Justine Larbalestier

reading, writing, eating, drinking, sport

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Things I’ve learned on tour (thus far)

  • Beef jerky is good.

  • A lint brush is essential.

  • A publicist with a sense of humour and a better memory than anyone alive is vastly excellent indeed.

  • Publicists are all convinced that authors have the worst memories ever. I suspect they are right.

  • I know that some writers get heaps of work done while on tour but I am most definitely not one of them.

  • Q & A is always the best part of an appearance. Though I already knew that.

  • No one wants to hear an author read. Boring!

  • If you must be stuck in a dread car for ages it’s best to have witty, entertaining company and be in a convertible.

  • School visits are best when the students aren’t being forced to listen to you. At all my school events the students were engaged and asked great questions because they wanted to be there. Especially the Ravenous Readers of Wallenberg High School. You guys were fabulous. Thanks so much for the bulldog pin!

  • Booksellers and librarians are my fave people in the universe.

  • If book shops must have a cat it should be hairless.

  • There are indeed Sharpies wherever you go.

But most of all book tours are fun. I mean think of it: I’m being flown around the country to talk to mad keen readers about my books. It’s bloody brilliant. I am so lucky.

Here’s hoping I get to meet some more of you blog readers on the next three legs of the tour.1

  1. There are four legs in all. My tour is a cow. [↩]

Posted by Justine at 0:02, 25 September 2008 under Book tour, How To Ditch Your Fairy, New York City/USA | 10 Comments »

Comments

  1. Chris McLaren Says:

    I’ll buy all of those except for “No one wants to hear an author read. Boring!” That one, I assert, is entirely author- and passage- specific.

    September 25th, 2008 at 12:12 AM

  2. 2. Justine Says:

    I just meant my reading are borings. I’m better off the cuff.

    September 25th, 2008 at 12:39 AM

  3. cuileann Says:

    Wallenberg? Arrr, this makes me so annoyed that I wasn’t in the city! But. :) I’m glad it was a good tour!

    September 25th, 2008 at 1:25 AM

  4. cuileann Says:

    *IS! Not was. Sore-ee!

    September 25th, 2008 at 1:27 AM

  5. Amber Says:

    Does your tour also have four stomachs?

    And if your tour is a cow, what of the beef jerky?

    *concerned*

    September 25th, 2008 at 9:34 AM

  6. Shveta Says:

    It was wonderful to meet you! Thanks for such a great, inspiring talk.

    September 25th, 2008 at 9:38 AM

  7. 7. Justine Says:

    Amber: My tour is a girl. I only eat male beef jerky. Yes to the stomachs. Also my tour chews cud.

    Shveta: Lovely to meet you too. I really enjoyed that appearance. You mob asked great questions. Good luck with your book!

    September 25th, 2008 at 11:16 AM

  8. Matt Says:

    It was really great to meet you and pick your brain some. I had a terrific time. I’ll look forward to your next book tour that stops in Philly.

    September 25th, 2008 at 12:06 PM

  9. Terra Chandler Says:

    mmmm….beef jerky and cow. Are you subliminally feeling a bit carnivorous today?

    September 25th, 2008 at 12:15 PM

  10. Joey Says:

    I, too, would’ve been happy to hear you read from HTDYF.

    So glad to meet you (and Mr. Scott) at Books Inc. in San Francisco. One of the books you signed for me is one of the defectives (last page is 280) — hee! And of course I look forward to see you next tour. Maybe I’ll bring my mom after I show her “she’s” in it. :)

    Hope you’re having non-awful food. I admit I’m a bit of snob in thinking the SF Bay Area has fabulous eats. That said, I almost brought you a Krispy Kreme donut and a single Cheeto.

    September 26th, 2008 at 12:09 AM

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