Just got off the phone with Tracy Trudell, who reports Frieda has a large tick on her cheek. She’s going to try and get it off (not an easy thing), so real life intrudes, even on a book tour. Book tours are different from the inside than out. You spend a lot of time in hotels (the view is from mine) as one needs rest for body and voice. I will do at least 40 public talks on this book tour and each one is challenging in its own way.

Then there are the interviews. The odd thing about a book is that you have to get your head back into the current book. I’ve written two books since “Rose” and I have to re-focus on it so that I can talk about it. I also prep very intensely for public events, even though it may not seem that way. I give different talks every time, as many people are repeaters and I also want to keep my head fresh, and not feel stale. So there is a lot of waiting around, like any performer. I also want to read up on Rita Mae Brown so that when I meet her, I will know something about her and work.  I never get up in front of a group without preparing. I think about questions, re-read the book, get my head back, save my voice. I get used to hotel rooms, which I don’t like. I have the camera and Ipad ready. The media escort, Craig, who will drive me and Maria around today to interviews and the signings, is down in the lobby, so I’m off. I will call Tracy and check on Frieda’s tick. Maria is sketching like mad. Washington is beautiful, strange.