"Ah, but I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now."
My Boog Pages
Monday, February 21
Please Do Not Feed The Ego
So, what do you do with good reviews? Last week I posted a little ditty called "Ken Bruen Is Dead, Alas" full of in-jokes and character assassination, with a title stolen directly from Michael Bishop. Within a few hours mystery superduperstar Ken himself had left me a very generous comment, including one I intend to use on the cover of my first novel (whenever I finish it):
Need a blurb? -- Ken Bruen
Needless to say, my head grew three sizes that day - a pain, as I had to throw out all of my hats. There is a downside to this however. What do you think is a more likely outcome: that I'll A) get started immediately on my next magnum opus, or B) kick back, pop open a beer, and sit on my ass rest on my laurels?
It certainly seems that Bruen's reputation for being the nicest guy on 3 continents is well deserved. With a little luck I'll get to meet him on his book tour, next month in Houston, and maybe buy him a drink. With as many people as owe Bruen for a few kind words in the right places, I'm surprised he ever has to pay for his own booze.
Hunter S. Thompson, RIP. I always thought Hunter S. Thompson was kind of an ass, but I've never read much of his work, and people whose opinions I respect consider him a great writer. I never thought he'd kill himself. He seemed like the kind of guy who'd look death in the face and say, "Fuck off, dude."
He spoke once at my college. Half in the bag already, he rode to the auditorium (okay, the gymnasium) with one of the students who organized the event and a faculty advisor, both of whom went inside to make sure everything was ready. Leaving Thompson in the car alone.
They came out just in time to see the taillights disappearing around the corner. The two of them quickly commandeered another car, and after a brief chase through the streets of Lexington, Virginia, they managed to corner him and bring him in. Throughout his entire talk he hammered down Chivas Regal, growing less coherent as he went.
Whatever else you thought of him, the guy was definitely an original.
