Alright, folks, I'm ready to finally admit something about myself.Something that's been a long time in coming.
Something that I'm sure is pretty self evident to most people who know me, but that I've been trying to deny for a number of years.
Here it goes. . . . . . .
Are you ready?
I'm a dork.
I'm a nerd.
I'm a complete and total . . . . . . . .
Fanboy.
Yeah, big shock right?
What made me realize this about myself, you ask? Well, it was the author events at the Poisoned Pen I attended last week.
I completely dorked out when I met Joe Lansdale.
I mean, seriously, this was a guy I'd been reading since I was 14. . .and that's how I felt when I actually got sit down with him. . .14-years-old, standing in the book aisle at the K-Mart in Victorville, CA thumbing through one of Lansdale's Drive-in paperbacks, practically drooling and hoping my mom would let me throw it in with the rest of our purchases.
The same thing happened with Megan Abbott.
But more on that tomorrow. . .
Anyway, here's some pics and a video I shot with Mr. Landale.
By the way folks, Tim Maleeny was also at the Poisoned Pen along with Mr. Lansdale pimping his new crime novel, Jump. I wasn't as nerdy with Tim, but I think this might have something to do with us being around the same age and our conversation largely focused on the business of publishing (I am a BIG fan of Tim's Cape Weather's series. If you haven't read them, they are great big pulpy fun with a capital P.) and I felt just a little more at ease with him.
But I'm sure Tim thought I was a huge dork too.
Here's Joe and Tim after me and Jason Duke put them through the question ringer.
And here's the proof that I'm a total nerd:
Well, then there's the fact that Lansdale can kick your ass--SHEN CHUAN!
ReplyDeleteSeriously, though, I'm envious. No one comes to Indiana.
Hey, if loving Joe Lansdale is wrong - I don't want to be right!
ReplyDeleteChad--No, he didn't pull a demo of his skills, but that would have been
ReplyDeletecool as hell if he did. And that sucks nobody comes to Indiana
(they do come to St. Louis, though?) You and Maria are going to
have to make it out here and we'll hit some book tours while you're
here.
Eric--my thoughts exactly. But you're twice the Lansdale geek that
I am.
Speaking for St. Louis, we're working on it. Please, please come to St. Louis, there are a couple of readers here.
ReplyDeleteAnd Keith - the photo rocks. I especially like the Nintendo controls draped around the neck.
The Crider Routine?
ReplyDeleteI hope you told him you were reading his books when you were 14.
Whoa look at that camera shake! Just kidding buddy, you did a bang up job, but where's the Tim Maleeny interview? Actually, Joe Lansdale did do a little martial arts demo in his chair when he was talking about his fighting background remember?
ReplyDeleteJed--Yeah, that's a current picture by the way.
ReplyDeleteMr. Crider--I hope you don't mind that I co-opt the interview style, sir? I really got a kick out of those interviews you conducted at Bouchercon. And, yes, I think I told him I'd been read him since I was 14 20 or 30 times., it was kind of embarassing.
Jason--If you think the camera's shaking in that one, wait until you see the Theresa Schwegel and Megan Abbott interviews, god I'm an idiot in those. And unfortunately Tim's interview was eaten by my cheap ass camera. I'm going to have to upgrade to the one Seth used.
Man, I’m sorry I missed that one. Yes, you are a nerd. But who isn’t? At least you got some questions out. I would’ve just sat there, mute as a sack of rocks. (Like I did last time Lansdale was at the Poisoned Pen, or the time James Lee Burke was there, or Andrew Vachss, or James Ellroy, or...)
ReplyDeleteMike MacLean
Mike---I dorked out hard the last time Ellroy was in town. I asked
ReplyDeletehim about a million questions during the Q&A and when he started
signing books and I finally got to the front of the line and I was
able to speak with him one on one, I just stood there grinning like
a moron while he flirted with my wife.(me and the missus still chuckle
about that.) You should come out next month when Sean Doolittle's
in town, or for the 20th aniversary event when Patrick rolls out
Phoenix Noir. From what I understand, all of the contributor's will be
there.
Maleeny looks like he's really enjoying himself ....
ReplyDeleteAnd Keith -- that pic. .. That pic ... Whoa. .. Love it. Made my night!
Greg--Tim actually seemed to be having a good time, it's just that whenever I have a camera in my hand that I have this uncanny ability to catch people at their worst possible moments (Just ask my wife about this, according to her I've never taken a good picture of her.)
ReplyDelete