Thath is what Lori wrote in my copy of NO MERCY when I purchased it yesterday at the New Canaan (CT) library. After I got up at 7 a.m., sleep deprived because I haven’t slept but a few hours for five nights, and driving 40 minutes down to chi-chi Fairfield County where all the rich folks live.
Since I was a plant in the audience of about 20 people who turned out for the noontime event, I did point out that both Julie Collins and Mercy Gunderson like to drink and curse, but which series character did she like best? I think she said something about how she’d “get me for that one.” Eliciting a laugh from the audience. But I got slightly concerned. This is a woman who carries a gun.
I hope the inscription is the worst it’ll get. I’ll find out this weekend when I meet up with her again in New York City. Although I’m sure all I have to do is buy her a cocktail. We know how Lori loves her cocktails.
That said, I’ve never seen Lori do an event outside a panel at a conference, and I have to say she was, as we put it here at FO, AWESOME. She was relaxed and funny and interesting, all the things I know about her, but as anyone who’s ever done these things knows, it’s not so easy to stand up in front of a roomful of strangers and be those things.
Sadly, bull riding was not discussed, although as she told the audience about the “romances” she writes she did mention a ménage, but I’m not sure anyone else picked up on that but me.
I would’ve had a picture here if I didn’t leave the camera on the kitchen table (as I said earlier, sleep deprived). But she wore the most awesome cowboy boots and you’ll just have to take my word for it.
She wasn't sure if she should read, but a few in the audience wanted her to, so she read the prologue, which precipitated the question whether she watches the show CSI (you'll just have to read it to find out why; yes, this is a tease). She doesn't.
If you see Lori’s going to be in your neck of the woods talking about NO MERCY, you totally have to go. Maybe she’ll tell you what the bumper sticker said that changed her life. She wouldn’t tell us. But maybe with a few cocktails…
If you go to author events, do you ask questions or do you just listen? And do you like hearing authors read from their books?
Karen
I ask questions. I like to hear them read, unless they have annoying voices.
I have seen Lori in cowboy boots and they are, indeed, awesome.
I WISH Lori would come to South Florida on book tour. Jim Born knows all the great bookstores. Probably some not-so-great stores, too. I could totally rev people up to go see her!
Posted by: Mary Stella | January 13, 2010 at 10:21 AM
A Florida book tour, what a great idea, Mary Stella :)
Karen, I so appreciate you coming yesterday, and blogging about it today. I'm more of a seat of my pants speaker than having bullet points on note cards. Sometimes that works for me, sometimes not. I hope it works tonight, because I really don't want to read. I can always open with a joke...
Posted by: Lori Armstrong | January 13, 2010 at 04:20 PM
I think it depends. Usually though, if a writer is entertaining and funny like Lori, I'd just as soon not hear them read -- I'm going to buy the book and read it anyway.
Posted by: AlisonGaylin | January 13, 2010 at 05:26 PM
Mary - I think you'd be a better reference than Born...
Posted by: Jeff Shelby | January 13, 2010 at 05:45 PM