The other day, my lecture agency called to see if I would go somewhere to do a personal appearance. I said, “I would go to the GATES OF HELL.” Luckily, I don’t have to go to the gates of hell, although it would probably be pretty interesting to go there, so long as you were wearing fire-retardant clothing and were assured that you could leave after you finished gawking.
AND! Thursday, October 28th, I’ll be going to see my pal Patty Callahan LIVE AND IN PERSON. She’ll read from her charming (and soothing!) new novel ONCE UPON A WARDROBE. She’ll be in Wheaton, at Barrows Auditorium, which is located at 500 College Ave., from 7-8:30pm. For more information: wade@wheaton.edu.
AND!
On Friday, November 5th (oh jeez, it’s going to be NOVEMBER soon. My spirit is lagging behind. I’m still on August, somehow.) Anyway, on Friday, November 5th,at 7pm central, I’ll be doing a virtual presentation in conversation with Jim Higgins, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Book Editor. We’ll be talking about I’LL BE SEEING YOU, my memoir that came out last year. I think is probably the best book I’ve written. (It will be out in paperback very soon.) It’s about my parents transitioning out of the home they lived in for so many years, but it’s also about the mix of emotions that we experience when hard times show up, as (sigh) they always do. What gets us through such times? What roles do grace and humor and love and even anger play? I hope if you can, you’ll come. It’s free, but you’ll need to register at the website (Southeast Wisconsin Festival of Books).
It’s been a long time since I’ve done an event. Like most authors, my slate was wiped clean by Covid. I hope I remember not to wear my pajamas. Although would it be SO horrible to see me –and everyone else!– in pajamas?
THEN!
On Sunday, November 7, from 2-4pm central I’ll be helping to celebrate the release of Jenna Blum’s wonderful memoir about her dog. WOODROW ON THE BENCH will make you laugh and cry and remember why it is that people are so nuts about our dogs. This will be at the Lynden Sculpture Garden near Milwaukee. Address is 2145 Brown Deer Rd, RIver Hills, WI.
On Monday, November 8th, I’ll be going to the dentist. Oh wait, that’s not for you to come to. Unless you want to.
So, things are beginning to slooooowly open up. I’m so glad. Who would have thought we’d all be so grateful for so much that we used to call normal?
I want to let you know that I haven’t posted for a while because once again I was UNABLE to. But I guess if this goes through the problem was fixed. By whom, I have no idea.
Last thing: I’d like to recommend a book I just finished, and when I DID finish it, I was mad. I wanted more. So I read every word about the author’s source materials just to hear more of her voice. The book is Anne Fadmiman’s AT LARGE AND AT SMALL: Familiar Essays. If, like me, you are unfamiliar with the term “familiar essay,” it means an essay with “intellectual breadth and miniaturist focus on everyday experiences.” This book, which talks about ice cream, butterflies, Charles Lamb, letter writing, coffee and much more, inspired me, made me laugh, made me curious, and moved me. Read one a night like you’d eat a chocolate. Better yet, go ahead and eat a chocolate while you read one. Thomas Mallon said “Anne Fadiman overlooks nothing, imparts everything, and leaves you wanting more.” I couldn’t agree more.
Okay, time to make the minestrone soup I love when you make something so simple and it tastes like you’re a genius. Here’s the secret: throw in some Parmesan cheese rinds to give it rich, deep flavor. Now I’m really hungry. I hope I can stay away from the Halloween candy. If I don’t stop stealing from my stash, all the trick-or-treaters will get from me is an apology.