January 26, 2011- Maria and I got into Providence just as the big Northeaster did, and that was good timing.  There is already a ton of snow on the ground, so we headed out for a two-hour walk, photoshoot and visit to the Rhode Island School of Design Museum.

The city of Providence banned some on-street parking for tomorrow, as up to 12 inches of snow is expected to hit Providence to night, and briefly, my appearance Thursday was cancelled. Library director Tom O’Donnell said he wanted to hold it anyway, and was I game, even if books could no longer be sold at the talk. I said sure, that was not a problem for me. So the Rochambeau Community Library on Hope Street in Providence will be opened up at 6 p.m. (the snow is supposed to stop in the morning) and I am very excited to be returning the place where I was first encouraged to become a writer, and where I learned how important libraries are, and how important it is they be preserved, even in difficult times.

Tom O’Donnell is a library director after my own heart. Upstate, this is an annoyance. I love the idea of a small crowd post-storm in such a special place to me. A librarian there told me that my books would be on her shelves one day, and that was when I became a writer, and I can’t wait to see them tomorrow.

Obviously, people should not try and come if the roads aren’t clear or if they don’t feel comfortable. I am fine with a small crowd, and don’t need to sell books to be content to talk about my work. I will sign anything people bringing, including body parts. I loved walking around Providence with Maria and reconnecting with the statues, the industrial texture, and amazing reworking of the downtown riverfront, and the beautiful neighborhood around Brown University.

In the morning, I will tend to some personal business and at 7 p.m., I will be at the Rochambeau Branch of the Public Library. Maria too. To those of you who can make it, we’ll have another great conversation. Libraries are worth every bit of it.