet of burgers I weigh six pounds less, and my wallet is a few hundred dollars lighter.
The place was one vast madhouse of authors, of every type. Suit and tie men, and their counterpart business type ladies, all married to their cell phones; enthusiastic guys who’d just published the ultimate Swords and Sorcery novel; Vietnam veterans who’d finally put their experience of that conflict into print; kids and their parents who’d written and illustrated superhero stories; writers of self-help books, of text books, of books on allergies, on vintage cars, on Afro-American struggle; writers on religion, anything from Christianity to Buddhism to Islam, gay authors, straight authors, humble authors, pretentious authors, nervous authors, efficient authors; novelists, poets, academics, illustrators, and “Industry Professionals” who seemed uncertain what they actually did; fat guys, skinny supermodel chicks, ancient hippys rambling on about Woodstock; travel writers, serious writers, trash writers….
….and this is to name only one class of lunatic.
And the whole seething mass with but one intention: to proudly promote the agonised-over book that represents so many hours of their life, so much of their effort, so much of their hopes and dreams, so much of their soul.
And I was one of them.
Before I dared to enter that vast building, I faced to the Mystic East – I was looking up thirty-fifth Street – and raising my eyes to a high mountain that I there espied – I think it was the Empire State Building – I cried to the heavens
“I call ALL the Powers of Bullshit into me!”
“I call ALL the Powers of Bullshit into me!”
“I call ALL the Powers of Bullshit into me!”
Then, trembling, I entered.
Comments (6)
… I can’t think of any better questions. So:
How would you describe yourself, if you used the same kind of description as you used to describe the other people who were at the expo?
I long to be in that madhouse full of authors. That’s really a rewarding experience.
Haha, I’m glad it seems like you had fun.
♥
=) back
That’s very true.
♥
hahaha – love this recap – though I’m curious as to how the rest of the experience was!