July 13, 2007
Got a call from Tucson bookseller Bob Pugh this morning. He has received ten copies of Classic Gunfights, Volume III, and has sold them and is reordering more. Always good news to an author.

And speaking of authors, had dinner last night at Thai hotspot Malee's in Scottsdale with Will Shetterly and Emma Bull. They both have new books out. Will's newest is "Gospel of The Knife," and Emma's is "Territory," her fantasy telling of the Tombstone story. Their publishing house offered them an eight city book tour via airlines and Will countered: "Give us the money and we'll drive to sixteen." So they drove up yesterday from Tucson for their first stop at The Poisoned Pen in Scottsdale.

After dinner (they bought), I drove down to the venerable Scottsdale book store and along with a dozen others listened to Will and Emma read excerpts from their new books. Emma also played guitar and sang three rousing songs, which had us all tapping our toes and smiling. She's very good (I had never heard her, but she is a legend in many parts of the West). Emma's book just came out this last Tuesday. Next stop San Diego, then Burbank, San Fran, Vancouver and on across Canada, coming back to the states in Minnesota, I believe.

House much cooler last night. Slept good. Chickens survived, dogs still around, life is good.

Classic Onion Headline de Jour
Area Dog Will Never Live Up To Dog On Purina Bag

Worried about the Top Secret Project. My self-imposed deadline of July 26 is just thirteen days out and we have a whole bunch of nothing. Afraid we're going sideways. Lots of effort, but much of the plotting and story points seem to be at cross purposes.

"I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by."
— Douglas Adams