Minnneapolis makes me sick….

When I got a stomach flu before heading out to Minneapolis on the 21st of April, I was willing to pass it off as inconvenient coincidence. But after I headed out last weekend to do signings at Dreamhaven and Uncle Hugo’s, I came back with a nasty head cold.

That’s twice. When something happens twice in a row, I’m pretty sure it’s science.

Despite this, Minneapolis seems like a really nice place. Plenty of coffee shops and the streets are in a lovely grid pattern that makes them very easy to navigate. That’s something you can take for granted if you grow up in a city like Madison, which is built on an ismus, and doesn’t have 100 meters of straight road in the entire city limits.

I made it to both bookstores on time. I had fun chatting with folks, didn’t misspell any names, and the folks at Uncle Hugo’s gave me Pocky.

Because of this trip, people who would like to buy signed copies of the book online can get them from Dreamhaven. Not only will they let you pick which cover you want, but if you order from them before the 20th, you can get me to personalize it when I meet up with them again at Wiscon.

After two signings, a radio interview, and a business dinner with two cool grad students who are putting together a fantasy conference at the University, I was pretty shagged out. My publisher had generously offered to pay for a hotel room Saturday night. (Their exact quote was, “We don’t want to you die before you finish editing book two.”) However, I figured I would push on through and save them the money.

That’s when things started to get interesting. Around 1:30 in the morning, I missed my turn-off and drove 40 miles in the wrong direction. Then I try to navigate the back roads trying to fix my route without backtracking.

So of course I get pulled over by a cop because I’m going too fast for the back roads. But he’s actually really cool and lets me go without a ticket. What’s more, he tells me that there’s a bridge out ahead, and tells me a quicker way to get around it than the official detour.

So I drive the remaining 90 miles home on the back roads. I saw two skunks, a possum, and 23 deer. Seriously. 23. It was actually kind of fun because it gave me an excuse to honk the horn a lot. And honking your horn is kinda fun if you’re sleep deprived at three in the morning. Or if you never really grew up in the first place and just enjoy honking it. Or both.

So I call it a successful trip. Cop, but no ticket. Deer, but no wreck. Detour, but not by much. Pocky. Horn. And I got to meet cool people and talk about my book. It was pretty much the perfect day.

pat

This entry was posted in appearancesBy Pat5 Responses

5 Comments

  1. Hob Gammidge
    Posted May 7, 2007 at 2:59 AM | Permalink

    Haha, that’s the coolest thing I’ve ever heard.I’ve got you beat though Pat. I got pulled over three times by cops in one night, and didn’t get a ticket any time. Got a warning, but no ticket.Feel better soon, drink lots of hot tea and soup. I can’t wait for book two!

  2. sengei tawn
    Posted May 7, 2007 at 4:32 AM | Permalink

    No one ever listens! Vitamin D – about 2,000 IU a day in the winter. Argh! New research, yada yada. Also, right when you feel it coming on (so always bring with you on trips) Warming Circulation Tonic by Herb Pharm, 2 droppersful (for a big guy like you) every 15 min to half hour in water. Serious! It works. Cold bugs love congestion, so you have to do the opposite (herbal medicine 101)Now, tell us about how you imagined the magic. Very unique and clever. I loved the alchemy as well. Of course!

  3. Anonymous
    Posted May 11, 2007 at 12:18 AM | Permalink

    I hope you feel better soon, and I’m thinking that maybe you should stay away from Minneapolis. Also, the fact that you are still alive and well is a near miracle, given the fact that you saw 23 deer on your way home and didn’t run over- or into- any of them. Wow.

  4. Write Until the End
    Posted May 11, 2007 at 6:11 PM | Permalink

    stephanie…I’ve read Danielewski’s House of Leaves…its a heavy read at times and unlike anything else you’ll ever read in your life thats for sure….the footnotes drove me crazy!!!

  5. barentanz
    Posted March 10, 2009 at 4:39 PM | Permalink

    My record is 500 deer at once, along the road to my house. But then, I live in Montana, a couple hours’ drive from yellowston park.By the way, I love your books.

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