random notes on CONTACT HIGH

I'm nearing the end of break time. I finished the latest draft of my work in progress 13 days ago, and am going back to work on the next round of revisions on Monday.

Until things are almost finished, I can't tell anyone anything about what I'm writing. But now, I'm excited and feel compelled to share a little:

>At this point, the novel is called CONTACT HIGH.
>It takes place in the late 1970's.
>There are no cell phones (or even cordless ones.)
>There is a lot of Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin and the Stones. **
>It's the story of one year, four friends, two couples, best friends, complications, breaking into an abandoned round barn, breaking up, breaking walls that maybe stood for a reason (of which the heart knows nothing), getting back together, driving to Wisconsin, a 1971 Duster, a motel, a bonfire, a beach fire, breaking up again, camping, Special Export, German Wine, rain, strip poker, stomach flu, stories, cigarettes & other combustibles, a redhead, the police, swimming, a basement, another basement, a pizza joint, a lake, a canoe, a field party, another lake, long hair, THE SOUND AND THE FURY, THE SUN ALSO RISES, blankets under the oak trees, blankets on the hay, sleeping bags, mosquitoes, OFF!







** I hate Journey and Foreigner and REO, and so do my heroes! {but not thier girlfriends, and like my heroes, I also adore some people who enjoy these horrid bands--my wife and Kylie C. among others.}

finally finished with the latest round of revisions, back to blog about Barnes and Noble reading, etc.

I STILL AM GETTING TO BED CLOSER TO 3 AM THAN MIDNIGHT, but I am relaxing a little, now.

Despite plumbing projects. More on that later.

My first catch-up blog is about my Barnes & Noble reading on June 7.

The event started with a writing club mini-reunion. Taylor, Jack, Brandon, & Li-Mae and I had lunch and I read bits from my work in progress, CONTACT HIGH, and they helped me choose one to read that day.

The reading was super fun. I brought my new portable turntable and started with Cassie's fav form Zeppelin I, "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You." Then I read from OR NOT as well as a tiny bit of CONTACT HIGH.

I had great questions, including one about who had inspired Cassie and have I actually ever had someone that amazing as a student. No one in particular and lots of people. Some of my former students in the room are easily as amazing, gifted, insightful as my beloved Cass.

As I signed books, I played my Nirvana, LIVE IN NEW YORK record, and knew I was doing the right thing when management asked me to turn it down.

Overall, I love, love, love the energy I get from these things and am so thankful to have people who will come out and support me. Always a little sad when it's over, because I'd like to spend more time with people than I get to. But, you know me--I love being the center of attention, and I love you people who come to see me. Lot of love in this paragraph! Sorry for gushing, but that's how I feel, and I'm grateful and want to express it.

Here's a few pics taken by Liberty Grad, writer, and all around awesome-woman, Marty:

Also in attendance were:
Lee, Andy, Niles, Brandy, Kyle, Anna, Caltera, Chy and her two cool friends in the picture where V. is hiding, Kelsey, Kaley, Brittany Lana, Emily, Mary, Becky, Leah, Michaela, two old CC people and their wonderful daughter, Druzzie Dru and friend and sister, Dennis, and that lady just outside the cafe who was working on legal pads and laptop who kept scowling at me for having a reading in what she seemed to think of as her own private Idaho--love you, too, lady!