I will be speaking this evening at Lincoln Middle School, where the 8th Graders are able to get extra credit by reading SWEETSMOKE.  I had originally thought the novel was perhaps a bit too intense for readers of that age, but I met with a small group of them and found their questions thoughtful, probing and just as mature as the questions put to me by adults.  My sister-in-law, Lauri Crane, started the ball rolling on this event, by recommending the book to an 8th Grade teacher at Lincoln, Susan Stivers.  Ms. Stivers read the book and thought it would be appropriate for at least a select group of sophisticated readers, and a group of ten was brought together:  Matilda Mead, Caitlin Kerwin, Alex Maldague, Aliza Abarbanel, Chloe Abarbanel, Tiana Kadkhoda, Jamie Rosenberg, Jane Khalameizer, Hilary Dubin and Nicolas (Nick) Sesma. 

This event may be my favorite of all the events I have done.  The enthusiasm of the students is palpable.  I feel that, with them, SWEETSMOKE is in good hands.  Thank you to all, and I look forward to this evening with great pleasure. 

That’s right, at the Festival of Books, at UCLA, at Booth 411 (Mystery Bookstore’s booth), you will find Dave Fuller, SWEETSMOKE author with a stack of that novel, signing and having fun. 

Find me at Booth 411, signing SWEETSMOKE, the Mystery Bookstore booth, on Sunday, April 26th, from 1 to 2 pm. 

I will be signing and speaking, maybe reading if Bobby and Linda are interested in that, at the Mystery Bookstore in Westwood, Saturday, April 18th, at 3 pm.  If you have never been to the Mystery Bookstore, it is a charming, welcoming place with a bobby at the door (he ain’t real).  You can say hello to me, and make a discovery of a special place in Los Angeles.

Speaking of special places in Los Angeles, the Festival of Books at UCLA is soon upon us… and you will find me there as well.  Doggone it, I seem to be everywhere these days.  I’ll be at (wait for it) Mystery Bookstore’s booth, #411, on Sunday April 26th, signing from 1 to 2 pm.  I am particularly looking forward to that event because a fellow Best First Author nominee will be signing alongside me, Tom Epperson, author of The Kind One. 

And speaking of being everywhere, off to New York a couple of days later for the Edgar Award ceremony.  This is one of those situations where, truly, I feel like I’ve already won because I’ve been nominated.  I know, I know, sounds like I’m just saying that, but I don’t expect to win (doesn’t mean I don’t want to) and I’m looking forward to saying hello to friends and comrades and celebrating the nomination. 

Today I will be speaking on the phone to Alice Palmer’s book group in New Jersey (in just  few minutes, actually).  I met Alice in a book store in Torrance last fall, she bought the book and made it her choice for book group.  I am very excited and pleased to get to speak with her again, along with her friends. 

This evening I will be speaking in person to Diane Leslie’s book group at Diesel Bookstore, which just recently opened up in Brentwood (walking distance) at the Brentwood Country Mart.  I met Diane at the Southern California Independent Booksellers dinner, and she carried my book on her trip to China. 

This is the fun part of my work, almost as much fun as writing, as I get to relive the writing experience and talk about how the book was written.  I often learn more than I expect, as different questioners will bring out some piece of information of which I had not necessarily thought. 

So this will be one of the fun days!  Probably not going to get a lot of work done today, but, hey, sometimes it’s good to have fun. 

Esowon Bookstore, 4331 Degnan Boulevard, Los Angeles, 90008. 

7 pm. 

Again, I will be at Esowon Bookstore in Leimert Park tomorrow night, Wednesday, at 7 pm. 

You will find me, on Wednesday evening at 7 pm, this week, November 19th, at Esowon in Leimert Park.  Come by and say hi to James Fugate and Thomas Hamilton.

Tonight in Ojai, 7 pm at the Ojai Art Center. 

Wednesday the 19th at 7 pm at Esowon in Leimert Park. 

For the three of you out there reading this blog, it will be somewhat intermittent the next week because I will be traveling.  Will try to keep you updated.

Remember, if you’re in the area, you can see me at the Ojai Art Center on Monday night at 7 pm.