I have posted enough about my ignorance of geography that I feel compelled to say "Yes, I know you wouldn't come around this way on your way to Philadelphia." Just in case.

I'll see what I can arrange. Thing is, none of this is set up yet anyway. All depends.

You know, I'd love a polite way of saying to Ruth, "Hey, a small clue, if you would just stump up for the rest of the series, already, I could afford the damned plane ticket, now, couldn't I?"

Hey, we just want you to know you're wanted, Deb...

Deb, if you hit the East Coast, my school is *desperate* for real live writers to come visit. And if you do, that means lots of students will have to buy your book!

There's a train station in Dallas.

Holli, are you by any chance in Maryland? As in, Baltimore?

Because send me a confirmation that the school wants a creative writing or lit or whatever lecture, and I can use that as additional ammo to talk them into helping pay for some of the trip....

I'd love to do the southwest. Every year just before spring training, we decide we're going to head south and watch the Giants. And then money or illness and we never do, damnit.

Really nice writers group tonight. Input!

Deb, one of my bestest friends is the president of the English Dept. Alumni Society at UMBC (U of MD, Baltimore County), and they're often bringing authors and such-like in for lectures and so on. I'll mention something to her if you like.

Amusing story re UMBC and creative writing. One of their profs is writing a series of novels that are simply faboo. The first one in the series is "The Death of Vishnu." People who want to take one of his creative writing classes are invariable disappointed to find out that Dr. Suri is, in fact, a professor of mathematics.

On edit: IIRC, Kat G. and Lori are good friends with the owner of Atomic Books out here in Bal'mer. You might want to ask them about the possibility of name-dropping and the like.

I've only now sort-of caught-up:

I did it. I wrote a novel. I finished what I started, proved I had it in me, proved I'm not just a quitter, that I can push past my own laziness and fears. I wrote a BOOK.

Susan, that's wonderful.

I'm so very glad for you (and it coincides beautifully with the end of the Jewish year, too - right the time to end a project, in my Jewish-glasses-wearing eyes).

People who want to take one of his creative writing classes are invariable disappointed to find out that Dr. Suri is, in fact, a professor of mathematics.

That sounds like Queen Victoria's reaction to Lewis Carroll. She was enchanted by the Alice books and demanded more, and was apparently rather cross when presented with a pile of math taxtbooks.

By all means, any school lectures would be lurvely.

edit: Susan, I told Marlene you were done and ewre settling in for a nice edit. She says, go you! A good feeling, that is.

Deb, I'm in Pennsylvania, an hour and change driving time from Baltimore. But I can still ask my teacher, who I think is in charge of these things, if she'd like you to come visit.