I started my day out at Mysteries to Die For in Thousand Oaks, where I signed copies of MR. MONK GOES TO HAWAII. I was joined by my old friends Terry Erdman & Paula Block, who were signing their book, MONK: THE OFFICIAL EPISODE GUIDE. A lot of friendly and enthusiastic folks showed up, including the shockingly bald Mark Baker, Monk Superfan-of-the-Week Tami and Monk Fun Page Mistress Teresa, who schlepped all the way down from San Francisco with her dashing boyfriend, photographer, driver, and nurse in tow. We talked about all the usual things — Monk, BREASTS, Diagnosis Murder, bowel movements, publishing, bowel movements, TV production, BREASTS, studio licensing and mid-western cheerleaders (which is really just another way of saying BREASTS).
All the talk of BREASTS at the signing actually came up because of an
Amazon review. The reader was upset that BREASTS were mentioned in MR.
MONK GOES TO HAWAII. I think she may be the same reader who was upset
that BREASTS were mentioned in MR. MONK GOES TO THE FIREHOUSE, too. I have a
feeling she’s really not going to like my next Monk book, MR. MONK AND
THE ENORMOUS BREASTS, where I am sure to mention BREASTS more than once. Maybe twice.
From there, we hurried across the valley and over the Sepulveda Pass to The Mystery Book Store in Westwood, where we did more of the same. We were hosted by Linda, Bobby, and Ken Levine’s lovely daughter Annie, all of whom, unlike the Naked Bookseller of Quartzsite, were clothed. However, I believe they are rethinking this policy and exploring the competitive possibilities of becoming LA’s first clothing-optional mystery bookstore.
Sorry I missed BOTH signings. Instead, I was subject to 110 degree temperatures in West Hills for the Pony All Star tournament. Wonder what Monk would think about that?
Hey, do you think there’d be demand for a book event at a nudist colony? Then we could pitch to naked readers as well.
Tess,
I think you could sell well at a nudist colony, provided you went there au naturel. And I’m not sure they could make change. I think Joe Konrath should pioneer this and report back.
Had fun at both.
And I thought you’d seen me bald before. I do it a couple times a year. Guess not. 🙂
Mark
Glad to see you out and about on the signing trail, I gave the new MONK an excellent review on my very own blog, because, well, it’s excellent.
Kudos on a superb second book, let’s hope it’s one of dozens of MONK novels…
I had a great time at the signings and my friend, Sandy, that came with me just fell in love with you, Lee! She couldn’t stop talking about you on the ride home!
I got a pic of Terry and Paula:
http://www.geocities.com/siouxdoenym/WestwoodSigning.JPG
~~ You’re in the pic, too, Lee: the bottom/right, that’s your hand! I later went to my usual hangout (the karaoke bar) and things went awry, so my memory of the weekend is a bit skewed:
http://www.geocities.com/siouxdoenym/Karaoke011.JPG
Lee,
I’m from New Joisey. Any chance we can talk you into visiting the East Coast for a signing?
Best,
Frank
Maybe next time I’m there to write a MONK episode…(the writing staff is based in Summit).