It was 103 (39C) when I left Austin; it was 65 (18C) when I arrived in Baltimore. This alone filled me with happiness. I wasn’t feeling well–had the remnants of a tummy virus and also dizziness from the flight. So when the man who I thought was the “this way to the taxis” man at the airport turned out to be a gypsy cab driver, I didn’t even have the energy to tell him I wasn’t interested and would go back to the taxi stand. As it turned out, he was a limo driver whose client had stiffed him, so I was in a lovely car, with chilled water and a television, and he charged me the same rate I’d have paid a taxi! The best possible outcome.

British Ruth had arrived at about the same time I had, at a different airport, so Reese was out in Virginia to pick her up.

We headed back up to Baltimore on Friday. As always, it was a pleasure to see everyone–readers, authors, editors, cover designers, proofreaders–oh yes, and publisher

The events were held at Night of the Cookers on Howard Street in Baltimore. Their cornbread melts in your mouth, and the garlic whipped potatoes were pure heaven. Read Street Books also sponsored the events. They’re a wonderful little bookstore–a hidden treasure in every bookcase. The hotel, the Mount Vernon, was ideally located and our view was gorgeous.

Unfortunately we didn’t get to spend as much time as we would have liked at the official events due to a combination of huge workload and physical limitations, but we enjoyed the weekend very much.

Now, however, it’s time to buckle down and get back to work!