This Thursday I’ll be rocking along with one of my favorite rock groups of the 80’s (well, any decade really,) The Police. I did see Sting in concert years ago in his post-Police, Dream of the Blue Turtles days, but this will be my first, and likely only time, seeing the group together. The concert is reported to be their final one as a group. I imagine and hope we’ll hear staples like Roxanne, Every Breath You Take, Synchronicity II, and Don’t Stand So Close To Me (the original, not the later remix), but it’d be great if they put in some of the more obscure stuff as well.

In book news I’m thrilled to see that one of my books (editor hat here) The Border: Exploring the U.S.-Mexican Divide by David Danelo, is getting off to a really strong start. The book has already received a terrific review in the NY Post by Ralph Peters, another coming from Proceedings, an op-ed soon to publish in a major newspaper, and a radio interview later this week. We’re hoping and expecting more reviews and, fingers crossed, some television interviews. If you’d like to learn a little more about the author, a former Marine and combat vet now turned journalist, please check out his website at danelo.com.

Ok, way off base, but I now officially declare my love and admiration for Paris Hilton and here’s why When you get to the page scroll down a bit and click on the video for the best political ad this year.

Warm here in New York, but cooler than it has been the last few days. I did a 4 miler in the park and with a cool breeze blowing I felt like I could have run another one, but I’ve learned not to push too hard too fast and risk an injury. What was even nicer is that the opening to The Light of Burning Shadows has finally come into focus. I’ve been working on the novel for months, but the opening kept eluding me. Now, finally, I think I have it nailed down. I had tried dramatic, then atmospheric and several other approaches, but to no avail. I decided to try psychological and that seems to have done the trick. I’ll know better when I finish the ms and can assess it in its entirety.

Over the years a small forest’s worth of manuscripts have passed through my hands and I’m starting to wonder if there might not be a way to save a few trees and lighten my load when I travel with mss to read. I’ve been hearing good things about the Sony Reader and wondered if anyone here has experience with one? I’d like to be able to load mss on to it and then I could read and assess submissions easily when I travel, or even just out in the park on a bench. Is the text easily readable in outside daylight? How many books/mss can you fit on one? Does it allow for any kind of editing or notes?

Having survived my purchase of a Blackberry I’m feeling brave so I’m thinking of taking the plunge.

I had a wonderful time. Truly, how could you not? The energy at the show was high. You could call it hype, but there’s a real genuineness about the fans that no amount of hype can tarnish. I was thrilled to see Ray Bradbury. I met Jim Butcher, author of the Dresden Files. Very open and gracious with his fans. On Saturday I had lunch with my friend, senior editor Chris Schluep of Del Rey and one of his authors, Alan Dean Foster, creator of Pip and Flinx and, of course, writer of the Star Wars classic Splinter of the Mind’s Eye. Alan is a really fascinating guy. I think he’s been licked yet not eaten by more large predator cats than anyone else I know! We took a cab over to Coronado Island for lunch and ate by the water. It was a nice break from the show.

I also caught up with my Clarion 2000 classmate and good friend Karen Traviss. She was doing a lot of signing at the Del Rey booth and at times couldn’t be seen for all the storm troopers and clone warriors. I’m not positive, but I think she’s amassing an army.

I was also pleasantly surprised to meet some fans. I think I mentioned this in my previous blog, but it surprised me. I’m still getting used to the idea of people having read the book. Talking with them was a real treat. I met Jen and Sagitt (I know I spelled that wrong – sorry – but I do remember Jen is a project manager and Sagitt a cancer researcher for Pfizer) and had a great chat. I had another nice talk with David who is an aspiring writer himself working on a very interesting concept with superheroes, but I won’t reveal more than that.

Friday night was the Star Wars party at the Westgate on a roof patio. Cool breeze, open bar and a lot of interesting people made for a fun night…then beer bottles started going over the edge to the sidewalk below. Oh, and someone walked off with our Star Wars swag 🙁

I did manage to get in a couple of nice runs along the bay. The weather was just about perfect and it was refreshing to see aircraft carriers instead of the trees of Central Park for a change.

All in all a great trip and one I would do again.

I just got in the door a few minutes ago and will write more tomorrow about the Con, so for the moment I will just say it was terrific.

The Con got off to a wonderful start. When I checked in with my editor after landing in San Diego he told me to brace myself (uh, oh, I thought). Turns out it was amazing news. A Darkness Forged in Fire has been sold in translation to Russia and Japan! I think everyone on the plane jumped a foot when I yelled. I don’t know when they’ll pub or in what format, but I definitely want a copy of each…although it occurs to me I won’t really know what books they send me as I can’t read either language!

Oh, and I met some really gracious and thoughtful people at the show. Some had even read the book. I know that shouldn’t surprise me, but it still does 🙂