These next few days aren’t the calm before the storm so much as the calm between the storms. (Storms of amazing opportunities, I hasten to add.)
This past weekend was the first time that I’ve had a being-an-author gig so close to a hosting-an-author gig, and the experience was exhausting but excellent. Thanks again to the Washington Library Media Association, specifically Elaine Harger, for inviting me to speak, and thanks to Mr. M.T. Anderson for being a delightful guest.
A few things about my two days in Yakima:
- Got a nice high-school era flashback crossing the street, when a carful of dudes yelled out: “HEY! WHAT’S UP WITH YOUR HAIR?”
- Found out that a long-dormant project may yet come back to life, hopefully not zombie-fashion.
- Marveled at the predominance of Spanish speakers in the airport, and eavesdropped to the best of my ability. Pretty sure I heard “No hay trabajo.”
- Learned about the existence of the Rainbow Girls, which are apparently sort of the Masonic equivalent of Girl Scouts.
- Was asked why I write about gay characters. I might have surprised the questioner when I responded matter-of-factly that I’m bisexual. I elaborated: of course I don’t think you have to self-identify as queer to write about queer characters, but I do think there’s an added incentive to write about a community when you’re in some way part of it.
And a tiny anecdote re: hosting M.T.A.:
- Had the bright idea to get the car seriously cleaned before picking him up at the airport. I am, to put it mildly, not assiduous about keeping a clean car interior, and between the bike grease and that one time the peanut sauce spilled, the cleaning was long overdue. Unfortunately I neglected to take into consideration the fact that when you get car seats shampooed, they stay damp for a long time. Days, even. So I greeted the illustrious Mr. Anderson with the reassurance that the car was not actually a crime scene, despite the sheets of plastic.
Tell me stories about being a guest, and/or a host?