Memphis was so great the last time around, I came back. Royal Stewart and Hugh Hollowell of Midtown Books on Madison were so good to me how could I not return? Seriously, it felt like we were instant friends the first time I met them some 3,000 miles ago.
Hugh sponsored a party for the second round and we had another reading. This time it was complete with a keg of beer, a dj, and a comedian. I braved the second thing I said I wouldn’t do — read Ellen Degeneres’s story, “The Plane Truth.” Boy was I glad I did, because the audience was howling. We had 35 people throughout the night, and sold more books.
There was talk of Tunica, and some of Hugh’s friends went. But his wife wouldn’t give him a kitchen pass and I was too tired from driving all day. (And more or less from the whole trip as it has finally caught up with me). Can you believe I said that? Too tired to drive a half an hour and play craps?! Especially when I won $350 the last time.
Anyway, now I’m preparing for the class. I’ll be teaching a How to Break into Travel Writing class at Midtown today. They’ve presold 10 tickets with two more people interested from last night. We’ll see how we go. I’m confident that they’ll get their $40 worth in the market leads, submission guidelines, and brain dump I’ve got planned. It’s really a fair price.
Now you’ve done the kind of tour few authors ever do, so you can also teach “How to Be Broken and Go Broke with Travel Writing”. Or maybe that should be a class I teach! Drive safely, say hi to Raj and PK, see you when you get back to the homeland.
Sire, what a concept! Why yes, the pockets are quite weak, yet I forge on. Bitch on. Drive on. Eat on…
But in the mid south there is a secret solace. Tunica. In this land of largess, there are dice and card tables. $45 rooms that will give good rest. And lobbys with high enough ceilings to inspire me to walk upright. It’s a place where one can be broke or go broke with a smile.
The update on the class is coming.