The hardback, which arrived yesterday, has one change on it:  It now says “A Novel of the Civil War.”  It has the three quotes, from Pat Conroy, Robert Hicks and Madison Smartt Bell.  I have not met any of those three excellent authors, but I certainly admire their work.  I also want to mention that the jacket was designed by Laura Klynstra.  Truly fine work, it’s just a sensational cover.  Insert your superlative here___.  The photograph of the hands was taken by Robert Neumann.  Originally, when the cover was discussed, there was talk of an artist doing a rendering of the leaning gate.  I was a bit unsure of that, leaning more to corn stalks or something like that, something that would be visually stunning.  Ellen Archer met me in Los Angeles, and she brought two copies of the cover, wrapped around other people’s books, and when I saw it, I was sold.  I can be a picky guy when it comes to art, particularly as it pertains to my own stuff.  Not this time.  That the final cover is so close to the ones that I was shown that evening is a testament to Laura’s work. 

Earthquake today.  And I missed it.  Must have happened when the garbage trucks went by in the alley, and I thought it was them.  My son called from camp, “Dad, did you feel the earthquake?”  “No.”  “We didn’t either, we were on a hike.”  “How did you know about it then?”  “One of the Dads came up to see if everyone was okay.  Okay.  Bye.”  I guess he was checking to make sure I was okay. 

I received some copies of the hardback of SWEETSMOKE today in the mail.  Oh my.  It is beautiful.  Apparently, it’s for real.  Who knew? 

Today is dull-blog.  A day of collecting information and putting it into compartments.  I heard the boys in the house having their trumpet and clarinet lessons.  The wind blows, and the tall new stalks of the Mexican weeping bamboo outside my office window are filling in and growing more lovely by the day.  August is fast upon us, which means travel to family and shortly after that a vacation (not that they are mutually exclusive), then back in time for the book to be in bookstores and an exciting Autumn of travel, reading aloud from the book, and panel discussions.  A few reviews are beginning to pop up, and I am encouraged.  It is exciting, nay, exhilarating, when people discover the work.  I am grateful in a way that is new to me, as it is unusual, confusing and fulfilling. 

I go to Astronomy Picture of the Day every day.  Not only are the pictures ‘awesome’ in the correct usage of the word (not just the sum of all awe), but the descriptions are also swell.  Today’s is a run-of-the-mill impressive photo.  http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/

My son wants to tell you that he’s completely miserable with the stomach flu.  And that he has to clean up his very messy room (I am taking dictation here, and he is speaking in the third person), wearing sunglasses and ski goggles.  Okay.  That’s all. 

It was a one day recovery.  Back on the Physically Unable to Perform list goes the youngster with a recurrence of stomach flu.  Missing the last day of camp, which was sad.  His brother gave me a tour of the Fowler Museum this morning — the museum was not open yet, so we had the place to ourselves, as the guard let us in — and it was as cool as you can imagine, being alone in a museum with your son, having him show you his favorite pieces and describe them to you.  That was a really good father moment.  Ranks up there with watching your boy whack a double with the bases loaded — he did that a couple of times this year.  And his brother (young Stomach Flu himself) pitched a fair amount, including giving up no runs in the championship game (we won in extra innings).  Particularly good when you realize they are both league-age ten.  But I’m not proud of them, oh no, not at all.   Not one little bit. 

Well, he certainly recovered in a hurry.  Off to camp he went this morning, delighted and excited, a camp at the Fowler Museum in Westwood, where they apparently have the run of the museum and are making art.  He spent a quiet day at home interspersing naps with Laurel and Hardy, then found out from his brother that they went to the botanical gardens yesterday and he missed it.  That was enough of that.  ’Goin’ to camp today, Dad.’  Okay.  See ya.  Call me if you start vomiting again and I’ll come and get you. 

It’s good to be eleven. 

My son and I are house-bound, as he was up for hours last night, losing most of what was inside him from both ends.  Seems in a pretty good mood today, but he’s going to take a nap pretty soon, I can promise you that.  I may try to sneak one in as well.  Seems like I won’t be doing a great deal of writing today.  But we’ve got soup and crackers and bananas and apples.  I imagine he will recover rather quickly.  He almost went to camp today, despite it all.  They are made of rubber. 

The boys are in the other room watching Le Tour de France, and I am tickling the new Facebook and My Space pages.  Feels like summer.  We’ll practice with the All Star team this evening, but won’t join them on the field, as it is a 12 year old team and the boys are league-age 10.  They are official members of the team, and could play if others can’t make it.  I hear Phil Liggett.  Who’s got the yellow jersey? 

Here is what I know as of today: 

9/10 - Borders Westwood - Book signing

9/16 - Pasadena, CA - Vromans - Talk, Discussion, Signing

9/26 - Mobile, Alabama - Southern Independent Booksellers Assn - Hyperion Cocktail Party

9/27 - Mobile, Alabama - SIBA/Marriott Renaissance Booth signing

9/28 - Los Angeles - 7th Annual West Hollywood Book Fair - Panel Discussion and signing

10/11 - Nashville, TN - Southern Festival of Books - Panel Discussion

10/18 - Los Angeles - Southern California Independent Booksellers Assn.