Ten years ago, Ambrose and I went to the Boise Public Library Main Branch to see John Scalzi on book tour. On Saturday, I drove myself the now much longer distance to the Hillcrest Branch to see him come back. Interestingly, the last time would have been for the release of The End of All Things, which was then the last book in the Old Man’s War series, and this tour was promoting The Shattering Peace, which is the next book in that series.
I was early to the event and sat in my car for a while waiting for the doors to open. They did at about a quarter to seven, and I joined the throng waiting to get inside. I hadn’t been to this branch of the library before. They had most of it cordoned off, herding us into the event space. The space was much smaller than the one ten years ago.
I didn’t want to sit up front, so I kind of lingered and then moved toward the table full of books behind another woman. In this way, I managed to be the second person to purchase a book from Rediscovered Books. Last time, I didn’t buy a book, but I have a bit more discretionary income now than I did back then, so I splurged on the hardcover of the new release.
Then it was time to get to the bathroom. I wasn’t going to go past the cordon without permission, so I spied a man with a library badge talking to another man, and rudely interrupted to ask if there was a bathroom we could use. The other man immediately pointed out the door, and I realized, to my chagrin, that I had interrupted the librarian talking with John Scalzi. To be fair to me, I had approached them so that my bad eye was towards them, so it made sense that I didn’t realize. But also, just because he was talking with John didn’t mean I didn’t have to pee real bad.
The librarian kindly undid a section of cordon so it was clear that we could go use the bathroom, and again I managed to be at the head of the line.
When I got back, I sat down in the back row, right near where John was hanging out leaning against the wall, using his phone. I surreptitiously took some stalker photos, and politely ignored him.
I wasn’t the only person attending solo. A young woman sat down near me in the back row and asked what the line was for. I told her it was for book purchasing; a guy in the next row up said they were signed, and I said no they weren’t. Which I knew, because I’d bought one, and I’d been to this kind of event before. The signings would take place after.
Then came the introductions from both a librarian (different one than the one I’d asked about the bathrooms), and someone from Rediscovered Books. I didn’t know that they had a new location. I should check that out the next time I’m in town and have time. And, finally, the main event.
John does not read from the book just released while on book tour, which I think is marvelous. It’s much more fun for us that he reads something from an upcoming work. Something that only those of us special enough to attend a tour stop have now heard. And I am sworn to secrecy as to the content of this upcoming work, which will be released next year. All I can tell you is, wow, this will be wild. Also, my dad will not like it. Too many swears.
Then he did a Q & A session. I didn’t have a question to ask, but I enjoyed listening to his answers to the questions that others asked. Some about writing and publishing, others about random kind of things. He’s a total Zoe from K-Pop Demon Hunters. One person asked about morality and ethics which was an interesting turn.
Finally, it was time for the signing. I had been dreading have to wait in a long line to get my book signed and head home. I was sitting in the back, and I figured it would take a while for me to get through the line. But, as luck would have it, the room we were in was too warm for signing. We were directed out the door to form the line. And my seat was, in fact, closest to that door. I didn’t quite manage to be first in line, but I think I was third or fourth. Not bad!
I showed him the picture Ambrose took of John and I the last time he was in town. And I told him Ambrose was my husband and he had died and could he please write something about Ambrose being in the Ghost Brigades (which is a thing from the Old Man’s War series, if you know, you know)? I know from the last time he was in town that he likes to have some sort of prompt when writing a personalization, and I realized today that that is what I wanted from him. And I tried to convince myself not to when I was driving in because it would be silly, but I did it anyway.
And he wrote a lovely little thing about Ambrose being in the Ghost Brigades and kicking ass. And it was sweet. And, yes, Ambrose did know that he married a nerdy dork.
And I got to head home around 8:15, which was great, because that meant I got home before 10:15.