I’m thrilled to announce that The Light of Burning Shadows will be the featured alternate selection in the month of August for the SF Book Club. A Darkness Forged in Fire was picked last year for the club, too. This is a pattern I could get used to.

I’m not sure, but I think the way it works is if the featured selection is unable to perform its duties (or risque photos appear of the book without its cover) my novel steps in and fulfills the role of main selection. I am prepared for the swimsuit competition, and my talent is answering questions without thanking a deity of any kind. Oh, and I like puppies and world peace…unless the puppies start something and then it’s game on.

My mom called from the road to give me an update earlier today, and our conversation went something like this:

Me: Hello?
Mom: Hello, Christopher. We’re in Gainesville right now- Bob! Watch out for that truck.
Dad: I see it and he sees me.
Mom: You just cut him off.
Dad: No I didn’t, besides, my rig is bigger than his rig.
Mom: That’s hardly the point.
Dad: He saw me, it’s fine. What did that sign say?
Mom: What sign?
Dad: Back there. Was that the turnoff?
Mom: I don’t know, I was looking at the truck.
Dad: I saw the truck. What I didn’t see was the sign for our turn off.
Mom: You have to watch where you’re going.
Dad: I thought you were doing that.
Mom: What? Maybe we should pull over and check the GPS.
Dad: We don’t need to pull over. We’ll take the next exit.
Mom: Ok, but watch out for trucks. Christopher, we’ll talk to you later.
Me: Who is this?

A subsequent phone call informed me that they have made it safely to Brunswick, Georgia after having visited another seven stores. Again, many thanks to everyone they met along the way. I suppose it’s long past the point where I should be surprised, but everywhere they go they are greeted warmly and treated with respect by the staff. It’s also wonderful to hear that not only have they heard of my book, but they know many of the books I’ve edited including the Stackpole Military History Series. So to everyone who met Bob & Barb Evans today, thanks:

Community Relations Manager Jamie and Bookseller Joe at B&N in Ocala; General Manager Jason Strauss and Bookseller Susan at BAM in Ocala; Dot at B&N in Gainesville; Sales Manager Martha and Bookseller Derek at Borders in Gainesville; Manager Amanda at BAM in Gainesville; Manager Paul Beck at BAM in Jacksonville; Assistant Store Manager Jim at B&N in Jacksonville (10280 Midtown Parkway)

Day 2 of the RV Tour in Florida is now over, but not before expanding the parameters a bit. In addition to bookstores, my father has now branched out and is talking to people carrying books, in one case, on a motorcycle. Turns out the gentleman is a big fan of my military history series so it worked out well.

Thanks to all the friendly folks they met today:

Wilhelm at BAM in Kissimmee; CRM Mary Ramsey at B&N in Orlando (Orange Blossom Trail); Assistant Manager Yolanda at Walden’s in Orlando (Orange Blossom Trail); Store Manager Kenneth Curillo at BAM in Orlando (Kirkman Road South); Store Manager Tracy at Borders in Orlando (Sand Lake Road); Merchandise Manager Debbie at B&N in Orlando (West Sand Lake Road);
Marianne and Linda at Borders in Ocoee (West Colonial Drive); and last but not least, some guy on a motorcycle.

And for those patiently waiting, the cover for The Light of Burning Shadows and the world map are coming soon to my website. In the meantime, there are a lot of great books about to hit the scene, like CC Finlay’s new historical fantasy series which launches next week. I was chatting with CC’s editor today who told me Del Rey are really excited about it, and rightly so. Go get ’em Charlie!

Armed with flyers, books, and a fierce pride, my intrepid parents spent the day driving around Tampa Bay, Florida and area talking up their son, the author. You can’t see it, but I’m blushing. I’m also a little concerned I might be contravening retiree labor laws, but for them this is a fun hobby. They love telling everyone they meet about their son, the author (at some point, I suspect that’s going to become my actual name which, on reflection, beats the previous one of “our son, who hasn’t given us grandchildren yet”).

Day One went swimmingly. They hit eight stores in about as many hours. Everywhere they went they met friendly and helpful staff, and I’d really like to thank everyone involved:

Store Manager Marianne at Books-A-Million in Palm Harbor; Dara at B&N in Clearwater; Nicole at B&N in St. Petersburg (2501 Tyrone Blvd North); Marco at B&N in Tampa #213; Service Supervisor Jesus at Borders in Tampa; Catherine at B&N in Brandon; Assistant Store Manager Rita at B&N in Lakeland; Store Manager Armand at Books-A-Million in Lakeland

I met a friend at the MET Friday night where we strolled the exhibits and were surprised by not one but two different musical events going on. A choir was singing in the large glassed enclosure of the Temple of Dendur. The acoustics were great. Another area featured what sounded like 20s-30s era music, but with a bit of a Beat rhythm going on…but what I know about music resides almost entirely in turning the amp up to 11.

As it’s only a few blocks away from where I live I get there a lot and just wander, sort of my own night at the museum…except there are a lot of other people there doing the same thing. I must be in a very museum frame of mind as I just finished reading Dry Storeroom No. 1 about the British Museum of Natural History. It’s a mix of memoir, history, social study, and science overview that, while not always riveting, was filled with enough brilliant nuggets that I kept reading to the end. A few of the real live scientists profiled in the book mirrored all too eerily some of the mannerisms and drive of my Prince Tykkin character (who in addition to being heir to the throne is a noted compendiast). I had researched that aspect of the Prince’s character for Darkness, but it was fascinating to learn – in detail – just how driven some of these scientists are in their quest for knowledge, or the sometimes less than noble reasons for that quest.