These are my only 'pretty' photos from my trip to Headland -- ferns on a tree in my brother's yard and a pair of camellias on a nearby bush.
Rain and cold and overcast conditions kept me inside most of the time.
Just as well I don't get sent on one of those month-long book tours the Big Names do -- five days away from our mountain and I was ready to get back.
I opted for the quick way home -- braving up to drive through Atlanta rather than take the by-pass. Much to my surprise, it wasn't bad at all.
Oh! the joy when I passed through Greeneville, SC and saw the mountains in the distance!
And when finally I crossed the Barnard Bridge -- a mere two miles from our driveway and another half mile up to our house -- I knew I was where I belong.
Q: So, when you have a new book out, your publisher sends you on a tour, right? And they pay for it, don't they? Provide you with media escorts and all that, right?
A: Hahahahahhahahaahahahahahhahahaha . . . oh, sorry, let me get a hold of myself here.
Alas, the sad reality is that, unless you're one of the blockbuster-writing bestselling darlings of the publishing world, you are on your own nickel for most of what you do in the way of travel and promotion.
Occasionally an author will be offered a stipend for travel or a room for the night. Often he'll be fed. By the organizers of the event, I hasten to add, not by the publisher. But the reality is that traveling to promote one's book is an expense -- deductible, but still an expense.
My 'book tours' are at near by bookstores and libraries, as well as the occasional conference such as those in the slide shows below. And they are, as I said, pretty much on my own nickel.
Below are slide shows from Murder in the Magic City and Murder on the Menu -- two terrific event which I just attended where I met wonderful authors and readers. (Click to biggify and read captions,)
