Thanks, Terese and Claudia!

But no, we won't be reading in NY or DC, and I'm sorry you couldn't be at Newburyport, Claudia. We had a marvellous time there, attending the Powow workshop, and the reading afterwards was so much fun.

I want to thank any Powows reading here for looking after us so beautifully. It was so moving to see people again -- Wicked Rhina, Man-without-a-nickname (AKA Michael Cantor), and finally meeting my Salt (Jean Kreiling), and Andrew Szilvasy. Newburyport is a beautiful place.

And thanks, too, to Chris O'Carrol for attending the Amherst Bookshop Reading! It was incredible for me to be reading there, with Emily only a short walk away.

And finally, perhaps the best audience I could ever ask for: Nemo's real cows, with a bevy of chooks and a rooster thrown in.

My thanks to all who made this so memorable for me.

And of course to all the trees of New England for all their crazy coloured leaves!

C

Cally,

It was wonderful to meet you! You and David were stunning in your reading. I'd read "A Game of Chess" before and liked it, but your performance nearly brought the audience to tears and earned a just ovation.

Why, thank you, Andrew! I'm very moved to hear it.

The audience was terrific, I must say. Quite a crowd, and really into it. The room felt so good. I enjoyed the open mic, too. Well run. Everything was such a rush afterwards that I didn't get to give you a hug goodbye! So take a hug now. ((( ))) It was a pleasure to see your face!

C

Yes. I saw you with Jean and didn't want to butt in, but had to run. It was such a pleasure to meet you.